The Molly Debate (Part 4)

Before I draw any conclusions, this debate will look into "why" Molly's death may have been censored. 

Episode 4: Who Gave You the Key, Molly?!

Why this was "maybe necessary."

My number one guess as to why this happened: rules and mandates. I'm sure 4kids ("for kids") probably had some kind of mandate against showing a direct, on-screen death (Ya' know, kinda' like how Sega says Sonic can't cry in the comics).

This wasn't aimed at Sonic, though, but for the company as a whole. In some cases, 4kids completely cut episodes (of other shows). No doubt the same company that censored signs reading "Casino" or "House of Amy Rose" saw Molly being blasted out of the sky as too harsh.

It could been broadcasting rules, though. I remember Sonic X being rated TV-7, the same as, for example, Spongebob. Now think. Did anyone ever officially die on screen on Spongebob? The closest I can think of is Bubble Buddy letting the tide come in, but that wasn't "onscreen."

Point is Sonic X may have needed a higher raking for an on-screen death, and 4kids wanted to keep it at that level. Even "darker" Sonic games are for players of at least 10.

Sonic probably attracted an older audience than expected (much like a lot of things "Sonic"). They weren't accounting for such viewers.

My final theory: they saw Molly's death as a suicide. She viciously attacks the Meterex in a futile way after finding out everyone she trusted betrayed her. Suicide is an even deeper topic to expose to a younger audience, so cutting such a scene would make sense. However, if that were the case the dialogue could just be changed so her death would be more of an accident.

Hm...Conclusions? The answers are just up ahead...