Thomas and Friends Season 21: Episodes 11-18

Here's part two of my thoughts on Thomas and Friends' 21st season!

Episodes 11, 13, and 16 are written by Lee Pressman; 12, 14, and 18 by Helen Farrall; 15 and 17 by Davey Moore.

11. Philip's Number

This is gonna be fun!

It's safe to say that Philip has become a divisive character among the fandom; either you love his childlike charm or you find it annoying. I've found myself in the former category since Toby's New Friend, and Philip's Number is a great continuation of the little boxcab's character development. Some of you will argue that he's a diesel equivalent to Percy, but what you're forgetting is that Percy isn't young anymore. Okay, he still kind of is, but Philip is even younger than Percy!

Anyway, I really enjoyed the episode. And no, the fantasy sequences don't bother me in the slightest.  You can see that it's all in Philip's mind; Dianna Basso and her team didn't outright say so, and they pretty much expected you to fill in the gaps. Besides, is it any more trippy than "Never Overlook a Little Engine" in Lost Treasure? Not really. Heck, it was this episode alone that made Basso my favorite Thomas director. Even at her most pathetic, she knows how to make an episode look great on screen.

Even though I'm annoyed by the constant usage of the "be yourself message", it worked for this episode, only they added a new angle about carving your own path. At first, Philip wanted to know why he was given the number 68 (by the way, wouldn't it be funnier if he was number 69?), but after saving 68 sheep from Gordon hitting them, he decided that's what he should be remembered for. It was great!

What makes it even more so is Gordon's character. At first, he makes fun of Philip's number, but after saving him from running into the sheep, he genuinely apologizes for teasing him earlier, showing that despite his arrogance, he does have a sympathetic side, something I hope we see more of in season 22. There may be a few issues here and there, but in the end, I don't think they're worth moaning about. It's an episode that can't be overlooked, especially for it's message at the end.

12. The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor

This is a big one; the episode that fully showcases Rosie in her brand new red livery (which she will retain, no matter what certain "fans" think). How does it fare, and does it do Rosie any justice?

Well, even though she appears prominently, this is mostly a James episode, but a great one at that (and I'll get to why in a bit). They say Rosie was given a repaint, but they don't say why. Did she need a change? Was it because she didn't want to be made fun of for her old livery (which would be understandable)? Anything would do instead of simply cutting one of eight missing episodes.

Despite this issue, the episode, as I mentioned earlier, is great. James' stubbornness really shone here, and he's got solid reasoning to why he didn't want to worry about his brakes until it was too late and had his crash at Tidmouth Sheds. Though I should point out that steam engines don't use brake fluid; there's a reason you got a railway consultant!

The theme, once again, is really good here; it is incredibly stupid to let problems fester to the point they're out of your control. Yes, the episode aired long before the ToonKriticY2K scandal, but thinking about that recent event, it makes the moral of this episode much stronger, especially as some of his former "friends" would rather try to claim innocence instead of at least showing the tiniest bit of regard for those he's hurt! What is it with the Thomas writers pointing out issues with the fandom?

On the whole, I love this episode, and the crash is amazing. A pity that Rosie didn't do much here, but it is interesting how this lead up nicely to the next episode...

13. A Shed for Edward

And here we go with possibly the most controversial Thomas episode in recent years. No, not fandom controversy like The Way She Does It or Rocky Rescue. I mean, like, legitimate controversy. I'll get to that in a bit.

To start with, this is the very first episode of the entire show where Mark Moraghan doesn't narrate except for the episode's title. But really, what is the point of a narrator these days if we can see what's happening before us? This is why CGI storytelling is better than model storytelling; much as I like the latter in the classic era, it had limitations. After all, less is more.

I really like Edward and Philip's dynamic in this episode. Sure, it's a bit like Edward and Thomas' in The Adventure Begins, but that was when Thomas was new to Sodor. Since then, he's grown up and is now in charge of his own branchline. This feels like Edward and Thomas for a new generation.

What makes the dynamic even stronger is how it connected to the themes. Philip was chattering at night, and Edward wanted to find somewhere to sleep. Some of the locations he found are rather silly, but it emphasizes how desperate he was, making it funnier. And when Edward nearly has an accident, Philip realizes where he messed up and chose not to bother Edward the next night they were together. If that isn't character development, I don't know what is.

And then there's the ending; I don't care what anybody says. It is one of the most heartwarming of the whole show. Edward moved to Wellsworth Sheds of his own volition because it was closer to his branchline, and Philip needs someone wise to guide him. Something "fans" don't care about because they're randomly screeching "EDWARD'S BEEN KICKED OUT OF THE STEAM TEAM" or whatever.

Well, guess what? The Steam Team concept is irrelevant these days! The only reason it was formed back in season eight was to establish a core cast of engines #1-7 as well as Emily. Nowadays, we have episodes featuring the likes of Diesel, Daisy, Toad, Stephen, Spencer, etc., which means the Steam Team concept is simply redundant.

It's not just Edward being written out of the Steam Team; so are Henry and Toby. And honestly? I'm okay with that, especially if you consider the terrible starring roles they had in the likes of Edward Strikes Out, Henry Gets It Wrong, and Toby's Triumph, where they had their characters rewritten just to suit the story. Not only that, their personalities aren't that interesting compared to Thomas, Gordon, James and Percy. With those four, there's a lot more storytelling potential. Frankly, Edward, Henry and Toby are better off as secondary characters; even the Railway Series didn't give them that much time to shine in the books (at least, after the early ones).

In addition, fans were miffed when Duck wasn't a member of the Steam Team, but in retrospect, I'm glad he wasn't, because if he had been, he'd have been butchered badly during seasons 8-16, and would fans rather have him as a main character and be messed up horribly, or as a secondary character and written properly? I know what I'd choose, frankly.

Sorry about the rant, but this is something that has been on my mind for a while now. And yes, they are appearing in season 22, regardless of what certain "fans" think. Getting back to A Shed for Edward, that ending is perhaps the most relatable to me; when moving, you can either be sad about leaving your friends (and that's perfectly fine), or you can be excited about meeting new faces and going on new adventures. It's the Magical Mystery Cure of Thomas episodes, and I'm glad that Edward's finally returning home, and that he'll never be poorly written again.

We'll miss you at Tidmouth, old blue #2, but at least you're finally home again.

14. The Big Freeze

This one was... disappointing, even for Helen Farrall. The plot description said that Diesel proves himself to be a hero, but all he did was mock the steam engines and in the end, deliver the coal they needed. That's it. And how does a railway survive with diesel shunters that can go at, like, thirty miles per hour? That's an issue which has been plaguing the show since season six; there's no diesel muscle. In fact, it felt like a missed opportunity to bring BoCo back into the fold pulling the express.

There were a few good things like Thomas being punished for his ignorance, as well as showcasing the negative side of winter (something I've recently found out all too well), and... that's pretty much it, I'm afraid. Oh, and the Fat Controller tripping up three times felt more cringe-worthy than funny. Can we at least add variety to his comedy? I don't hate the episode, but it felt rather... meh. It could've been four and a half minutes long and the plot would be the same. Or maybe if it was a special on its own...?

15. Emily in the Middle

You know how there have been episodes this season I've defended that people disliked? Well, this one is kind of the opposite. To get to the point, it's basically the season 21 equivalent to The Other Side of the Mountain. Allow me to explain...

This is practically Love Me Tender 2.0, only with Emily slapped on and without the heart and charm of the season 20 episode. Think about it; both are Donald and Douglas episodes written by Davey Moore, they take place in winter, and at least half the plot is spent on them arguing. Oh, and Toby is there cause why not. In Love Me Tender, it made sense for them to bicker because they disagreed about which lines they should clear first. Here? They just argue because the story demands it, and that each infuriated the other by telling Emily about their past incidents.

Here's the thing; we already have a set of twins in that mindset, and they are Bill and Ben. Donald and Douglas are supposed to be more mature than that! Hell, the reason the latter came to Sodor was because the former did not want to be separated from his brother. That, and there was the threat of them being scrapped. Not only that, there can be more done with them if given the chance, and not just in winter episodes. They don't always need to work together, for goodness' sake! See Donald's Duck and Escape as to why that's the case.

Then there's Emily, and honestly, she's the best thing about the episode. It's a nice idea to try and put up with two arguing engines at their worst; had it been James or Gordon, they would've snapped much sooner. And I don't blame Emily for getting frustrated at the twins' petty bickering, though it's something they needed to learn after Love Me Tender that arguing will only land not only themselves, but others in trouble as well, something that should be taken into consideration for season 22 onward.

So yeah, I'm not a fan of this one either; it's probably my least favorite episode featuring Emily as lead character. As I've said, it's very much The Other Side of the Mountain of Davey Moore episodes. If I wanted to see this plot, I'd rather watch either Love Me Tender or MLP's A Royal Problem. The former gives more credence to Donald and Douglas' conflict, and the latter shows great development not only to Starlight Glimmer, but Princesses Celestia and Luna as well. Emily in the Middle just feels like another sign of creative stagnation.

16. Terence Breaks the Ice

Now we're talking! This is the episode very much every Thomas fan was looking forward to ever since it was announced; Terence made his debut in a winter episode, so it's appropriate he returns in a winter episode.

I quite liked the flashback; yeah, it's a bit lengthy, but it's possible there wasn't enough story to fill up the runtime. That being said, it's a great way to reintroduce Terence to a modern audience who may not know who he is, though it is rather odd that Thomas would say he always wore his snowplough after said episode when we've seen episodes where he doesn't.

Some people have criticized that Terence doesn't have much character, to which I can understand. Here, they give a bit of a more cocky personality like he had in Toby Takes the Road, and it works really well for the moral and story. Plus, the rescue is really dramatic as he could've sunk like the big tree.

Speaking of which, I really like how the Earl worked around the problem he faced by stacking another small tree on top of some presents. That's really creative of him to do so, and it's something I think all of us can do when faced with a problem.

17. Daisy's Perfect Christmas

If there was any episode that was a metaphor for the Thomas fandom, it would be this one. Daisy feels like the perfect representation of entitled fans who'd rather the show focus on them rather than children - you know, the actual target audience. They even used children to further hammer in the metaphor, and it works brilliantly. Oh, and did I mention that I loved the moral here; breaking tradition can be a good thing?

Plus, any episode where the troublesome trucks become carolers is worth watching. I will never not love this episode; this is how you do Fame and Misfortune. Well done, Mr. Moore.

18. Confused Coaches

Here we go with the season 21 finale, as well as Helen Farrall's last (confirmed) episode. Is it a grand finale? Well... not really. It wasn't really a bad episode either. It's... serviceable, to say the least.

For one, it takes a while for the main conflict to build up. Gordon and Spencer's rivalry is fun to watch, though it feels a bit strange the former would boast about platform one being the most important. Then again, he did boast about it in Respect for Gordon, so... I can understand... kind of? That being said, it does lead to some funny bantering over numbers; Spencer got burned for not having one!

What wasn't funny was the Fat Controller tripping up whilst offering drinks to the Duke and Duchess. It's getting old, writers! And it's gotten to the point you wonder why he's even in charge of the North Western Railway. Fortunately, they do show him being authoritative when he scolds Gordon and Spencer for their petty rivalry. That is something we need more of.

Another positive was the coach swap; it definitely feels like a plot device taken from the Railway Series. And I can totally buy Thomas and Philip not seeing who's at the platform, but the passengers and station staff are a bit questionable. Wouldn't they or Sir Topham notice that something was off? Although it does lead to an interesting race around the third act and it makes me wish for an episode where Spencer takes the express whilst Gordon is absent; that would be great to see!

Oh, and it's the first time Thomas has had a New Years' themed story! It's so refreshing after umpteen Christmas stories per season. And as for Thomas working with Philip? I don't really care. Anyone saying the boxcab has replaced Percy just because of this episode are extremely shallow.

Overall, this isn't really Helen Farrall's strongest episode, but I don't have much of a reason to hate it either. It's fun to watch if you're in the right mood, but there are stronger episodes in this season alone I'd watch more often.

Final Thoughts

Well, this was a tough one to get done. I dunno if it's because I was so distracted with My Little Pony, settling down in Oregon, or dealing with college in real life and stupid people online that I was generally disinterested in reviewing season 21. But now, I've finally got it done, and how does it hold up?

Surprisingly well, actually! Even more so considering that eight episodes have been cut due to Big World! Big Adventures! Yes, you heard right - Mattel have cut eight episodes out of season 21. Yeah, we lost The Missing Coach for season two, but we do have the original story out there, and Break Van was just about enough to establish the predicament Donald and Douglas were in. Gordon Goes Foreign would be great for season three, but working their way around that gap in Time for Trouble worked alright, and the original story, again, is out there.

But season 21? That was meant to establish Rosie's new role and job, but so far, we've not been able to see it, and we don't know why she was at Vicarstown in Journey Beyond Sodor (which supposedly takes place after season 21, but more on that later). Were they also going to do more with Carly and Big Mickey? Bulgy? Terence? Or what about Trevor, who hasn't done a thing since Three Steam Engines Gruff? Heck, what about the railway museum that was mentioned in Over the Hill? Was Hugo going to get one last shot at redemption?

So many set ups, and yet very few have been given pay off so far. I hope they find their way in season 22 or maybe even season 23. Otherwise, that'll be eight scripts up in smoke.

But the biggest issue I have with season 21 is its continuity with Journey Beyond Sodor. Again, the latter is meant to take place after the former, but the biggest plot holes are in regards to Carly's presence at Brendam Docks (and not to mention Thomas going to the mainland with Edward to pick her up) and Edward living at Tidmouth instead of Wellsworth. Heck, James didn't even make a comment about Rosie's paint in the special! I even asked people when Journey Beyond takes place in relation to season 21, and the results I got were... inconclusive. Unless Team Thomas makes a comprehensive timeline of the series, I'm afraid it's an unanswerable question for now.

Even more frustrating is how confused season 21's own timeline appears to be; Carly didn't appear in Emily in the Middle, Harvey was confident in A Most Singular Engine but wasn't in Stuck in Gear, Edward was at Tidmouth in The Big Freeze (unless he was visiting), Rosie appeared in red in Hasty Hannah prior to The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor (unless it wasn't made as huge a deal back then in the former), Daisy's Perfect Christmas didn't have snow, the list goes on.

The season wasn't all bad, though. I love that they're making female characters more prominent (barring Rosie, which is a shame), and the themes for the show, even if some weren't the most original, have never been stronger than they have been. And again, I didn't mind the experiments being implemented. It's not the first time a season has tried new things, and it won't be the last either. So really, what's the fuss all about? It's not like Mattel dumped all of these changes in one season; otherwise, fans would have a reason to moan!

To sum up, season 21 is unfairly underrated. There were a few episodes I didn't like that much, but the good outweighs the bad by a lot. It's like season three of My Little Pony, and I think Ryan says it best:

“Maybe it wasn't better or worse than usual - just different. Today wasn't perfect like it used to be. It was a new kind of perfect.”

As long as the writing quality for the show remains high with Brenner and company on board, the fans should have absolutely nothing to worry about... unless they'd rather be a big bunch of Daisy Downers!

One final note I'd like to make is for Helen Farrall; thank you for giving us some of the best episodes Thomas and Friends has ever had. Your work will truly be missed by many, but you'll still be standing as one of the best writers of the entire series. Thank you once again, and good luck on your future endeavors.

Thomas and Friends Season 21 Rankings

18. New Crane on the Dock: 3/10
17. Emily in the Middle: 3/10
16. Cranky at the End of the Line: 4/10
15. The Big Freeze: 5/10
14. Confused Coaches: 7/10
13. Stuck in Gear: 8/10
12. Unscheduled Stops: 8/10
11. Hasty Hannah: 8/10

10. P.A. Problems: 9/10

9. Terence Breaks the Ice: 9/10

8. Philip's Number: 9/10
7. The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor: 10/10
6. A Most Singular Engine: 10/10
5. Springtime for Diesel: 10/10

4. Runaway Engine: 10/10
3. Dowager Hatt's Busy Day: 10/10
2. A Shed for Edward: 10/10
1. Daisy's Perfect Christmas: 10/10

Final Overall Rating: 8/10

Thomas and Friends Season 21: Episodes 1-10

Has it been ages since the last written Thomas review here? No really; the last major review I wrote on the blog was The Great Race back in July, well over five months ago. And there's my Journey Beyond Sodor video review from October (or, depending on how you view it, November). Season 21 seems to have gone neglected... until now, that is! There's been a ton of discussion about the show's future since it came out, and I wanted to wait until the hype for the new season had died down so I could analyze it properly having absorbed it all, especially as I want to view the episodes for what they are, not what they're signalling for the show's future.

So, without further confusion or delay, here are my thoughts on season 21 of Thomas and Friends!

As the title card above states, it'll be reviewed in two parts; part one about the first two weeks, and part two about week three and the Christmas on Sodor episodes.

Episodes 1, 2, and 4 are written by Davey Moore; 3 and 6-9 by Lee Pressman; 5 and 10 by Helen Farrall.

1. Springtime for Diesel

I don't get why Diesel in the later seasons is being given flack for "not being his devious self". He's a far more complex character than fans are giving credit for. He's very much the Thomas equivalent to Discord from season three onward. If anyone should be the threatening villain, it's Diesel 10, and he hasn't shown up since season 17.

Anyway, I really love this episode, especially the character development; Diesel's deviousness being a habit he can't shake off, Daisy getting her passengers to their destination despite being crippled (so did Skarloey, Rheneas and Edward, but they did what you'd expect them to do), and we even got Den standing up for himself when Dart tries correcting him. And given that he was last seen in season 19's Den and Dart, also by Davey Moore, that was great.

There were a couple of issues, even if they're minor; one, how did Den not know what Daisy was given that she went to the Dieselworks in The Railcar and the Coaches? Two, why were they not supplied with springs? But in the end, they're just minor plotholes that can be given a simple tweaking.

The ending really does it for me; seeing Diesel go through emotional turmoil was pretty funny to watch, and seeing him pour his heart out to Daisy that night was really genuine and heartwarming. Even more so when she tells him off for bumping her earlier (kind felt suggestive, don't you think?). This is what I call a great start to the series.

2. A Most Singular Engine

Have I mentioned how great a character Daisy has been since Ryan and Daisy? It really is true, and this is another fantastic episode. Though, the continuity between this and Springtime for Diesel is a bit confusing given the relationship between him and Daisy. But then again, maybe character development isn't instantaneous?

Another odd thing was that it's said Daisy is the only diesel railcar on Sodor. Did they forget Hugo? It's kind of an issue as A) they could've said she was the first diesel railcar and B) it would've been a better debut for him than season 20. It's also not a problem for me as... well, it makes it easier for me to forget that the German sausage ever existed! :P

Anyway, the way the plot builds up was very nicely handled. Diesel being frustrated with Daisy's overbearing personality and him seeing Harvey to put Daisy in her place all felt believable; heck, Ryan's role was great as well since he's naive.

Once again, the second half was great. Daisy and Harvey finally confronting each other... only to encounter a cute little bunny at the crossing. Their rivalry gets nipped in the bud when they help each other out and Diesel gets a good dose of karma by rolling into the sea. Though the toilet humor felt rather shoehorned in...

Still, another lovely episode. Oh, and is that the first time in years Duck and Diesel have been in the same shot? If only we could have an episode based around their current personas...!

3. Dowager Hatt's Day Off

Oh my God, I don't think I've ever laughed this much at a Thomas and Friends episode! But seriously, it feels like The Green Controller done properly. As in, they're not using an engine to run the railway. Dowager Hatt was the perfect choice for temporary controller, and her entrance into the story is the right mix of badass and hilarious. Also, did anyone feel sorry for poor Percy? First he's had a tissue land on his nose (and seeing him struggle to try and get it off without hands), and then he can't even get up Gordon's hill pulling the express.

The episode itself is a satire on the Barlow era; how Sharon Miller's railway would be run. But unlike the "joke" in The Way She Does It, this doesn't feel out of place at all, even if that era should stay a thing of the past. And fortunately for (almost) everyone, Emily is around to speak sense into Dowager Hatt. Episodes like this are why Emily's my favorite character; she is the ideal sister figure for the main cast and I think it'll be interesting to see how she'll play off against Rebecca and Nia (more on that later) in the next season. And that ending with Philip? You feel sorry for him, but you can't help but have a bit of a laugh at the predicament he's in.

4. Stuck in Gear

This one, however, kind of feels like a step backwards. Does that make the episode bad? Not necessarily. I'm glad Harvey got a lead role to himself, though his character feels rather inconsistent with what he had in A Most Singular Engine when he was confident in his own abilities. That's a problem I got with season 21 as a whole.

But the episode's biggest problem within itself is Harvey's crew not being involved. Couldn't they have tried to help their engine in removing the branches from his gears before it got worse? It's pretty jarring as season 20 had three episodes where the engines interacting with their crews. That being said, I really like the theme they showed here, and it's one I can relate to. I understand how stupid it is not asking for help before a problem gets worse, but with my shyness being ingrained at a young age, it's a habit I can't shake off.

I really like the ending and how the lesson stuck with Harvey; he was so excited at moving his arm again that he lost himself and felt sheepish, but still asked for help anyway. The weakest of the first week, but still a good watch nonetheless.

5. Runaway Engine

Now there's an episode I was looking forward to when it first came out, and did it deliver? Yes, it did! Especially given that it's a Helen Farrall episode.

The dynamic between Stephen, Millie and Glynn is one of the best of the entire show, and the middle act shows how genuine their friendship is, especially when Stephen feels guilty for unintentionally hurting Millie. Then again, she did leave waste in front of their shed out of pettiness, but then, that's what Stephen and Glynn got for not listening to instructions. And I can't forget the grumpy passenger's role; he's always entertaining whenever he appears ever since his debut back in season 18's Duncan and the Grumpy Passenger, even more so how Sir Robert calmly dealt with his temper.

And I know some will complain about Stephen being childish for his age, but here's the thing; if he was a generic elderly character, he wouldn't be fun to watch. Stephen's a flawed character, and episodes like this and Over the Hill show why it's a good thing. He's got drawbacks just like everyone else, but he knows how to roll with them. On the whole, it's a brilliant end to the first week.

6. P.A. Problems

And here we go, people; the 500th episode of the entire series. It's very rare that a kids' show could last this long, but here we are with a milestone in Thomas history. How does it hold up?

Quite well, actually. It's nice to see Edward co-starring in this one, especially as Crocks Scrap Yard is near his branchline, and how he was featured to demonstrate that old doesn't mean useless... but the theme is very much a strength and a weakness. Why? Well, look at what happens when the TX-1000 fails. Fair enough, it breaks down, but they don't explain what was wrong with it or what caused the speakers to have awful feedback. And that implies that all new technology is flawed, which is rather narrow-minded. Laptops are sometimes better than desktops, MP3 players provide you with more variety than a cassette player, flat-screen TV sets are more reliable than the bulky, squarish sets, etc.

The point is, if you're saying we shouldn't upgrade to newer technology, then by that logic, Thomas wouldn't be in CGI and they'd still rely on worn out models that can't even pull more than two pieces of rolling stock. In The Fogman, there was a reason the foghorn was unsuitable as a replacement for Cyril.

Anyway, like I said, Edward had a really good role here, as did Reg. So nice they didn't forget about him completely. His enthusiastic nature is so contagious I can't help but enjoy it. Much like Beresford from Journey Beyond Sodor, Reg is one of the most understated characters of the series. And yeah, I feel bad for the workmen having to put up with his singing, especially the one at the end. A great episode with a solid (though flawed) theme; with a few tweaks, it'd be perfect.

7. Hasty Hannah

Fun fact: This episode was actually intended to be a part of season 20, but it was held back and is now a season 21 episode. But was the wait worth it, and is Hannah as interesting a character she's made out to be?

Okay, so this is an episode where Toby is portrayed as being worrisome... but unlike Three Steam Engines Gruff, it actually has a catalyst behind it. Hannah is rather overbearing, and Toby is not used to going at high speeds. Might've worked better if he was a bit more assertive against Hannah's desires, but we got what we got.

Hannah herself was a really fun character, though it would be a shame if she never returned to the series. I think she would be great as part of the Ffarquhar coach stock; can we have a story with her, Annie and Clarabel? Seeing her almost getting killed was really dramatic, and shows that you can have too much of a good thing like speed. I would've preferred a scolding from the Fat Controller, but nearly getting killed would hammer the point home further. Though, I have to wonder; why wasn't James used more in the story?

And how would Toby get to Knapford within twenty minutes? Sure, he said it out of sarcasm, but it would be impossible to get there from Crovan's Gate, even for someone like Gordon, within that time frame. For Toby, it'd probably be twenty hours instead! (Okay, maybe not, but still.) And how on earth can he get from Dryaw to Gordon's Hill? If he was on the mainline, I could understand, but as a guy who reads maps, this is rather frustrating.

Despite the issues, I think this episode was really good. Not one of season 21's strongest, but the way it played out worked fine for me. Oh, and we also get a preview of Rosie's new livery, as well as - what I think, at least - implications of romance between Toby and Henrietta. Not sure where the writers are going with this though...!

8. Cranky at the End of the Line

There's... not a whole lot I can say about this one. I mean, it became obvious that Cranky would not be replaced by Carly. It was obvious from Stuck in Gear that there'd be a new crane. Heck, Thomas and Edward traveling to the mainland completely goes against the former's desires in Journey Beyond Sodor, and that's supposed to take place after season 21! Yeah, there's comedy, but it didn't really make me laugh as it felt like a distraction.

And then there's a huge plot hole if we consider Kevin's Cranky Friend; why didn't the Fat Controller plan on getting a new crane after Kevin returned to the Steamworks? Was it not considered at the time? The episode as a whole feels like filler; you could skip right to the next episode and miss nothing.

9. New Crane on the Dock

Is this one better than the previous? Well... no. It wasn't. Sure, the theme is good, but it's nothing we haven't seen in the likes of Ryan and Daisy and No Help at All. Sure, they added the theme of communication, but it's hammered in at the end. Sure, there's some nice humor, but again, it feels like a distraction.

I like what they went for with Cranky and Carly's dynamic; he's the older brother who's jealous of his new baby sister getting all the attention and they get into a petty squabble about it. And I guess that makes Salty the uncle figure telling them a story about a two-headed sea serpent. It's funny, sure, but it doesn't really add much to the story. And in case you're wondering, it's something we'll be seeing in season 22 when it comes out, but will that (along with other aspects being hinted at) make it bad? No. I look purely for good storytelling and themes, and whilst the themes are good, the story is pretty unoriginal.

Which brings me onto Big Mickey. This is pandering to older fans at its absolute nadir. Only they know about TUGS and the younger fans don't. They won't know about it unless they looked online. Big Mickey gaining a face feels like a half-baked attempt at acknowledging his presence, perhaps the biggest plot hole in this season alone. Why did no one bother with him until now, of all times? At least when Henrietta gained a face, there was a reason for it. What was the point of giving Big Mickey a face other than fan service? It's like having Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer being paired up to take away the fact that the story is terrible! (Oh wait, they already did that.)

So yeah, I didn't like this one; it's my least favorite of the season up to this point. It almost feels like a sign of stagnation in the writing department, and they need to come up with new ideas. Otherwise, the show will have reached the end of the line...

10. Unscheduled Stops

I'm not the kind of person who automatically gives an episode a high rating simply for who returns. As I've said countless times, I look for a good story and theme to go along with it. That being said, it was a nice surprise to have Bulgy return for the first time since season 12, and the voice Colin McFarlane gave him is absolutely brilliant; he is perfectly cast. I don't think we've had a surprise like that since Harvey's return in Thomas' Shortcut.

This episode starts out with some typical Thomas vs. Bertie racing until the small red bus breaks down at the crossing gate. Thomas offers to take his passengers, but unfortunately, his good deed results in him making more stops than necessary.

That brings me onto the episode's themes which are... a bit confusing. Think about it; Thomas does a good deed for Bertie's passengers at the cost of being late. The Fat Controller isn't too happy about that and so he hires Bulgy to look after Bertie's passengers. Thomas more or less disobeys the Fat Controller's orders and gets off scot-free. I'm not saying the episode is bad because of a flawed theme, but I think Helen Farrall could've been a little more explicit as to where she was going with this one.

I do enjoy the episode for what it is, especially with the Fat Controller having the right balance between being a clown and a serious controller (something which fans have rightly complained about, for the record), but the flawed and confused theme at the end keeps it from being a full 10.

Thomas and Friends Season 21 Scorecard

1. Springtime for Diesel: 10

2. A Most Singular Engine: 10

3. Dowager Hatt's Busy Day: 10

4. Stuck in Gear: 8

5. Runaway Engine: 10
6. P.A. Problems: 9
7. Hasty Hannah: 8
8. Cranky at the End of the Line: 4
9. New Crane on the Dock: 3
10. Unscheduled Stops: 8

Season Rating So Far: 80/100