So far season 22 seems to be doing way better than what people were fearing! We've had three Sodor-based stories introducing newbie Rebecca, and a story each based in China and India. For this week's batch, we've only got one Sodor based story and four set around the Eastern region of the world and Oceania. How will it stack up?
Thomas Goes to Bollywood
Written by Becky Overton
Oh dear... This was the first episode this season that I strongly disliked. Whilst Trusty Trunky (ironically, also set in India) was rather dull, Thomas Goes to Bollywood is a different beast altogether.
I'm not beating around the bush when I say that this episode emphasizes the problem with the international-based stories; because Thomas is forced into the spotlight and take the lead role every time, the international characters aren't treated like actual characters the audience can care about. And even when Thomas is the one we're meant to care about, he's more often than not extremely one-note and uninteresting. Why can't they just write him like an arrogant jerk and have him learn a lesson the hard way? Just because he's the hero, it doesn't mean he isn't immune to making mistakes.
This could've worked so much better if it was Rajiv in the lead role; from what we've seen, he's arrogant and proud, and wanting to be in a movie would work much better for him. And then maybe he'd learn that fame isn't everything? Nope! It's Thomas in the spotlight because he's the main character, and he's the one kids should care about.
Now I would talk about the story... but there isn't any to speak of. It just shows kids that Bollywood is a thing. So what? Is that what they come to watch the show for? Trusty Trunky worked better despite being mediocre by implementing culture into the story, but Thomas Goes to Bollywood puts culture before story, which not a good idea when it comes to writing. And because culture came first, it makes the episode boring. The fact that very much everyone in the story doesn't have much character to speak of makes it worse.
I have not seen a seven minute episode this degrading since season 12's Push Me, Pull You. Based on her writings in season 19, I don't think Becky Overton is a bad writer, but this not an episode I'll be re-watching any time soon. It's the worst of the Brenner era since Three Steam Engines Gruff and Emily in the Middle. Not as frustrating as either episode, but from a story telling perspective, Thomas Goes to Bollywood is an all new low.
I'm not beating around the bush when I say that this episode emphasizes the problem with the international-based stories; because Thomas is forced into the spotlight and take the lead role every time, the international characters aren't treated like actual characters the audience can care about. And even when Thomas is the one we're meant to care about, he's more often than not extremely one-note and uninteresting. Why can't they just write him like an arrogant jerk and have him learn a lesson the hard way? Just because he's the hero, it doesn't mean he isn't immune to making mistakes.
This could've worked so much better if it was Rajiv in the lead role; from what we've seen, he's arrogant and proud, and wanting to be in a movie would work much better for him. And then maybe he'd learn that fame isn't everything? Nope! It's Thomas in the spotlight because he's the main character, and he's the one kids should care about.
Now I would talk about the story... but there isn't any to speak of. It just shows kids that Bollywood is a thing. So what? Is that what they come to watch the show for? Trusty Trunky worked better despite being mediocre by implementing culture into the story, but Thomas Goes to Bollywood puts culture before story, which not a good idea when it comes to writing. And because culture came first, it makes the episode boring. The fact that very much everyone in the story doesn't have much character to speak of makes it worse.
I have not seen a seven minute episode this degrading since season 12's Push Me, Pull You. Based on her writings in season 19, I don't think Becky Overton is a bad writer, but this not an episode I'll be re-watching any time soon. It's the worst of the Brenner era since Three Steam Engines Gruff and Emily in the Middle. Not as frustrating as either episode, but from a story telling perspective, Thomas Goes to Bollywood is an all new low.
Rating: Atrocious
Thomas in the Wild
Written by Davey Moore
Like Thomas Goes to Bollywood, Thomas in the Wild puts culture before story. Unlike Bollywood, however, there is some bit of a story going on and more character present, but even then, it's not enough to completely save the episode.
It was nice to see An An and Yin-Long interact with Thomas again, especially when they get annoyed by him stopping when he thinks he sees a black and white panda, but how did he manage to forget what they looked like after being told what they looked like - twice? Yeah, it's a three-strikes plot in play here. They first come across a red panda, an Asian black bear, and then two baby pandas and their mother.
To be fair, though, if it had been any of the Chinese engines in the lead, it might make them look a bit stupid, so it has some advantage of putting Thomas in the forefront. However, for the most part, there is very little I can talk about here. It's a pretty boring episode salvaged slightly by adorable baby pandas. And is it just me, or does the film crew leader look a bit like a certain Mr. Attenborough?
It was nice to see An An and Yin-Long interact with Thomas again, especially when they get annoyed by him stopping when he thinks he sees a black and white panda, but how did he manage to forget what they looked like after being told what they looked like - twice? Yeah, it's a three-strikes plot in play here. They first come across a red panda, an Asian black bear, and then two baby pandas and their mother.
To be fair, though, if it had been any of the Chinese engines in the lead, it might make them look a bit stupid, so it has some advantage of putting Thomas in the forefront. However, for the most part, there is very little I can talk about here. It's a pretty boring episode salvaged slightly by adorable baby pandas. And is it just me, or does the film crew leader look a bit like a certain Mr. Attenborough?
Rating: Bad
Thomas and the Monkey Palace
Written by Becky Overton
So the last two episodes did little to impress me, but was this better than either of them? Well... sort of, but the bar wasn't really set high to start with.
For a start, there's more of a conflict happening; there's a coconut shortage at the Indian railway station (really; they couldn't give it the name of an actual Indian railway station?), and so Thomas is sent to pick up a truck load of coconuts but gets distracted by the monkey palace and loses the coconuts when startled by a monkey. Yeah, it does sound like a Barlow era script, only there's one strike as opposed to three.
Yet despite having more happening, it's still a typical "Thomas-national" episode with little happening. There are funny moments like the "raining coconuts" comment, and the monkeys are pretty cute, especially the one who steals Thomas' driver's hat, but for the most part, again, there isn't a lot to say.
For a start, there's more of a conflict happening; there's a coconut shortage at the Indian railway station (really; they couldn't give it the name of an actual Indian railway station?), and so Thomas is sent to pick up a truck load of coconuts but gets distracted by the monkey palace and loses the coconuts when startled by a monkey. Yeah, it does sound like a Barlow era script, only there's one strike as opposed to three.
Yet despite having more happening, it's still a typical "Thomas-national" episode with little happening. There are funny moments like the "raining coconuts" comment, and the monkeys are pretty cute, especially the one who steals Thomas' driver's hat, but for the most part, again, there isn't a lot to say.
Rating: Bad
An Engine of Many Colors
Written by Michael White
Now we're talking! After three painfully tedious international episodes, we're finally back to familiar territory... and, apparently, back in season 21!
Yes, this episode is another one that takes place after The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor, much like A Shed for Edward. Of course, An Engine of Many Colors is essentially the latter episode taken from James' point of view during his time at the Steamworks. Mostly during the bit where Philip chatters to Edward during their first night together at Wellsworth. In fact, you could make an entire special with those episodes alone!
This is one of those episodes where the fantasy sequences make sense; James had been involved in a bad crash and was worried at the prospect of losing his red paint for another color - blue, green and silver, in that order. Each time, he likes it and shows off, which results in him crashing, but we never see it. However, we can bet it was horrifying based on James' reactions alone. Even though it's just a dream, the child mistaking James in his blue livery for Edward was rather cute; a call back to when Henry in his old shape and blue, and then being mistaken for Gordon, perhaps?
There isn't much story going on besides James dreaming about being in a different color, but it is funny how he thinks being in a new color enhances his usefulness - blue for speed, green for strength, and silver for, I'm guessing, being special. At least in his mind. And it's funny how the Duke and Duchess don't even react to James and the coaches spinning in the air. In fact, it's that dream which makes James realize that his ego and stubbornness may get him into trouble again, and he even apologizes for his carelessness in the end.
And whilst I fan fanservice annoying at worst (see New Crane on the Dock, for example), the reference to James and the Coaches worked quite well as James remembered when he caused trouble after getting his red paint for the first time. But in the end, he's forgiven and given a new coat of red paint after he's repaired. Not a whole lot more I can say; it's a crazy but fun episode and fit James' character well.
Yes, this episode is another one that takes place after The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor, much like A Shed for Edward. Of course, An Engine of Many Colors is essentially the latter episode taken from James' point of view during his time at the Steamworks. Mostly during the bit where Philip chatters to Edward during their first night together at Wellsworth. In fact, you could make an entire special with those episodes alone!
This is one of those episodes where the fantasy sequences make sense; James had been involved in a bad crash and was worried at the prospect of losing his red paint for another color - blue, green and silver, in that order. Each time, he likes it and shows off, which results in him crashing, but we never see it. However, we can bet it was horrifying based on James' reactions alone. Even though it's just a dream, the child mistaking James in his blue livery for Edward was rather cute; a call back to when Henry in his old shape and blue, and then being mistaken for Gordon, perhaps?
There isn't much story going on besides James dreaming about being in a different color, but it is funny how he thinks being in a new color enhances his usefulness - blue for speed, green for strength, and silver for, I'm guessing, being special. At least in his mind. And it's funny how the Duke and Duchess don't even react to James and the coaches spinning in the air. In fact, it's that dream which makes James realize that his ego and stubbornness may get him into trouble again, and he even apologizes for his carelessness in the end.
And whilst I fan fanservice annoying at worst (see New Crane on the Dock, for example), the reference to James and the Coaches worked quite well as James remembered when he caused trouble after getting his red paint for the first time. But in the end, he's forgiven and given a new coat of red paint after he's repaired. Not a whole lot more I can say; it's a crazy but fun episode and fit James' character well.
Rating: Excellent
Outback Thomas
Written by Tim Bain
The international episodes of week two were disappointing, to say the least, so imagine how surprised I was when this turned out to be really good!
Shane is such a fun character; he's very laid back, has a good sense of humor, and the slang he uses in his dialogue is funny. Like Yong Bao and Rajiv before him, Shane's got the sense of charisma Ashima wished she had. Plus, Shane Jacobson does a great job in voicing him, and I've never heard of the guy before!
Thomas' role in the episode makes sense here; he's way outside his comfort zone on Sodor, and it's funny when he keeps messing up the details Shane described during the first tour, hilariously half-steaming his excuses. Though it may not have been as funny if he didn't have Aubrey and Aiden to play off against.
But perhaps the episode's greatest strength is that an actual Aussie wrote the episode. The India and China episodes were written by British writers, so why not let writers from those respective countries tackle those episodes? For a first timer, Tim Bain really understands his own culture very well.
For the most part, there's not really a lot to talk about. It's a typical episode about telling lies and landing into trouble because of it, but it worked very well for the setting and that's all that matters. Oh, and a crocodile riding the train? This I ought to see some time!
Shane is such a fun character; he's very laid back, has a good sense of humor, and the slang he uses in his dialogue is funny. Like Yong Bao and Rajiv before him, Shane's got the sense of charisma Ashima wished she had. Plus, Shane Jacobson does a great job in voicing him, and I've never heard of the guy before!
Thomas' role in the episode makes sense here; he's way outside his comfort zone on Sodor, and it's funny when he keeps messing up the details Shane described during the first tour, hilariously half-steaming his excuses. Though it may not have been as funny if he didn't have Aubrey and Aiden to play off against.
But perhaps the episode's greatest strength is that an actual Aussie wrote the episode. The India and China episodes were written by British writers, so why not let writers from those respective countries tackle those episodes? For a first timer, Tim Bain really understands his own culture very well.
For the most part, there's not really a lot to talk about. It's a typical episode about telling lies and landing into trouble because of it, but it worked very well for the setting and that's all that matters. Oh, and a crocodile riding the train? This I ought to see some time!
Rating: Good
It's safe to say that week two was a step down from the previous week; whilst two episodes were really good (both written by newbies), the first three felt very half-baked at implementing culture into the story... what little there was, at least. Still, I'm hoping week three will turn out better, especially when it comes to a certain returnee from last year...!
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