The Shadowbolts

Not too long ago, I posted a journal on DeviantArt sharing my first impressions on the next episodes of season six (which will begin airing tomorrow) as well as the fourth Equestria Girls movie, Legend of Everfree. This actually sparked some inspiration in me to write about the "characters" introduced in Friendship Games. Well, the group of them, anyway. So, my views on the Shadowbolts!

It's fair to say that in the last five years, people have wanted to create an anti-Mane Six to serve as foils to our heroes. Heck, even I wanted to take the idea and run with it! The Dazzlings probably come close, but they only consist of three members rather than six, but you could feature the likes of Trixie, Lightning Dust, and Suri Polomare to complete the set. In the trailer for Friendship Games, it looked like we might actually get an anti-Mane Six (Five if we exclude Sci-Twi) in the actual series, even if it was in a movie and the characters were humans rather than ponies.

But... no.

Instead of having an anti-Mane Five with actual personalities, we got five dolls on the shelf that just stand round looking pretty - I'm sorry, but good looks don't automatically make a good character (*is later seen gushing over the looks of the likes of Axel and Gina, hoping they make a return to Sodor*)- with the odd snide comment. On top of that, they were overshadowed by Principal Cinch as a villain, and by Sci-Twi as a character. (Not that Sci-Twi and Cinch were actually appealing, but still.)

Sour Sweet was probably the closest to being an actual character, coming off as a Jekyll and Hyde-type character, but that was it. The others have even less character - Sugarcoat's just a blunt snob, Indigo Zap is essentially a Lightning Dust recolor (even the persona is the same, just made blander), Lemon Zest is a music fanatic, and Sunny Flare... Oh, she's the worst offender, because she has literally nothing!

Look, just because a character appears only once, it doesn't mean you have to be lazy when it comes to giving them personalities (I'm looking at you, Colin!). You have seventy minutes to work with, so there really is no excuse especially when you spend so much time focusing on Sci-Twi! Character balance you could add to the list of problems Friendship Games faced. If you keep focusing only on one character, leaving everybody else to the sidelines (even Sunset suffered by being sidelined), then how can we feel for everyone else, especially when some (i.e. Shining Armor) are just featured as afterthoughts?

What makes a good movie is that even when your main characters are the primary focus, there's other characters involved that, whether their roles were big or small, they become memorable by the end. That's what I loved in Zootopia; even though the story was mostly focused on Judy and Nick, characters like Chief Bogo, Clawhauser, Mr. Big, and even Smellwether - eh, sorry, Bellwether - had moments that made them charming in their own way.

With the Shadowbolts? We got nothing. (Before you bring up Twilight's Sparkly Sleepover Surprise, remember that I'm focusing solely on the films themselves.) Even their redemption comes off as half-baked.

All in all, whilst the inclusion of the Shadowbolts was a good idea in theory, the execution came off incredibly sloppy, almost like the appearance of the Moopets in the 2011 film The Muppets - whilst they were pointless as Tex Richman could've sabotaged the studios by himself, the story was a lot stronger and the songs were memorable. That wasn't the case with Friendship Games, and it comes off as the biggest disappointment under MLP's belt (I'll still consider it that until either I die or stop being a Brony, whichever comes first).

If it wasn't for Svengallop, Plaid Stripes, and Starlight Glimmer breaking their fall, I'd definitely have ranked the Shadowbolts worst of the worst (Sunny Flare especially). It's also rather telling that fans can succeed at the concept where supposed professionals can't; somebody in the writing staff should figure out that something's wrong! (That is, if their name isn't Josh Haber...)

Thomas and Friends Season 12: The Remaining Episodes

As there was no poll for the rest of season 12, I decided to do the last five episodes all together, just to get this season out of the way. Next week will deal with all the leftovers from seasons 9-11, as well as the next episode of MLP, Stranger Than Fan Fiction. Anyway, let's finish up season 12!

Episodes 2, 4, and 7 written by Sharon Miller; episodes 11 and 17 by Mark Robertson

Episode 2: Steady Eddie

Yeah, this is where Oliver and Arthur make their comeback, but it's just a case of blink and you miss. That moment of pointless fanservice aside (seriously, someone else could've taken their role and nothing would change), the episode is another bad one. When was Edward known for showing off like James? He'd usually be more focused on getting the job done, and not showing off his special to everyone on Sodor. Yeah, there was some nice development to Great Waterton, but it doesn't save the episode from being bad.

Episode 4: Mountain Marvel

A fine episode; it's actually surprising that Sharon actually remembered Proteus, most likely because she wrote for The Magic Lamp. Although, I wonder as to why a statue was stuck in an abandoned siding - maybe Mr. Percival ordered for one and it got lost, I don't know? Sounds like a very odd place to leave a statue on a flatbed. I have to wonder why Mighty Mac wasn't asked to take the statue; would've been a good chance to show off their strength.

Episode 7: Toby's Special Surprise

Really, you aren't gonna bother with what Toby found back in season five and was never seen afterwards? Then again, people would rather forget about Bertram, so I can understand... kind of. However, there's no excuse when, continuity or not, you can't forget about small things, even if you don't reference the classic era! Not to mention that the sign Toby found (why it has his image, I don't know) was never seen after this episode! Unless they tried making Flora's introduction a sloppy two-parter?

Episode 11: Duncan and the Hot Air Balloon

Yeesh. Another continuity breaker. Seriously, how did Thomas not recognize what a hot air balloon actually was? He's delivered one back in season six, and it was delivered in a realistic manner - by not being inflated on a flatbed! Just shows that if season 12 isn't providing fanservice, it's wrecking continuity...

Episode 17: Thomas Puts the Brakes On

Now we're talking! After three bad episodes and an okay episode, we definitely need a good one to finish up this lot. Of course, if Thomas' brakes were faulty, it'd make sense if his crew inspected them before he went on his journey, but then we'd have no plot. I do like Stanley's role in this even though character appearances don't make an episode great. It's rather sad that this was his last major role for some time; thankfully, season 20 should rectify that. It's a wonder as to how they finished the bridge without the blocks that fell in the water, but I guess that they were fished out and later dried out when recovered. On whole, I think it was a good watch.

Season 12 Overall

Honestly, I just don't get season 12 as a whole. Not that it's a terrible idea to meld models with CGI, but it really hasn't aged all that well. Yes, there are gems like Best Friends, but the bad episodes are... well, bad. It also feels like the writers were pandering far too much to the fans. Yes, it's nice to see the likes of Stepney and Arthur show up, but if an episode is bad, it's bad. I get that it was meant to be a farewell to the models, but you could've done a more dignified way of doing so by giving some of these returnees actual starring roles. And then there's the continuity breakers, which... I've moaned about enough as it is.

On whole, season 12 was a rather flimsy way for the models to go out - thankfully, many of them have been preserved, but Best Friends by itself is an ideal sendoff to them. Now we look forward to the future of CGI beyond the Nitrogen years... but first, we have some unfinished business with seasons 9-11...

Episodes Ranked from Worst to Best

20. Push Me, Pull You (0/10)
19. Don't Go Back (1/10)
18. Henry Gets it Wrong
17. The Man in the Hills (2/10)
16. Gordon Takes a Shortcut (3/10)
15. The Party Surprise
14. Steady Eddie
13. Duncan and the Hot Air Balloon
12. Saved You!
11. Toby's Special Surprise
10. Tram Trouble (5/10)
9. Excellent Emily
8. Percy and the Bandstand (6/10)
7. Mountain Marvel
6. Thomas and the Billboard (7/10)
5. Heave Ho Thomas!
4. James Works it Out
3. Rosie's Funfair Special (8/10)
2. Thomas Puts the Brakes On
1. Best Friends (10/10)

Season 12 Final Rating: 4.5/10

Thomas and Friends Season 11: Poll Winners Batch #2

Here's the last batch of poll winners; four more episodes out of season 11! Tomorrow will bring the last episodes of season 12.

Episode 1: Thomas and the Storyteller

Written by Abi Grant

Wait, something isn't right here; Thomas is being genuinely helpful for once and it's the season premiere?! Someone knock me over with a feather! But seriously, this is a good episode, and despite there being the three-strikes formula, I feel it may have worked wonders for the story. Although it's rather odd that James, Emily and Percy made it to the library despite their problems.

Episode 7: Thomas and the Spaceship

Written by Sharon Miller

I'm actually surprised that Sharon Miller actually wrote about the possibility of life outside of planet Earth; you'd think that with repetitive plot lines and awful dialogue, she'd dismiss real world topics. You'd be wrong. Scientists are wondering about the possibility of extraterrestrial life, and this could encourage children to become scientists.

The length of the mail train is just breathtaking; six vans - count them - but sadly, no brakevan. And I'm surprised that Gordon would agree to take the mail train, but then, real Pacific engines have taken mail trains before, so maybe there's also some historical accuracy in this episode. It's quite a shame that The Frozen Turntable didn't depict Gordon pulling the mail train, but what can you do?

Episode 9: Thomas and the Lighthouse

Written by Abi Grant

"Thomas speeded up?" I'm sorry, but did anybody even bother to proofread that bit of dialogue? What's wrong with him saying that he "sped up"? It's really not that difficult. I'm also not too sure as to why a light bulb would travel on a flatbed rather than a vent van. I'm sure one could argue that they're not as dangerous as fireworks (which were rightly loaded in vent vans), but glass can be dangerous if it breaks.

In fairness, Thomas does get consequences for rushing; he's forced to miss the fair, but I'd prefer if he got a scolding from the Fat Controller, although that's just me. Still, it's a fine way to show that actions can have consequences.

Episode 21: Duncan Does it All

Written by Wayne Jackman

Why would a job need to be exciting? They're supposed to be serious, and if you don't take a job to heart, then you've done a lousy job. Considering his history of causing trouble, I find it surprising that the other engines would trust Duncan with their own jobs, especially as Skarloey didn't tell off Duncan for abandoning Rusty's passengers. The large scale models of Annie and Clarabel were a nice touch, though.

Thomas and Friends Season 11 Scorecard

1. Thomas and the Storyteller: 8
2. Emily's Rubbish: 8
3. Dream On: 9
4. Dirty Work: 6
5. Hector the Horrid!: 9
6. Gordon and the Engineer: 10
7. Thomas and the Spaceship: 7
8. Henry's Lucky Trucks: 6
9. Thomas and the Lighthouse: 7
10. Thomas and the Big Bang: 1
11. Smoke and Mirrors: 1
12. Thomas Sets Sail: 1
13. Don't Be Silly, Billy: 0
14. Edward and the Mail: 5
16. Toby's Triumph: 1
17. Thomas and the Runaway Car: 8
18. Thomas in Trouble: 7
19. Thomas and the Stinky Cheese: 7
21. Duncan Does it All: 3
22. Sir Handel in Charge: 2
23. Cool Truckings: 6
25. Skarloey Storms Through: 1
26. Wash Behind Your Buffers: 7

Thomas and Friends Season 10: Poll Winners Batch #2

Yes, people. I'm aware that Fearless Freddie and Thomas and the Treasure got more votes and I will get to them soon. I wanted to review a few episodes at a time, so they'll be covered next week.

Episode 4: Percy and the Funfair

Written by Abi Grant

I'm sorry, but you'd think after all the years that he'd been working on Sodor, Percy would at least know that delivering coal was an important job. I know he's supposed to be a young engine, but he should at least have some level of common sense. That said, it was nice to see the Chinese Dragon, but still.

Episode 12: Toby's New Shed

Written by Simon Nicholson

Toby must've struck lucky in season 10, didn't he?

What makes this episode good is Thomas; he genuinely cares for Toby and has good intentions, but when Toby explains that the birds would now be homeless, Thomas feels bad and decides that the old wood could be reused to make a birdhouse. On a sidenote, Percy's birdhouse is a Chekhov's Gun; it might come off as filler, but it later serves as inspiration for Thomas' idea for a birdhouse.

The only problem with the episode is obviously the title as Toby doesn't actually get a new shed, but a roof instead. Other than that, it's good and enjoyable, way better than the episode that came after it.

Episode 22: Thomas and the Colors

Written by Marc Seal

Ugh, that title is rather off-putting. Why didn't they call it Thomas and the Team Colors instead? That would make better sense in my opinion. Other than, it's another bad episode. Seriously, Thomas just comes off as a whiny brat all because he didn't get decorated in team colors. Honestly, Thomas, get over it! There's always another year. I feel Reds vs. Blues handled Thomas and James' rivalry a lot better, even though it had problems of it's own, but whatever.

Episode 25: Missing Trucks

Written by Wayne Jackman

Now this was an interesting one; Rheneas, for the most part, is pretty true to his original persona, but it's no Gallant Old Engine. I say that mostly because Skarloey is complaining about being overworked. I know he's an old engine, but surely he knows that work is important. The moral on helping others in need is a good one for sure, just a shame about Skarloey though.

Thomas and Friends Season 10 Scorecard

2. A Smooth Ride: 3
3. Thomas and the Jet Plane: 8
4. Percy and the Funfair: 4
5. The Green Controller: 1
7. Thomas' Tricky Tree: 2
8. Toby's Afternoon Off: 8

9. It's Good to be Gordon: 9
12. Toby's New Shed: 7

13. Edward Strikes Out: 1
14. Topped Off Thomas: 0
15. Which Way Now?: 6
16. Thomas and the Shooting Star: 6
17. Big Strong Henry: 7
18. Sticky Toffee Thomas: 4
19. Wharf and Peace: 1

20. Thomas' Frosty Friend: 0
21. Emily and the Special Coaches: 8
22. Thomas and the Colors: 2
23. Thomas and the Birthday Mail: 2
24. Duncan's Bluff: 5
25. Missing Trucks: 7
27. James the Second Best: 5
28. Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out: 3

Thomas and Friends Season 9: Poll Winners Batch #2

Here's the next batch of poll winners for season nine!

Episode 4: Thomas' Milkshake Muddle

Written by Marc Seal

I know it might sound silly when you first hear it, but milk can be turned into butter, although I don't think that a train carrying milk churns in open wagons would be a recipe in doing so. :P

But... that's it. The episode itself is pretty dull. Seriously, why would anyone send for a locomotive to deliver ingredients to make ice cream and cakes? It'd make more sense if they were made before the day of the party, but I bet that those at the ice cream factory and bakery are very poor at planning ahead.

Episode 8: Thomas and the Birthday Picnic

Written by Sharon Miller

Ah yes. Sharon Miller's first ever script, and the first to refer to Dowager Hatt by name. Maybe it's a coincidence that Miller always seems to write for Dowager so brilliantly, even in some of the show's bad episodes (possibly except for Fiery Flynn). And yes, this featured the three strikes formula with Thomas looking for places for the Hatt family to have their picnic, and it isn't so bad during season nine, but mostly, we didn't know what they'd have in store for us.

Of course, I'm not too sure as to why the Fat Controller didn't plan ahead for his mother's birthday - surely he'd plan ahead better than that? And why were the Steam Team at Tidmouth Sheds when they could've had work to do? And yes, the rhyming and alliteration is obvious. An alright episode on the whole, but they should've toned back on the rhyming.

Episode 14: The Magic Lamp

Written by Sharon Miller

I've read some... interesting things about this episode. I'll take a look at what's going on and go from there.

First, there's Proteus. Yes, he is Sir Handel in a yellow coat of paint and with a different face. He appeared for about five seconds and (other than the form of a statue in season 12) that was it. Considering they used Rheneas' model for Smudger in Granpuff (and the fact that they both appeared in same episode, not in the same scene, obviously), why couldn't they have done the same for both Sir Handel and Proteus?

And that's where my mixed feelings for this episode continue. Why would Peter Sam scoff at a story? Isn't he supposed to be optimistic? Getting back to my previous point, Sir Handel would've fit that role better since he's a more cynical character. Surprisingly, Skarloey is close to his true persona here. Of course, like Thomas and the Birthday Picnic above, it does have the three-strikes formula in play here.

Like Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out, we got a season four model making an appearance - it's Peter Sam's old model when we see him and Harold in the same shot. I'm surprised that nobody brings that up. And how would believing in magic help you go far? I'm reminded of a quote from Zootopia by Chief Bogo - "Life isn’t some cartoon musical where you sing a little song and your insipid dreams magically come true. So let. It. Go."

Having gone over this episode, I can say that I don't like it that much. Peter Sam felt out of character, and the story just didn't suit him at all.

Episode 26: Flour Power

Written by Abi Grant

As a closer to season nine, it feels rather weak. Yes, it establishes Thomas as a hero and Diesel as an antagonist, but Diesel just comes off as childish in teasing Thomas. (By the way, he has a bunker, not a tender - you don't even need a picture to understand that he's called Thomas the Tank Engine!) Also, Thomas getting his own back at Diesel feels too much like Ghost Train, except that Percy got covered by lime by accident and it made sense for the story. Why would flour just be dumped haphazardly into trucks like that rather than be loaded in sacks?

Oh, and we got an appearance an ERTL Percy in the child's bedroom - that's a nice little Easter egg... or should it be Halloween egg, in this case?

Thomas and Friends Season 9 Scorecard

1. Percy and the Oil Painting: 7
2. Thomas and the Rainbow: 1
3. Molly's Special Special: 8
4. Thomas' Milkshake Muddle: 3
5. Mighty Mac: 2

7. Respect for Gordon: 8
8. Thomas and the Birthday Picnic: 6

10. Rheneas and the Dinosaur: 1
11. Thomas and the New Engine: 3
12. Toby Feels Left Out: 1
13. Thomas Tries His Best: 9
14. The Magic Lamp: 3

16. Henry and the Flagpole: 3
17. Emily Knows Best: 7
18. Thomas' Day Off: 8
19. Thomas' New Trucks: 7

22. Skarloey the Brave: 1
23. Saving Edward: 2

24. Thomas and the Golden Eagle: 1
25. Keeping Up with James: 8
26. Flour Power: 4

Thomas and Friends: Jack and the Pack

As we're nearing the end, I think it's high time to cover the episodes of the Jack and the Pack spinoff that began during season six but never really picked up. It did receive viewership (at least, 13 episodes did) on DVD in 2006. So, how do they fare, and was it a success?

In case you're wondering, no, I'm gonna gonna make a fuss about the titles as I want to discuss the actual episodes. I have, however, included the alternate titles below the official titles.

Episode 1: A Visit from Thomas

(Oliversaurus)

Written by Paul Dawson

I quite like this one. I do like how they try and give the building site a purpose for a school, but it's a bit of a disappointment that the build isn't brought up again following the discovery of the dinosaur bones. Oliver taking care is certainly a good moral for children, especially if you're digging - you never know what you might find. It's also nice that Oliver is given interchangeable tools like a chisel. Rather interesting that while Thomas appears, he doesn't speak.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Episode 2: Jack Owns Up

Written by Paul Larson

Brilliant episode showing development for Jack as a character; he made a mistake, someone else (Ned) got blamed for it, and when Jack saw the consequences of his actions, he owns up for it. Plus the title makes more sense than it did for Oliver Owns Up; what was Oliver (GWR, of course) owning up for? Him being overconfident about handling trucks?

You know, I do feel bad for the UK audiences who got Thomas' Trusty Friends on DVD - this and Percy's Scary Tale (more on that later) were not featured, and I have to ask, why? The complete series 1-5 on DVD contained every episode on a single disc, and each season had 26 episodes! So what was wrong with featuring all 13 Pack episodes on a single UK DVD? That makes no sense at all! Not related to the episode itself, but it was worth pointing out.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Episode 3: On Site with Thomas

(Who's the Boss?)

Written by Will Ing

Another great episode. Every Pack member turns up (barring Isobella and Buster), and whether their roles were big, small, or somewhere in between, they have their own roles to play, as the episode explains through their personas - Bryon's pride, Oliver's honesty, Ned's caution, and Max and Monty's competitive streaks, you name it. With Patrick, I thought his persona was quite strong for his sole appearance; shame he never appeared again after this.

I'm surprised that Thomas, of all characters, would be upset about his paintwork getting messed up by cement (or concrete, depending on who you ask). You'd expect that from James. :P Might've been upset as to how he'd get it off, I suppose. That crash was excellent though. One thing though; aren't leaders the most important in a team?

Rating: 9 out of 10

Episode 4: Percy's Scary Tale

(Scaredy, Scaredy)

Written by Jonathan Trueman

Eh, this one's alright. I like seeing a bond between Percy and Alfie, and it's especially good to see someone other than Thomas to interact with the Pack. Although, why would a truck (lorry if you're from Britain) need a whistle, and how did Max and Monty think Thomas was the One-Eyed Truck? I mean, I know they're thickheaded, but they surely aren't that stupid.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Episode 5: Kelly's Windy Day

(Five Easy Pieces)

Written by Phil Fehrle

The episode is good... except for the rescue scene. No, seriously, how could Isobella hang the way she did after the piano was removed, especially as much of her weight rests in her cabin? She'd have surely fallen to the ground! If she was dangling by her rear (don't take that the wrong way), it'd make more sense, but the way they showed it is absolutely jarring. It's a shame as the rest of the episode is actually quite good.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Episode 6: A Happy Day for Percy

(Byron Saves the Day)

Written by Paul Larson

A nice episode, but it is kind of off-putting that Byron would want to get attention for his work as he'd always done a good job regardless if he was praised or not. Then again, he didn't get much development during the series, so maybe that was the intention, and you do feel happy for him when he gets his praise.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Episode 7: A Tale for Thomas

(The Lightning Tree)

Written by Paul Larson

Remember this quote from Henry's Forest? - "We can't mend broken trees."

Yeah, this episode does go against that as they try to save a tree that'd been felled. That is also the reason why I and several other people don't like Henry Gets It Wrong. It's typical of what you'd expect from a Larson script - inconsistent. I wouldn't say it's Paul's worst script, but it is the weakest of the Pack episodes.

Rating: 4 out of 10

Episode 8: Thomas and the Moles

(Buster 1 Moles 0)

Written by Jan Needle

At first, I didn't think much of this episode when I was younger, but watching this episode again, I think this is yet another good episode in the spinoff. I quite like Buster as he's the total opposite of George - since we're now in the CGI era, it'd be great to see them play off one another. (By the way, a currant bun is a sweet roll with either raisins or currants.)

Oh, and considering that there was stock footage of Toby's Windmill at the start, I wouldn't be surprised if Thomas and the Moles took place at the same time as this.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Episode 9: Percy Helps Out

(Nelson Gets Carried Away)

Written by Brian Trueman

I'm not sure about this one. It has a decent plot, and there were some nice references to Not the Ticket from Thomas and the Great Railway Show. But Nelson as a character? He's kind of flat in terms of personality. He wanted to be carried around for once, and when he got his dream, he was back to square one. Not hugely flawed, but I'd take this over The Other Side of the Mountain any day.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Episode 10: The Tortoise and the Hare

Written by Will Ing

This, on the other hand, is absolutely brilliant. Whilst it's an obvious retelling of the classic fable, it is an excellent remake, with a very interesting twist as to how Max and Monty lost. That's how you subvert expectations whilst still keeping spirit to the original.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Episode 11: Thomas' Trusty Friends

(Another Fine Mess)

Written by Paul Larson

Another humor-filled episode. Whether they be visual or narrative, there's never a dull moment throughout. And the moral was also very interesting - sometimes, accidents are a blessing in disguise. Tolerable if you consider what "morals" they presented down the road.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Episode 12: Alfie Has Kittens

Written by Abi Grant

Anyone here a cat person as much as I am? Well then, I feel this episode might be for you.

Here, Alfie is sensitive about being teased for his small size, but in the end, he proves that size doesn't matter when it comes to being a hero, especially when he saves the mother cat and her kittens. Even though Thomas' role was small, he does actually help Alfie feel better about himself.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Episode 13: Mud, Glorious Mud

Written by Jonathan Trueman

I have read some complaints about Isobella lacking in some originality. Sure, her model is essentially Elizabeth's and her persona is akin to James, but I think she's alright. For her one starring role, I like how they actually try giving her some development, but it feels far too coincidental that all of the diesel-fueled Pack members broke down at once; what if only one or two ran out of fuel, and then later on, whilst Isobella was getting fuel, the rest followed suit? That's a minor complaint in an otherwise really good episode.

On a side note, why on earth was this episode left off of both On Site with Thomas and Thomas' Trusty Friends for US DVDs? Other DVDs had six episodes, sure, but they were seven minutes in length whilst the Pack episodes were four minutes and thirty seconds in length. Excluding the into, end credits, interactive segments (if any), and songs, that's 42 minutes from S8-12 vs. 27 minutes of Pack episodes! Sure it wouldn't have hurt to squeezed in at least one more episode rather than mix it with regular Thomas episodes? It barely takes any thought! Once again, it doesn't affect my views on the episode, but it was worth pointing out.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Final Thoughts

The Pack episodes are the definition of understated. I don't really get the complaints about the similarities to Bob the Builder. I mean, I liked the show when I was younger, but the styles are completely different. Chuggington bears similarities to Thomas and yet no one seems to gripe about that, and it's still airing to this day! But I digress.

I feel the Pack spinoff was a great idea, especially as it tried to get the focus away from the railways, especially as there's more to Sodor than just the trains. I'd even heard there were plans for Bertie and Harold to have their own spinoff - any ideas as to how it could've gone?

Should the members (so far, Jack, Alfie, Oliver, Max and Monty) get a second season? I believe they should! Now that the show's in CGI, and with Jack's cameo in The Other Side of the Mountain, anything is plausible, and it was funny seeing Oliver the Excavator with Oliver the GWR engine in Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure, am I right? Who knows what's in store for the Pack?

Jack and the Pack Rating: 8/10

Thomas and Friends Season 12: Poll Winners

The last batch of poll winners is here, and after that, I can finally get to the Pack episodes! So, what won in the season 12 poll?

Episode 1: Thomas and the Billboard

Written by Mark Robertson

Kind of interesting that the previous episode I reviewed was the season 11 finale, and the next episode (this one) is the season 12 premiere, isn't it?

I do feel it's kind of petty of Thomas to get worked up all because Diesel obscured him by accident - and I mean a genuine mistake. And it's also strange that a billboard would be completed within a day, and the accident? Yeah, it was quite ridiculous. For the CGI in this episode, I feel it was not too bad for a first attempt. Sure, the faces are a bit off, but they did get better over time. It's quite good on the whole, with its moral about not letting a small mistake get the better of you (and trust me, I know what that's like). 

Episode 3: Rosie's Funfair Special

Written by Andrew Viner

Remember; I don't judge an episode based on who turns up. Stepney might have turned up because his book was Andrew Viner's favorite, but it feels like he was just there because fanservice. Personally, I don't have any interest in him showing up in full CGI if he's to be treated like a Sodor resident instead of, oh, I don't know, a full time Bluebell Railway resident? However, if we bring forth the fact that Flying Scotsman showed up in The Great Race and appears as a mainland resident, then maybe.

Okay, onto the actual episode itself, and you know what else is surprising about the cast of characters? A) There's no pointless cameo appearance by Thomas (thankfully), and (B) the two main characters are both female. That was actually surprising, even for the Barlow era, and it feels as though it tried to give Rosie some character other than being a crazed stalker, but I'm sure she could handle the train herself. That said, how'd she not notice her train getting lighter? The story itself is quite good, but would I rank it one of the all-time best? Eh, not necessarily. If I do want to see an episode with two female leading characters, I'd go for Best Engine Ever.

Episode 8: Excellent Emily

Written by Paul Larson

I don't know about you, but I think season 12 felt like it contained a lot of fan-service. Rosie's Funfair Special featured Stepney, as mentioned above. This episode, however, features Murdoch, Bulgy, Trevor, and, of course, Duck. And fans went nuts. I will not for the sake of a serious review.

For the episode itself, it does feel like Paul Larson seems to enjoy writing for Emily (see No Snow for Thomas and Emily Saves the World for context), and moral wise, it felt a bit like a mashup of The Spotless Record and Emily's Adventure, which, you guessed it, were also written by Paul Larson - "Nobody's perfect" for the former, and "Ask for help" for the latter. I also got vibes of Peter Sam and the Prickly Problem when Emily pushed the tree up to the top of the hill.

The episode on whole is okay, but the plot really needed more originality.

Thomas and Friends Season 12 Scorecard

1. Thomas and the Billboard: 7
3. Rosie's Funfair Special: 8
5. Henry Gets it Wrong: 1
6. Heave Ho Thomas!: 7
8. Excellent Emily: 5

9. The Party Surprise: 3

10. Saved You!: 3
12. James Works it Out: 7

13. Tram Trouble: 5

14. Don't Go Back: 1
15. Gordon Takes a Shortcut: 3

16. The Man in the Hills: 2
18. Percy and the Bandstand: 6

19. Push Me, Pull You: 0

20. Best Friends: 10

Thomas and Friends Season 11: Poll Winners

Another day, another set of reviews. It's the season eleven poll winners!

Episode 5: Hector the Horrid!

Written by Simon Spencer

This episode was the winner of season 11's poll, and if you ask me, it's easy to see why. At first Hector does come off as a bully, but really, he's just scared of being filled with coal so he doesn't want to be shunted - either he's worked at a quarry or he's newly built, you decide. Thomas' fear around Hector is understandable, but when Hector scares Rosie off, Thomas is fed up with his attitude and bumps him a little too hard, and he learns why Hector behaved this way. So yeah, there was a double moral there - stand up to bullies, and face your fears. Not much else to say here, it's just brilliant.

Episode 19: Thomas and the Stinky Cheese

Written by Paul Larson

Did you know that before the show officially went CGI, this episode (at least, a few clips of it) was given the treatment to give a visual test on how it would look? Thankfully, what we see on TV or our computers looks nothing like the visual test as it looks rather hideous - if it did, people would've avoided it like the plague.

As for the episode as whole, it was also pretty good, but yeah, the steam vs. diesel rivalry was starting to wear thin as time went by, but I don't like how it's said that Thomas doesn't like working with diesels, unless they meant Thomas didn't like working with Diesel, Arry, and Bert specifically. A little change like that could prevent unfortunate implications. For the crash itself, while nicely filmed, did feel like the crash from Thomas in Charge, but at least this had some merit for happening... sort of. Oh, and the new facemasks are pretty darned funny.

Episode 26: Wash Behind Your Buffers

Written by Paul Larson

Ah yes, the very last episode filmed with full models (The Great Discovery not withstanding). I do find it off-putting that Madge would stick around Rheneas and Skarloey solely to make sure they were clean - I get that she's meant to be a motherly figure, but isn't that a bit much? That said, you got to say that Skarloey and Rheneas' models look brilliant when they look so clean - I've never understood why they were weathered during seasons 9-12; maybe it was to emphasize their supposed age? On whole, I think it's quite nice.

And no, I didn't forget about Skarloey Storms Through, which came second in the initial poll. Why did I choose not to review it? Well, frankly, there's so little I could say about it, and it just isn't worth it. 1/10 for that - it's just that bad.

Thomas and Friends Season 11 Scorecard

2. Emily's Rubbish: 8
3. Dream On: 9
4. Dirty Work: 6
5. Hector the Horrid!: 9
6. Gordon and the Engineer: 10
8. Henry's Lucky Trucks: 6
10. Thomas and the Big Bang: 1
11. Smoke and Mirrors: 1
12. Thomas Sets Sail: 1
13. Don't Be Silly, Billy: 0
14. Edward and the Mail: 5
16. Toby's Triumph: 1
17. Thomas and the Runaway Car: 8
18. Thomas in Trouble: 7
19. Thomas and the Stinky Cheese: 7
22. Sir Handel in Charge: 2
23. Cool Truckings: 6
25. Skarloey Storms Through: 1
26. Wash Behind Your Buffers: 7

Thomas and Friends Season 10: Poll Winners

Here's the poll winners for season 10!

Episode 3: Thomas and the Jet Plane

Written by Abi Grant

Ah, the Sodor Airport. A shame that after season 12, it's never been seen again. Actually, I could say the same for Jeremy; this was his only speaking role in the series, and he's very much been reduced to cameo status up to said season. Personally, I feel the airport is a fine edition to Sodor, and it helps to modernize it a little.

For the episode itself, I figure it's a good one showcasing some rail/airplane rivalry. Of course, it suffers from the three-strikes formula when Thomas complains about Jeremy; yes, we get it. He's jealous that the plane doesn't go through the same problems a railway engine does. On a side note, where are the parents? Or did they not exist in that era? If that were the case, then explain how... you know what? Never mind. I don't want to think about it.

Other than those minor issues, it's still a good episode, although how does Jeremy's pilot see if his eyes are on the windshield? Kind of makes him feel like a character out of Cars.

Episode 5: The Green Controller

Written by Sharon Miller

Well, here's an episode that was a total merchandising tool!

Yes, people, this was the episode we got to see James in a ridiculous yellow and black livery. Now, I don't mind a bit of suspension of disbelief once in a while, but James being repainted twice in one day? Sure, he's smaller than Gordon, but he isn't exactly a painting either! (And no, not the Mr. Perkins kind of painting.) And speaking of suspension of disbelief, yes, I am going to bring this up:

"This is my railway, and I give the orders!"

-The Fat Controller, 1956/1986

Did they not take a look at Duck Takes Charge before writing this? Also, if we consider Percy and the Signal, how did Gordon and James believe Percy? Continuity is probably the biggest problem with this episode - even if you don't care about that, it's still unlikely that a locomotive would be in charge of the railway, even for one day. (This is probably the episode where ripoffs like Sir Handel in Charge and Don't Bother Victor! come from.)

I thought it was fun when I was younger, but now, despite James' busy bee livery being kind of funny, I think it's just stupid.

Episode 23: Thomas and the Birthday Mail

Written by James Mason

Truth time; prior to writing up my review, I have read a couple of others where the episode is viewed as bad for its unfortunate implications surrounding Rosie's intentions. Were they as bad as the reviews made them out to be? That's what I'm gonna find out, right here, right now!

Oh, and if you're wondering if you see Rosie as a Thomas clone, no. I will not consider this a Thomas is an Idiot episode based on Rosie's behaviors. It's either Thomas' behavior or his actions that make him an idiot. Keep that in mind.

So, the basic premise is that Thomas tries to avoid Rosie whilst delivering birthday mail to Alice, a girl living at High Farm. She asks to help Thomas, but he politely refuses her request. Now, when it came to Day of the Diesels, you're supposed to see Thomas as the good guy, but when he makes rude comments about diesels, you end up sympathizing with the diesels instead. Here, we're not supposed to root for him, but we root for Rosie instead. Remember that he politely, and yet firmly, declined to allow her to help him.

What is Thomas' reason to dislike her? No, it's not a historical reason (although many wish it was, and I don't blame them), but rather, it's because she copies everything he does. And you know what? I don't blame Thomas for getting annoyed! I'm serious; if there was a girl that wanted to copy everything I did, I'd be annoyed, probably to the point of a restraining order against her. I'm still single, and a stalker isn't the kind of girlfriend I'd want, but let's continue.

I believe that another reason we're not supposed to root for Thomas is because he blatantly ignores Harold's warning about going to High Farm. However, he has a solid reason to ignore the warning; it's Alice's birthday and he wants to deliver her presents... except we know nothing about her other than the fact that they're friends. She was just there because the plot demanded for it.

And then Thomas has his accident, and suddenly, he's happy that Rosie followed him after all? Up until that point, I was actually rooting for him (sure, him trying to get through the landslide was stupid, but that's beside the point), but that bit of narrative dialogue just feels like a slap in the face, and I had no idea as to who I was rooting for at the end; I can't root for Rosie since she's a stalker, nor did I root for Thomas as he suddenly felt glad that Rosie followed him after all.

Here's how I feel this episode could've worked, and let's imagine it's the second half of Rosie's saga; (As an aside, where'd she come from, anyway?) Rosie tries to speak with Thomas, but he brushes her off and promptly leaves. Then Harold comes in and tells Rosie about the track to High Farm being dangerous. Rosie, fearing that Thomas could be in danger, chases after him, and he thinks that she's harassing him. Then comes the landslide, and Thomas is unable to stop in time. Rosie finally catches up and helps Thomas out of the landslide, and then pushes him to High Farm. On the journey, Thomas apologizes for his rudeness and they become friends.

See, that wasn't too hard, was it? It says a lot that fans can write far more endearing stories than the Sam Barlow's writing staff did (with the possible exception of Anna Starkey).

As for this episode? Well, as much as I like the ideas behind it, it's the execution that I don't like, and it's another episode where potential was let down by poor writing choices - see Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep? and The Cutie Re-Mark for context. Not one of the all time worst, but yeah, it's pretty bad. And it's quite sad that Rosie's been reduced to a background character - hopefully season 20 will fix that.

On an unrelated subject, we'll just politely pretend that Wharf and Peace never happened. 1/10 for that episode.

Thomas and Friends Season 10 Scorecard

2. A Smooth Ride: 3
3. Thomas and the Jet Plane: 8
5. The Green Controller: 1
7. Thomas' Tricky Tree: 2
8. Toby's Afternoon Off: 8

9. It's Good to be Gordon: 9

13. Edward Strikes Out: 1
14. Topped Off Thomas: 0
15. Which Way Now?: 6
16. Thomas and the Shooting Star: 6
17. Big Strong Henry: 7
18. Sticky Toffee Thomas: 4
19. Wharf and Peace: 1

20. Thomas' Frosty Friend: 0
21. Emily and the Special Coaches: 8
23. Thomas and the Birthday Mail: 2
24. Duncan's Bluff: 5
27. James the Second Best: 5
28. Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out: 3

Thomas and Friends Season 9: Poll Winners

After setting up my polls, I can announce that there are three winners for each; first up, let's bring out season nine's winners, shall we?

Episode 3: Molly's Special Special

Written by Paul Larson

A long time ago, this was one of my all-time favorite episodes of the show. Does it hold up today?

Unlike a majority of the episodes throughout the Barlow era, this doesn't utilize the three-strikes formula in a painful way. With the decorations, there were only tarpaulins and lanterns - that's two strikes, not three. And yes, I will bring this up; why would an engine be laughed at just for pulling empty trucks? Other engines have done so and nobody blinked. If we were to connect this to the story's moral - every job is important, no matter what - I feel it may have well served its purpose.

Another point of contention is Thomas; unlike Thomas and the New Engine (more on that in a bit), he genuinely feels helpful as he wants Molly to feel special. Speaking of whom, it's kind of sad that it's the only episode she had a major role in, as in merchandise ranges, she's said to be very sensitive about what others say about her, as this episode displayed... kind of.

Even to this day, I still love the basis they chose for Molly. The Claud Hamilton is a fantastic locomotive, but it's a shame that none were preserved. Happily, there's a group called the Claud Hamilton Locomotive Group that wants to rebuild No. 8783 and name it Phoenix. I also love her yellow livery, and it's never really bothered me; if I did, I'd be moaning about Thomas, a Brighton tank engine, being painted blue when the real E2s were painted in brown, green, and/or black. It's fiction, for goodness' sake, so you have to bend the rules a bit, even if it's a simple thing as a locomotive livery - but I digress.

For the story itself, it's quite simple, but it's one that, even to this day, I'm sure many could relate to it. Has it aged well for me? Eh... not as well as I'd like to have thought, but I still feel it's a good episode in it's own right.

Episode 11: Thomas and the New Engine

Written by Marc Seal

Oh man, this isn't gonna be a fun one. Why do I say this? To put it in perspective, this is effectively season nine's equivalent to Scaredy Engines. Allow me to explain.

Thomas spots Neville being mocked by Arry and Bert, and thinks that he would rather be friends with the diesels. However, this escalates into the engines thinking that Neville wants to bump the steam engines... Figured it out yet? Never mind the fact there's racism involved, or the fact that Edward is out of character, but this completely undercuts the moral of Thomas and the Rumors! Oh, and Thomas was the one who spreads the rumor - yep, a typical Thomas is an Idiot episode... fan-bloody-tastic...(!)

And then there's Neville. Don't get me wrong, his basis is wonderful, and there's a vast history behind it. Actually, that's the biggest problem with Neville; he's only got three bits of dialogue, none of which showcase any aspect of his persona, except for the fact that he's friendly. Hell, even Starlight Glimmer's done more than him, and she's creatively bankrupt! What makes it worse about Neville is that he's treated as a plot device throughout and the fact that his potential as a character was wasted!

It's rather telling that Mighty Mac, whilst the episode was hugely contrived, at least actually gave the titular character(s) development. If this episode had given Neville more screentime and some personality, it might've fared better. But no, they had to shoehorn Thomas solely because... why not. It's another bad episode out of season nine with a slap to the face ending. Considering that this and Scaredy Engines both featured Thomas acting like a jerk and contradicted past episodes, why should anyone be surprised they're as bad as each other?

Episode 19: Thomas' New Trucks

Written by Paul Larson

I like the looks of Thomas' and James' new trucks; they're quite colorful, although I'm not too sure as to why Thomas has green trucks and James blue - wouldn't having trucks with matching colors make sense? Maybe if I did complain about that, then Annie and Clarabel would be painted blue, the mail trucks would be green like Percy, Henrietta would be a different shade of brown, and the express coaches would the blue like Gordon... but I'm rambling on.

It is rather strange, however, that the engines would want to keep their own trucks clean, as nobody seems fussed about keeping them tidy. The ending where James' trucks misbehave and then melons falling on him seemed kind of... random, but I guess they wanted to bring some karma onto him for being cocky. The moral's a good one, though, and unlike Thomas and the New Engines, it doesn't feel backhanded.

Thomas and Friends Season 9 Scorecard

1. Percy and the Oil Painting: 7
2. Thomas and the Rainbow: 1
3. Molly's Special Special: 8
5. Mighty Mac: 2

7. Respect for Gordon: 8

10. Rheneas and the Dinosaur: 1
11. Thomas and the New Engine: 3
12. Toby Feels Left Out: 1
13. Thomas Tries His Best: 9

16. Henry and the Flagpole: 3
17. Emily Knows Best: 7
18. Thomas' Day Off: 8
19. Thomas' New Trucks: 7

22. Skarloey the Brave: 1
23. Saving Edward: 2

24. Thomas and the Golden Eagle: 1
25. Keeping Up with James: 8

Thomas and Friends: The Rest of Season 8

We're now into the new era of Thomas and Friends, kicking off with the rest of season eight. Is it really as bad as fans made it out to be back then? That's what I'm gonna find out!

Episode 1: Thomas and the Tuba

Written by Dave Ingham

So here's the first episode of the new era, and how did it play off (no band humor intended)? Actually, let's get this outta the way - Thomas didn't lose the tuba, he lost the tuba player, unless the title was making a reference to the sound the tuba makes, I don't know? (By the way, that looks nothing like a tuba; that's a... horn of some kind, I know nothing about musical instruments.)

Alright, technical issues aside, I do like the usage of road vehicles in this story like Trevor and Elizabeth; a shame they aren't used more often (well, Trevor mostly, due to him already being in CGI, but whatever). I thought it did quite fine for a first episode officially produced under the Hit banner and it might be worth a few watches.

Episode 3: Thomas to the Rescue

Written by Abi Grant and Paul Larson

Ah, the steam vs. diesel rivalry; beyond this point, it'd been twisted in all the wrong ways and at times, was put in black and white rather than there being a gray zone. This episode, however, does not go too deeply into either black or white, but it finds the appropriate gray zone like future episodes should've done. *coughcough*Bust My Buffers*cough*

I suppose what wins this episode over is Thomas. His role at Anopha Quarry (if Mavis works here, it must be Anopha) works as it's at the end of his branchline, and even though Diesel was a jerk to him from the start, Thomas doesn't mock him for being broken down and willingly helps him out. It's also a good way to show that fuel and water don't mix. Although, who was running the quarry while Thomas was away? Well, if we consider that a deleted scene featuring Bill and Ben was utilized for "Trying" in Calling All Engines, I suppose that would cover up the plot hole.

Episode 13: Spic and Span

Written by Marc Seal

"Railway inspectacles?" Yep, an early sign of Percy's idiocy. You'd think he'd at least know by now what a railway inspector was! Also, when did they check to see if the engines were the cleanest? They check to see if a railway is running efficiently. I suppose this could be one of those times that the critics of the season have a point - no railway research. And yet they used the term "brake coach" in As Good as Gordon - go figure. If the story had been about Thomas and Percy being hardworking whilst Gordon, Emily and James were being lazy in having their washdowns, then maybe it'd make more sense.

Episode 17: Thomas Gets It Right

Written by Robin Rigby

Really? You need an engine to take eggs when you could've used, oh, I don't know, a lorry?! Oh, and the moral, whilst fine, has been done better before and since. Not too much to say here, really, but it is a very ironic title. :P

Episode 19: Fish

Written by Paul Larson

Considering that Paul had a lot of fun writing for Arthur, if the tank engine were to return, he should definitely write his episode. For the episode, yes, I don't know either why it was given the same name as the season four episode. Why not call it something like A Fishy Day for Thomas? It might not be the most original, but at least it wouldn't be as annoying as copying titles. But why were fish loaded in the trucks in such a haphazard way? Couldn't they have been put in crates with ice and covered in tarpaulins as seen in episodes like The Smelly Kipper? It's still a good episode, don't get me wrong.

Episode 20: Emily's Adventure

Written by Paul Larson

As I've said in the past, I don't mind how Emily has been portrayed in seasons 8-12. Sure, she'd come off as unpleasant at worst and impatient at best, but it feels more flavored compared to her season seven portrayal, where she felt a little vanilla, to say the least. Giving her character flaws was a good thing, but forgive me if I don't your criticisms seriously - I'm guessing that it was the execution that turned a lot of fans off back then, and they couldn't find an appropriate middle ground. Now, when it comes to episodes like Emily Saves the World and (especially) Best Engine Ever, they've found that middle ground and made Emily one of the most beloved, relatable characters in the show.

The episode itself? Sure, they could've gone for someone like James or Gordon, but had they done so, it might've come off as cliched, even if they used Henry instead. Thomas, Percy, and Toby wouldn't have fit either, and don't get me started on Edward. So I guess that Emily was the only one suitable for the role, if only to give her character flaws. I do appreciate Elizabeth's no-nonsense role when Emily shouted at her, and refused to work unless Emily actually asked politely. I suppose Elizabeth, as a character, is the definition of understated.

Episode 24: Chickens to School

Written by Paul Larson

Jeez, talk about the lack of logic in this episode; even if Thomas' crew were tired, you'd think they'd at least remember what his jobs were. However, to be fair, it does try and show the effects from the lack of sleep (believe me, I know what that's like) and the consequences it might have. And yes, we actually see Emily being genuinely kind. I think this could've fared better with a bit more common sense. Not too sure if I like the episode or not, but I don't hate it either. A decent watch.

Episode 26: Percy and the Magic Carpet

Written by Abi Grant

And now we come to a close with the final episode of the first season of the new era, and it's definitely one of the most illogical episodes of the show. Just how on earth was the carpet not tied down in the first place? And how did Percy believe it was magic? Sure, the effects look clever, but clever special effects do not automatically make a good episode (Thomas and the Birthday Mail, looking at you!)

Sure, there were worse episodes to come, but that doesn't excuse how dumb this episode is at points, even though there are funny moments like the Fat Controller losing his hat... again. :P

Season 8 Overall

So, how does this season stack up? Surprisingly well, in fact! Yeah, there were mistakes and a couple of bad episodes, but for their first season, it was a valiant effort by Hit to make Thomas their own. I know that there might be some people who have complaints about it even after twelve years, but I won't bother going into detail about that as these issues are probably outdated anyway. *looks sternly at those who still blame Emily for "replacing" Duck*

On whole, I'd rate it about the same as season seven; both have a few episodes that were subpar, but for the most part, they're harmless and enjoyable to watch at points. Seasons 9-12, however...

Episodes Ranked from Worst to Best

26. Too Hot for Thomas (2/10)
25. Percy and the Magic Carpet (3/10)
24. Percy's Big Mistake
23. Thomas Gets it Right (5/10)
22. You Can Do it, Toby!
21. Chickens to School (6/10)
20. Spic and Span
19. Thomas and the Fireworks Display
18. James Gets a New Coat
17. Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough (7/10)
16. Thomas and the Tuba
15. Squeak, Rattle and Roll
14. Henry and the Wishing Tree
13. Edward the Great (8/10)
12. Fish
11. Emily's Adventure
10. Don't Tell Thomas
9. Percy's New Whistle
8. Thomas Saves the Day (9/10)
7. Thomas to the Rescue
6. As Good as Gordon
5. Thomas and the Circus
4. Gordon Takes Charge
3. Emily's New Route
2. Halloween
1. James Goes Too Far

Season 8 Final Ranking: 7/10