Percy and the Trousers vs. A Scarf for Percy

I don't plan on reviewing Railway Series stories individually, but I feel like doing so as one story from Henry the Green Engine just feels out of place. The story in question is Percy and the Trousers, and I'll also be reviewing its TV counterpart, A Scarf for Percy.

THE OPINIONS, THOUGHTS AND MUSINGS IN THIS BLOG POST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF ZACK WANZER, NOT THE THOMAS FANDOM IN GENERAL

Henry the Green Engine is the only Railway Series book to date that has five stories instead of the standard four. Does more mean better? Not always, and Percy and the Trousers showed why; it had nothing to do with Henry! Yes, Gordon's Whistle featured Gordon as the main character, but at least it actually had continued from The Flying Kipper and brought up Henry's accident in said story, plus it expanded upon his jealousy and frustration towards Henry!

As for Percy and the Trousers, the basic story is that Percy wants a scarf around his funnel to keep warm, even after Henry tells him otherwise (the big green engine's sole contribution to the story). Percy then crashes into a luggage trolley and gets covered in jam... and the Fat Controller's trousers are wrapped around his funnel!

The TV adaptation, A Scarf for Percy, largely adapts the same story, but with a few additions; there's a scene at Tidmouth Sheds with Thomas and Percy waiting impatiently for the firelighter, and they try thinking about warm things when Percy imagines a scarf around his funnel, which Thomas finds amusing. Meanwhile, the Fat Controller looks forward to showing some visitors around the island and has pressed his best trousers so he change into them for the photographs. What I like is how it builds up to the two subplots actually coming together at the climax.

The rest of the story continues normally with a few additions; Henry is taking the visitors' train since it was never explained who took it, and the Fat Controller waits anxiously for his luggage. After his accident, Percy meets with James, who finds the little green engine's predicament amusing, and leaves to tell Henry about it. Afterward, Percy is cleaned and the firelighter promises to come earlier tomorrow. Henry feels sorry for Percy and tells him that the weather will be warmer tomorrow so Percy won't need a scarf, to which he agrees to.

Seasons three and four contained other stories that were left out of the first two; for example, Paint Pots and Queens was fairly good, but it might've been better if it was the season one finale, and The Trouble with Mud was a pointless adaptation. Bulls Eyes is also a loyal adaptation, but it was in the wrong place, and Daisy was never seen afterwards, except for a cameo Calling All Engines. As for A Scarf for Percy... I actually believe it makes sense for it to be held back since the original had little to do with Henry! Whether it was intentional or not, I like it either way.