This episode was requested by Omeed Mirhakkak/GordonsExpress. If you have any requests for episodes you'd like me to tackle, do leave a comment below, or send me a private message. Also, read the list of reviews that I'll never do to understand there are episodes I won't do.
THE OPINIONS, THOUGHTS AND MUSINGS IN THIS BLOG POST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF ZACK WANZER, NOT THE THOMAS FANDOM IN GENERAL
So, here we are with another episode from the infamously bad 15th series of Thomas and Friends. James to the Rescue was heinously awful with loads of unfortunate implications, the other three are obvious. As for Henry's Happy Coal... well, let's get on with it.
Henry's Happy Coal
Written by Sharon Miller
Henry's Happy Coal ranked #24 in my Top 25 Miller Era Episodes list; that's not very high considering the bad writing of season 15. Yes, we've already established that Henry needing special coal is pointless, blah blah blah, episode order. But I just want to focus on the story itself, which isn't too bad, really.
The Fat Controller assigns Henry to collect an important visitor from Brendam Docks and show him the Steamworks, the Search and Rescue Center, and the Duke and Duchess of Boxford's summerhouse. Once again, Thomas' role is completely pointless; without him, the episode would still be the same, as would many episodes where his role is pointless. At the docks, Henry picks up the important visitor and later refills on special coal close to the Steamworks. There, Arry and Bert mock him for needing special coal.
I'd like to take this moment to say that I don't like Arry and Bert, and I never did even when I was younger. To be fair, seeing them again is fine, but this is the only episode in the Nitrogen era they even did anything. Unwilling to take in embarrassment from their bullying, Henry takes on regular coal instead, but when arriving back at the Steamworks (why didn't he go tender first?) he begins coughing and Arry and Bert mock him again before Victors shoos them.
Soon, Henry takes the visitor to the Search and Rescue Center, and by this point, his paintwork is covered in soot, very much like in Out of Puff from the Railway Series. If only Overhaul was adapted in some way...! After more mocking from Arry and Bert, Henry takes the visitor to the Duke and Duchess' summerhouse. By this point, black smoke is billowing from Henry's funnel and the visitor is covered in soot. The Fat Controller tells Henry that the visitor - a railway coal inspector (do they exist, I can't tell?) - came to see him because his use of special coal makes Henry special. That's actually a good moral there from Sharon Miller, especially considering the rancid morals in James to the Rescue and Day of the Diesels; the moral is that being different from the rest makes you unique. I need a moment to let it sink in...
After getting cleaned, Henry fills up on his special coal. Even if Arry and Bert tease him, Henry brushes it aside and shows the railway coal inspector how he runs. After showing him around again, Henry comes across Arry and Bert who have run out of diesel fuel, and even if they bullied him, Henry kindly agrees to help them to the fuel depot, almost like James Goes Too Far in season eight - don't kick a man when he's down.
In spite of the flaws I mentioned and those I didn't bother with (Henry's lack of fireman, Arry and Bert not doing their work, etc.) this is one of the better episodes of season 15. I think the morals that I've mentioned do raise my opinion on the episode significantly. I wouldn't exactly watch the episode over and over again, perhaps on the odd occasion, but I do enjoy it to an extent. Even if outdated, a Railway Series reference is always enjoyable. I also think people should appreciate that this is the last episode that claims Henry needs special coal.
The Fat Controller assigns Henry to collect an important visitor from Brendam Docks and show him the Steamworks, the Search and Rescue Center, and the Duke and Duchess of Boxford's summerhouse. Once again, Thomas' role is completely pointless; without him, the episode would still be the same, as would many episodes where his role is pointless. At the docks, Henry picks up the important visitor and later refills on special coal close to the Steamworks. There, Arry and Bert mock him for needing special coal.
I'd like to take this moment to say that I don't like Arry and Bert, and I never did even when I was younger. To be fair, seeing them again is fine, but this is the only episode in the Nitrogen era they even did anything. Unwilling to take in embarrassment from their bullying, Henry takes on regular coal instead, but when arriving back at the Steamworks (why didn't he go tender first?) he begins coughing and Arry and Bert mock him again before Victors shoos them.
Soon, Henry takes the visitor to the Search and Rescue Center, and by this point, his paintwork is covered in soot, very much like in Out of Puff from the Railway Series. If only Overhaul was adapted in some way...! After more mocking from Arry and Bert, Henry takes the visitor to the Duke and Duchess' summerhouse. By this point, black smoke is billowing from Henry's funnel and the visitor is covered in soot. The Fat Controller tells Henry that the visitor - a railway coal inspector (do they exist, I can't tell?) - came to see him because his use of special coal makes Henry special. That's actually a good moral there from Sharon Miller, especially considering the rancid morals in James to the Rescue and Day of the Diesels; the moral is that being different from the rest makes you unique. I need a moment to let it sink in...
After getting cleaned, Henry fills up on his special coal. Even if Arry and Bert tease him, Henry brushes it aside and shows the railway coal inspector how he runs. After showing him around again, Henry comes across Arry and Bert who have run out of diesel fuel, and even if they bullied him, Henry kindly agrees to help them to the fuel depot, almost like James Goes Too Far in season eight - don't kick a man when he's down.
In spite of the flaws I mentioned and those I didn't bother with (Henry's lack of fireman, Arry and Bert not doing their work, etc.) this is one of the better episodes of season 15. I think the morals that I've mentioned do raise my opinion on the episode significantly. I wouldn't exactly watch the episode over and over again, perhaps on the odd occasion, but I do enjoy it to an extent. Even if outdated, a Railway Series reference is always enjoyable. I also think people should appreciate that this is the last episode that claims Henry needs special coal.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10
Thomas & Friends Season 15 Scorecard (out of 10 possible points)
6. James to the Rescue: 0.5
8. Up, Up and Away!: -3
9. Henry's Happy Coal: 5.5
9. Henry's Happy Coal: 5.5
17. Wonky Whistle: -5
20. Fiery Flynn: -3
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