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)