Top 10 Worst Narrow Gauge-Themed Episodes

As we draw closer and closer to my 200th blog post, and as we have only two more RWS book to cover, I felt like doing a top 10 worst episodes list about the narrow-gauge engines in starring roles. Why am I doing this as a list? Well, other than Thomas being an unbearable idiot, this is the most overused way there can be in bad writing from Thomas and Friends. So, what are we waiting for? Let's dig in!

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

Before we begin, you'll have to expect to see classic episodes thrown in; if I did just Barlow-era episodes, then the list would be pointless. (Keep in mind that the majority of the Top 25 Thomas is an Idiot Episodes list will be from the Barlow era.) Here's the list of honorable mentions, including those that I've already reviewed so far: (those that are underlined, I will review eventually)

• Rusty to the Rescue - I still dislike the episode, and you can read my full review as to why. It's terribly convoluted, and it's a half-assed excuse to give Rusty a starring role.
• Victor Says Yes - The episode is just dull and Arry and Bert's appearances made no impact for me; if it was Henry and James in their places, the plot would largely be the same.
• Rheneas and the Dinosaur/Skarloey the Brave - Both season nine scripts were downright terrible, and they proved how much of a flip-flop writer Paul Larson is. See my full reviews here.
• Ding-a-Ling - Surely Freddie would at least know what a bicycle bell is? If he's meant to be a wise engine, he should know this! Spoiler alert; Miss Miller is behind four episodes on the actual list.
• Wharf and Peace/Skarloey Storms Through - Both episodes featured Skarloey who needed to prove he wasn't a cowardly engine; I'd have included the latter, but I'm going to keep the seasons varied.
• The Man in the Hills - Honestly, this episode was pointless on whole. How is it that no one had seen the Man in the Hills when a railway line is next to it?! This would've made the list, but I think another S12 episode deserves it more. Don't worry; this will make the Top 25 Worst Thomas is an Idiot Episodes list.

If you want to see where they land, read on through to the end. Now let's get to the true list, starting with...

10. The Party Surprise

Season 12, Episode 9

Written by Simon Spencer

Why did I put this and not The Man in the Hills on the list? Well, the introduction of a pointless character in Colin won the day for me. Let me explain...

The Thin Controller holds a Christmas party by his house every year, close to the engine depot of the Skarloey Railway. At the wharf, it’s the day of the party, and Freddie is working with Colin the crane. Okay, how did they meet, how are they friends, and most importantly, where did Colin come from? If he was recently built, that would’ve answered the third question okay, but the other two questions have no answer at all. Anyway, the Thin Controller tells Colin that all of Freddie’s cargo must be loaded before the party, but Colin feels left out due to being fixed in one place, so Freddie wants to cheer him up by bringing the party to him.

Freddie is unable to speak with the Thin Controller as he cycles away (how is he doing so in cold weather without a helmet?) but he does see Peter Sam with presents and colored lights and explains that “the party has been reallocated to the wharf” and offers to take his trucks for him. Later, Freddie meets with Rusty and offers to take the tree for him. However, he still has to tell the Thin Controller about the party being reallocated, and when he arrives at Mountain Village station, the Thin Controller has gone back to the wharf, much to Freddie’s surprise.

At the wharf, the Thin Controller is annoyed at the flatbeds of decorations not being unloaded, and tells Colin to do so at once, even though he promised Freddie that he wouldn’t. Freddie returns just after the flatbeds have been unloaded into a barge that’s just leaving and finally is able tell the Thin Controller everything, even though Freddie knew he should’ve asked him first. Freddie catches up to the barge and asks them to return the decorations, and is able to tell Colin about his surprise. The party is soon set up and everyone enjoys themselves, even Colin and a shoehorned Thomas.

Alright, now the story itself is okay, but it really falls flat because Colin himself has very little character to speak of, and as a result, he’s another of my least favorite characters. Say what you want about The Perfect Gift, but at least it did something unique by saying not everyone celebrates Christmas by going by the book! Say what you want about Reg, but at least he had some personality by being sarcastic and self-deprecating at times!

Rating: 3 out of 10

Do you want to know when Skarloey’s personality began to decline? The exact date? October 18, 2002, the day that Rusty Saves the Day aired in the UK.

9. Rusty Saves the Day
Season 6, Episode 25

Story by David Mitton

Written by Paul Larson

This is my most disliked season six episode. There are many big issues surrounding this episode, and more than just Skarloey’s personality decline.

It’s said that Rusty is a quarry diesel, and that he often helps to maintain Skarloey and Rheneas’ branchline, and by the way, their “branchline” is the Skarloey Railway itself! They are not the only engines to work on that line! Anyway, Rusty returns late to the quarry, and the Fat Controller is forced to close down the railway because it takes up too much of Rusty’s time. Okay, now we’re heading into what sounds like nitpicking, but they’re serious problems:

1. Where are the other little engines? Since Peter Sam is in the background, couldn't he, Duncan and (possibly) Sir Handel have helped out too?
2. Why would the Fat Controller close the Skarloey Railway? He restored the Little Western and restored Oliver and Toad (and Isabel in the Railway Series)! To have him close the Skarloey Railway is out of character and contrived.
3. The quarry is a part of the Skarloey Railway, and to close down its mainline, that’s basically isolating them from the standard gauge engines, and it sends off some odd implications.

Anyway, one day, the quarry is going to be blasting for the next two weeks, and it won’t be safe for the little engines to work. Rusty suggests that they use that time to repair the Skarloey Railway, to which the Fat Controller agrees to. The engines set to work, but Elizabeth complains that cleaning up the line is simply a waste of time, and that’s where Skarloey’s personality began to decline; considering Old Faithful, you’d think he’d be more optimistic about restoring his line!

To speed up the work, Rusty suggests that they have a lorry to help out. Elizabeth overhears him, and Rusty manages to convince her to help out, which she does. She’s as good as her word helping to clear branches off the tracks and hauling them away, and thanks to her work, the little engines are able to finish the job within two weeks.

The title is very misleading as well – Rusty Saves the Day? It took place over a course of two weeks, and Elizabeth helped out; surely her name could’ve been mentioned as well? If they called it Elizabeth Helps Out, it would’ve made more sense, but the plot is still a mess! They could’ve used this to explain why Rusty is important to the Skarloey Railway, but instead, they gave off a lot of character derailment, and a half-assed attempt at explaining the moral of helping others.

Rating: 2.5 out of 10

8. Thomas’ Tricky Tree

Season 10, Episode 7

Written by Sharon Miller

I tried very, very hard not to include this on the list, and wanted to save this for the Top 25 Worst “Thomas is an Idiot” Episodes list, but eventually, I gave in to include it here. Since the narrow gauge engines play a major supporting role alongside Thomas, it actually counts for the list (that’s why I’m not including Toby’s Discovery, for the record).

Again, “winter holiday” crops up, and I’m so glad that term is no longer being used! Sir Handel is taking the Christmas tree to the wharf, and Thomas is sent to pick it up and take it to the town square. At the wharf, Thomas looks for the tree, and Duncan teases him for not knowing what it looks like – you think Thomas doesn’t know what a tree looks like? Also, I know he’s bigger than the Skarloey engines, but he’s not as big as Gordon either! Offended by Duncan’s teasing, Thomas decides to find the tree himself and refuses Sir Handel’s help.

Thomas looks in some warehouses, and refuses the help of Rusty and Skarloey, but he finds a flatbed with a tarpaulin on it, thinking he’s found the tree. Unfortunately, he gets diverted onto a siding and the flatbed crashes into the buffers and lands in the water. It turns out it was a flatbed of pipes, not the tree itself. Thomas feels very silly, but then, when doesn’t he feel like an idiot?

After the pipes are rescued, Thomas finally decides to ask Sir Handel for help at the transfer yards, and the smaller blue tank engine leads Thomas to where the tree is. It’s actually nice of Sir Handel to help someone else for a change rather than tease them. Duncan also apologizes for teasing Thomas (good thing it was rectified) who apologizes for not asking for help earlier. The tree is finally delivered safely by nightfall.

Honestly, the story just treats Thomas as if he’s never seen a tree before, especially considering Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree. Thomas’ Tricky Tree was just dull and uninteresting, and it’s plagued by the use of Winter Holiday.

Rating: 2.5 out of 10

7. Don’t Bother Victor!

Season 16, Episode 18

Written by Sharon Miller

Prior to season 16’s airing, the Skarloey engines were confirmed to reappear after a three year’s absence in that season, and many fans were excited about it. Was it worth the wait? It was, and it wasn’t at the same time. Why do I say so?

We get the typical introduction for the first twenty seconds like it was for the past 77 episodes, although to be fair, the narrow gauge engines hadn’t appeared prior to this episode, so it’s excusable for the most part. Anyway, Peter Sam meets up with Thomas having shunted coal all night (why could they not feature James or Henry?) and the blue tank engine is to pick up the Thin Controller to meet with the Fat Controller at Knapford Station. While he’s away, the Thin Controller leaves Peter Sam in charge. Yeah, this is pretty much a rip off of The Green Controller, coincidentally, also written by Miller. Anyway, Victor will be making a weekly repair visit, and Peter Sam is to let him know if any engine needs repairs, but not to bother him with little things.

Since he gets to make the decisions, Peter Sam ignores Rheneas’ suggestion to fetch Victor to fix a creaking, croaking Sir Handel and offers to fix Sir Handel himself. Remember – engines don’t fix engines! People fix engines! Plus, the drivers are treated like the engines’ lackeys, and it’s evident when Peter Sam’s driver pours oil in Sir Handel’s sandboxes. Rheneas shows up and says that Skarloey has a problem with his funnel, and Peter Sam decides to help Skarloey himself, and like he did with Sir Handel, he doesn’t even bother with, I don’t know, taking him to the Steamworks? How are all the engines breaking down in one day? Yeah, this situation is horribly contrived.

Anyway, Peter Sam’s driver uses the water tower hose to unblock Skarloey’s funnel, but it puts the red tank engine’s firebox out. Rheneas shows up yet again to tell Peter Sam that Duncan’s rods are rattling, and Peter Sam decides to go there himself, only to run out of coal as he hadn’t stopped at the hopper. I don’t know what to make of this situation; had Peter Sam been selfish, or was his intentions misguided? I can’t really make a decision there. Rheneas refuses to help Peter Sam fetch Victor, and Peter Sam taking the Thin Controller’s words too seriously comes back to bite him. He manages to whistle to Rheneas (how he did so without coal, I don’t know) and insists that they should bother Victor after all.

Soon, Victor is called in to bring Peter Sam some coal, and helps fix Sir Handel and Skarloey, and again, they should’ve brought them to the Steamworks and fix them there! Also, Duncan’s incident is never brought up again, just like Duck’s scene in Saved You!

Honestly, they could’ve brought back the narrow gauge engines with a really good story, but instead, they chose to rewrite another episode just to include them. The renders look really good, but character returns don’t make the episode great (we’re looking at you, Henry’s Hero!) and Don’t Bother Victor! is just a half-assed attempt at bringing the Skarloey engines back. Blue Mountain Mystery is a far superior comeback to them on every level, period.

Rating: 2 out of 10

6. Sir Handel in Charge

Season 11, Episode 22

Written by Simon Spencer

This episode was part of the season 11 DVD exclusive, Engines and Escapades. Season 17’s was Spills and Thrills, and Season 18’s Dinos and Discoveries. Engines and Escapades is entirely devoted to the narrow gauge engines, but the stories are not all that good – while Duncan Does it All was just plain dull and Skarloey Storms Through is outright terrible, Sir Handel in Charge… well, let’s find out.

The episode begins with the narrator explaining that Sir Handel is a wise engine telling everyone what to do; now, Sir Handel isn’t as wise as Skarloey, Rheneas and Duke are, but he isn’t all that childish either. I don’t like how he’s said to be as old as they are either. They could’ve gave him his season four persona, and maybe have him sober up a little like they did in the Railway Series.

Anyway, James is taking the Thin Controller to a meeting with the Fat Controller, and the Thin Controller leaves Sir Handel in charge of an important special – workmen must be taken to the forest, trucks must be taken there and filled with logs, and delivered back to the transfer yards to be picked up by Thomas, because he’s the only other large-scale model they had. Couldn’t they have used Henry or Emily? Oh wait, but then it’d be expensive to do so, and so they went the easy way out with it by using the star billing tank engine.

Later, Sir Handel meets with Mighty Mac helping workmen laying down new track, and they offer to pull the heavy train, but Sir Handel doesn’t listen and tells them (yes, they’re two characters on one engine, so I refer to Might Mac as “they” and “them”) to wait. Then he comes across Rusty and says that he needs someone to pick up workmen. Rusty offers to do so, but Sir Handel doesn’t listen and tells him to wait. Soon, Sir Handel meets with Duncan and Peter Sam, tells them about fast engines to take a train to Thomas, blah blah blah, you get the idea. Yep, it’s another three-striker. Great(!) At least they go onto a siding…

However, at the transfer yards, Thomas is there, but his special isn’t ready. Sir Handel realizes his mistake and goes back to meet with the four engines he met earlier, and everything is soon ready for Thomas just as the Thin Controller returns aboard James.

Just like Don’t Bother Victor! above, Sir Handel in Charge is just a bad rip-off of The Green Controller, only there’s nothing exciting about it. Why didn’t the Thin Controller have an assistant to join Sir Handel and give out the orders? This was an episode where Skarloey and Rheneas could’ve helped out, but they didn’t!

Rating: 1.5 out of 10

5. Thomas and the Big Bang

Season 11, Episode 10

Written by Abi Grant

Like Thomas' Tricky Tree, I was going to include this in the Top 25 Worst “Thomas is an Idiot” Episodes list, but considering the behaviors of the narrow gauge engines, I’ll be putting Thomas and the Big Bang on this list.

Yes, we know that Thomas is a cheeky engine; we don’t need to be told that! I like the reference to Tenders and Turntables, but it’s a case of blink and you miss. Anyway, Thomas is fitted with a new whistle, and at least he left once it was properly fitted. After twenty seconds of pointless filler, Thomas is soon sent to the wharf with some empty trucks, and bricks, flour and timber will be brought for him. Wait, who brings flour with bricks and timber? Wouldn’t concrete be more useful? Thomas blows his whistle, surprising Rheneas, who bumps into his flatbeds and spills some pipes, much to the amusement of Sir Handel and Skarloey. This can only end so well…

Later, Rusty brings in some bricks and Thomas gives him a surprise with his whistle, causing Rusty to smash the bricks into dust. Why are Skarloey and Rheneas not telling off the other engines?! They should know better! Soon, they give Sir Handel a scare by whistling and tooting (in Rusty’s case) at once, spilling flour all over Sir Handel, giving him the appearance of the ghost. Lastly, they give Peter Sam a surprise causing him to shunt his flatbeds of timber (clearly logs) into the water. At least he didn’t take a dive. :P

The Thin Controller is most displeased with the mess caused by the engines, and even more so that no work has been done. Seriously, an apology is not enough to make it okay to goof off! Thomas should’ve received some bunting (as well as the other engines) for playing around! Instead, they get their jobs done without further delay, but Thomas still has one more joke to play – pretending not to have gotten his jobs done, when really, he had, which everyone, even the Thin Controller, finds amusing. Also, what did they need the bricks, flour, and timber for?

Yeah, that’s how the episode ends; it’s never mentioned to what happened afterwards. You have to at least finish the story you’re telling; is it too much to ask for? Also, the moral was badly butchered up – working is more important than goofing off, fair enough, that’s a good moral, but everyone got no consequences for goofing off! That’s the same case with Don’t Go Back, and I’ll get to that next week…

Rating: 1 out of 10

You know, goofing off in a dangerous environment is infuriating enough, but what could be more infuriating than what? How about poking fun at avalanches and their aftermaths?

4. Snow

Season 5, Episode 26

Written by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton

If I was doing a list on the Top 10 worst classic era episodes of Thomas, then Snow would rank pretty high on that list! It starts off with Percy being stuck in the snow and Thomas refuses to help him. This scene was totally pointless. If you’re wondering, no, this doesn’t count as a Thomas is an Idiot episode. He must be the main character of the story, and he must be an idiot in some way. He’s only a supporting character in the story.

Speaking of which, when helping Thomas to clear the tunnel, Rusty recalls the winter when Skarloey got into trouble himself. At the incline, they used snow to stop trucks from falling into the ravine. One day, Skarloey is bringing empty trucks to the mines, but his driver is worried that the sound of Skarloey’s engine could cause an avalanche with the snow from above. Okay, stop right there – since WHEN did Skarloey have an engine? He IS the engine himself! Is it that hard to get simple facts right?

Anyway, they test an emergency cap and when Skarloey runs over it… nothing happens, because that’s exactly how nature works! Skarloey’s crew decides to have some cocoa before making their way, right in the middle of the mainline in the gorge instead of continuing on like normal! Up above, the winch isn’t working properly, and when some empty trucks derail, the full trucks break away and plunge into the ravine, causing an avalanche that buries Skarloey, his crew, and the trucks alive.

And then, we come to this line of dialogue:

“What’s the funny part about an avalanche?”

Answer: NOTHING! Nothing is funny about an avalanche, especially if people can die from one! What’s even more frustrating is that the heat in Skarloey’s boiler somehow makes an igloo… ICE MELTS! And how did his crew survive without air? Further, how is any of that funny?! Augh! The lack of logic really gets on my wick…!

And then the episode ends with Gordon puffing by with a snow machine, and when he lets of steam, snow falls on him and he cries for help. Hey, they actually managed to pull a joke that’s actually pretty funny! Shocking. But Thomas tells him to relax and Gordon just scoffs. Okay then…

While I actually like season five, I will admit that this is the worst episode from that’s season. Is it the worst classic episode overall? No, but it’s within the Top 3, at least. But on this list? Let's get to the really rubbish - the big ones!

Rating: 1 out of 10

3. The Christmas Tree Express

Season 16, Episode 20

Written by Sharon Miller

Oh, good grief; this episode just fails on so many levels, I don't even know where to begin! Well, let’s start with the fact that it aired on Christmas Day in 2012, and the other nineteen episodes aired way back in February and March. Among those nineteen, three other winter episodes aired with them. How is it that they held back The Christmas Tree Express and yet aired the other three winter episodes with the remaining sixteen episodes of season 16? That makes no sense whatsoever!

Onto the episode itself, and for the US at least, we’ve already run aground with a problem – THEY WERE STILL USING THE TERM WINTER HOLIDAYS AND USING IT ALONGSIDE CHRISTMAS!!! Seriously, stop flip-flopping from one term to another! It just confuses your audience! At least in the UK dub, they said “Christmas”, but it just feels like Hit Entertainment was covering their ass after the controversy sparked in 2011 – it still doesn’t change the poor quality of the episodes!

Anyway, late one evening, after Thomas comments that he’s picking up a Christmas tree from the Search and Rescue Center, Rheneas realizes that the Blue Mountain Quarry doesn’t have one. Rheneas decides to go to Misty Island to find a tree for his friends and needs Toby’s help to get him there. However, Toby is afraid of the deathtrap known as Misty Island… really? After Merry Misty Island and Toby and Bash, he’s afraid of going there?! Give me a chuffing break…! We’re only two minutes in, and the episode is already making me angry!

Toby brings Rheneas on a flatbed all the way to the Search and Rescue Center, and then through the tunnel to Misty Island. Rheneas insists on Toby going quickly while the tram engine wants to go slowly. Toby manages to go through the Hollow Tree Tunnel, over the Shake Shake Bridge (why has it not collapsed yet?!) and stops at a junction in the mist. Every time, Toby closes his eyes and doesn’t stop to look at some trees, but in the mist, Toby is too scared to go through it, even though he should’ve gone through considering he overcame much worse! At this point, the episode has become incredibly lazy, and has ripped off Thomas and Skarloey’s Big Day Out as well as Stop That Bus! Was anything of substance even attempted here?!

Toby finally manages to tell Rheneas that he wants to go slowly, as when he goes fast, Misty Island becomes stranger and scarier. Rheneas listens to Toby, and they enlist the help of the Logging Locos to find the ideal Christmas tree, and why did they not bring a second flatbed?! They make it back to the Blue Mountain Quarry, and present the Christmas tree they found for the “winter holidays”…

I’m actually glad they had to end the Barlow era this way; for the most part, it's been terribly written and had so much character derailment by the truckload, plus this episode pretty much summed up the Barlow era in a nutshell. The only positive in the UK version is Ben Small's versatility; he took up most of the voice talent, and his voices for Thomas, Toby, Ferdinand, and especially Rheneas shone through. A shame the story's writing couldn't match his voice talent. This is probably the worst written episode on the list, given every negative found, but I am only judging the episodes based on how much they suck. If I had ranked them based on low quality writing, The Christmas Tree Express would've been #1.

Rating: 0.5 out of 10

Oh, sweet Celestia, what the holy chuffing hell?! What the hell were they thinking with this episode?! Jesus chuffing Christ!

Okay, with that aside, let’s talk about Push Me, Pull You!

2. Push Me, Pull You

Season 12, Episode 19

Written by Sharon Miller

Yes, just like I do with season two of My Little Pony, I hate at least one episode more than the most infamous one of them all. (I still hate Ponyville Confidential and Dragon Quest more than Putting Your Hoof Down.) Throughout the Barlow era, the Skarloey engines have sometimes had bad episodes, and this is probably their worst episode in that era. For sure! I can’t imagine if anything could be worse!

Anyway, Skarloey is informed about a puppet show, and he wants to take the special himself. Okay, new rule of thumb – any time a “special” special is involved in a Barlow Era episode, it belongs in Bottom 10 material. If you want to see it utilized properly, I suggest episodes like Santa’s Little Engine. The Thin Controller allows Skarloey to take the special, and he takes the train without trouble (how is it heavy?) Soon, the little engine comes across Rheneas who offers to help, but Skarloey refuses and suggests they have a tug of war. Yep, this is Rheneas and the Dinosaur, only ten times worse. Heck, I bet a kid going through that phase would never be that selfish!

Anyway, Rheneas’ coupling snaps, and Skarloey runs fast down the hill and crashes into Duncan’s trucks of bunting. Later on, he runs into Rusty’s trucks of ice cream, and why did Rusty stop on the crossing instead of, I don’t know, getting out the way?! Wow, Miss Miller really is something else…! What’s the third strike? Skarloey rolls into a siding and crashes into Percival Pond, that’s what!

Presently, Rheneas comes along and agrees to help Skarloey and his special back onto the tracks (without a crane, I might add) and whilst Skarloey’s fire is relit, Rheneas takes over the special. Skarloey brings fresh ice cream for Rusty, even though Skarloey could’ve done the job himself, and helps Duncan to the showground, even though Duncan could’ve gone there himself! They make it to the puppet show just in time, and Skarloey tells Rheneas there’s nothing stronger than friendship…

…but for me, there is about Push Me, Pull You itself; there’s nothing stronger than my hatred for this episode! I can’t begin to describe how awful it is. Skarloey is extremely selfish, it’s a ripoff to another terrible episode, and it’s a huge punch to the face in Awdry’s legacy. This is definitely the Yours, Mine and Mine of Thomas episodes, but what can possibly be worse?!

Rating: 0.5 out of 10

Okay, I don’t think many people will agree with my number one choice. You see, when it comes to favorites and least favorites, I tend to give a more abstract opinion and I picked my worst narrow gauge engines episode based on what it represents, not it’s overall writing quality, and now, I’m presenting Rheneas and the Roller Coaster.

1. Rheneas and the Roller Coaster

Season 7, Episode 12

Written by James Mason

I’m sure there are those out there who think the episode does belong on the list, but further down, and not #1. Well, let me explain why I hate this episode so much…

The episode begins with a totally-not-pointless introduction to Rheneas, stating that he’s brave and likes feeling really useful. One day, he is assigned to take some children up into the mountains and must make sure that they enjoy themselves and are back in time for tea. Unfortunately, Rheneas doesn’t find this an exciting job, and you’d think that having worked on the railway for over a hundred years, he would know that the Skarloey Railway’s sights are actually interesting!

Rheneas’ driver has been informed to point out all the beautiful locations alongside the Skarloey Railway like Sodor Castle, Valley View, and the viaduct (yep, a three-striker). Meanwhile, some track where the ground had been washed away due to the rain is closed down, but Rheneas has been accidentally switched onto that track and runs out of control – have his crew not heard of anything called brakes?! And why did he not go back?! Instead, he continues on down the bumpy track which the children find exciting, but not their teacher, and I know how she feels. Also, how would a railway track be that steep and how did Rheneas not derail? Rheneas makes it back to the station safely, and the children call it the best school trip ever.

Yeah, I say that Rheneas and the Roller Coaster is the worst narrow gauge themed episode putting every other episode into consideration. It’s also the worst of the classic era as well. Granted, most of the episodes on the list aired AFTER this, but this is the first episode of the show which I’m fairly sure the writers just didn’t give a damn about the characters – especially the Skarloey engines – anymore, and they could get away with anything from horseplay in dangerous environments to firefighters being treated in a negative, insulting light. This would eventually carry over to episodes like Skarloey the Brave, Sir Handel in Charge, and especially Push Me, Pull You.

While The Old Bridge could've been great with a couple of tweaks, this could've been great with a lot of rewriting! Everything about this episode is just frustrating, disregarding the issue that Rheneas should’ve had a brakevan with him. You know, the lead role was intended to be given to Peter Sam, and it might’ve made more sense since Peter Sam hasn’t been on the railway as long as Skarloey and Rheneas have, but instead, they gave it to Rheneas, a very well respected character and the railway’s hero, and completely destroy his character.

Most of the episodes in the classic era that I reviewed so far, as well as those on the list, they at least have some idea of what they’re trying to talk about. I don’t think Rheneas and the Roller Coaster does. I mean, what is it trying to tell me? Having fun is the best way to have a good day? Not all trips are boring? Help me out here, people! Bear in mind that the moral to Wonky Whistle was intended to be about patience, but that was butchered so terribly, and there are many other bad episodes where the moral was either taken the wrong way or just isn’t there at all.

Rating: 0 out of 10

And like I promised, here's the true order of these episodes: (Note: Those that are italicized means I'll be reviewing them soon.)

18. Victor Says Yes: 3/10
17. The Party Surprise: 3/10
16. Ding-a-Ling: 3/10
15. Rusty Saves the Day: 2.5/10
14. Thomas' Tricky Tree: 2.5/10
13. Rusty to the Rescue: 2/10
12. Don't Bother Victor!: 2/10
11. Sir Handel in Charge: 1.5/10
10. The Man in the Hills*: 1.5/10
9. Thomas and the Big Bang: 1/10
8. Wharf and Peace: 1/10
7. Snow: 1/10
6. Rheneas and the Dinosaur: 1/10
5. Skarloey the Brave: 1/10
4. Skarloey Storms Through: 1/10
3. The Christmas Tree Express: 0.5/10
2. Push Me, Pull You: 0.5/10
1. Rheneas and the Roller Coaster: 0/10

* - will be reviewed for Top 25 Worst "Thomas is an Idiot" Episodes list

EPISODE SCORECARDS (out of 10 possible points)

Thomas and Friends Season 5 Scorecard

3. A Better View for Gordon: 9.5
5. James and the Trouble with Trees: 8.5

13. Stepney Gets Lost: 5.5

14. Toby's Discovery: 5

15. Something in the Air: 9

18. Oliver's Find: 7

25. Rusty and the Boulder: 5
26. Snow: 1

Thomas and Friends Season 6 Scorecard

10. Twin Trouble: 7.5

17. Gordon Takes a Tumble: 8.5

24. Dunkin Duncan: 8

25. Rusty Saves the Day: 2.5

26. Faulty Whistles: 8.5

Thomas and Friends Season 7 Scorecard

1. Emily's New Coaches: 10
4. The Old Bridge: 5.5

12. Rheneas and the Roller Coaster: 0

23. Gordon and Spencer: 10

Thomas and Friends Season 10 Scorecard

7. Thomas' Tricky Tree: 2.5
8. Toby's Afternoon Off: 7.5

9. It's Good to be Gordon: 9

13. Edward Strikes Out: 1

20. Thomas' Frosty Friend: 0
27. James the Second Best: 5

Thomas and Friends Season 11 Scorecard

6. Gordon and the Engineer: 9.5
10. Thomas and the Big Bang: 1
13. Don't Be Silly, Billy: 0.5
17. Thomas and the Runaway Car: 8.5
18. Thomas in Trouble: 7
22. Sir Handel in Charge: 1.5

Thomas and Friends Season 12 Scorecard

13. Tram Trouble: 5
19. Push Me, Pull You: 0.5
20. Best Friends: 10

Thomas and Friends Season 16 Scorecard

10. Percy and the Calliope: 8.5
18. Don't Bother Victor!: 2
20. The Christmas Tree Express: 0.5