Well... the last blog post sparked more controversy and discussion than I thought it would! Anyway, here's my thoughts on the Start Your Engines! episodes. This time, I'm gonna rank them from least favorite (or least good, depending on how you view it) to most favorite.
No episode images this time; sorry.
Least Good: Reds vs. Blues
Written by Davey Moore
Alright, let's get this outta the way:
Percy: "And then there was trouble!"
Percy, you cheek.
Onto the episode itself, it's quite nice and simplistic, and it's definitely better than Thomas and the Colors (and yes, I'll get to that one soon). Other than Percy's dialogue, I really loved the moment where the Fat Controller accidentally breaks the window with the workman's football.
Of course, there's problems; why didn't Clarabel call out to Thomas about the Fat Controller being left behind? And Thomas being subbed in for Gordon? Well, that's arguable. The story occurs on Thomas' branchline, where Dryaw FC is (can anyone help me figure out what it stands for?), but Thomas acts a bit like Gordon about saying blue is better than red. Isn't there a football stadium close to the mainline?
And yes, we get that the football fans cheer for Thomas because he's blue; was that bit of narration even necessary? Oh, and I never knew Sir Robert Norramby and the grumpy passenger were football fans! The moral is quite nice, but the episode on whole isn't necessarily the best.
5. The Little Engine Who Raced Ahead
Written by Andrew Brenner
Well, Brenner, it's high time you wrote for season 19...! He must've been so focused on The Adventure Begins that he hadn't the time to write for this season.
Let's start with Philip. I actually like him. He kind of reminds me of Minuette from Amending Fences, almost like the child who's very eager to please and wants to be the best. Yeah, he's kinda like Thomas in The Adventure Begins, but they focus on excitability rather than cheekiness. He might not be the fastest, but he doesn't let that stop him from being so darn cheerful all the time - he's always looking on the bright side of things. Plus, he's a far more bearable character than a certain orange bratty Charlie who shall remain nameless. His basis is also brilliant; I never knew such a design existed in Pennsylvania! (I wonder how he and Hank will play off?)
As for the episode, this was a pretty good one too. Philip does get scolded for being a bit reckless and nearly causing an accident or two, but he doesn't get told off for racing about. Ah well; can't have it all, I suppose. A nice episode, but it could do with some reworking. Although does Gordon's response to the Fat Controller's scolding of Philip remind me of a Top Hat quote?
4. Two Wheels Good
Written by Lee Pressman
Spencer is to take the Duke and Duchess of Boxford to Callan Castle for Lord Callan's birthday, and the Duke has a speech to make there. At Knapford, after the Thin Controller turns up with his bicycle, Spencer, Thomas and Bertie argue as to how many wheels are best - twenty (if you include the tender), six, or four. Out on the mainline, Spencer's valve gear breaks so Thomas takes the Duke and Duchess, only to be stopped by a fallen tree. Sound familiar? Yep, it's like Lady Hatt's Birthday Party again, and huh, I should've reviewed that beforehand, but oh well.
Bertie takes the Duke and Duchess, but his tire bursts due to a tack on the road. The Thin Controller turns up on his bicycle, and he rides all the way to the nearest phone booth and calls for Harold to take the Duke and Duchess to Callan Castle. I really love the usage of off-road vehicles and humans in the episode; it shows there's far more to Sodor than the railways, and I love the balance and simplicity of the plot. Yeah, it's a three-striker, but at least it's not annoying as it was during S13-16. Plus, at least they resolved Spencer's, Thomas', and Bertie's follies, unlike the Fat Controller's car, Caroline, and George.
3. Philip to the Rescue
Written by Andrew Brenner
Gotta love continuity between episodes, am I right? (Spoiler alert for my comments about continuity in another S19 review, by the way.)
Really, this is such a fun episode, and I liked how James was called out for being hypocritical, although it's pretty rich for Thomas to say so considering his behaviors in S13-16. That length of James' train was quite a sight to see - no wonder he struggled, and his crash was absolutely fantastic. That is damage you'd never see in the model series! And yes, the callback to The Adventure Begins was quite nice. Are they hinting at the potential sequel with James and the trucks up Gordon's hill?
Say what you will about Philip as a character, but here, after James called him a showoff, Philip willingly rescued him from crashing. That shows that you should help others in need even if they say bad things about you - Bulldog, anyone? I mean, would you wish for your worst enemy to fall down an abyss?
2. Slow Stephen
Written by Helen Farrall
Miss Farrall, you have my vote for season 19.
Yes, I really love her writing style. She can take the simplest of plots and make them feel entertaining whilst including railway realism. Lost Property, Toad and the Whale, and Very Important Sheep, were all fantastic in their own right, as was Thomas the Babysitter, which I'll get to.
For Gordon? Yes, I will admit that his arrogance has been overplayed, very much like Henry's worrisome persona, James' vanity, and (to some extent) Duck's Great Western way of thinking. Can we at least focus on other aspects of their respective characters? Edward displayed some signs of sarcasm in his persona, which is actually quite funny, and Percy's character as grown since Tale of the Brave; can't we see the same with the big engines?
With that aside (it won't affect my score, but it was worth mentioning), the rest of the episode was solid; Stephen's bravery to cross the Suspension Bridge as it collapsed was very admirable, especially since Gordon was coming with the express and he wanted to avert a disaster. Besides, desperate times call for desperate measures.
Most Favorite: Best Engine Ever
Written by Andrew Brenner
Who didn't see this coming? Can we call this the Best Episode Ever? ...no? Okay then... *laughs nervously*
No, but seriously, I absolutely adore this episode - probably helps that I'm a bit of an Emily fanboy - and it's probably my second favorite episode overall, closely following Thomas and Bertie. It's high time we got an episode featuring two female characters playing lead roles, and they play off one another fantastically. This isn't like Dream On or Whiff's Wish where the lead character fights to prove themselves, but Emily just feels downcast for not being as modern as Caitlin is. It's trying something new and unique like The Perfect Gift did with Reg celebrating Christmas his own way.
There's also little moments that I really loved:
- Connor's "Afternoon, ladies" line and his prompt winking makes me laugh.
- Emily's indignant response at being heavier than Caitlin's coaches like she was called fat was pure comedy.
- The streamlined Emily bit was actually quite nice (there, I said it).
- I really liked Marion encouraging Emily to feel proud of herself for who she is despite Emily not being a steamshovel herself.
Thomas and Friends Season 19 Scorecard:
1. Who's Geoffrey?: 8.5
2. The Truth About Toby: 7.5
3. Lost Property: 9.5
4. Henry Spots Trouble: 4.5
5. A Cranky Christmas: 4
6. Snow Place Like Home: 7.5
7. The Beast of Sodor: 8
8. Toad and the Whale: 9
9. Very Important Sheep: 9
10. Salty All at Sea: 5.5
11. Den and Dart: 9.5
12. Helping Hiro: 3
Diesel's Ghostly Christmas: 9.5
SYE1. Two Wheels Good: 8
SYE2. Reds vs. Blues: 7
SYE3. Slow Stephen: 9
SYE4. The Little Engine Who Raced Ahead: 7.5
SYE5. Best Engine Ever: 10
SYE6. Philip to the Rescue: 9