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Monday, February 23, 2015

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

1 comment:

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