THE OPINIONS, THOUGHTS AND MUSINGS IN THIS BLOG POST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF ZACK WANZER, NOT THE THOMAS FANDOM IN GENERAL
Season 5, Episode 16
Written by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton
When Thomas comments about how everyone is happier when springtime comes, James says the Fat Controller isn't, as he expects the engines to work harder than ever, and comments that the countryside gets him fired up. Later, Thomas and Percy take trucks to the scrapyards, and encounter a rusty old coach in a siding - she says that she's been told she wasn't useful anymore. When Percy's driver comments about her, the yard manager says Old Slowcoach will be broken up when the time comes, and Thomas and Percy promise to help her out if possible.
Meanwhile, James is taking a train of oil tankers when one of them leaks and catches fire. Thomas and Percy are stopped while the fire is put out - strange that water would be used to put out a fuel fire. Moving on. Thomas and Percy take on water when another emergency arises; the workman's hut is on fire! More bad news comes when the fire brigade has no water due to James' fire, but Thomas suggests that they use his and Percy's water to put it out. This works much better than it did in Day of the Diesels - for one, fire trucks were involved and their water supply was dry (no pun intended) so the firefighters were in a sticky situation, but Thomas and Percy volunteered to help out, whereas in the "movie", they were called to help because... reasons.
The hut is destroyed, and with the workmen unable to sleep on the beach, Percy suggests that Old Slowcoach could house the workmen, and Thomas agrees to it as well. Soon, Old Slowcoach is restored to her former glory and feels happy to be useful once more.
Some elements of the story were inspired by the magazine story Fire from 1989, which Thomas helped to stop a fire from Mrs. Kyndley's cottage. For Old Slowcoach, in Latin America (oddly) she's referred to as a male. It's also odd that it'd take a day to restore her as they never really mentioned how long it took... but I digress. It's sad that she wasn't used after Happy Ever After and I'd love to see more of Old Slowcoach in the CGI series; I could imagine her with the other anthropomorphised coaches we have so far - Annie and Clarabel, Henrietta, the Slip Coaches... heck, why not give the express coaches faces? That was missed opportunity for The Adventure Begins, but then, it wouldn't change my views on the special.
As for Thomas, Percy and Old Slowcoach, it isn't perfect, but the story is really solid and it was great to have two plots that connect to one another - Thomas and Percy helping Old Slowcoach and James' train catching fire; both connected when all the firefighters' water is used on James' train and Thomas and Percy help in putting out the fire at the workmen's hut. The best of the best for Thomas and Friends? Well, it's up there.
Meanwhile, James is taking a train of oil tankers when one of them leaks and catches fire. Thomas and Percy are stopped while the fire is put out - strange that water would be used to put out a fuel fire. Moving on. Thomas and Percy take on water when another emergency arises; the workman's hut is on fire! More bad news comes when the fire brigade has no water due to James' fire, but Thomas suggests that they use his and Percy's water to put it out. This works much better than it did in Day of the Diesels - for one, fire trucks were involved and their water supply was dry (no pun intended) so the firefighters were in a sticky situation, but Thomas and Percy volunteered to help out, whereas in the "movie", they were called to help because... reasons.
The hut is destroyed, and with the workmen unable to sleep on the beach, Percy suggests that Old Slowcoach could house the workmen, and Thomas agrees to it as well. Soon, Old Slowcoach is restored to her former glory and feels happy to be useful once more.
Some elements of the story were inspired by the magazine story Fire from 1989, which Thomas helped to stop a fire from Mrs. Kyndley's cottage. For Old Slowcoach, in Latin America (oddly) she's referred to as a male. It's also odd that it'd take a day to restore her as they never really mentioned how long it took... but I digress. It's sad that she wasn't used after Happy Ever After and I'd love to see more of Old Slowcoach in the CGI series; I could imagine her with the other anthropomorphised coaches we have so far - Annie and Clarabel, Henrietta, the Slip Coaches... heck, why not give the express coaches faces? That was missed opportunity for The Adventure Begins, but then, it wouldn't change my views on the special.
As for Thomas, Percy and Old Slowcoach, it isn't perfect, but the story is really solid and it was great to have two plots that connect to one another - Thomas and Percy helping Old Slowcoach and James' train catching fire; both connected when all the firefighters' water is used on James' train and Thomas and Percy help in putting out the fire at the workmen's hut. The best of the best for Thomas and Friends? Well, it's up there.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Thomas and Friends Season 5 Scorecard
3. A Better View for Gordon: 9.5
5. James and the Trouble with Trees: 8.5
5. James and the Trouble with Trees: 8.5
13. Stepney Gets Lost: 5.5
14. Toby's Discovery: 5
15. Something in the Air: 9
16. Thomas, Percy and Old Slowcoach: 10
16. Thomas, Percy and Old Slowcoach: 10
18. Oliver's Find: 7
25. Rusty and the Boulder: 5
26. Snow: 1
26. Snow: 1
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