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