Thomas and Friends Season 15: The Remaining Episodes and Overall

Oh boy, here we go. The last episodes out of the worst-received season in Thomas history. Can those episodes prove that season 15 is worst? Or is it really a huge understatement?

All episodes written by Sharon Miller, except as noted.

Episode 5: Edward the Hero

"I'd like to be a hero, but I'm not sure if I'll be good at it." Actually, Edward, yes, you have been good at it before. Prime examples, Old Iron and Edward's Exploit, two of the show's greatest ever episodes, the former being my third favorite overall. And suddenly, we forget all about them solely because the story demands it.

To be fair, Edward actually is in character showing kindness to others... which is something, I suppose, but he really made a comeback in the season 18 premiere, Old Reliable Edward, which made nine minutes feel like half the runtime. With Edward the Hero, it felt like three times the length, and it's tedious to sit through. It's relatively harmless on the whole, but due to bad writing, I would not recommend this episode if you're a fan of the classics.

Episode 7: Happy Hiro

Let me make this perfectly clear: I. Do. Not. Hate. Hiro. Yes, I find him overrated, but saying he's a bad character would be a huge understatement. His portrayal in the Nitrogen era just makes him sound like an overgrown baby, and whilst he's portrayed nicely in the Arc era, Hiro just feels... two-dimensional and a bit bland.

In this episode? His depression feels a little over the top, but you know what bothers me? If he misses Japan (yes, I'll refer to it by name, and not just his homeland) so much, why doesn't he even go there? Unless he's a permanent resident for the mainland, it hasn't been made clear. The Logging Locos were very much morons, as was Charlie and his stupid table joke, which doesn't help this episode at all. If Thomas was concerned for Hiro, surely he'd have at least listened! If I wanted to see this plot done better, I'd just watch Missing Gator.

Episode 12: Spencer the Grand

Written by Jessica Sandys Clarke

Railways in the fog? Sounds like a great idea, but the execution? Erm, not so great.

Don't get me wrong, the fog looks wonderful in CGI, but it feels way too thick to enjoy the visual experience, almost like peanut butter. Some would say pea soup, but I digress. Maybe that's what they were aiming for, but it makes watching the episode rather frustrating.

And the problems don't stop there; railways run almost daily regardless of the weather! In fog, trains would have to run slower due to limited visibility, and a missed signal could be the difference between life and death. Misty Island is covered with fog a lot, and it gets on alright, so why can't Sodor? And if Spencer was running in fog, why doesn't he have lamps on? Thank goodness season 19 fixed that.

So yeah, it was a good idea, but it was executed poorly.

Episode 14: Stuck on You

A big highlight in a bad era - Butch talks for the first time since his debut in season five, thirteen years before. Knocking that aside, the plot is... typical, to say the least. However, at least the strikes were reduced to two rather than three, which is merciful. But how can pipes or a wheel be considered even emergencies, and how does Rocky know about them? And why would Butch's driver (if he existed) not know how a magnet worked? On a side note, the faces Butch made whilst he was trying to separate himself from Thomas (don't take it the wrong way) did look kind of... suggestive. Did they get scrap past the radar or something? Maybe it's just me.

Kind of amusing to watch, but really dull.

Episode 15: Big Belle

Remind me again; how did this rank as one of the worst on SiF's Season 15 Poll from 2015 and James to the Rescue among the best? What on earth is it that makes people hate this episode?

First point of contention is Belle as a character in this episode. Yeah, she was rather brash and overbearing to say the least, but Toby wasn't much better either. Rather than be a coward, he feels like a grumpy hermit who doesn't want to do anything fun. In fairness to the episode, and comparing it to Fiery Flynn, Belle wasn't needed for a serious rescue operation, and she never spent the entire episode spraying water pointlessly, possibly letting her tanks run dry. However, it is strange that whilst Toby ran away from her, Belle was the one apologizing... unless she was saying sorry for bothering him?

I wouldn't say it was one of the worst episodes overall, but it's more forgettable than flat-out terrible. A bit on the tame side, but yeah, very skippable. On a side note, isn't it ironic that Belle has 15 real-life surviving siblings, and that this was the 15th episode of the 15th season? Could be coincidence, though.

Episode 16: Kevin the Steamie

Written by Laurie Israel and Rachel Ruderman

If Big Belle made it onto the worst episodes of this season according to the SiF Poll, how come Kevin the Steamie didn't second time round? Let's get this outta the way: "Thomas and Percy didn't want Kevin to feel badly."

You know that moment in Equestria Girls where Sunset Shimmer scowls after looking at the clipboard (even though this was produced two years after this episode and written way better, but I digress)? I'm sure that's how many of us reacted when Michael (Angelis or Brandon) read that from the script he was provided. I honestly feel bad for the children who had to learn grammar from watching that crap!

But that aside, the real problem this episode faces is Kevin's actions, and the fact that he suffers zero consequences for playing in a dangerous environment! Actions like that could easily be imitated by kids, possibly resulting in a fatality! Also, why is oil called "gloopy goo"? It was in an oil drum, for Gawdry's sake!

Stay well away from this failure.

Season 15 Final Thoughts

Well, how could I sum up this season? Atrocious? Inappropriate? Morally bankrupt? All of them could be good matches, as well as lots of other things I can't be bothered to list. Every episode was poorly written - even the good ones were problematic - but the worst problem they faced was that they were written for children! They are impressionable, and they will imitate what they see on the screen, and the parents won't be around to help them learn right from wrong. I, personally, would never let my children watch this season, especially not Kevin the Steamie, James to the Rescue, or Fiery Flynn.

Thomas and Friends was a great show in its heyday - and right now, it is - because of the storytelling and fantastic morals. Neither were present during season 15 (except maybe in Edward the Hero), and it was that point we, the fandom, agreed that enough was enough, and it was time for the show to change. Thankfully, we got change for the better. Big ones.

Episodes from Worst to Least Bad

20. Fiery Flynn (-8/10)
19. James to the Rescue (-5/10)
18. Kevin the Steamie (-3/10)
17. Wonky Whistle (0/10
16. Up, Up and Away!
15. Tree Trouble (1/10)
14. Happy Hiro
13.Let It Snow
12. Percy's New Friends (2/10)
11. Gordon and Ferdinand
10. Spencer the Grand
9. Big Belle (3/10)
8. Percy the Snowman
7. Emily and Dash
6. Stuck on You
5. Toby and Bash (4/10)
4. Edward the Hero
3. Surprise, Surprise (5/10)
2. Henry's Happy Coal (6/10)
1. Stop That Bus!

Season 15 Overall Rating: 1.5/10

Thomas and Friends Season 14: The Remaining Episodes and Overall

Last time, I finished off season 13 - literally and metaphorically - this time, we're finishing up season 14. It's often regarded as the least bad of the Nitrogen seasons... is it? That's what I'm here to find out!

All episodes written by Sharon Miller, except where noted.

Episode 2: James in the Dark

Written by Mark Robertson

Engines wear lamps for a very important reason; they're to help their crews see in the dark, and they also help signalmen to identify what sort of train they're pulling. James has also worn lamps before, so why is he fussing about wearing one now? Surely he should know their importance, especially as he (and most other engines) gained one in season 17! It's also strange that he wouldn't know who Thomas and Edward were; perhaps their voices were a clue?

If there's anything I can't complain about, it's that Sodor looks lovely at night - just a shame that they didn't have station lights on or the fireboxes glowing. The plot was ridiculously contrived on a lot of levels and could've done with a lot of proofreading. Or if you want this plot done better, try Toad's Bright Idea.

Episode 3: Pingy Pongy Pick Up

Written by Miranda Larson

Yes, let's get this outta the way - Thomas shouldn't be deciding which engine gets which job. That should be the Fat Controller's task. Besides, "this is [HIS] railway and [HE] give[s] the orders!" But let's face it; continuity is barely existent within the Nitrogen era, so that is to be expected, but it can't be excused.

As for the rest of the episode, it's... okay, at best. But yeah, it was rather stupid that Percy's truck would derail rather than be pulled apart to splinters, and it was handled better in No Help at All since the truck hit a loose stone on the points. Of course, the near miss was fantastically done and very funny. But why would laundry be hung outside on a moving steam locomotive? Surely, they'd get dirty all over again?

Episode 6: Henry's Health and Safety

An episode about railway health and safety, huh? Interesting idea. Did they pull it off?

Well, they did show the dangers of leaving trucks on the mainline and not a siding, but how could Henry's siderod have broken in the collision? And Hiro shows up because... convenience. Although how on earth would Henry not know what health and safety was? He's an older engine, surely he knows what it is! To be fair, Victor exclaiming "Bam!" was very funny.

For all of its faults, it is one of Henry's better starring roles, and I'd say it's worth a few watches.

Episode 9: Victor Says Yes

Written by Denise Cassar

So, this episode brought forth the return of Arry and Bert... okay, except that they do literally nothing except moan about not getting their valves repaired quickly enough. You can replace them with James and Henry or whoever and nothing would change.

Honestly, I never really saw this episode as great. Sure, Victor got a starring role, but the end result was predictable. Shut up, engines - we know what you need, you don't need to bloody repeat it! I don't understand why this episode is popular; it's really boring and is better left forgotten about.

Episode 10: Thomas in Charge

Written by Mark Daydy

Thomas is assigned a thing, he screws it up three times over with "help" from Percy and Mavis, a crash takes place when you could see it a mile away, Thomas makes up for his mistake, and the Fat Controller's railway is deemed best. The end.

Episode 15: Thomas' Crazy Day

Remember my Ol' Wheezy Wobbles review? I said that the Logging Locos were considered by many to be the worst characters of the show, but I feel that's a huge understatement. I, personally, don't hate them, but nor do I really care for them. But yeah, Ferdinand is quite bland with his "catchphrase" being repeated every twenty seconds, something you'd never catch me doing.

For the rest of the episode, it was actually nice of Thomas to actually care for Percy, but shouldn't he have figured out by now that work comes before play? And yeah, Ferdinand exclaiming "This is not right" as Cranky lifted him was hilarious, but the episode on the whole is really dull.

Episode 16: Jumping Jobi Wood!

Oh, Dash was right with this episode - "just plain crazy!"

To be fair, we did get a funny moment near the beginning where Ferdinand calls the Fat Controller "boss", but why would he get upset at being called "boss" and yet he doesn't flinch when he's called "Fat Controller" in the UK? Of course, there's Edward - what the hell have they done with you in this episode? How could he be scared of Misty Island when he'd been there in a special better left forgotten about?! And how did he not suffer damage when the logs hit his boiler?

No, Thomas, Ol' Wheezy and Hee Haw will cause trouble for you and Edward - in fact, Misty Island's nothing but a damned death trap! Machinery being in such condition would've appalled even the most incompetent health and safety inspector! People could be injured or worse, killed! I used to find this funny, but now, it's just outright stupid.

Episode 19: Jitters and Japes

Wait, hold on a minute - Toby actually being wise in a Miller script? How could I have not seen it coming? Nor did I expect to see Thomas actually ask him for help. And yes, any time Dowager Hatt shows up in the CGI series, Keith Wickham puts on quite a show. I don't like how Annie and Clarabel are treated as if they're mute in this era; surely they could've given Thomas advice! Other than that, the episode's pretty dull no thanks to the rhyming and alliteration.

Season 14 Final Thoughts

Was this season any improvement over the previous? A little bit, but the writing was just as bad as ever. This marked the debut of the most infamous characters to ever set wheel on the show, and it did bring forth a bit more variety in leading roles, but Thomas still keeps showing up just because. Next week, we're finishing up the most infamous season of the show... season 15. Yay(!)

Episodes from Worst to Least Bad

20. Thomas and the Snowman Party (-3/10)

19. Jumping Jobi Wood! (0/10)

18. Thomas and Scruff

17. Henry's Magic Box

16. Pop Goes Thomas

15. Diesel's Special Delivery (1/10)

14. Thomas' Tall Friend

13. Toby and the Whistling Woods

12. Charlie and Eddie

11. Merry Winter Wish

10. Thomas in Charge

9. Victor Says Yes (3/10)

8. O the Indignity

7. James in the Dark

6. Thomas' Crazy Day (4/10)

5. Jitters and Japes (5/10)

4. Merry Misty Island

3. Pingy Pongy Pick Up (6/10)

2. Henry's Health and Safety (7/10)

1. Being Percy (8/10)

Season 14 Overall Rating: 2.5/10

Thomas and Friends Season 13: The Remaining Episodes and Overall

I'm sorry I'm not writing up Thomas reviews as often as I'd like to. Once again, college is getting in my way of life and my family and I will be moving state within the next two months, which means some reviews might be pushed to the back burner even further (and that includes that Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure review, which I swear I promise I'll get done before August at the latest).

Also, there's gonna be a shift in my review schedule; My Little Pony reviews will now be up on Tuesdays and the remaining Thomas reviews will be on Fridays (I know today's Saturday, but that doesn't really matter), and I'll try and accomplish that as best as I can. For the season six hiatus MLP will be undergoing after my Spice Up Your Life review which will come on June 14, I might fill up those Tuesdays with Thomas reviews. So, without further delays or ado, let's kick off by finishing up the Nitrogen era!

All episodes written by Sharon Miller, except as noted.

Episode 1: Creaky Cranky

So, the first episode in full CGI and... it stunk. For one, why would Thomas and Cranky be so petty over their respective strengths? Cranky lifts a lot of stuff all the time and Thomas has pulled heavy loads before, so what? And how can a flatbed of haybales or timber be considered heavy? Again, Thomas has pulled heavier loads before and since! What, are the flatbeds made of lead or something?

I didn't even bother watching this episode again as I can tell what happens. Then again, that will go to at least a majority of the remaining Nitrogen episodes...

Episode 4: Double Trouble

You know what I found surprising about this episode? Thomas is actually in line with his true persona, although again, it was most likely coincidental rather than intentional. No, the blame goes to Sir Lowham Hatt for behaving so childishly, but how did he get his knighthood for acting the way he does? Topham got his for his services to the North Western Railway. He is kind of funny, but he should've gotten some consequences for his actions but... nope.

It's sort of a case of "so stupid, it's funny," but it isn't enough to salvage the writing.

Episode 6: The Early Bird

Written by David Richard Fox

Yes, I know - Thomas has pulled mail trains in the past, and this episode feverishly goes against that. I suppose you could argue that he hasn't pulled mail trains for a while, but Thomas should at least know how to take them! It feels a lot like Edward and the Mail, only that made a certain degree of sense since Edward hadn't pulled mail vans before, even though he could've had some experience, but I digress. And yes, obviously - duh! - a whistle is loud, and they're supposed to be because they alert people that a train is coming!

Unlike Henry and the Wishing Tree, where I believe this episode could've still worked with Henry, this could've worked if they'd given the lead role to, say, Rosie, since she'd never had a starring role in CGI? I know this has nothing to do with anything, but I have a big problem with the American voice dub, especially during this era; the characters' voices sound extremely forced and unnatural, whereas in the later CGI era, they sound more natural and feel enthusiastic about their job.

Episode 8: Thomas and the Pigs

Written by Allan Plenderleith

Think of this as Thomas the Babysitter, only six years earlier (could be seven, but I digress), it feels like an hour rather than four and a half minutes, is written stupidly, is a clone of The Lion of Sodor, does not focus on real railway operations but animals instead, and with the three-strikes formula used poorly. Only positive is the piglets looking adorable - that's it.

Episode 10: Percy's Parcel

Written by Robyn Charteris

It's almost impossible to find Percy an annoying character. Sure, he's a bit childish at times, but there's always a charm to him even in the worst era of Thomas history. But yeah, it is rather stupid that a package would be on a flatbed rather than a vent van, but then, we'd have no story. In fairness, Mavis did have a nice role in comforting Percy, even though it was brief. And yes, I'll bring this up; why did the Fat Controller leave the sheds after giving Thomas his job and then return to give Percy his task? Wouldn't it have made better sense to give both engines their jobs at once? It barely takes any thought, you know. And how did Rocky drop his crate... just because? And how did Dowager Hatt's painting stay intact through all the present went through? Is there protection that I didn't know about? That said, the crates did look wonderful.

The plot's okay, but the writing seriously needs work.

Episode 14: Steamy Sodor

Now this is a little more interesting. A lot of people have often considered it one of season 13's highlights. Does that ring true?

To some extent, it does. But there are problems the episode faces - like, why does Thomas have to keep saying "Victor's away today, I'm in charge", or something to that extent, to every engine that arrives at the Steamworks? We can see that! And if James' funnel was blocked, why didn't another engine bring him to the Steamworks? Surely it would've caused a blockage or worse!

I'll admit that Spencer's coal mustache was very funny, and it did bring forth a sense of railway realism with the ashtray and industry with the Steamworks. And yes, the humor with Kevin was actually quite funny. The episode is certainly a good watch, but it needs some reworking.

Episode 16: The Biggest Present of All

So, this is the episode where Hiro makes a "grand" (by that, I mean permanent) return to Sudrian metals and Thomas wants to give him a gift to celebrate his return, which is rather genuine of him to do so.

But... that's it, as the rest of the episode is quite dull. Despite Thomas' kindness, why would he think slate or a shed would make good presents? A bell I could understand to some extent, but slate? The plot, as I've said, is rather boring, but at least the moral about friends being the greatest gift is a strong, relevant moral.

Episode 20: Helping Hiro

And so we come to a close with the final episode season 13, and it's quite underwhelming, really. I mean, if Hiro is Master of the Railway, why would he give the engines orders when he couldn't have been bothered to ask the Fat Controller in the first place? It just feels like The Green Controller, only this doesn't contain something that people will remember this episode for (the season 10 episode had James in a bumblebee livery). Out of the Nitrogen finales, it's definitely the least bad, but it's still very forgettable.

Season 13 Final Thoughts

Holy hell, was this season a chore to sit through. With plots you can't care for, the redundancy of the alliteration and rhyming, and not to mention the constant shoehorning of Thomas when he doesn't belong in a plot (seriously, he takes up 65% of the starring roles!), for the first CGI season, it's something you should stay well away from. Don't get me wrong, every now and then you get something memorable like Tickled Pink or A Blooming Mess, but for the most part, this season is really boring to sit through, and it might be worse than season 15 when I get to its final six episodes (that could also apply to season 16, but that's not for another three weeks).

Note that some ratings have changed since I reviewed the episodes.

Episodes from Worst to Least Bad

20. Buzzy Bees (-5/10)

19. Thomas and the Runaway Kite (-3/10)

18. Splish, Splash, Splosh! (0/10)

17. Time for a Story (1/10)

16. Slippy Sodor

15. Toby's New Whistle

14. Henry's Good Deeds

13. Play Time

12. The Lion of Sodor

11. Thomas and the Pigs

10. The Early Bird (2/10)

9. Creaky Cranky

8. Hiro Helps Out

7. The Biggest Present of All (3/10)

6. Double Trouble

5. Snow Tracks

4. Percy's Parcel (4/10)

3. Steamy Sodor (6/10)

2. A Blooming Mess (7/10)

1. Tickled Pink (9/10)

Season 13 Overall Rating: 2/10