TTTE S16E10 - Percy and the Calliope

Well, yesterday, we took out my personal best of season 13; this time, we're taking out my personal best of season 16, the last season which we were afflicted to awful writing.

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

Season 16, Episode 10

Percy and the Calliope
Written by Max Allen

A lot of people say that season 16 is good, or at least, an improvement over the last three seasons. Do I agree with that statement? Well, I'll review this episode now and deal with the other nineteen later.

Percy has been sent to work with Diesel to collect scrap and take it to the smelter's yard. One of their stops is at the Duke and Duchess of Boxford's summerhouse; there, the Duchess tells Percy that what she and the Duke have is a calliope - a musical organ that played at summer fairs years ago, but has been left outside to rust. Wait, did I just hear them say a complicated word and explain what that means? Please tell me I'm being trolled by Greg and Max...! ... Okay, just kidding. Moving on.

Percy wants to hear the calliope play music, but Diesel is insistent on getting on with his job and having the calliope scrapped; in Diesel's case, just doing his job is a rarity in the Nitrogen era. That's another thing I like about this episode - the Percy/Diesel dynamic. We've seen them interact with other characters like Duck in Diesel Does it Again, but here, it's just Percy and Diesel, and the chemistry between the optimistic green tank engine and the grouchy black diesel shunter works brilliantly. This also happens in Disappearing Diesels with Paxton in Percy's place... Oh, damn, I've gone off track, haven't I?

*rimshot*

Speaking of Disappearing Diesels, as the two engines stop because Percy needs water, he backs up hoping water would make the calliope work while his fireman was on his saddle tank! (Or was it the driver, I can't tell?) Not only can engines not move by themselves, but moving while a person is on them is dangerous and it could result in injuries! And people thought season five was terrifying...

Later, they stop again so Percy can fill up on coal, and he backs up hoping it will make the calliope play, but it only results in him getting dirty. At a crossing, Percy sees the Fat Controller's assistants helping him to get his car running (about time they did something) and gets the idea that pushing the calliope would get it to work. Yes, it's a three-striker, but actually, in a good way as it plays a role in the moral - if at first you don't succeed, try and try again. For the first time in a Nitrogen era (and sadly, the only time) the three-strikes formula was needed, while in most of the other 79 (even in the good ones) it just annoyed the hell out of everyone.

Once again, the calliope fails to play, its coupling snaps and crashes unrealistically at the bottom of Gordon's hill. I'm surprised it stayed intact! Diesel laughs when Percy whistles sadly, saying it's the only music he's heard all day, which gives Percy yet another idea...

After getting the calliope back on the rails... somehow... Percy has a hose connected from his cylinder drain (well done for using locomotive terminology!) to the calliope, and Diesel laughs too soon, especially when the calliope plays a remix of the classic Thomas theme. The Fat Controller hears it and sends Percy to have the calliope restored, especially since it's a part of Sodor's history.

There's the usual problems; the alliteration, excessive use of the narrator, and there's that dangerous scene with the driver/fireman on Percy while he moved backwards. Apart from those problems, this is a fantastic episode. While people might be thinking S16 is good, Percy and the Calliope is certainly a shining star of the season. Without the problems I mentioned, this episode would be perfect, but it still earns a respectable rating from me.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10
(it was originally a 9.5/10 before I took off 1 point due to the Wonky Whistle-esque scene)

Thomas and Friends Season 16 Scorecard

10. Percy and the Calliope: 8.5

TTTE S13E3 - Tickled Pink

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

Season 13, Episode 3

Tickled Pink
Written by Allan Plenderleith

When the music video for Roll Along first came out in 2010, we were treated to clips of season 13, and among them was... a pink James? No, this isn't a joke; it's the real deal. When the clips were confirmed to come from Tickled Pink, I had a feeling it felt like Henry Sees Red (or is it James Sees Pink in this case? :P) from the Railway Series book Henry and the Express, and guess what? I'd been right, but then, many fans were as well. So let's talk about it.

The Fat Controller sends James to the Steamworks for a new coat of paint. There, James' old coat is sanded off and a pink undercoat is applied. This is another reason the switchover to CGI was extremely beneficial; it can do things that the models can't, like showing the workmen stripping the engines' paint and applying it. But before James can have his new coat of red paint, he's called in to take over for Emily after she breaks down to take the Fat Controller's granddaughter and her friends for her birthday. James feels embarrassed to be out and about in pink paint (like being outside in nothing but your pajamas, I bet), especially since he thinks it's a silly color. Yeah, tell that to Pinkie Pie, and see what happens!

After Emily giggles at the sight of a pink James, the (once) red engine tries to hide so the other engines don't see him, but he has little luck when Toby spots him hiding under the trees after Gordon whooshes by with the express (yes, OOC for Toby, but again, minor distraction!), and when Diesel shunts trucks away exposing James. (How he didn't see James, I'll never know.) The last straw comes when James sees Gordon coming (again) and he hides in the tunnel, but this is flawed since he and Gordon are on the same track (Thomas and Percy have no reason to be here, by the way). Once again, the three engines laugh at him.

Realizing he has to pick up the pace, James decides to get on with his job even when Spencer and Henry laugh at him. When he finally reaches Maithwaite, James fears the children will laugh at him as well, but they don't; pink is their favorite color, much to his relief! He makes it to Town Hall just in time, and the children cheer for him.

Every now and then, a good season can have a few duds, a bad season can sometimes have shining gems. It's the same case with Tickled Pink for the latter, pretty much like Sand Castles in the Sand from SpongeBob's sixth season, which gave us the grotesque effects of a splinter (as well as ripping off a toenail that should've been cut), a ratings-trap that killed half of the fanbase, and gave off some of the worst cases of Squidward torture without reason.

As for Tickled Pink, it has its flaws, but the story is otherwise really good - even if it's from a really crappy season - and the best out of the Nitrogen era (I know I said Percy and the Calliope was #2 in the Top 25 Miller Era Episodes list, some opinions have changed since, and I'll review it tomorrow).

Rating: 9 out of 10

Thomas and Friends Season 13 Scorecard

3. Tickled Pink: 9

TTTE S7E23 - Gordon and Spencer

Running low on introductions to every review. Erm, will Happy Thursday please you? Ah well, let's get on with it!

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

Season 7, Episode 23

Gordon and Spencer
Written by Lee Pressman

One morning, a Duke and Duchess are coming to Sodor, and Gordon hopes that the Fat Controller will choose him as their special engine. As he heads off to pick them up, he's diverted onto a siding to let another engine pass. This engine is big, silver, and very fast, surprising Gordon with his sudden appearance. The engine is Spencer, a Gresley A4 pacific, and he's the Duke and Duchess' private engine. Interesting that two engines both built by the same designer for the LNER are rivals, isn't it?

A party is being held for the Duke and Duchess at Maron, far away over Gordon's hill (kudos for using the map!) and although Gordon suggests that he take on water, Spencer ignores Gordon and leaves to pick up the Duke and Duchess. Poor Gordon... no, seriously. We're so used to his arrogance by this point, and you never imagine you'd have to side with him for once, kind of like Rainbow Dash in Wonderbolts Academy.

Because Spencer ignored Gordon's warning, he runs out of water on the hill and Gordon is called in to help, much to the blue pacific's amusement. Even so, he helps Spencer get to Maron and they arrive on time, although Spencer keeps very quiet while the Fat Controller praises Gordon.

For once in one of his starring roles, Gordon actually comes out on top in the end; he feels hurt when Spencer ignores his advice, but when Spencer runs out of water, Gordon helps him and wins in the end. That got right what the ending with Emily in Duck and the Slip Coaches didn't; the character who was hurt from the start (well, more near the middle, since that was when Emily appeared) comes out on top in the end. An issue I didn't pick up on was Spencer's driver not allowing his engine to stop for water; very minor, and it could've been fixed easily, but whatever.

Gordon and Spencer isn't perfect, but the story is still very strong, as is the moral, and that's what matters here. Definitely my other favorite of season seven, and I feel it's worth watching.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Thomas and Friends Season 7 Scorecard

1. Emily's New Coaches: 10
23. Gordon and Spencer: 10

TTTE S5E15 - Something in the Air

Here we go with Henry's next episode to be reviewed!

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

Season 5, Episode 15

Something in the Air
Written by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton

A crate of fish falls on top of Thomas while his vans are being loaded with crates for Henry to take on the Flying Kipper. Thomas isn't happy about smelling like fish, and considering Thomas Goes Fishing, I can see why. He then runs along the coastal track and is flagged down because high tides are damaging the track, so his guard puts up an oil lamp to warn engines. Later in the evening, Henry berates Thomas for being late and ignores his warning about the coastal track being dangerous. Yeah, I go with what I said earlier, only this time, it's a callback to Thomas and the Guard. One minor nitpick though; how'd it take Thomas all day to get to the docks? Maybe if it was early in the evening, it'd make better sense.

Meanwhile, Thomas' crew tells the yardmaster that Henry shouldn't take the coastal track, and when he phones the signalman, the noise from Henry passing by the signalbox prevents him from hearing the yardmaster properly; when he finally gets the message, however, it's already too late. When Henry arrives at the coastal track, the fog rolls in and he is unable to see, but when he can, it's too late to stop in time and he takes a dunking into the sea (how he went that far, I'll never know).

The following morning, Henry is rescued and placed on a barge (by tugboats formerly known as the Z Stacks), and the Fat Controller scolds him by telling him he's meant to deliver fish, not swim with them. (I'm surprised the signalman didn't get told off as well.) Henry feels even worse when some boys think he's a monster among the fish, but when Thomas brings him to the works for a washdown, Henry feels better and apologizes for being rude to Thomas, who then has a poke at him by asking about the smell... it's fresh air.

Nearly every time the Flying Kipper appears, it always gets into an accident in some way, shape or form. It never reappeared until season 17's The Smelly Kipper (apart from a fleeting mention in Whiff's Wish) possibly because the stories involving the Kipper would've gone stale. This story definitely wouldn't feel out of place in the books (possibly except for Thomas' role) and it's one of season five's best.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Thomas and Friends Season 5 Scorecard

15. Something in the Air: 9

TTTE S3E16 - Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party

This week, I shall be reviewing one episode each for each of the original Awdry Eight, including Duck, to tie in with Duck and the Diesel Engine. I've already done Thomas with Stop That Bus, but this time, we're going for Edward.

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

Season 3, Episode 16

Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party

Based on the magazine stories by Andrew Brenner

Adapted by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton

Trevor tells Edward that the Vicar of Wellsworth is hosting a garden party to raise money so children can go to the seaside, and that he'll be the star attraction. Edward feels left out for not taking part, which I actually understand; we all want to take part in activities that we can't attend every now and then. However, the next day, luck is on Edward's side. The problem? The Vicar had been so busy preparing for the garden party that he hadn't the time to put up posters. But Edward as a clever idea - if the Vicar pastes posters on Edward and his coaches, then everyone will know about the party.

With the Fat Controller's approval, Edward and his coaches are plastered with posters for the garden party, and everyone who now knows about it is willing to attend. (By the way, don't put posters on an engine's boiler; they will burn up.) Meanwhile, Bertie teases Trevor by calling him a stick in the mud for dozing, and the traction engine explains everything about the party after taking offense (he was resting). Bertie also boasts that people wouldn't want to ride on Trevor after riding on a smart, red bus like Bertie. Don't take that little bit too seriously just yet, as Bertie does get his comeuppance for teasing Trevor, even if it was harmless.

The night before, it had been raining, but the garden party is doing very well, and Trevor enjoys himself immensely. Meanwhile, Bertie has landed himself in trouble by getting bogged down in mud, and then Trevor and Terence come by, and the latter helps Bertie out of the mud, even if the bus thanks Trevor for helping him. Terence has no reason to be here; Trevor should've pulled Bertie out, and the story would still be the same. The garden party is a success, and the Vicar has raised enough money for the children.

Despite the couple of flaws I mentioned, this is a brilliant episode on the whole. It shows that there's much more to Sodor than railways, and road-focused stories are something we need more of, as well as air-focused and water-focused stories. Considering his appearances in episodes like Diesel Does it Again, Diesel was meant to appear in this episode, but his role was cut out, which I don't mind as he had no reason to be here, very much like Mavis and Tender Engines, but I'll get to those soon enough. Still, a pretty solid episode overall.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Thomas and Friends Season 3 Scorecard

1. A Scarf for Percy: 8.5
2. Percy's Promise: 6.5
3. Time for Trouble: 6

9. Henry's Forest: 9
10. The Trouble with Mud: 4
16. Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party: 8.5

26. Thomas and Percy's Christmas (Mountain) Adventure: 7.5 (UK) / 4 (US)

TTTE S15E13 - Stop That Bus!

This episode was requested by Mike Nicholson/ThomasandMichael. 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

Season 15, Episode 13

Stop That Bus!

Written by Sharon Miller

Stop That Bus! ranked #15 on my Top 25 Miller Episodes list, but is it as good as I said it was? Well, let's find out!

We start off with Thomas bringing tools from Brendam Docks to the Steamworks. After his task is done, he meets with Bertie the bus, who is envious of Thomas because trains can do things and see sights that buses can't. Feeling sorry for his friend, Thomas offers to give Bertie a tour of Sodor from the railway's point of view. Bertie, however, has to take Dowager Hatt and her friends to Bluff's Cove, but an insistent Thomas gives him a tour anyway. On the plus side, it's nice that Thomas is doing a good deed for his friend - for once - but on the other hand, doesn't he have his own tasks to do?

Thomas takes Bertie to the Fenland Track (where the bus befriends some of the ducks) and the top of Gordon's hill (where he gets a wonderful view). Both times, they pass Dowager Hatt, but Thomas doesn't stop, and later plans to take Bertie to Misty Island. Oh great, that deathtrap of an island... this can't be good... Anyway, Thomas introduces Bertie to the Logging Locos, and despite insisting on picking up Dowager Hatt, they insist that he sees the Shake Shake Bridge. As a result, Bertie rolls off the flatbed and gets stuck on the bridge. Despite that wretched bridge being dangerous, at least Sharon showed how dangerous it could be, but only if Bertie fell off the bridge, and it would've further got the point across.

The Fat Controller shows up on a handcart (how'd he get there?) and tells Thomas that Dowager Hatt is waiting for Bertie. Thomas then gets Harold to help rescue Bertie, and he fetches Dowager Hatt and her friends; how'd they all fit into his cab?! So ridiculous, it's funny. He brings them to Misty Island where Harold loads Bertie back onto the flatbed, and Bertie is able to have his tour with Dowager Hatt.

And that was Stop That Bus! Was it as good as I thought it was? No, but it isn't terrible either; the lack of rhyming was refreshing, and regardless if Dowager Hatt's in a good or bad episode, she's always very entertaining. There's the usual problems, and it did feel like Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out from season 10 (remind me to review that in the future!) Bertie's voice is fantastic, and Rupert Degas did a superb job; just a shame he didn't voice him for long.

Even if it isn't great, Stop That Bus! is the best episode of the worst season in Thomas history. Ironic, isn't it?

Rating: 6 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
13. Stop That Bus!: 6

17. Wonky Whistle: -5

20. Fiery Flynn: -3

RWS #12: The Eight Famous Engines

The Railway Series' twelfth entry marked the first and last of several things; the start of John T. Kenney as illustrator, the last of Awdry's simple stories, the first to bring in engines outside of Sodor, and the (intended) last book of the series.

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

(special thanks to the Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the images)

The Railway Series Book #12

The Eight Famous Engines

Written by The Rev. W. Awdry

Illustrated by John T. Kenney

Published 1957

Each of the original seven engines has had their own book (Duck is excluded, as he didn't get his own until next year), along with four extra books - one about the engines who started it all, one about Thomas' branchline, one about what happened while Thomas ran his line, and one about the Skarloey engines - but now, let's get to the book that completed the first dozen!

Dear Friends,
Sir Topham Hatt's engines are now quite famous. They have been on the radio and had many other adventures. But he had another plan, too, for his engines, and this book will tell you what it was.
The Author

Percy Takes the Plunge

Season 2, Episode 11

Percy teases Henry about his tunnel incident (Henry had sent Percy's friends away, since the shed was for NWR engines), saying that water's nothing to an engine with determination. When Thomas tells him about a danger sign, Percy ignores his friend's warning and asks the trucks to push him beyond the danger sign, which turns out to be a big mistake and Percy has a dunking in the sea, and Henry gets the last laugh.

Like I said with Percy's Promise, why are these episodes aired in the reverse order? It's just going to confuse the audience, and that was coming from a woman who said The Missing Coach would confuse kids! (Seriously, the continuity errors she caused do a fine job of that.) There's the positives like the moral on obeying orders, and it's an example to how Awdry's engines are like children in their own ways. The adaptation is fine, but it's in the wrong place. Rule of thumb - if an adaptation is in the wrong place, it's a two-point deduction; sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the severity.

RWS Rating: 8.5 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Gordon Goes Foreign

Cancelled Season 3 Episode

An argument ensures between Gordon, Duck, and a visiting engine to what the station at London is called. Gordon attempts to go there to prove it, but can't because he isn't allowed past Barrow. One day, he gets his chance when the engine due to take the express derails, and Gordon enjoys himself... until he discovers that the station he went to is St. Pancras.

This was meant to be adapted in season three, and the Foreign Engine was going to utilize Henry's model with added smoke deflectors, but the remake was cancelled due to high budgets. Really? Britt was a millionaire by this point; it could've easily been adapted and the following story would've made sense!

It's a shame it was never adapted; this is perhaps one of the best RWS stories which has never been adapted, along with Super Rescue. The conflict is believable, and the resolution was a bit amusing, if I'm honest. And no, I do not believe Duck was shoehorned; since he worked for the GWR at Paddington, his role in the argument makes sense here.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Double Header/Time for Trouble

Season 3, Episode 3

Gordon is tired after his trip in the previous story, so the Fat Controller gives James the chance to pull the express, and he brags about it to Toby. Toby, meanwhile, is on his way to the works for repairs, and when he stops for water, the new signalman refuses to listen, resulting in Toby running out of water. James is annoyed that he has to push Toby all the way to the works, and feels worse when some boys tease him!

Remember what I said about Gordon Goes Foreign not being adapted? Double Header was a continuation of the previous story, and yet in the adaptation, Gordon is tired for no reason. Seriously, if you're going to adapt the book, at least do it without continuity issues! The one positive I can draw is Toby expressing concern for Henrietta, just like a husband would with his wife; it shows they're very close.

On whole, a pretty poor adaptation, and the story that led to this should've been adapted to make this one feel better.

RWS Rating: 8.5 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 6 out of 10

The Fat Controller's Engines/Thomas and the Special Letter

Season 4, Episode 22

The Fat Controller tells his engines that they're going to England to prove that they are real, and in their place, seven other engines will take their places. Thomas works with Jinty, and he brags about his race, leading to an accident that dents his front, but he's repaired just in time for the trip.

The last three stories had continuity of their own; all would've taken place after Duck's arrival (as well as Percy's Promise), and the previous two had nothing to do with Percy Takes the Plunge, just like this story.

Onto the story/episode itself; it aired as the 100th episode of the series overall, and if I'm honest, it's a decent choice for a celebratory episode, but not without it's flaws. For one, the "engines from the other railway" - Donald, Douglas, Oliver, Mavis, BoCo, Bill and Ben - are all owned by the Fat Controller, whilst Mavis (FQC), Bill and Ben (SCC) are owned privately. Plus, Thomas smashed into buffers, not a brick wall, although the accident was nicely filmed and the music playing was fantastic.

Even with those flaws, I think the adaptation is good, even though it isn't based on the original.

RWS Rating: 9 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Stray Observations

Remember what I said about this being planned as the last book? Awdry was going to call it The Fat Controller's Engines, which would eventually be the title of book #39. One can imagine what might've happened if the series ended right there...

This is John T. Kenney's first book as illustrator, and he did a brilliant job from the get go; he knew how to draw real steam engines, although his illustrations did have the occasional flaw.

The Fat Controller's Engines (the story) said that Percy and Toby were placed on flatbeds behind Edward, and yet they're placed on the rails. Why is that?

Overall

It was another solid book; it surely gave Awdry the chance to "prove" that the engines he created were real, and it did the job. But now, we're moving away from the lighter stories and moving on to his darker era...

Overall Book Rating: 8.8 out of 10

The Railway Series Scorecard

1. The Three Railway Engines: 8.4

2. Thomas the Tank Engine: 9
3. James the Red Engine: 7.5
4. Tank Engine Thomas Again: 9.5
5. Troublesome Engines: 8.1
6. Henry the Green Engine: 8.4
7. Toby the Tram Engine: 9
8. Gordon the Big Engine: 8.6
9. Edward the Blue Engine: 9.3
10. Four Little Engines: 8.8
11. Percy the Small Engine: 8.9
12. The Eight Famous Engines: 8.8

Thomas and Friends Season 2 Scorecard

2. Cows: 8

3. Bertie's Chase: 9

4. Saved from Scrap: 9.5

5. Old Iron: 10
7. Percy and the Signal: 9
8. Duck Takes Charge: 8
9. Percy and Harold: 8.5
11. Percy Takes the Plunge: 6.5

Thomas and Friends Season 3 Scorecard

1. A Scarf for Percy: 8.5
2. Percy's Promise: 6.5
3. Time for Trouble: 6

9. Henry's Forest: 9
10. The Trouble with Mud: 4

26. Thomas and Percy's Christmas (Mountain) Adventure: 7.5 (UK) / 4 (US)

Thomas and Friends Season 4 Scorecard

5. Four Little Engines: 7
6. A Bad Day for Sir Handel: 6.5
7. Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady: 9.5
19. Henry and the Elephant: 7
22. Thomas and the Special Letter: 8.5
23. Paint Pots and Queens: 8

RWS #11: Percy the Small Engine

We're cranking the Railway Series up to 11 with Percy the small engine!

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

(special thanks to the Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the images)

The Railway Series Book #11

Four Little Engines

Written by The Rev. W. Awdry

Illustrated by C. Reginald Dalby

Published 1956

Since his arrival in Troublesome Engines, Percy has proven to be a useful asset to the Fat Controller's fleet. But now, he's got his own book for me to review, and I hope he's matured since then...!

Dear Christopher, and Giles, and Peter, and Clive,
Thank you for writing to ask for a book about Percy. He is still cheeky, and we were afraid (Sir Topham Hatt and I) that if he had a book to himself, it might make him cheekier than ever, and that would never do!

But Percy has been such a Really Useful Engine that we both think he deserves a book. Here it is.
The Author

Percy and the Signal

Season 2, Episode 7

After playing jokes on Gordon and James, Percy stays away from them for a while, but one day, he carelessly goes over to them and they tell him about "backing signals". Percy believes he sees a backing signal, and makes a fool of himself, much to Gordon's amusement.

Let's knock a couple elephants in the room out of the way:

1. The first half of the episode is not filler. That's like saying Duck should be in the Steam Team and not Emily; it's illogical. The first half was Percy playing tricks on Gordon (giving him trucks) and James (to stay in the shed as the Fat Controller wants to see him), and it builds up to the big engines getting back at him. If you cut that out, then Gordon and James would be tricking Percy for absolutely no reason.
2. Percy is not stupid in this episode; he was gullible. There's a clear difference between gullibility and idiocy. Say what you want about Percy in this episode, but at least he isn't making friends with animals or looking for monsters (I mean in S16, not Tale of the Brave).

Other than those little issues I had to deal with, I think this is a solid story, and it shows Percy's naivety perfectly. Oh, and James' face coming off? Who knew that the model makers could make such a humorous cock up?

RWS/TV Series Rating: 9 out of 10

Duck Takes Charge

Season 2, Episode 8

There's too much work for Percy at the big station, so the Fat Controller brings in a tank engine named Montague - more commonly known as Duck for his supposed waddle - to do the work for Percy. When the big engines mock Duck for his name, he and Percy get even with them by refusing to let them in the sheds until the Fat Controller tells everyone off.

SILENCE!!! ...sorry, force of habit whenever this episode is brought up. :P

Anyway, the introductory episode of Duck; now, you may be asking me if Duck and the Slip Coaches ended differently with Emily coming out on top and James had no spot in the sheds, would my opinion for Duck be different? Frankly, the answer is no. Even without that mean-spirited "joke", I'd still very much find Duck to be an overrated character because whenever he appears in the likes of Spencer's VIP or Henry's Hero, because he is all the fans talk about, along with Oliver. Honestly, if he appeared with a speaking role or cameo in Don't Be Silly, Billy, Henry's Magic Box, Thomas' Frosty Friend, or even Wonky Whistle, those episodes would still be pretty bad

Onto the actual episode/story itself; why would they say Percy and Duck were on the points when the former was on the turntable? Even as a kid, I bet that must've confused me. The quacking made by the big engines is also pretty funny. Even if the stories are of the same quality, I say the original story is better because of the shed issue.

RWS Rating: 9 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 8 out of 10

Percy and Harold

Season 2, Episode 9

Percy meets Harold the helicopter, who says that railways are slow and outdated. Percy is offended at that, and races him while on a run to the harbor. He wins, and is rewarded with a song about his victory,

It feels like the rail vs. air version of Thomas and Bertie, and although not to the same quality as said episode, Percy and Harold is still a pretty good story. There is a continuity mistake with Percy and Toby meeting at the quarry (which the little green engine wouldn't go to until Percy's Predicament) when it was Ffarquhar station in the original. But even so, the episode is still enjoyable and I'd happily watch it again.

RWS/TV Series Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Percy's Promise

Season 3, Episode 2

Thomas is busy, so Percy takes the Sunday School children home. It rains heavily, and Percy runs into trouble with a flooded paddock. Fueled by Clarabel's floorboards, Percy struggles on through the flood with supplies provided by Harold. Percy makes it safely and is praised for his heroics.

This should've stayed for season two and Percy Takes the Plunge for season three; the continuity trouble is really annoying, and it just confuses kids, especially coming from a woman who said The Missing Coach would confuse kids...! And why a brakevan behind Clarabel? Was she suffering from brake trouble, I don't know? The episode is good, but the continuity really puts me off.

RWS Rating: 9 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 6.5 out of 10

(nothing wrong the adaptation; it's just in the wrong place)

Stray Observations

This is the last book illustrated by C. Reginald Dalby; Awdry criticized him for his Percy illustrations, saying he looked like a green caterpillar with red stripes, which caused Dalby to resign. We'll get to story that influenced from that argument in fifteen books' time...

What's with Duck's windows? If he's a 57xx, then why are the windows styled after a 8750's? Was Dalby looking at the wrong type of Pannier? Yet another reason that Great Western machines have identity crisises... (If you aren't familiar with Steam Locos in Profile, you're not gonna get the reference.)

Overall

A great book featuring a great character; it's another case of the status quo changing on Sodor with Percy moving to Thomas' branchline and Duck taking over as station pilot. Then again, this happens a lot in the Railway Series.

Overall Book Rating: 8.9 out of 10

The Railway Series Scorecard

1. The Three Railway Engines: 8.4

2. Thomas the Tank Engine: 9
3. James the Red Engine: 7.5
4. Tank Engine Thomas Again: 9.5
5. Troublesome Engines: 8.1
6. Henry the Green Engine: 8.4
7. Toby the Tram Engine: 9
8. Gordon the Big Engine: 8.6
9. Edward the Blue Engine: 9.3
10. Four Little Engines: 8.8
11. Percy the Small Engine: 8.9

Thomas and Friends Season 2 Scorecard

2. Cows: 8

3. Bertie's Chase: 9

4. Saved from Scrap: 9.5

5. Old Iron: 10
7. Percy and the Signal: 9
8. Duck Takes Charge: 8
9. Percy and Harold: 8.5

Thomas and Friends Season 3 Scorecard

1. A Scarf for Percy: 8.5
2. Percy's Promise: 6.5

9. Henry's Forest: 9
10. The Trouble with Mud: 4

26. Thomas and Percy's Christmas (Mountain) Adventure: 7.5 (UK) / 4 (US)

TTTE Season 9: Rheneas and the Dinosaur, Skarloey the Brave

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

Out of all the characters who suffered from character derailment in the Miller/Barlow era, Skarloey and Rheneas were possibly among the worst - it started with a few, erm, missteps in seasons six and seven, but when they came back in season nine with Peter Sam, Rusty, and Duncan (Sir Handel would come back the following season) their characters had been completely wrecked.

So why am I tackling Rheneas and the Dinosaur and Skarloey the Brave head on together? Well, let's knock some similarities out of the way:

1. Both aired during season nine, which, in my opinion, was the TRUE point where Thomas and Friends slowly went backwards before redemption in season 17.
2. Both were also written by Paul Larson. Seriously, how on earth is he able to write good episodes like Gordon and the Engineer and Emily Saves the World - to be fair, it was a team effort with Laura Beaumont on the latter - and yet he can also write episodes like both piles of garbage?!

Alright, now let's tear them apart, shall we?

Episode 10: Rheneas and the Dinosaur

So one day, some archaeologists find some dinosaur bones, and Thomas is sent to pick up the photographer and take him to the Transfer Yards to photograph the dinosaur skeleton. Doesn't he have his branchline to run? Oh wait; he's the only large scale model they had, I understand. Mr. Percival needs two careful engines to take dinosaur skeleton to the Transfer Yards (why was it transported whole and not in pieces?) so it can be taken to the Sodor Museum. Rheneas shunts some trucks carefully, but Skarloey is reckless and smashes into the trucks, spilling coal. Yep, definitely the point where Skarloey went backwards. As for Rheneas? Well, he wants to try again, does so, and is allowed to take the dinosaur himself... without the help of Skarloey.

One word goes into my mind - why?! Why would they choose Skarloey and Rheneas for such roles? Why would they be treated as such? Why do the writers have to destroy some of the best characters beyond recognition?! Since they've been on Sodor for over a century, they should know better!

Later, when Rheneas takes the dinosaur, he pulls it without trouble, but when it comes to climbing a hill, he isn't strong enough and ends up back at the bottom of the hill because he was a selfish idiot for not letting Skarloey help him! And by the way, considering Gallant Old Engine, I doubt he'd struggle with the dinosaur by himself! So Skarloey comes by and initially refuses, but when Rheneas apologizes, Skarloey changes his mind and helps his friend to the Transfer Yards. If you're asking, no, this is not reminiscent to Up, Up and Away, especially since a skeleton is heavier than a balloon.

I hate the personalities of Skarloey and Rheneas in S9-12; while season seven was the point they went backwards, season nine marked the point of no return for them, at least until Blue Mountain Mystery. And you know what makes it worse? Paul seemingly hadn't learned from that mistake twelve episodes later!

Episode 22: Skarloey the Brave

To be fair, the episode explained that when the weather got cold, the village would need coal to keep warm. That's the only positive I can draw from this pathetic excuse of an episode. And speaking of coal, why would the incline be used for coal? It's used for slate! I guess they forgotten that just for the sake of the story, which makes it contrived. Also, why is Rheneas scared of the incline? He should know that there's nothing scary about it! And Skarloey is also a hypocrite; he thinks he's a brave engine, but runs away when the coal trucks race towards him! He feels embarrassed about this runaway, something he shouldn't be, and even more so when Rusty is praised for tooting his horn to alert the signalman about the runaway trucks! Oh, and Thomas is there, because... Thomas.

The next day, Skarloey vows to prove his bravery by being dragged up the incline, and considering his accident in Dunkin Duncan, why the hell is the yellow engine praising Skarloey's actions? Anyway, the winch breaks and Skarloey enjoys his little slide down the slope until he crashes into a snowbank.

...why?! Such behaviors are dangerous, and displaying it on television in front of children could encourage them to do such reckless things in real life! And then Wonky Whistle would come along... If I were a parent, I would not let my children watch the likes of these episodes; I would tell them why such behavior is unacceptable in real life, and do the right thing for my children, unlike certain groups of parents I could mention...

Because of Skarloey's out of character childishness, the winch is broken, and the villagers may not get their coal. To make up for his behavior, Skarloey gets the coal himself, refuses to have more fun, and the villagers are happy for him. Yay(!)

Both of these episodes are ludicrously awful, plain and simple. Such behaviors are not how Skarloey and Rheneas should be acting! If they were in flashback or their roles were taken by other engines, then they might not have been so bad. They also prove, like I said, how much of a flip-flop writer Paul Larson is, and I hope he gets his writing under control by season 20. Keep making mistakes that tarnish your work, and it makes you a bad writer. Do something so abhorrent, then you become a bad person.

These episodes also paved the way for episodes like Wharf and Peace, Skarloey Storms Through, Thomas and the Big Bang, and Push Me, Pull You - the season twelve episode possibly being their absolute worst role, although The Christmas Tree Express comes very close...! Thank goodness that they'll never act childish again...

Rating: 1 out of 10
(both of these episodes get the same rating; they're just that terrible)

The next review, I hope, should be much more positive!

Thomas & Friends Season 9 Scorecard (out of 10 possible points)

7. Respect for Gordon: 8
10. Rheneas and the Dinosaur: 1
22: Skarloey the Brave: 1

RWS #10: Four Little Engines

We're now into the tenth book of the Railway Series, and to celebrate this mini occasion, we're headed to Crovan's Gate to meet the Skarloey engines!

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

(special thanks to the Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the images)

The Railway Series Book #10

Four Little Engines

Written by The Rev. W. Awdry

Illustrated by C. Reginald Dalby

Published 1955

While Edward heads to the works for repairs, he meets with his old friend Skarloey the narrow gauge engine

Dear Friends,
Sir Handel Brown is the owner of a little Railway which goes to Skarloey and Rheneas. Skarloey means "Lake in the Woods", and Rheneas means "Divided Waterfall". They are beautiful places, and lots of people visit them.

The Owner is very busy, so Mr. Peter Sam, the Thin Controller, manages the Railway.

The two Engines, who are called Skarloey and Rheneas, grew old and tired, so the owner bought two others.

The stories tell you what happened.
The Author

Skarloey Remembers/Four Little Engines Part 1

Season 4, Episode 5A

After his heroic deeds in Old Iron, Edward is sent to the works for repairs, and on his way, he meets his old friend Skarloey, a narrow gauge engine who tells him all about his railway.

I don't get it - why was roughly a third of the story adapted? It showed insight on Skarloey and Rheneas' past prior to the arrivals of Sir Handel and Peter Sam - their work and the coaches they pull. It might not be exciting as an episode, but at least it would've taught kids something. Despite that, I think it's a good story and it began the Skarloey engines' stories with a whisper and not a bang, which, if you think about it, isn't really a bad thing. However, I have an issue with the adaptation on whole, which I'll get to later.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Sir Handel/A Bad Day for Sir Handel

Season 4, Episode 6

One of the new engines, Sir Handel, is bad mannered, and is in a foul mood when he has to take the old coaches Agnes, Ruth, Jemima, Lucy, and Beatrice, going far as to calling them cattle trucks. They him back to teach him a lesson, and after a scolding, Sir Handel behaves, at least until he's made to pick up trucks from the quarry, and he deliberately derails himself.

The adaptation is simply out of place; why on earth was it adapted AFTER Old Faithful, and not before? Same thing with the next story, and it creates a huge continuity error, especially since the intro scene in the episode is totally pointless. To be fair, I do like Gordon and Sir Handel interacting, something we need to see more often. Also, why is the Fat Controller in charge of the Skarloey engines? Doesn't he have a bigger railway to run?

The adaptation is filled continuity issues, and so it's not a great episode; it's still an okay watch, but I'd rather read the book version.

RWS Rating: 8.5 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady

Season 4, Episode 7

Because Sir Handel is in the sheds for being naughty, Peter Sam is left to run the railway himself, much to his delight. When Henry scolds him for running late, Peter Sam gets anxious, and leaves the Refreshment Lady behind by mistake.

Of the adaptations, this is probably the best of the three; just a shame it was still out of order... Peter Sam is another of my favorite characters, and he's certainly worth the screen time. The modeling of Lakeside is beautiful, and as an Easter Egg, OJ from TUGS appears as a stock model, and now he's happily preserved by the Star Tugs Trust (a shame I can't say the same for Top Hat...) And as a side note; it's always funny when the model makers have their own cock-ups every now and then, right?

Peter Sam wonders if it's Henry or Gordon...

The ending dialogue is very amusing when the Refreshment Lady reveals that Henry was teasing; yeah, I'd be in Peter Sam's position as well if that happened to me. Not much else to say really; it's a solid adaptation even though it has continuity troubles... I'm going to be fair this time and give both versions the same rating.

RWS/TV Series Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Old Faithful/Four Little Engines Part 2

Season 4, Episode 5B

When Peter Sam breaks down, Sir Handel is let out again, but the coaches don't trust him, even when he stops before some sheep, they bump him at the points, causing him to derail. With Skarloey as their last resort, he takes over the train, but a spring breaks, causing him to tilt, but despite being crippled, he gets his passengers safely to Crovan's Gate and is rewarded with an overhaul.

In the adaptations, like I said, it's structured quite badly; Old Faithful should've been adapted last, not first! Unlike Whistles and Sneezes, merging the two stories just didn't work here, and they could've been made either as two episodes, or perhaps merged Skarloey Remembers with Sir Handel, and it wouldn't have looked so sloppy. To end this portion on a positive note, the tilted Skarloey looked very well done, and his determination is very admirable.

RWS Rating: 9 out of 10
TV Series Rating: 7 out of 10

Stray Observations

Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady is based upon an incident from the Talyllyn Railway. The one at fault was the guard - Wilbert Awdry himself! - and the woman he left behind by mistake? The driver's mother-in-law! Talk about awkward, am I right?

Overall

"If you have enjoyed these stories, you will enjoy a visit to the Tal-y-llyn Railway at Towyn in Wales."

On whole, it's a good introduction to another railway outside of the North Western. The Skarloey engines are among my favorite characters; they play off one another like sports teammates brilliantly well, and each have a distinct personality that defines them. So far, Skarloey is the wise mentor-figure with years of experience, Sir Handel is the stubborn fool who occasionally shines through, and Peter Sam is overexcited and eager to learn. The adaptations on whole were weak, but they're not terrible compared to S13-16.

Overall Book Rating: 8.8 out of 10

A lot of people say that season 4 is good, or at least, among the best of the classic seasons. Personally, I don't agree - my main problem with the season is that there's too much emphasis on the Skarloey engines and not enough on the North Western engines. If they had saved Gallant Old Engine and adapted Very Old Engines for season five, we might've had more stories focused on the likes of BoCo and Trevor, and maybe Duke's book could've been a thirty minute special.

The Railway Series Scorecard

1. The Three Railway Engines: 8.4

2. Thomas the Tank Engine: 9
3. James the Red Engine: 7.5
4. Tank Engine Thomas Again: 9.5
5. Troublesome Engines: 8.1
6. Henry the Green Engine: 8.4
7. Toby the Tram Engine: 9
8. Gordon the Big Engine: 8.6
9. Edward the Blue Engine: 9.3
10. Four Little Engines: 8.8

Thomas and Friends Season 4 Scorecard

5. Four Little Engines: 7
6. A Bad Day for Sir Handel: 6.5
7. Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady: 9.5
19. Henry and the Elephant: 7
23. Paint Pots and Queens: 8

TTTE S10E13 - Edward Strikes Out

Well, last time I took out Edward's best episode Old Iron, this time, I'm taking out his worst episode! Is it really as bad as people say it is? That's what I'm going to find out!

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

Season 10, Episode 13

Edward Strikes Out

Written by Sharon Miller

Our typical intro states that Edward has worked on the North Western Railway the longest. Well, they got one thing right, at least, but sorry - I'm not restraining any emotions here. Anyway, he's sent to Brendam docks to pick up pipes, because... pipes. Thomas and Gordon are there, looking at a new crane. Thomas teases Gordon about the crane being able to lift the big engine, but Gordon takes offense to that and claims that the crane would only get in the way due to its lack of motion without an engine pulling it. Now here, Edward would've said otherwise, but here, he agrees with Gordon?! The hell were they thinking, choosing the wrong character for this plot? This isn't the first time it's occurred, but it won't be the last either.

Anyway, Gordon calls the crane new-fangled nonsense, which Percy misunderstands as a new-funneled nuisance. His role is pointless, it should've been cut, and the plot would still be the same. Edward backs onto the trucks and meets the crane, whose name is Rocky. Edward refuses Rocky's help, insults him to his face, and leaves without his pipes being secured... and without a brakevan. He comes across a signal at danger, stops too quickly, and his pipes spill.

Something's strange here, and I don't mean Edward's character derailment. Let's replay the events so far: Edward and Gordon are at the docks, they think Rocky is a new-fangled nonsense, Edward refuses Rocky's help, and he ends up in a mess. Get it? Apart from Percy's role and the intro, there's no filler within the first three minutes, and there are no special specials for children. This also affects the rest of the episode as well, and the fact that the plot is large enough to fill seven minutes from Sharon Miller is shocking - Thomas' Frosty Friend is nothing but a filler episode... Had she understood the basics of writing?! Well, she needs some work on characterization - can't have every miracle in one episode, I guess.

Back to the episode; Harvey is called in for help, but he can only lift one pipe at a time, and considering Harvey to the Rescue, that sounds utterly implausible. And speaking of which, Edward was also rude to Harvey in that episode, but it lasted only a mere five seconds, so it's more of a distraction than anything. Same thing when Thomas and Emily show up, and the latter apparently hates being patient all over again. Because Harvey takes a long time, Gordon steams in and hits the pipes, coming off the tracks - why he wasn't alerted beforehand, I have no clue.

Since Harvey is unable to lift Gordon by himself, Edward reluctantly leaves to fetch Rocky in spite of Gordon's rudeness. Rocky is willing to help, even after Edward's comments were rude and uncalled for, and he soon has Gordon rerailed and the pipes cleared off of the tracks, as well as gaining Edward and Gordon's respect.

Edward Strikes Out was simply terrible, and you know what I feel is the worst part? It didn't have to be with the good potential! The plot was just large enough to fill up the seven minute length, and it could've worked with James or Henry in Edward's place. Maybe then, it'd be a great episode! But no; the character who started it all had been transformed from a kind, wise engine to an outright jerk! He may be engine #2, but he's #1 to many peoples' hearts, and it's heartbreaking to see Edward act this way. Considering the likes of Old Iron and Edward's Exploit, this episode is a total insult to Awdry's legacy.

Rating: 1 out of 10

(mostly for the plot large enough to fill seven minutes and the potential; the rest is simply terrible)

Thomas' Frosty Friend is on the scorecard with an automatic 0/10 - it is just that terribly boring.

Thomas & Friends Season 10 Scorecard (out of 10 possible points)

9. It's Good to be Gordon: 9
13. Edward Strikes Out: 1
20. Thomas' Frosty Friend: 0

Season 18 Overall

Wow, I should've done this a few weeks ago - my final thoughts on season 18 of Thomas and Friends! So, without any more confusion and delay, let's get to it!

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

Like I said, some ratings have changed on some episodes, but on whole, my opinions are still largely the same.

5/10

26. Samson Sent for Scrap

The episode isn't great, I admit it, but it's overall in the okay category; the transitions could've made the episode better, and some animation tweaks could've worked too. The humor was good though, especially with the Fat Controller - he really shone here.

5.5/10

25. Signals Crossed

Initially, it was the weakest of the season, but after watching it a few times, I feel that the episode can actually work, even if Toby was still the main character; maybe it was his driver that was afraid of Knapford Junction, not the engine himself, and it could allow for human interaction! Sadly, it was missed opportunity...

6/10

24. Timothy and the Rainbow Truck

It's an alright episode, but it suffers a similar problem to Trade Ya! - too much filler. Cut it down to half the length, and the story would still be the same. Still, there was some good humor from Bill and Ben as usual, especially the ending.

7/10

23. Long Lost Friend

It's not that bad of an episode, but it is the weakest of Gator's story arc - it was originally 8.5/10 before it got knocked back by stiff competition. The story is fine, but needed some tweaks.

22. Flatbeds of Fear

I think this episode is a little overhated. Granted, it isn't the best, but I still prefer it over the likes of James to the Rescue, and I actually believe Henry's behavior in this episode - we can feel scared regardless of our age, and it's a similar case to Look Before You Sleep (we all argue regardless of age).

7.5/10

21. Millie and the Volcano

The fire beside the line was dangerous and concerning, especially since Andrew also wrote Too Many Fire Engines, and they could've used more human interaction and allowed us to understand how the volcano worked. Nonetheless, I still think it's nice that Millie got a major role.

20. Marion and the Pipe

Rule of thumb - never assume someone is out of character if they made only a few appearances prior. Character derailment must occur if a character has appeared for at least a majority of the series (Edward Strikes Out) - Marion isn't a major character, so the argument is redundant.

8/10

19. Missing Gator

Disappointing that the episode doesn't get much love, but I still consider it a very good watch; those who we haven't seen for a long time can have an affect on our daily lives, and from experience, that's accurate.

18. The Perfect Gift

Same thing as Missing Gator - not enough love for The Perfect Gift. If you ask me, it was the likes of The Party Surprise, et al done properly. Plus, I do like the use of Christmas carols to try and cheer Reg up, and I understand that he doesn't want to hurt Percy's feelings.

17. Marion and the Dinosaurs

A good start to Samson's saga, but it's a shame that not all the episodes featuring him were written by the same writer. It's another shame that this is Ben Small's last performance as Toby. Still, I love Marion's reactions.

16. Duck in the Water

Now, for the moment, Duck isn't my most favorite character, and you can blame it on his out of control "fandom". Despite that, I still think this is a good episode with very funny moments, especially the bit with the swimming ducks.

15. Thomas and the Emergency Cable

The best part of the episode is the moral - two wrongs never make a right, and it's showcased brilliantly; the birdwatcher pulls the emergency cable at the wrong time, and even when he's apologized, Thomas is still cross with him and refuses to let him on board.

8.5/10

14. Disappearing Diesels

Note to animators - do not animate scenes that can put children in dangerous positions! Apart from that, the episode is very good with it's heartwarming moral on killing cruelty with kindness. Although, it would be nice if Paxton wasn't so gullible in every episode he appears in...

13. Toad's Adventure

We're at the halfway point of the list, and now we're getting to the really good ones. Not much I can say about Toad's Adventure, except for that it's a great way to reintroduce Toad and Oliver.

12. Thomas the Quarry Engine

An episode that may never have looked out of place in the Railway Series, it's amazing that Mavis had her first major role since season three, roughly twenty two years ago! As my 10th favorite character, Mavis is definitely worth the screen time, and I wonder what she'll do next - passenger trains?

11. Duck and the Slip Coaches

Or as I like to call it, The Episode That Killed Duck's Likability as a Character. I think you can tell what I mean by that; it would've worked if James was the one without a space in the sheds, and also because he was the one being an arse and not Emily. Sadly, there's "fans" who think the ending was fine as it is, and if you ask me, they don't care about anyone else's opinions and it leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

If the ending scene wasn't so mean-spirited, then no one would've ever brought it up. Had that been the case, then this would've made the Top 10, probably around #4 at most, but because of how overrated the episode is and the bad ending, I feel another episode deserves that spot a tad more...

9/10

10. Samson at Your Service

I'll admit that I like Samson's character, for he reminds me a lot of myself and I hate being wrong, but I do think it'd be nice for him to have more development - I'd love to see an episode with him and Edward! We still get some good humor with Gordon pulling Annie and Clarabel, I'm surprised too that they didn't fall apart!

9. Spencer's VIP

Why does this episode not get more love? With it's big cast of characters, I think it's a great episode, not only because of that, but the double moral - learn from your mistakes and everyone deserves another chance. Those positives are enough for me to consider this episode solid, if not under-appreciated.

8. Duncan and the Grumpy Passenger

This is what I call a Metaphor Episode - an episode that reflects on society, or a show's fandom; in this case, the latter. Seriously, does Sir Handel's "absence" bother you, huh? They have his model - they just didn't use it. This is definitely an excellent way to bring Duncan back to the series.

7. No Steam without Coal

It seems the writers can do no wrong with Bill and Ben regardless if they play major roles or not, and this episode is a prime example of that. The moral presented with Timothy is solid, and it's nice seeing Marion have a more serious, yet motherly side to her.

6. Emily Saves the World

The more I watch any episode with Emily as main character, the more I appreciate her as a character - she definitely deserved better after the Slip Coaches incident. Is it unrealistic? Yes. Do I care? No, because frankly, you're allowed to bend the rules a little to make a story work. Overall, it's my favorite of the Dinos and Discoveries episodes, and it deserves better ratings.

5. Not So Slow Coaches

For a while, this was my favorite of season 18, but when newer episodes came along, it got knocked back by a few spots. Annie and Clarabel finally got a major role for the first time in thirty years, and their dialogue is pretty funny too, all brilliantly pulled off by Teresa Gallagher.

9.5/10

4. Duncan the Humbug

So nearly perfect... except for Thomas' role being pointless. Other than that, it's probably the best narrow gauge winter episode to date, and the moral, once again, is solid - don't try forcing people to change; they'll fight back if you do.

3. Toad's Bright Idea

The first episode to be set during a special, and it's pulled off brilliantly. The continuity is a bit wonky, especially since Percy and Gator couldn't have met up with each other twice, but Gator and Toad playing off each other as well as other factors more than made up for it. I just wonder how Gator's saga will end especially since Christmas has passed on Sodor...

2. Old Reliable Edward

Kind of fitting, isn't it? My second best of season 18 features the North Western's #2 engine. Another prime example of a modern classic, and Edward's true persona has been fully restored to its former glory. However, there's one more episode we've yet to cover, and that is the...

10/10

1. Last Train for Christmas

My new favorite Christmas episode in Thomas history. Any flaws featured are either minor or they don't really matter to me; the story itself is solid, and there's so much emotion to it.

Final Thoughts

It's quite clear to say that season 18 has had... interesting moments throughout its five month run. But even without them, is it the best season of the show?

Um... no. I know there's those who'll think "Ohhh, I don't like CGI, I don't like new characters, I don't like episodes without crashes, I don't like fan service, and I don't like Thomas being shoehorned!" Well, granted, the CGI episodes won't be everyone's cup of tea, but if you think about it in the right light, CGI has advantages over model animation, and let's face it - CGI may be expensive, but at least it's cheaper than models... not that I have anything against model animation, of course.

For ratings, only three episodes were lower than 7/10, which is generally a good score - Signals Crossed, Timothy and the Rainbow Truck, and Samson Sent for Scrap, which were all 6/10 or lower. In contrast, no episodes out of season 1 received a rating lower than 7/10. (For the record, Thomas' Christmas Party is an 8/10, but I'll get to it in ten months' time.)

An issue I have is characters being shoehorned without any purpose for them being here - Duck and Oliver suffered from this a little in Spencer's VIP and Last Train for Christmas, although in the latter, Duck's role could've been for introducing the Slip Coaches to Connor, and Oliver's role replaced by Gator or Porter. Bill and Ben, I don't believe they were shoehorned in the likes of Flatbeds of Fear and Emily Saves the World - they work near Brendam, so it makes sense in my opinion. But the biggest culprit here was Thomas - in fact, I may have to do a follow up blog on that, but all I'm going to say is this; writers, please use Thomas sparingly - in other words, when he's necessary! The show is called Thomas and Friends for a reason!

Speaking of Thomas, it's a shame that it's the last season which Martin Sherman (Percy and Diesel) and Ben Small (Toby, Charlie, Stanley, Flynn, Rheneas, Owen, and the Trucks) will voice him in both the US and UK, respectively. While we know John Hasler will voice Thomas in the UK, who will voice him in the US?

To sum up - season 18 wasn't perfect; there were flaws that were heavily distracting, and there were the flaws that simply caused minor inconveniences. But even so, Thomas is still in the right hands of a team who knows what they're doing, and hopefully come season 19, any flaws that were present in seasons 17 and 18 will have disappeared completely. Maybe not season 19, but hopefully in season 20 and all future seasons.

The episode average is 8.2/10, but the season overall is 8/10.

Final Rating: 8/10