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
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