OPINIONS IN THIS BLOG ARE SOLELY MY OWN; THEY DON'T REFLECT ON THOSE BY THE THOMAS FANDOM ON WHOLE
As we all know, season 15 was the lowest point in Thomas history, and like season 14 before it and season 16 after, it had its own Christmas DVD release. Unlike last time, I'll also be throwing in a US-only DVD with the season 16 winter episodes as seen in the UK version of Merry Christmas, Thomas!
Merry Christmas, Thomas!/A Very Thomas Christmas/Big Bang Surprise
Released October 11, 2011 (MCT US)/October 9, 2012 (AVTC)/October 28, 2013 (MCT/BBS UK)
Directed by Greg Tiernan
Episodes Written by Sharon Miller, Lizzie Ennever, and Max Allen (MCT UK/AVTC)
"Big Bang Surprise" Episodes Written by Jessica Kedward and Kirsty Peart, Gerard Foster, Max Allen, and Sharon Miller
Episodes Featured (US Only)
Let it Snow
Surprise, Surprise
Episodes Featured (US/UK)
Percy the Snowman
Tree Trouble
Episodes Featured (Merry Christmas, Thomas! UK/A Very Thomas Christmas US)
The Christmas Tree Express
Ho Ho Snowman
Salty's Surprise
Emily's Winter Party Special
Big Bang Surprise Episodes Featured (UK Exclusive)
Sodor Surprise Day
Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor
Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor
Percy and the Calliope
Happy Birthday, Sir!
Percy and the Monster of Brendam
Merry Christmas, Thomas!/A Very Thomas Christmas
The US has all four winter-themed episodes of season 15. Percy the Snowman was okay-ish for me, but it's still not good, whilst Tree Trouble was a fair episode for me, but the steam vs. diesel tones are getting very old. The season 16 winter episodes were featured on A Very Thomas Christmas for the US, and they were carried over onto Merry Christmas, Thomas! for the UK. The Christmas Tree Express and Ho Ho Snowman are obviously the worst, and in Salty's Surprise, why would a tree be carried in Edward's cab? Emily's Winter Party Special was, for me, the least bad of the season 16 winter episodes.
For the special features on Merry Christmas, Thomas!, the US has the Christmas Gift Matching game, while the UK has the Down at the Station segment on points, and the Guess Who puzzles are of Den and Dart together, and Rheneas. As for A Very Thomas Christmas, we get the Thomas' Christmas Journey game, and its Guess Who puzzles are of Charlie, Thomas, and Emily. In both US releases on digital download, the bonus episode is Buzzy Bees, which should literally buzz off.
On both versions of Merry Christmas, Thomas!, Mr. Perkins struggles to keep warm in the common room without any coal, but Thomas helps out with some coal of his own whilst snowed in at Knapford Station. In A Very Thomas Christmas, Mr. Perkins tries to get some sleep for an inspector's tour with Gordon in the morning, but has little luck.
And now we get to the UK's trump card; a bonus DVD!
Big Bang Surprise
For the episodes, Sodor Surprise Day is just stupid and dangerous, like the fireworks could've killed somebody! Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor is just boring, and considering Gerard Foster also wrote Percy's New Friends, why am I not surprised? Percy and the Calliope, however, is the gem of the UK release, for reasons I bet you know why. Happy Birthday, Sir! was also quite nice with the flashback of a young Topham Hatt (I don't believe he'd be the Fat Controller back then), and the old coach was nicely rendered. Percy and the Monster of Brendam is okay but not great, nothing more. One thing I must note - why was Bust My Buffers left out?
For its special features, the Down at the Station segment is about engines, and the Guess Who puzzles are Thomas and Percy together, and the Fat Controller. Its Mr. Perkins segment is the only one not to be released in America, in which he is asked by the Fat Controller to put on a show for his grandchildren.
Which version would I buy?
The only one worth the money would have to be Merry Christmas, Thomas!/Big Bang Surprise for the UK market. It's a hollow victory; the US version of Merry Christmas, Thomas! wasn't much better to Merry Winter Wish, and nor was A Very Thomas Christmas. Considering both US DVD releases are in full-screen, it also affects their scores.
Merry Christmas, Thomas! US DVD Rating:
3/10
A Very Thomas Christmas DVD Rating:
3.5/10
Merry Christmas, Thomas!/Big Bang Surprise UK DVD Rating:
7/10
Tomorrow: Santa's Little Engine - US vs. UK
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