Thomas and Friends: The Rest of Season 6

Last time, we've finished up season five, now we're finishing up season six, the start of a new millennium for Thomas and Friends!

Those marked with an asterisk (*) have the story credited to David Mitton.

Episode 1: Salty's Secret

Written by Robin Kingsland

As the first episode of the post-Allcroft era (even though she was technically consultant for this season and the seventh, but never mind), this one was really good. Salty himself is a good character, but I feel he appears a little too frequently, leaving over characters to the sidelines *coughcough* Porter *cough*

Bill, Ben, and Mavis also had very good roles, the latter especially; from that point onwards, she became a more mature, motherly figure, and one of the few characters Hit totally didn't screw up (and I mean that genuinely). I have to say, Alec Baldwin really hit a slump as far as narration is concerned; to be fair, his Salty voice is fine, but what about most of the other characters? His performance really comes off as flat, and it makes the episode uninteresting to watch.

Episode 2: Harvey to the Rescue

Written by Jonathan Trueman

Let's knock the elephant out of the room; yes, Edward was out of character for saying Harvey doesn't even look like an engine, but does a moment like that destroy the episode as a whole? Like I've said, that'd be a huge understatement, especially if the rest of the episode is actually really good (see Filli Vanilli for context).

By contrast to Salty, Harvey hasn't been used as often, but he's still a very good character in his own right; him being an unusual type of engine probably helps, and I like those kinds of locomotives; they're so unconventional and yet really useful like any ordinary engine. For the episode itself, it's quite good, and the crash... is a bit disappointing. I mean, in the music video for "Troublesome Trucks" (not the episode, of course), it looks a bit more real despite the brakevan blocking the view. Why was the crash refilmed? Anyone got a guess as to why?

Other than that, it's a good episode; same about Edward's portrayal, though compared to Edward Strikes Out, that's a nitpick.

Episode 3: No Sleep for Cranky

Written by Paul Larson

Ever hear of the term "so stupid, it's funny"? That can apply to the mess Cranky caused. Although, there are a couple of issues with it:

1. How exactly were Salty, Bill and Ben trapped? There's open track right behind them! Apparently, the script and model sets didn't agree with one another.
2. Why would Salty and the twins have to wait a whole day to wait for Harvey? Surely the accident would have occurred when it was evening?

Speaking of the second issue, it's a wonder how the engines could stay up all night and not suffer insomnia from it. But Cranky does - go figure. This might've been the episode where the Larson Effect was spawned from.

Episode 4: A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter*

Written by Simon Nicholson

You don't see too many episodes featuring Percy and Harold anymore, do you? Most of the time, Harold's up at the Search and Rescue Center and Percy seems to do odd jobs around Thomas' branchline and the mainline. It's nice to see their friendly-rivalry incorporated as far as delivering the mail is concerned, and it shows how Percy is devoted to his job. And the signal being broken does actually bring out some railway realism especially as engines can't run without signals. Although was there an episode in which Harold took the mail after Percy was stuck at a signal? I can't remember. But it is quite strange how all that mail would overload Harold.

Episode 5: Elizabeth the Vintage Lorry

Written by Paul Larson

Out of season six's new characters (barring the remaining yet-to-be rendered Pack members and human characters), Elizabeth has not yet been shown in the CGI series. Sure, some could see her as a bit of a crab, and to some extent, you'd be right. But think about how cheerful the off-rail vehicles seem to be, barring Cranky - Elizabeth making a return (along with George) could really shake things up and add some diversity.

Kind of interesting how the episode begins straight away with an accident, but it is odd as to how Thomas' siderods broke the way they did. And even stranger as to how Elizabeth got to the docks without a driver. And yes, I'm gonna mention the usage of "railroad" in the British narration; must've been a cock-up when the narrator was handed the script.

Episode 6: The Fogman*

Written by Jonathan Trueman

Well, isn't this a rarity - a post-Awdry episode that's actually railway smart! If you've read my review on Spice Up Your Life, then you can pretty much draw a conclusion as to how I can view this episode as a metaphor.

Episode 13: Percy and the Haunted Mine*

Written by Robyn Charteris

You can tell how much I hated Scaredy Engines for making Thomas look like a hypocrite, but how can they treat Percy worse?

Well, to start, Donald and Douglas were particularly childish when it came to teasing Percy about the naughty gnomes. I know they like jokes (well, Donald more so), but surely that'd be left to Bill and Ben - did someone get their sets of twins mixed up? And why would they be picked up near an abandoned mine? Surely they'd have been picked up at, oh, I don't know, a warehouse?

If this was intended to be a sequel to Baa! from last season, then it's a pretty poor one at that, and it's done to Percy what Scare Master did to Fluttershy. However, it gets worse...

Episode 14: Middle Engine*

Written by Brian Trueman

I'd been given a few requests to do this episode as a few people have said it's one of season six's worst. But is it that bad? Well, now I'm gonna find out and see if that claim holds true!

Let's start off with the fact that none of the engines like being in the middle of their trains - what about push-pull services like Oliver could be doing? If there were trucks and/or coaches in your way, you'd still do your job, just at a slower speed. Next, we have Percy being scolded for being on the tipper's loading ramp... where do I begin?

Firstly, Henry bumps Percy onto the ramp by accident, and he gets no consequences for it, so therefore he was a plot device. Next, Percy calls out for help, but no one hears him or even thinks of stopping the loading ramp, and then, all the blame is dumped onto him. Yeah, I can definitely see where the criticisms are coming from.

And to top it all off, Arry and Bert get no consequences for their actions, which, again, might be why they're disliked heavily. I'm not sure at this point if this episode should be one of the worst, but yeah, it's definitely bad and season six's worst for sure. Yeah, worse than Rusty Saves the Day - at least I can understand where that was trying to teach kids! What did Middle Engine teach kids anyway?!

Episode 19: Buffer Bother

Written by Ross Hastings

Bill and Ben really bring out the worst in each other, am I right?

A shame Ben's buffers returned to black after this, as they look brilliant. Then again, it's just like the twins being painted blue as punishment. And once again, Mavis' role was brilliant, even though they don't work in the same quarry (at least, from season 17 onward). A funny episode, and its humor is handled way better than Middle Engine.

Episode 21: Thomas, Percy and the Squeak*

Written by Jenny McDade

Why is it that Thomas and Percy have small arguments over the smallest of things? I mean, sure, Thomas did get an important job, but it didn't give him the bright to bring his best friend down. That said, he did at least get a satisfying comeuppance. It is strange, however, that nobody noticed the mouse in Clarabel. Of course, Gordon's "definitely a coloratura" line was very funny - how could I not mention it in my review?

Season 6 Overall

I really enjoyed this season when I was younger, and to this day, I still do. Yeah, a few episodes here and there don't hold up like they used to, but I guess what makes this season good was its simplicity in the storytelling compared to how action-packed season five was. Sometimes, you gotta slow down, right? Right.

Surprisingly enough, this is on par with season three, but I'll rank six slightly higher.

Episodes Ranked from Worst to Best

26. Middle Engine (1/10)
25. Rusty Saves the Day (2/10)
24. Scaredy Engines (3/10)
23. Percy and the Haunted Mine
22. The World's Strongest Engine (6/10)
21. Jack Frost (7/10)
20. No Sleep for Cranky
19. Elizabeth the Quarry Truck
18. Twin Trouble
17. Thomas, Percy and the Squeak (8/10)
16. Harvey to the Rescue
15. Edward the Very Useful Engine
14. A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter
13. Thomas the Jet Engine
12. Dunkin Duncan
11. Toby Had a Little Lamb
10. Salty's Secret (9/10)
9. Gordon Takes a Tumble
8. It's Only Snow
7. Buffer Bother
6. Faulty Whistles
5. Percy's Chocolate Crunch
4. Jack Jumps In (10/10)
3. The Fogman
2. A Friend in Need
1. James and the Red Balloon

Season 6 Final Ranking: 8/10

Thomas and Friends: The Rest of Season 5 Part 2

Here's the second half of the remaining episodes of season five! Surprisingly enough, they're all consecutive. I didn't even intend for that to happen!

All episodes written by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are written with David Maidment.

Episode 19: Happy Ever After

Hmm... this is gonna be interesting.

Yes, I know, the plot seems a little too mature for a Thomas episode. That said, at least Percy's driver asked for permission to borrow the new set of buffers, and it was good seeing Old Slow Coach make a second appearance - shame it was her last one. Although it might've been nice to explain if she was still a workman's coach or not. As for the kiss? Well... maybe Percy wasn't in steam when the wedding took place? A strange one, I'll admit.

Episode 20: Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday

Now this is a great episode. I love the focus on Sir Topham and his family, and we got a lot of funny moments out of this episode. Harold's role was also quite good, and it was nice to see Annie and Clarabel get a refurbish, although it's odd that they kept changing appearance before and after this episode, even with the use of stock footage. And how can I resist mentioning Percy pushing the river boat on the flatbed? Pure visual hilarity.

Episode 21: A Surprise for Percy

Ehh... I'm not sure what to make of this one. The story is a bit too simplistic for my liking. All we got is Percy feeling frustrated over taking coal trucks, and then a runaway takes place... and ends when two planks of wood stopping the trucks... because no one heard of brakes on a brakevan. Not terrible, it's just... there.

Episode 22: Make Someone Happy

This however, is yet another fantastic episode from season five. I feel this episode fits James perfectly considering how he's been portrayed recently, and I like how they expand on Mrs. Kyndley's character a bit. The moral on making others happy is a good one, and the fairground setting was fantastic. Not much else to say here; it's just brilliant.

Episode 23: Busy Going Backwards*

This'll be fun!

I'll admit that when I was younger, this was one of my favorites from season five. Sure, the chase was rather unrealistic and Toad couldn't have traveled such a distance in reality, but I suppose that was what made it fun to me. Did you know a clip from this made an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien when he criticized Alec Baldwin for making James sound gay? I don't recall where the clip was on YouTube, but if anyone can find it, let me know.

And yes, that's the scene where Toad nearly crashes into James in an unrealistic manner. Don't ask.

I suppose I better talk about Oliver's lack of starring roles in the recent episodes. Yes, he features because he's Toad's engine (at least on TV), but remember that in the classic era, even with this episode, Toad had much less character development than he did in his three CGI starring roles. Meanwhile, Oliver himself received a fair amount of development during seasons 3-7. Keep that in mind.

Episode 24: Duncan Gets Spooked*

I know it's four months too early for Halloween... but who gives a damn?

I do like the dark atmosphere they put into the sets, but much like characterization in episodes, it should be considered default setting. It was most unusual that the trucks derailed off the bridge they way they did and I feel Peter Sam got scolded unfairly solely because of an insecure coupling. It does feel like this episode was trying to mix Britt and Mitton's vision of dark storytelling as well as Maidment's vision of railway realism, and making a right crock of it.

As for paying Duncan back at the end, it's rather strange that his crew would have fireflies as part of the plan; a rock, I'd understand, but why fireflies? Nice animated effects though.

I do have a theory about why the episode runtime was expanded to nine minutes; in a four minute thirty episode, storytelling is a bit restricted. In an episode double the length, there's more room for creativity. I think that with season five, they had a lot of ideas for each episode, but due to time constraints, they have to be reduced to four minutes and thirty seconds. Had Duncan Gets Spooked and other season five episodes been produced today, I bet they could've fared better on a storytelling level.

A fine episode on the whole, but there are noticeable faults.

Oh, and as a nitpick; why is it that in the UK, when the coupling snaps, it's a spring sound effect, but in America, we get an actual coupling snap? Was consistency in the classic era a huge deal, especially when it comes to sound?

Season 5 Overall

Saying season five was the weakest of the classic era could be a bit of an understatement. I actually find it surprisingly good for the first season without Awdry material. Yeah, it had problems, but then, so do the Arc seasons as well as the first four.

Is it underrated? Overrated? Well, that depends on who you are. Underrated, because whilst a number of episodes lacked the Awdry charm the first four seasons did, they did provide a fair amount of entertainment. Overrated, because whilst it tried to up the age demographic, it was plagued by unrealistic moments and the excessive amounts of crashes. I think that's the best way to sum up the fandom's opinions on this season. That said, it had less bad episodes than My Little Pony's fifth season did... but that's a topic for another day.

Episodes Ranked from Worst to Best

26. Snow (1/10)

25. Toby and the Flood (3/10)

24. A Surprise for Percy (5/10)

23. Rusty and the Boulder

22. Toby's Discovery

21. Stepney Gets Lost (6/10)

20. Happy Ever After

19. Baa!

18. Gordon and the Gremlin (7/10)

17. Bye George!

16. Duncan Gets Spooked

15. Oliver's Find

14. Cranky Bugs

13. Horrid Lorry (8/10)

12. Busy Going Backwards

11. James and the Trouble with Trees

10. Thomas and the Rumors

9. Double Teething Troubles (9/10)

8. Lady Hatt's Birthday Party

7. Something in the Air

6. Haunted Henry

5. Put Upon Percy

4. Make Someone Happy (10/10)

3. Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday

2. A Better View for Gordon

1. Thomas, Percy and Old Slow Coach

Season 5 Final Rating: 7.5/10

Thomas and Friends: The Rest of Season 5 Part 1

Now that we've gotten the Nitrogen era out of the way (thank goodness), it's time to head back to the classic era as there's some unfinished business with it (and yes, I'll get to the Pack episodes when I can get to them.

For the remaining seasons, I'll be splitting them into two halves... possibly except for season eight, which'll be one whole part. That way, I've got a steady stream of episodes.

All episodes written by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton, except Thomas and the Rumors, based upon magazine stories An Important Visitor and Rumors and Speculation by Andrew Brenner. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are written with David Maidment.

Episode 1: Cranky Bugs

Ah, Cranky. One of the few season five characters (other than Arry, Bert and Butch) that actually became well-loved in seasons to come. (Although, Arry and Bert are practically characters we'd love to hate... but whatever.)

I have to say, for this season, the models and filming techniques were fantastic; the models look glossy and I'm glad that it was used for CGI productions from The Adventure Begins onward. Makes them look real. For the episode itself, I quite liked this one, and the scene with the tramper's accident was just awesome to look at. Yeah, it was kind of dumb that Cranky would fall in front of Thomas and Percy and not on them, but it was very funny to look at.

And yes, there's Alec Baldwin's narration; it's not as good as I remembered it (probably bad if we consider how much effort he put into season six), but he did provide good voices for the likes of Oliver, Toad (which influenced my voice for him in Sodor: The Modern Years) and Sir Topham Hatt.

Episode 4: Lady Hatt's Birthday Party*

...oh dear. Even here, I cannot take the Fat Controller seriously. I like how there was focus upon the humans and road vehicles of Sodor, a rarity even in the classic era. Glad that there was more focus upon both in Two Wheels Good, as well as in The Beast of Sodor. Of course, I seriously doubt that the Fat Controller wouldn't bother to change his tire; if he can run a railway, he can darn well change a wheel for his car!

A bit of a three-striker here, but then, The Sad Story of Henry featured that formula. Honestly, I feel there was missed opportunity for the Wilhelm scream with George's accident, but oh well. Also, how did Thomas get to the water tower without his fireman?

Episode 7: Bye George!

George is another character we haven't seen in recent years, his last major appearance/role being in Calling All Engines well over a decade ago. With all the happy road vehicles we got, having a grump like George (and maybe a strict old lady like Elizabeth) could really shake things up. Oh, and how about a dynamic with George and Buster?

As for this episode, how did the workmen not notice that tarmacking over the rails improperly would have an accident? If George spilled some on purpose and no one noticed, that'd probably make better sense. And yes, Gordon's accident with Duck was unrealistic. I guess it's one of those "so stupid, it's hilarious" moments, am I right? Interesting to see that George got his comeuppance at the end, and the narrator's snarky comment was rather amusing.

Episode 8: Baa!*

Hmm. It's quite strange that a wild animal like a ram would actually take cabbage leaves from a human like that rather than attack. Also, it's odd that Percy would kind of snap at Toby after a bit of harmless teasing from the tram engine. And didn't Toby say Maithwaite was his favorite station? Of course, we did have funny moments like the Fat Controller losing his top hat due to Harold's propellers; I'm sure he didn't mean "eat his hat" literally!

Episode 9: Put Upon Percy

Percy is a great character in the classic era, and he's still great in the newer episodes. Here, he's given a more urgent side to his character, especially when he remembered the canvas barrier to keep himself safe from the rocksldie. It's miles ahead of the Nitrogen episodes where he's portrayed as a childish idiot trying to befriend animals or hunt for monsters. I also like the little things like the length of Percy's train - ten trucks, including a brakevan - and the interior of the mine-shaft. Some children might find this scary, which I can understand, but older fans will enjoy this.

Episode 17: Thomas and the Rumors

Oh, this was a long time coming, I feel. It's one I wanted to review ever since I started this blog, and finally, I get the chance to do so.

Yes, there's a subplot where Thomas wants to help children, but actually, it plays a nice role in the episode as a whole. Remember my review on Sunshine from TUGS? Well, the moral on jumping to conclusions applies nicely to this. The engines think Harold is going to replace them, but he's actually looking for suitable ground for the children's playground. Sidenote: Percy doesn't have a branchline, he runs on Thomas'. Another issue is Gordon's driver siding with his engine; surely he could've been a voice of reason? That said, the accident was nicely filmed, as was every accident in season five. Another really good episode.

Thomas and Friends Season 5 Scorecard

1. Cranky Bugs: 7
2. Horrid Lorry: 8
3. A Better View for Gordon: 10
4. Lady Hatt's Birthday Party: 9
5. James and the Trouble with Trees: 8
6. Gordon and the Gremlin: 7
7. Bye George!: 7
8. Baa!: 6
9. Put Upon Percy: 9
10. Toby and the Flood: 3
11. Haunted Henry: 9
12. Double Teething Troubles: 9

13. Stepney Gets Lost: 6

14. Toby's Discovery: 5

15. Something in the Air: 9
16. Thomas, Percy and Old Slowcoach: 10
17. Thomas and the Rumors: 8

18. Oliver's Find: 7

25. Rusty and the Boulder: 5
26. Snow: 1

Thomas and Friends Season 16: The Remaining Episodes and Overall

Well, last week's batch was quite unpleasant to sit through. Thankfully, as this is the last batch of Nitrogen episodes, we can make a return to the classic era soon enough. Would any of these episodes salvage season 16, or was it scrapped on arrival?

All episodes written by Sharon Miller, except as noted.

Episode 1: Race to the Rescue

Truth time: I reviewed the remaining eight episodes in reverse chronological order. I chose to review this one last because... well, let's find out.

I should state, for the record, that this episode came directly after Fiery Flynn, one of the show's worst ever episodes. That episode was so bad that real life firefighters would put it to shame, as would Fireman Sam - why it had to share its stable with Thomas' worst era, I'll never know. Onto this episode, Flynn is once portrayed as being self-conscious, but this time, it's about traveling on the road. Why? Couldn't he have had a minor accident, giving him a confidence knock? I would buy that over Charlie calling him a big red wobble on wheels!

I've not seen any Fireman Sam episode lately, but I know for a fact that you'd never see them deciding whether or not they should travel on the road or rails; they were focused on getting the task done and saving lives! Actually, in this episode, Flynn once again wastes his time getting to the Fat Controller's shed (by the way, why does he need one?), potentially putting people's lives at risk! Also, if he could spray water onto Gordon's coaches from where he was, surely he'd have had no problem putting the fire out from the rails?

Terrible episode with dangerous morals, the worst season premiere to date, and just as awful as Fiery Flynn. Stay away.

Episode 3: Express Coming Through

And on the opposite end of the spectrum...!

Let's make it clear, people; yes, Thomas has pulled express coaches before, but it was never stated that it was the express itself. I mean, The Adventure Begins confirms that it was a stopping passenger train with red branchline coaches - why they didn't have red express coaches, I'll never know, but whatever.

Remember in Slow Stephen when I said that Gordon's attitude needed toning back? That also applies to this era; we know Gordon pulls the express, and we don't need him repeating it over and over again! To be fair, his attitude makes some degree of sense as Thomas was determined to prove his strength, something he probably should've outgrown at this point, but I digress. It might have worked better if Thomas was substituted in for Rosie or Stanley, but then again, there may not have been an Awdry-esque feeling.

However, if Thomas struggles in pulling the express coaches, then how is he able to shunt them without trouble? But even then, there's funny moments like Dowager Hatt and the cake (I'm surprised she didn't get a gut ache after that!) and her line "Thomas! Do something!" Every time she appears, Dowager Hatt is just outright funny (except maybe in Fiery Flynn). Good episode, but it has problems as usual.

Episode 4: Percy and the Monster of Brendam

You wait sixty-four episodes, and we finally get one where Thomas doesn't have a speaking role... and it turns out to be bad anyway. If it was called the "Monster of Brendam", then why is Percy looking across Sodor just to find it? Salty's story was rather stupid; it's pretty obvious that it was Cranky, and I'm sure Salty was talking out of his engine block. On a sidenote, Cranky's reaction at the end pretty much sums up how I feel about many episodes from this era.

Also, why did they have to make Edward, Henry, and Toby total cowards? (To be fair, at this point, I wouldn't put it past Henry.) And how could they have mistaken Rocky, Butch, and Diesel for the Monster? Although I'll admit Diesel's response is rather funny - "Who's calling me a monster?!" I'll admit the fog was very nicely done, much better than last season, but it doesn't save the episode from being a bad one. Unfortunately, it's canon to the show as of season 19, and I pretty much wish that the stupidity of the characters was toned back so Edward and Toby were the voices of reason.

Episode 6: Flash Bang Wallop!

Written by Jessica Sandys Clarke

So, this episode is another given a fair amount of praise by the fandom. Is it really deserved? To some extent, it is. It's interesting that they featured a Garratt and City of Truro in the book, although with the latter, I feel it would've been interesting if Duck was featured - I mean, seeing his idol in the book would've given him plenty of reason to want to be featured in the book, and it could've made for an interesting storyline.

If the photographer left his second camera behind, why couldn't he bring it with him? Oh, it was for plot convenience; I understand. Also how did Thomas' selfish photobombing case the engines to crash? That makes no sense whatsoever. There's the typical three strikes, and Thomas, as mentioned earlier, is selfish as usual. We did get some interesting classic series references, but it takes more than that to make an episode actually good.

Episode 7: Thomas and the Rubbish Train

Written by Andrew Viner

Why were Scruff and Stanley brought up solely to be forgotten about afterward? I feel that, had Scruff been in Thomas' place, it would've been a nice expansion on their friendship. Or, if they chose Stanley, it would've added a new dynamic, and given him some screentime, which he'll be receiving in season 20 (hopefully!)

But seriously; Thomas should at least know not to let teasing get to him! He'd been on Sodor for at least ninety years, so he should know that by now! At least Diesel seemed in character, but it was only for the sake of the plot. Not helping is that he was rather selfish leaving Whiff high and dry three times (not for the first time) just to smell good for the Duchess of Boxford. The plot itself felt like a remake of Thomas and the Stinky Cheese, crash and all. Of course, the crash was very brilliantly done, but much like James to the Rescue, it doesn't automatically make an episode great, especially if discriminatory messages are involved!

Episode 16: Whiff's Wish

Written by Andy Bernhardt

Wait, what's that I heard? The Flying Kipper actually being mentioned by name? A nice touch, but it doesn't have anything to do with anything now, does it? Then again, nor do any of these introductions in this era, but I digress.

I have to say; I like Whiff as a character, but I don't like his voices in either dub, especially not his US voice (it also sounds similar to Edward, which doesn't help matters) - what is up with that? Couldn't they have recast him to make him sound somewhat like Eric Idle? And who would leave rubbish trucks on the mainline like that? It's also kind of strange that, since Whiff doesn't care for what others think, he would be concerned with what others like Spencer thought of him. That said, I did like the subtle callback to Emily and the Garbage (yes, I'm referring to it as such as the UK title sounds offensive).

On whole, it's another dull episode, and the moral's pretty much been done better before and since. If only Whiff was given another chance at a starring role...

Episode 17: Welcome Stafford

This one's rather interesting. I like Stafford as a character, and I enjoy listening to his dialect; it's very funny to listen to at times ("My battery's running out! ...oh dear..." "Oh dear; here we go again..."). Thomas' role, of course, was redundant and could've been cut altogether. Not too sure about why Spencer is giving Stafford a tour of Sodor rather than James, but... you get what you get. It's a total showcase of Hit's characters and it was funny how Stafford pretty much lampshades the big problem with the writing at the time.

Episode 19: Happy Birthday Sir!

Hmm... this one's alright, but it's hardly what you'd call an epic finale. It was the typical three-strikes plot, and Winston didn't get much characterization. I have to say, the render of the open-topped carriage looks fantastic, but how'd it take a day to restore? And why is Salty telling Edward's story if the blue engine is right next to him? It was a nice flashback, however, and it was clever seeing a younger Topham Hatt (I doubt he'd be called "sir" back then). It's also laughable that Thomas scolded Winston for looking for things when he's done so himself - much like Philip to the Rescue, of course, it doesn't make Thomas any less hypocritical. Also, how did Winston's driver not get whiplash when Thomas bumped into him? A decent episode on the whole.

Season 16 Final Thoughts

So... was it better than season 15? A tiny bit, but Race to the Rescue, The Christmas Tree Express, and (especially) Sodor Surprise Day really ruined this season. If it wasn't for those failures, I'd say yes; it is an improvement over season 15, but it's still a terrible season with creatively bankrupt storylines and the discriminatory messages were worse than ever. Sure, Nitrogen made some improvements as far as visuals go, but it was too little, too late for them. With Arc, they constantly improve with every season and special (just take a look at season 19 and compare it to King of the Railway) and try new things.

Well, that's the worst era out of the way (and good riddance too!) It's time to forget about the bad times and head back to the classic era!

Episodes from Worst to Least Bad

20. Sodor Surprise Day (-10/10)
19. Race to the Rescue (-8/10)
18. The Christmas Tree Express (-5/10)
17. Thomas Toots the Crows (1/10)
16. Bust My Buffers!
15. Ol' Wheezy Wobbles
14. Ho Ho Snowman
13. Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor
12. Don't Bother Victor! (2/10)
11. Percy and the Monster of Brendam
10. Thomas and the Rubbish Train (3/10)
9. Salty's Surprise
8. Emily's Winter Party Special (4/10)
7. Whiff's Wish
6. Muddy Matters (5/10)
5. Flash Bang Wallop!
4. Happy Birthday Sir! (6/10)
3. Welcome Stafford
2. Express Coming Through (7/10)
1. Percy and the Calliope (8/10)

Season 16 Overall Rating: 2/10

Thomas and Friends Season 15: The Remaining Episodes and Overall

Oh boy, here we go. The last episodes out of the worst-received season in Thomas history. Can those episodes prove that season 15 is worst? Or is it really a huge understatement?

All episodes written by Sharon Miller, except as noted.

Episode 5: Edward the Hero

"I'd like to be a hero, but I'm not sure if I'll be good at it." Actually, Edward, yes, you have been good at it before. Prime examples, Old Iron and Edward's Exploit, two of the show's greatest ever episodes, the former being my third favorite overall. And suddenly, we forget all about them solely because the story demands it.

To be fair, Edward actually is in character showing kindness to others... which is something, I suppose, but he really made a comeback in the season 18 premiere, Old Reliable Edward, which made nine minutes feel like half the runtime. With Edward the Hero, it felt like three times the length, and it's tedious to sit through. It's relatively harmless on the whole, but due to bad writing, I would not recommend this episode if you're a fan of the classics.

Episode 7: Happy Hiro

Let me make this perfectly clear: I. Do. Not. Hate. Hiro. Yes, I find him overrated, but saying he's a bad character would be a huge understatement. His portrayal in the Nitrogen era just makes him sound like an overgrown baby, and whilst he's portrayed nicely in the Arc era, Hiro just feels... two-dimensional and a bit bland.

In this episode? His depression feels a little over the top, but you know what bothers me? If he misses Japan (yes, I'll refer to it by name, and not just his homeland) so much, why doesn't he even go there? Unless he's a permanent resident for the mainland, it hasn't been made clear. The Logging Locos were very much morons, as was Charlie and his stupid table joke, which doesn't help this episode at all. If Thomas was concerned for Hiro, surely he'd have at least listened! If I wanted to see this plot done better, I'd just watch Missing Gator.

Episode 12: Spencer the Grand

Written by Jessica Sandys Clarke

Railways in the fog? Sounds like a great idea, but the execution? Erm, not so great.

Don't get me wrong, the fog looks wonderful in CGI, but it feels way too thick to enjoy the visual experience, almost like peanut butter. Some would say pea soup, but I digress. Maybe that's what they were aiming for, but it makes watching the episode rather frustrating.

And the problems don't stop there; railways run almost daily regardless of the weather! In fog, trains would have to run slower due to limited visibility, and a missed signal could be the difference between life and death. Misty Island is covered with fog a lot, and it gets on alright, so why can't Sodor? And if Spencer was running in fog, why doesn't he have lamps on? Thank goodness season 19 fixed that.

So yeah, it was a good idea, but it was executed poorly.

Episode 14: Stuck on You

A big highlight in a bad era - Butch talks for the first time since his debut in season five, thirteen years before. Knocking that aside, the plot is... typical, to say the least. However, at least the strikes were reduced to two rather than three, which is merciful. But how can pipes or a wheel be considered even emergencies, and how does Rocky know about them? And why would Butch's driver (if he existed) not know how a magnet worked? On a side note, the faces Butch made whilst he was trying to separate himself from Thomas (don't take it the wrong way) did look kind of... suggestive. Did they get scrap past the radar or something? Maybe it's just me.

Kind of amusing to watch, but really dull.

Episode 15: Big Belle

Remind me again; how did this rank as one of the worst on SiF's Season 15 Poll from 2015 and James to the Rescue among the best? What on earth is it that makes people hate this episode?

First point of contention is Belle as a character in this episode. Yeah, she was rather brash and overbearing to say the least, but Toby wasn't much better either. Rather than be a coward, he feels like a grumpy hermit who doesn't want to do anything fun. In fairness to the episode, and comparing it to Fiery Flynn, Belle wasn't needed for a serious rescue operation, and she never spent the entire episode spraying water pointlessly, possibly letting her tanks run dry. However, it is strange that whilst Toby ran away from her, Belle was the one apologizing... unless she was saying sorry for bothering him?

I wouldn't say it was one of the worst episodes overall, but it's more forgettable than flat-out terrible. A bit on the tame side, but yeah, very skippable. On a side note, isn't it ironic that Belle has 15 real-life surviving siblings, and that this was the 15th episode of the 15th season? Could be coincidence, though.

Episode 16: Kevin the Steamie

Written by Laurie Israel and Rachel Ruderman

If Big Belle made it onto the worst episodes of this season according to the SiF Poll, how come Kevin the Steamie didn't second time round? Let's get this outta the way: "Thomas and Percy didn't want Kevin to feel badly."

You know that moment in Equestria Girls where Sunset Shimmer scowls after looking at the clipboard (even though this was produced two years after this episode and written way better, but I digress)? I'm sure that's how many of us reacted when Michael (Angelis or Brandon) read that from the script he was provided. I honestly feel bad for the children who had to learn grammar from watching that crap!

But that aside, the real problem this episode faces is Kevin's actions, and the fact that he suffers zero consequences for playing in a dangerous environment! Actions like that could easily be imitated by kids, possibly resulting in a fatality! Also, why is oil called "gloopy goo"? It was in an oil drum, for Gawdry's sake!

Stay well away from this failure.

Season 15 Final Thoughts

Well, how could I sum up this season? Atrocious? Inappropriate? Morally bankrupt? All of them could be good matches, as well as lots of other things I can't be bothered to list. Every episode was poorly written - even the good ones were problematic - but the worst problem they faced was that they were written for children! They are impressionable, and they will imitate what they see on the screen, and the parents won't be around to help them learn right from wrong. I, personally, would never let my children watch this season, especially not Kevin the Steamie, James to the Rescue, or Fiery Flynn.

Thomas and Friends was a great show in its heyday - and right now, it is - because of the storytelling and fantastic morals. Neither were present during season 15 (except maybe in Edward the Hero), and it was that point we, the fandom, agreed that enough was enough, and it was time for the show to change. Thankfully, we got change for the better. Big ones.

Episodes from Worst to Least Bad

20. Fiery Flynn (-8/10)
19. James to the Rescue (-5/10)
18. Kevin the Steamie (-3/10)
17. Wonky Whistle (0/10
16. Up, Up and Away!
15. Tree Trouble (1/10)
14. Happy Hiro
13.Let It Snow
12. Percy's New Friends (2/10)
11. Gordon and Ferdinand
10. Spencer the Grand
9. Big Belle (3/10)
8. Percy the Snowman
7. Emily and Dash
6. Stuck on You
5. Toby and Bash (4/10)
4. Edward the Hero
3. Surprise, Surprise (5/10)
2. Henry's Happy Coal (6/10)
1. Stop That Bus!

Season 15 Overall Rating: 1.5/10

Thomas and Friends Season 14: The Remaining Episodes and Overall

Last time, I finished off season 13 - literally and metaphorically - this time, we're finishing up season 14. It's often regarded as the least bad of the Nitrogen seasons... is it? That's what I'm here to find out!

All episodes written by Sharon Miller, except where noted.

Episode 2: James in the Dark

Written by Mark Robertson

Engines wear lamps for a very important reason; they're to help their crews see in the dark, and they also help signalmen to identify what sort of train they're pulling. James has also worn lamps before, so why is he fussing about wearing one now? Surely he should know their importance, especially as he (and most other engines) gained one in season 17! It's also strange that he wouldn't know who Thomas and Edward were; perhaps their voices were a clue?

If there's anything I can't complain about, it's that Sodor looks lovely at night - just a shame that they didn't have station lights on or the fireboxes glowing. The plot was ridiculously contrived on a lot of levels and could've done with a lot of proofreading. Or if you want this plot done better, try Toad's Bright Idea.

Episode 3: Pingy Pongy Pick Up

Written by Miranda Larson

Yes, let's get this outta the way - Thomas shouldn't be deciding which engine gets which job. That should be the Fat Controller's task. Besides, "this is [HIS] railway and [HE] give[s] the orders!" But let's face it; continuity is barely existent within the Nitrogen era, so that is to be expected, but it can't be excused.

As for the rest of the episode, it's... okay, at best. But yeah, it was rather stupid that Percy's truck would derail rather than be pulled apart to splinters, and it was handled better in No Help at All since the truck hit a loose stone on the points. Of course, the near miss was fantastically done and very funny. But why would laundry be hung outside on a moving steam locomotive? Surely, they'd get dirty all over again?

Episode 6: Henry's Health and Safety

An episode about railway health and safety, huh? Interesting idea. Did they pull it off?

Well, they did show the dangers of leaving trucks on the mainline and not a siding, but how could Henry's siderod have broken in the collision? And Hiro shows up because... convenience. Although how on earth would Henry not know what health and safety was? He's an older engine, surely he knows what it is! To be fair, Victor exclaiming "Bam!" was very funny.

For all of its faults, it is one of Henry's better starring roles, and I'd say it's worth a few watches.

Episode 9: Victor Says Yes

Written by Denise Cassar

So, this episode brought forth the return of Arry and Bert... okay, except that they do literally nothing except moan about not getting their valves repaired quickly enough. You can replace them with James and Henry or whoever and nothing would change.

Honestly, I never really saw this episode as great. Sure, Victor got a starring role, but the end result was predictable. Shut up, engines - we know what you need, you don't need to bloody repeat it! I don't understand why this episode is popular; it's really boring and is better left forgotten about.

Episode 10: Thomas in Charge

Written by Mark Daydy

Thomas is assigned a thing, he screws it up three times over with "help" from Percy and Mavis, a crash takes place when you could see it a mile away, Thomas makes up for his mistake, and the Fat Controller's railway is deemed best. The end.

Episode 15: Thomas' Crazy Day

Remember my Ol' Wheezy Wobbles review? I said that the Logging Locos were considered by many to be the worst characters of the show, but I feel that's a huge understatement. I, personally, don't hate them, but nor do I really care for them. But yeah, Ferdinand is quite bland with his "catchphrase" being repeated every twenty seconds, something you'd never catch me doing.

For the rest of the episode, it was actually nice of Thomas to actually care for Percy, but shouldn't he have figured out by now that work comes before play? And yeah, Ferdinand exclaiming "This is not right" as Cranky lifted him was hilarious, but the episode on the whole is really dull.

Episode 16: Jumping Jobi Wood!

Oh, Dash was right with this episode - "just plain crazy!"

To be fair, we did get a funny moment near the beginning where Ferdinand calls the Fat Controller "boss", but why would he get upset at being called "boss" and yet he doesn't flinch when he's called "Fat Controller" in the UK? Of course, there's Edward - what the hell have they done with you in this episode? How could he be scared of Misty Island when he'd been there in a special better left forgotten about?! And how did he not suffer damage when the logs hit his boiler?

No, Thomas, Ol' Wheezy and Hee Haw will cause trouble for you and Edward - in fact, Misty Island's nothing but a damned death trap! Machinery being in such condition would've appalled even the most incompetent health and safety inspector! People could be injured or worse, killed! I used to find this funny, but now, it's just outright stupid.

Episode 19: Jitters and Japes

Wait, hold on a minute - Toby actually being wise in a Miller script? How could I have not seen it coming? Nor did I expect to see Thomas actually ask him for help. And yes, any time Dowager Hatt shows up in the CGI series, Keith Wickham puts on quite a show. I don't like how Annie and Clarabel are treated as if they're mute in this era; surely they could've given Thomas advice! Other than that, the episode's pretty dull no thanks to the rhyming and alliteration.

Season 14 Final Thoughts

Was this season any improvement over the previous? A little bit, but the writing was just as bad as ever. This marked the debut of the most infamous characters to ever set wheel on the show, and it did bring forth a bit more variety in leading roles, but Thomas still keeps showing up just because. Next week, we're finishing up the most infamous season of the show... season 15. Yay(!)

Episodes from Worst to Least Bad

20. Thomas and the Snowman Party (-3/10)

19. Jumping Jobi Wood! (0/10)

18. Thomas and Scruff

17. Henry's Magic Box

16. Pop Goes Thomas

15. Diesel's Special Delivery (1/10)

14. Thomas' Tall Friend

13. Toby and the Whistling Woods

12. Charlie and Eddie

11. Merry Winter Wish

10. Thomas in Charge

9. Victor Says Yes (3/10)

8. O the Indignity

7. James in the Dark

6. Thomas' Crazy Day (4/10)

5. Jitters and Japes (5/10)

4. Merry Misty Island

3. Pingy Pongy Pick Up (6/10)

2. Henry's Health and Safety (7/10)

1. Being Percy (8/10)

Season 14 Overall Rating: 2.5/10

Thomas and Friends Season 13: The Remaining Episodes and Overall

I'm sorry I'm not writing up Thomas reviews as often as I'd like to. Once again, college is getting in my way of life and my family and I will be moving state within the next two months, which means some reviews might be pushed to the back burner even further (and that includes that Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure review, which I swear I promise I'll get done before August at the latest).

Also, there's gonna be a shift in my review schedule; My Little Pony reviews will now be up on Tuesdays and the remaining Thomas reviews will be on Fridays (I know today's Saturday, but that doesn't really matter), and I'll try and accomplish that as best as I can. For the season six hiatus MLP will be undergoing after my Spice Up Your Life review which will come on June 14, I might fill up those Tuesdays with Thomas reviews. So, without further delays or ado, let's kick off by finishing up the Nitrogen era!

All episodes written by Sharon Miller, except as noted.

Episode 1: Creaky Cranky

So, the first episode in full CGI and... it stunk. For one, why would Thomas and Cranky be so petty over their respective strengths? Cranky lifts a lot of stuff all the time and Thomas has pulled heavy loads before, so what? And how can a flatbed of haybales or timber be considered heavy? Again, Thomas has pulled heavier loads before and since! What, are the flatbeds made of lead or something?

I didn't even bother watching this episode again as I can tell what happens. Then again, that will go to at least a majority of the remaining Nitrogen episodes...

Episode 4: Double Trouble

You know what I found surprising about this episode? Thomas is actually in line with his true persona, although again, it was most likely coincidental rather than intentional. No, the blame goes to Sir Lowham Hatt for behaving so childishly, but how did he get his knighthood for acting the way he does? Topham got his for his services to the North Western Railway. He is kind of funny, but he should've gotten some consequences for his actions but... nope.

It's sort of a case of "so stupid, it's funny," but it isn't enough to salvage the writing.

Episode 6: The Early Bird

Written by David Richard Fox

Yes, I know - Thomas has pulled mail trains in the past, and this episode feverishly goes against that. I suppose you could argue that he hasn't pulled mail trains for a while, but Thomas should at least know how to take them! It feels a lot like Edward and the Mail, only that made a certain degree of sense since Edward hadn't pulled mail vans before, even though he could've had some experience, but I digress. And yes, obviously - duh! - a whistle is loud, and they're supposed to be because they alert people that a train is coming!

Unlike Henry and the Wishing Tree, where I believe this episode could've still worked with Henry, this could've worked if they'd given the lead role to, say, Rosie, since she'd never had a starring role in CGI? I know this has nothing to do with anything, but I have a big problem with the American voice dub, especially during this era; the characters' voices sound extremely forced and unnatural, whereas in the later CGI era, they sound more natural and feel enthusiastic about their job.

Episode 8: Thomas and the Pigs

Written by Allan Plenderleith

Think of this as Thomas the Babysitter, only six years earlier (could be seven, but I digress), it feels like an hour rather than four and a half minutes, is written stupidly, is a clone of The Lion of Sodor, does not focus on real railway operations but animals instead, and with the three-strikes formula used poorly. Only positive is the piglets looking adorable - that's it.

Episode 10: Percy's Parcel

Written by Robyn Charteris

It's almost impossible to find Percy an annoying character. Sure, he's a bit childish at times, but there's always a charm to him even in the worst era of Thomas history. But yeah, it is rather stupid that a package would be on a flatbed rather than a vent van, but then, we'd have no story. In fairness, Mavis did have a nice role in comforting Percy, even though it was brief. And yes, I'll bring this up; why did the Fat Controller leave the sheds after giving Thomas his job and then return to give Percy his task? Wouldn't it have made better sense to give both engines their jobs at once? It barely takes any thought, you know. And how did Rocky drop his crate... just because? And how did Dowager Hatt's painting stay intact through all the present went through? Is there protection that I didn't know about? That said, the crates did look wonderful.

The plot's okay, but the writing seriously needs work.

Episode 14: Steamy Sodor

Now this is a little more interesting. A lot of people have often considered it one of season 13's highlights. Does that ring true?

To some extent, it does. But there are problems the episode faces - like, why does Thomas have to keep saying "Victor's away today, I'm in charge", or something to that extent, to every engine that arrives at the Steamworks? We can see that! And if James' funnel was blocked, why didn't another engine bring him to the Steamworks? Surely it would've caused a blockage or worse!

I'll admit that Spencer's coal mustache was very funny, and it did bring forth a sense of railway realism with the ashtray and industry with the Steamworks. And yes, the humor with Kevin was actually quite funny. The episode is certainly a good watch, but it needs some reworking.

Episode 16: The Biggest Present of All

So, this is the episode where Hiro makes a "grand" (by that, I mean permanent) return to Sudrian metals and Thomas wants to give him a gift to celebrate his return, which is rather genuine of him to do so.

But... that's it, as the rest of the episode is quite dull. Despite Thomas' kindness, why would he think slate or a shed would make good presents? A bell I could understand to some extent, but slate? The plot, as I've said, is rather boring, but at least the moral about friends being the greatest gift is a strong, relevant moral.

Episode 20: Helping Hiro

And so we come to a close with the final episode season 13, and it's quite underwhelming, really. I mean, if Hiro is Master of the Railway, why would he give the engines orders when he couldn't have been bothered to ask the Fat Controller in the first place? It just feels like The Green Controller, only this doesn't contain something that people will remember this episode for (the season 10 episode had James in a bumblebee livery). Out of the Nitrogen finales, it's definitely the least bad, but it's still very forgettable.

Season 13 Final Thoughts

Holy hell, was this season a chore to sit through. With plots you can't care for, the redundancy of the alliteration and rhyming, and not to mention the constant shoehorning of Thomas when he doesn't belong in a plot (seriously, he takes up 65% of the starring roles!), for the first CGI season, it's something you should stay well away from. Don't get me wrong, every now and then you get something memorable like Tickled Pink or A Blooming Mess, but for the most part, this season is really boring to sit through, and it might be worse than season 15 when I get to its final six episodes (that could also apply to season 16, but that's not for another three weeks).

Note that some ratings have changed since I reviewed the episodes.

Episodes from Worst to Least Bad

20. Buzzy Bees (-5/10)

19. Thomas and the Runaway Kite (-3/10)

18. Splish, Splash, Splosh! (0/10)

17. Time for a Story (1/10)

16. Slippy Sodor

15. Toby's New Whistle

14. Henry's Good Deeds

13. Play Time

12. The Lion of Sodor

11. Thomas and the Pigs

10. The Early Bird (2/10)

9. Creaky Cranky

8. Hiro Helps Out

7. The Biggest Present of All (3/10)

6. Double Trouble

5. Snow Tracks

4. Percy's Parcel (4/10)

3. Steamy Sodor (6/10)

2. A Blooming Mess (7/10)

1. Tickled Pink (9/10)

Season 13 Overall Rating: 2/10