Favorite Brenner-Era Writers

Has it been over a month since the last post? Wow!

With the recent announcement that Andrew Brenner is stepping down as head writer for Thomas and Friends after season 23, I figured it might be fitting to rank the writers from seasons 17 to 22 from least favorite to most favorite. Including Brenner himself, there have been eleven writers across six seasons, and four of them (Larson and Beaumont, Huckerby and Ostler) worked in pairs, so those will be ranked together.

A few conditions, though:

1. Although Pressman and Larson both wrote for the model era, I will only consider their contributions to the CGI era, though I will touch on their model contributions for a bit.
2. I am basing my judgement on the writers for their contributions to Thomas and Friends from season 17 onwards, not their careers as writers on whole.
3. Even though Sam Wilkinson (Emily Saves the World) and Robin Gay (Goodbye Fat Controller) made some contributions to the aforementioned episodes, they will not be listed since they're technically not episode writers.

That out of the way, here's my ranking of the writers!

Least Favorite: Becky Overton

To be fair, Overton wasn't so bad during season 19. She did push for Henry no longer being an over-the-top worrier, and played a role in developing Diesel's character (even if Ghostly Christmas is practically a story that's been adapted to the point it's cliche). If that was her only season, that wouldn't be so bad...

But then season 22 came around, and it almost felt like she didn't give a damn about giving anyone any character in India, not helped by the fact Thomas was constantly in the spotlight whereas the attention could've gone to any of the Indian engines. Rajiv is still the best of the bunch despite feeling like an Indian James, Shankar was alright, Ashima was as appealing as a wet sock, and Noor Jehan was just... there.

And whilst Thomas Goes to Bollywood is my most hated episode of the show, Apology Impossible has the "honor" of having the worst message the show has ever spewed. Saying that you shouldn't defend yourself against bullies will result in unfortunate implications and destroys the development Philip and especially James went through. And no, it's not being let off the hook just for being a Sodor story.

On the whole, Becky Overton is the worst of the current writing team, and the sad fact is that she honestly had potential. I'm not looking forward to her presence in season 23, if she's writing for it, because how she depicted India didn't leave me with any positive feelings whatsoever.

8. Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler

Before Becky Overton's writing in season 22, I considered Huckerby and Ostler the weakest writers of the current era. Their writing together was inconsistent at times - for every Duck and the Slip Coaches and Toad's Adventure that they excelled in, there was a Helping Hiro and Samson Sent for Scrap that they messed up. And then there were the middle of the road scripts like Signals Crossed and A Cranky Christmas.

I think that both of them together were better than Overton - not by much, but still - simply because they never sent out bad messages for children in any of their episodes. Though I wonder if they could've improved had they stayed on...

7. Tim Bain

So far, he is the only writer on the list not to write for a Sodor-based episode. Whilst Becky Overton felt like she didn't care about the narrative when it came to Indian facts, Tim Bain blended Australian culture into his narrative pretty well for the most part - it helps that he's Australian himself.

In fairness, I get that the international gimmick isn't for everyone. It wasn't really a bunch of episodes I'd revisit that often, but there are some I would like Outback Thomas. I won't go into much detail about the episodes since I covered them pretty recently, but Shane is one of the best international characters of the show alongside Aubrey and Aiden (voiced by Bain). Overall, I'd go far to say as a writer, Tim Bain's a bit underappreciated, and I'd love to see him tackle a Sodor story.

6. Paul Larson and Laura Beaumont

Paul Larson's connection with the franchise traces back to the sixth season in 2002. He gave us gems like Peace and Quiet, The Spotless Record and Gordon Takes Charge, but at the same time, he gave us stinkers like Rusty Saves the Day, Rheneas and the Dinosaur, and Saved You!. Put simply, he was the Becky Overton of the model era. (Yeah, I know; I'm talking about Becky a lot in this post.)

When he came back for season 17, he was paired with Laura Beaumont, who worked with him and a few others on Fireman Sam, and their writing collaborations were... interesting, to say the least. I mean, Steamie Stafford is far from the worst episode ever written, but it felt rather childish at times. Some of their best episodes to me were No More Mr. Nice Engine, Not So Slow Coaches and Emily Saves the World.

What makes their writing work at their best is being able to meld slapstick with story - for example, the globe and Emily going past the Fat Controller at the animal park - and bringing out some fantastic character interactions in the likes of The Thomas Way and Henry's Hero. A shame they're not involved in the show anymore...

5. Andrew Brenner

Now we come to the big man himself.

It's safe to say that Brenner's had a rather interesting reputation since Blue Mountain Mystery. His works during 2013-14 have all been met with positive reception among the fans, being viewed as a return to form for the show. But then came 2015 when he put out The Adventure Begins and Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure, people began to treat him like God. I didn't, especially since he was prone to making mistakes like any other writer.

His first real stinker was The Other Side of the Mountain, which was practically a rewrite of Thomas' Shortcut from two seasons previous, and Philip didn't leave the most positive impression in his debut stories, but he did improve in Toby's New Friend. Sadly, that was in the same season which gave us Three Steam Engines Gruff, which I previously thought to be the worst episode of the show. Saving Time and Pouty James also didn't help Brenner's standing either, and nor did The Great Race.

Salvation came to Andrew, however, in the form of adapting the Arlesdale Trilogy for CGI, and Journey Beyond Sodor had a clearer idea of what it was going to be, but sadly, many people dismissed it as a sign of dark times to come. The final straw was Forever and Ever (an episode I still consider good, by the way).

Many fans were angry at that episode for being called out (and rightly so, if you ask me), and even demanded for Brenner to be fired, but I think the joke's on them; he had left the month before that episode aired. At the same time, it's harsher for me since I called at one point for him to step down as head writer and stick to adaptations. Now I'm wishing I hadn't said that in hindsight.

So yeah, Brenner had his problems, but he still gave off some great episodes, so I think it's only right to put him in a spot to reflect that.

4. Davey Moore

Well, this is gonna be fun!

Out of the writers on this list, Davey's the only one who has turned up to write at least one episode for six consecutive seasons - no joke! He's perhaps the most prolific writer of the current era, even having written nine episodes in season 22, five of which were based in China, which were hit or miss at best.

Actually, calling him hit or miss is a bit of an understatement. I might be alone on this, but I think that his great episodes outweigh his bad episodes significantly. He's given great stories like Duncan and the Grumpy Passenger, Love Me Tender, Den and Dart, and my favorite from him, Daisy's Perfect Christmas. Of course, he still wrote duds like Rocky Rescue and Emily in the Middle, hence he missed the top three, but still.

Davey Moore has quite possibly the widest range of storytelling as a writer, and I doubt he'll be going anywhere any time soon.

3. Lee Pressman

Paul Larson has a chapter of his own in the model era, but by contrast, Lee Pressman has just a small section dedicated to his only model episode, Gordon and Spencer. It was only when Lee returned with Kevin's Cranky Friend that fans began to notice him again.

Rather unfairly, he's been dubbed the most "Miller-like" of the current team. I don't get it. It's not like he's having engines pull balloons on flatbeds (excluding a moment in Dowager Hatt's Busy Day), or claiming that fireboxes are on fire. I do think, however, that if the writers were high school students, Lee would probably be the class clown, except much of his comedy is actually entertaining and does nobody no harm.

Every writer has his or her own quirk that makes them stand out, and whenever Lee writes a great episode (and I mean, a great episode), he also doesn't take himself seriously and has fun with them. Still, he had the odd dud like Salty All at Sea and New Crane on the Dock, but they were few and far in between.

Overall, Lee Pressman's the most underrated writer of the show, and hopefully one day, his writing will get the recognition it rightly deserves. Counting on Nia, for me, was a great way for him to end his time with the franchise, especially how she was implied to be dyslexic. It just goes to show how diverse planet Earth truly is. If only the heartless monsters could see that...

2. Helen Farrall

What's this, I hear you cry? Helen Farrall only at number two? Well, we'll get to that in a bit.

I'll start by saying that sometimes, the most unknown of people can leave a great impact. Before Lost Property, nobody knew who Helen Farrall was and thought it would be a Brenner script. Throughout season 19, there was a common trend in Helen's writing; she wrote simple, slice-of-life stories and even added in drama in stories like Slow Stephen and comedy for the likes of Henry Gets the Express. Her episodes felt a lot like traditional Railway Series storytelling, and all of her character dynamics from Glynn and Stephen to Skiff and the Fat Controller were second to none.

The only episode of hers that wasn't well-received by many was The Big Freeze, but given her record during the show, I think having one episode fall flat is very impressive. She was fantastic from start to finish, and I was greatly disappointed that she was leaving the show, especially since she was leaving behind big shoes to fill. But I think we may have found a suitable replacement for her...!

Favorite: Michael White

Yes, he's only written for two episodes of the show, and yes, he's one of the newest writers, but I absolutely love both of Michael White's episodes, Hunt the Truck especially.

I subscribed to his YouTube channel some years ago (I forget when specifically), and enjoyed the model work he did for his replica of the Ffarquhar branchline and his engines. In fact, it almost inspired me to try some model railway making of my own, but due to costs and travel, it's some ways away.

And when I heard the bombshell that he had become an actual writer for the show, I was excited and wanted more. His writing so far is amazing. He took Railway Series quotes and turned them into episodes for the modern audience. Even if Michael doesn't get more than three episodes per season, I think that'll make his writing feel more special, and easier to appreciate, especially if the show dwindles once again in quality. Right now, Michael White is the writer the fanbase deserves.

Let's hope he'll carry on Helen's legacy whilst simultaneously carving his own!

My Little Pony: Best Gift Ever

I dunno why Hasbro keeps airing Christmas specials before December, especially since it's just a few days before Halloween, but there you go. Anyway, here's Best Gift Ever.

It's... not that good. Twilight has a freak out over not being ready for Hearth's Warming the same way she freaked out over not delivering a letter to Princess Celestia seven years ago with Lesson Zero. Sure, it's nice to see Shining Armor, Cadance and Flurry Heart again (too bad we didn't get Mr. and Mrs. Sparkle there), but even her causing trouble unintentionally feels similar to A Flurry of Emotions.

Then we get an Applejack/Fluttershy subplot that mashes up Trade Ya!, Friendship University, and Viva Las Pegasus - the latter two of which, coincidentally, also featured Flim and Flam. They've already outstayed their welcome, and every appearance they make proves that they'll never change their ways. And how did Fluttershy not recognize, at first, that it was really them underneath their disguises? Surely their manes and tails sticking out would've been the first clue?

And we get to see Discord, for the first time, playing off with someone in the Mane Six that's not Twilight or Fluttershy; this time, it's Rainbow Dash. This is the most entertaining part of the special, I'll admit. Not original either but... eh, they tried at least. The Pinkie and Rarity subplots are rather forgettable.

And all the subplots tie up to the message that friendship is the best gift of all. Of course we know that! They've known each other for eight years, and suddenly they have to learn that? With the show now in its ninth year, this type of familiarity has bred contempt at least for me. It's almost as if the writers are low on ideas and are reusing older episodes and lessons as a crutch when they're desperate. It's why I'll be glad when Generation 4 ends in 2019/2020 because there's only so far you can take it before it gets stale.

Final Thoughts

Sorry if the review's short, but there's honestly little for me to talk about. It's a special that offers nothing new and doesn't go the extra mile; it's a mish-mash of older episodes thrown into the pudding but instead comes out as stale, years-old gingerbread.

As much as I liked season eight, it did feel at times like it was coasting along and relying on tropes that worked well in the past. If season nine goes down that same path, then I'm afraid I can't see myself being a fan of My Little Pony within the next year or two. The writers really need to step up their game and fast.

Rating: Bad (1/10)

My Little Pony Season 8 - Final Thoughts

It's that time of year again! After some Brony fandom controversy, some leaks in December, and a weird scheduling strategy, season eight comes to a close. But wait, I hear you cry; what about School Raze and the Christmas special Best Gift Ever? Well, School Raze is going to be a video review, which I hope to have out this November, but I will give you a brief summary of my thoughts on the episode for the time being. And as for Best Gift Ever, it'll be out as soon as it's released rather than waiting until Christmas to review it.

So, without further ado, it's high time to give season eight a final examination.

As you'd expect by this point, I'll be ranking the episodes from worst to best, and even though I gave up on the number rating system from 1 to 10, I'll be including them to show you what ratings they could've gotten if I was still using them. Oh, and there are no headers so click on the episode title instead (School Raze will have a link to it once it's released).

Worst: The Mean 6 (Atrocious: -10/10)

We're kicking off with an episode written by Mike Vogel. I was never a fan of him as a writer, if Every Little Thing She Does is anything to go by, so I wasn't bothered by his absence from season seven. I was hoping that for season eight, he'd learn to improve, but then this disaster came around...

It may surprise a lot of you that this is worse than other episodes I've rallied against since I started this blog, but even they have a reason to exist. Heck, To Where and Back Again (where Chrysalis was written better, for the record) had some point and I once called it the worst episode of the show. The Mean Six does not have a point at all.

Chrysalis' plan is far more complicated than it needed to be; why did she make evil clones of the Mane Six and then send them off to find the Tree of Harmony? Why did she not consider attacking the Mane Six themselves when she was within the vicinity of them?! This makes her look like a complete dumbass, and this is a franchise that gave us Gloriosa Daisy and Wallflower Blush!

On top of that, if she wanted revenge against Starlight, why couldn't Chrysalis A) replace the Mane Six with fakes and make her think they're no longer her friends, or B) pretend to be Starlight and ruin the hard work she's done to make friends? Yes, it sounds similar to Forgotten Friendship, and yeah, it isn't the most intelligent scheme, but at least it would've made sense! Chrysalis just went from being a big threat to a complete joke in this episode alone.

It doesn't help that everyone else gets hit with the idiot stick; again, how did no one suspect that something was off about their friends? It feels completely jarring, and it's almost like the episode dumps on Starlight, and she barely does a damn thing except whine! I feel sorry for Starlight; she's been given a lot of mistreatment since she was introduced, and this was the worst mistreatment she's gotten thus far.

The Mean 6 is the worst episode of the show because there's nothing to gain from it. Fame and Misfortune at least tried to give its audience something to take from it and when I can say anything about that episode being better, you should know you have a problem. The Return of Harmony also did this plot way better, and that was back in 2011; so watch that episode instead.

24. Non-Compete Clause (Terrible: 0/10)

I said this about The Mean 6, but this one suffers from a severe lack of originality and character stupidity. The only difference between the two is that at least there is a lot more character here (especially with the Young Six), there's a conflict actually taking place (even though Applejack and Rainbow Dash should've grown out of it by now), and it did try to teach the audience something (even if it was botched up).

That being said, there's little else I can add to what's already been said in my review. It's 22 minutes of pure frustration.

23. Best Gift Ever (Bad: 1/10)

Here's something interesting I learned after posting my review; if you actually speak your mind and call something popular a piece of crap, people will get upset and throw tantrums just because that one person's views doesn't line up with theirs, and even call it a terribly written review.

Good. And because it bears repeating, there is nothing worth remembering (except maybe the Discord/Rainbow Dash subplot) in this sorry excuse for a Christmas special. It could be 22 minutes long, and the result would be exactly the same. It was obvious from the start what the message was going to be, and since I'd seen other productions (and not just in My Little Pony) tell that message better, as well as airing a few days before Halloween, the fact we already had a Hearth's Warming-centric episode this season, and feeling excited for Bohemian Rhapsody, Best Gift Ever never stood a chance to begin with.

And as for the comments saying that it's a homage to what made the show great to begin with? If this was part of season one or two, that would be excusable. But this far in? It's years too late for that, and it does a complete disservice to eight years' of work in developing the main characters. At this point, they should be more well-rounded characters. They've done a great job with side characters like Big Macintosh and the Crusaders, but it's obvious that there's so little left you can do with the Mane Six.

Another issue I have is minor, but I'll mention it anyway; this is the only time at all this year that Shining Armor got to do anything. You'd think that with being in the new intro, he'd get to do something amazing, but no. Cadance and Flurry Heart made a previous appearance together in Road to Friendship, but not Shining Armor. It really says a lot as to how well Hasbro treats most of the male characters of the show.

22. Yakity-Sax (Bad: 1/10)

Same problems as Non-Compete Clause, just with a different lead character. This season has not been kind to Pinkie Pie at all, and it's a great shame considering her great roles in the past.

Basically, you could consider Yakity-Sax the complete antithesis to Pinkie as a character. Why in the world would she care about some stupid musical instrument rather than making ponies smile? You know, her purpose in life? This episode goes all the way to make Pinkie look selfish and you end up sympathizing with her friends instead, hoping they'd abandon her altogether.

At least Twilight actually learned something from a previous episode, and that was written way better (more on that later). But even that can't save the episode from being a train wreck, nor from making one of its lead characters extremely one note.

21. The Parent Map (Bad: 2/10)

Speaking of one note characters...!

Okay, sure, it's nice to try and explore Starlight and Sunburst's foalhood, but this episode doesn't really do a good job at that. Come to think of it, Dave Rapp didn't do a good job in trying to explain what the episode's message is, and it just comes off as a jumbled mess of story. Did no one think of helping him tidy up some weak spots?

Like I said in the review, this episode makes Sunburst's overall creation pointless. They've had two seasons before this to make him interesting, and yet his character is still incredibly bland, as if the writers don't know what to do with him (there's been a different writer or team of writers every time he shows up, which I doubt helped his case).

This would've been great if the episode had actual direction, but as it stands it's a jumbled mess with no coherent message and it makes Firelight and Stellar Flare look like petty idiots.

20. School Raze (Bad: 3/10)

The story itself, whilst awkwardly paced in areas, isn't that bad, the characters are great, and the theme was... fine. Everything I'd want in an episode is there, but it leaves me feeling underwhelmed.

The short version is that most of my criticism boils down to a lack of tension and a pair of overused tropes - the twist villain and the villain redemption, to be more specific - that turn me off. Even if they didn't use the latter trope on Neighsay, it would still be an underwhelming finale as a whole. As for the former trope? It almost feels like the writers didn't understand the meaning of the word "subtle", and considering we knew Cozy Glow was going to be the big bad starting with Marks for Effort, I find it hard to believe the audience was meant to be left in shock in the end. Can't the writers use plot devices that haven't been run into the ground?

On the whole, it's not really an awful episode in general, but it's not one I'll be rewatching any time soon.

19. The End in Friend (Bad: 3/10)

Like The Parent Map, this episode suffers by making Rainbow Dash and Rarity look petty. Unlike The Parent Map, however, this one has a clearer idea of what it wants to be and actually teaches a good message.

Many people say that this was Non-Compete Clause done right, and to an extent, I agree. And to those saying it's like a Faust-era episode, that makes The End in Friend worse because this far into the show, Rainbow Dash and Rarity should know better than to act like this! Season one was during a time when the Mane Six didn't know each other that well, so it made sense back then. And again, having it this far into the show just throws character development out the window for the sake of the plot.

18. The Washouts (Okay: 4/10)

The End in Friend had a bland plot and characters but a good message. This episode had better characters and a stronger plot, but it also suffered by having a toxic message at the end.

I'm not delving into why since it aired very recently (in North America at least; it had an early airing in Australia), but having a message like "eavesdropping is okay" in an episode about toxic friendship will just result in mixed messages for an impressionable audience. Add that on top of a few continuity issues, you have a good episode ruined by toxic themes.

17. Marks for Effort (Okay: 5/10)

The general plot is alright, the themes are okay, but the issue with Twilight's behavior towards the Crusaders really sticks out like a sore hoof.

Sure, you could argue that she apologized to the Crusaders through her actions, but wouldn't a verbal apology have worked much better? Even if it's half-baked, it would've at least felt more genuine. I wish I could say more, really.

16. Sounds of Silence (Okay: 6/10)

Some behind the scenes insight; I considered giving his a "Good" rating, but the problem with the episode came to me, so I settled for an "Okay" rating instead.

It may be a shock to those that an episode with a celebrity guest star is ranked rather low, though compared to those with emotional weight (The Perfect Pear, The Mane Attraction), humor (Stranger Than Fan Fiction), or both (Pinkie Pride), Sounds of Silence had to rely on the strength of its characters and themes to pick it up and they do. For the most part.

It's one of those episodes that has to rely on characters and themes to try and make up for an unoriginal plot, which had become a recurring theme with season eight. If you're taking previous ideas and go a different direction with them, then I can understand. But constantly reusing plots means your show is creatively stagnant and should end soon.

15. The Maud Couple (Good: 7/10)

It feels like forever when I last reviewed it...! As much as Pinkie was annoyingly overbearing and Mudbriar just... there, it's still a decent episode for what it is.

That being said, they do need to stop with having a Maud Pie-based episode near the start of every season. Why not have a Maud Pie-centric episode near the middle of the season for once? Having Maud Pie turn up near the start of the season almost feels like a desperate ploy to keep fans interested in the rest of the upcoming season, especially since they don't need to constantly rely on the same character to keep fans hooked.

14. The Break Up Break Down (Good: 7/10)

Although I don't feel it's as good or funny as Hard to Say Anything, this was still a nice sequel to the season seven episode. The only major complaint is that the Crusaders' subplot doesn't add anything to the main story, almost like it's there to pad out the runtime.

But despite that, it's a fairly solid episode with a good theme and it's nice to see more of Discord, Spike, and Big McIntosh together. Somepony should consider making a spinoff with these three as the stars!

13. Fake It Til You Make It (Good: 8/10)

It's still amazing how one writer can go from writing a total abomination (Secrets and Pies) to an episode that's surprisingly good. It's no Celestial Advice or A Royal Problem, but it still holds up pretty well. If only it had Coco Pommel in it...!

12. Father Knows Beast (Good: 8/10)

Now we're getting to the half of season eight that contains the real gems.

There's not a whole lot I can add to what I've said since I've reviewed it very recently and had aired in North America, but it is a great shame we still don't know who Spike's true parents are. And yeah, some may say it goes against what was already "taught" in Dragon Quest, but to be honest, it actually makes it easier for me to forget said episode season two.

11. Road to Friendship (Good: 8/10)

Missing the top 10 by one spot is Trixie's best episode since... ever. Though then again, the bar wasn't really set that high to begin with...

Something that was brought up to me after I posted my review was Starlight's behavior toward Trixie. While I can see that the former did come off as rather mean-spirited and not caring that Trixie had lost what she considered a close friend in her caravan. Yeah, if you were in that situation, I can understand why you'd be upset with Starlight, but Trixie wasn't in the right either, and both realized where they messed up.

So yeah, whilst it may not be in the Top 10, it's an episode you shouldn't overlook.

10. A Matter of Principals (Excellent: 9/10)

And now we enter the Top 10; deciding the order of these episodes wasn't easy (especially the top three), but as it stands, I'm happy with my choices. So, A Matter of Principals.

This episode has gotten a lot of stick from fans complaining that Discord was just as bad as he was back in What About Discord... Okay, maybe not as bad, but I don't really understand the complaints. I mean, it's not like he was making Starlight feel bad for missing out on something he enjoyed.

Not only that, Discordant Harmony showed that if there was no chaos in his life, he could potentially die. It's like Bender from Futurama not drinking beer or any alcohol, and therefore he wouldn't operate normally. If anything, Starlight did apologize for ignoring Discord's feelings, but even if he had simply asked Starlight to help, there wouldn't have been a plot, let alone a theme. If you're not a fan of Discord in this episode alone, it sounds as though you're hating him as a whole.

So yeah, I stick by my review, as well as the score I gave it. Still not convinced? Well, I'll let my friend Tyler explain it fuller detail...

9. Friendship University (Excellent: 9/10)

I still think the episode holds up as it stands, though there are a couple of issues I didn't bring up.

One of them is that it drags on Flim and Flam's presence in the show. You'd think with Viva Las Pegasus, their character arc would've come to a close. But nope, they had to drag it out because it's an even numbered season - but hopefully, this is the last time they show up.

The second doesn't have anything to do with the episode itself, but there isn't an explanation as to how they managed to get Twilight's guidelines in running the School of Friendship. Sure, Cozy Glow made an appearance, but it doesn't explain her presence in the episode. Nor is it mentioned in School Raze.

Despite these issues, it's still an enjoyable episode as a whole. Just... no more Flim Flam brothers episodes after this.

8. Grannies Gone Wild (Excellent: 9/10)

This felt like one of the freshest episodes the show has had up to that point. I mean, where else can you see Rainbow Dash, Granny Smith and three other elderly Apples sharing the spotlight role together? If this had aired earlier in the show, I don't think it would've been as funny, so having it come this far into the show is fairly reasonable. The themes were brilliant and the conflict felt believable; that's all that matters.

7. Molt Down (Excellent: 9/10)

This episode was the nadir for how selfish some fans could be when it came to new material. It would've been great if we didn't know that Spike was getting wings prior to it actually airing that spring, but there you go.

Despite that issue, it was a great Spike-centric episode, and it's nice to see him grow up physically. Even more so that we got to see him establish some sort of brother-sister like relationship with Smolder, and then later built upon in Father Knows Beast; though I wonder what her actual family is like.

That being said, it's pretty disappointing that Spike's wings do feel like an afterthought, and we didn't get to see how the rest of Ponyville reacted to this change... With a few changes, this could definitely be one of the series' best (it does come close though, don't get me wrong).

6. What Lies Beneath (Excellent: 10/10)

If The Mean 6 was a buildup done wrong (it's even worse as there's no payoff as of yet), then this is a buildup done right.

Of course, there's not much more to add to what I've already said in the review. It makes you like the Young Six more than you'd think, the theme was brilliant, and the ending with Cozy Glow was interesting. Even though the climax was a bit on a lackluster side, it still leaves you intrigued as to what she was planning.

5. Surf and/or Turf (Excellent: 10/10)

Enough people (myself included) have given this episode high praise, so let's move on.

4. Horse Play (Excellent: 10/10)

I'll concede that the bit with Twilight being stupid still annoys me (though not as bad as Marks for Effort), but despite this issue, this is Celestia's best starring role to date - and I don't count A Royal Problem since it's more a Starlight episode than a Celestia episode.

It's still a lot of fun to see Celestia try acting (and messing up pretty badly, which makes it funnier), and even though Twilight was still a bit of a brainless twit, she did at least understand and realize where she screwed up, and actually learned from it in Yakity Sax (despite that being a bad episode). Shame the same couldn't be said for Marks for Effort...

3. School Daze (Excellent: 10/10)

You know, it still amazes me how the season premiere actually holds up, much less within the Top Three.

Put simply, it's the best season premiere that the series has ever had, and sadly, perhaps the most underrated, more so than The Crystal Empire. It's a shame because it introduced us to the Young Six, who've become brilliant characters in this season alone, and gave off the best theme the show has ever presented.

Sure, it doesn't have action, it doesn't feature a villain who's threatening to take over the world (though Neighsay was good in it), nor does it include stuff that would pander only to the adult fandom... but it doesn't need all of that.

What School Daze really needed was what made the show brilliant to begin with; a good story, likable characters, and a strong theme. And it pulls it off very well. Hopefully one day, it'll get the recognition is deserves, but I know I'll always admire this episode. In any other show, this might be the best episode. Or at least in the Top 10.

2. A Rockhoof and a Hard Place (Excellent: 10/10)

Out of the Pillars, Rockhoof had the least amount of love directed his way, mostly because his story in Campfire Tales wasn't that interesting compared to the others. But then this episode comes around, and suddenly, everyone loves Rockhoof as a character.

As I've said in the review, his plight is relatable, the message is really good, and the other characters (Yona especially) are fantastic. I could have easily put this at #1, but there's one more episode that tops it...

Best: The Hearth's Warming Club (Excellent: 10/10)

Have I mentioned that the Young Six have been brilliant characters since their debut in the premiere? Whilst What Lies Beneath is the peak when it comes to characterization, this is their best episode because of the theme being portrayed here.

Up until we learned about Gallus' backstory, the episode was good; nothing special. But then that pushed the episode over the edge to become the third best of the entire show. No one deserves to be alone during the holidays, and the best gift is those around you. That alone is why The Hearth's Warming Club is the best of season eight.

Final Thoughts

This was a pretty good season on whole, but I consider the eighth to be a step down from the seventh for a couple of reasons.

The first being how the Mane Six - specifically Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie - were inconsistently characterized. The worst that happened with Rainbow Dash was that she regressed to her season one persona just to argue with Applejack or Rarity. Twilight got hit the idiot stick pretty hard (the worst offender being Marks for Effort), but it was nothing compared to how awful Pinkie had been treated. If you have to throw character development out the window for the sake of the story, you should either A) rewrite the story to fit the characters as they are now, or B) use a different cast of characters instead.

Speaking of, the second issue is down to the writing and reusing past themes. It's not a big problem if they're done in a way that makes it feel fresh, but because My Little Pony has lasted eight seasons with a ninth on the way, its age is showing with regurgitated storylines and themes that have already been tackled in the past. This isn't as bad as a show like The Simpsons, which has run for nearly thirty years, but if the writing is becoming stagnant, then maybe it's time you put the show to bed. After all, Awdry stopped writing after Tramway Engines due to lack of inspiration.

But despite the issues, there are still redeeming qualities. The music was a step up from season seven (barring the song from The Perfect Pear), and it really is nice to see more characters outside the Mane Six being given the spotlight, even if one effort (The Parent Map) was really half-baked. There was someone on the MLP wiki griping about a few episodes not featuring the Mane Six, wondering if nobody liked them anymore. I don't really get that criticism; there's only so far you can drag out the Mane Six's presence - we get that they're the leads, but do they need to turn up every time? - so having a few episodes without them actually allows more breathing room for their other friends to shine. Perhaps Thomas and Friends should take some notes from them...!

Long and short, season eight is good, but frustrating. Nine could potentially be the last ever for the show, especially if the rumors of Generation 5 are to be believed, and if it is the case, we might as well enjoy the next season while we can.

Rating: Good (7/10)

Thomas & Friends Season 22: Kangaroo Christmas + Overall

It's been a long, interesting ride when it comes to season 22. There have been good episodes, bad episodes, and everything in between, but now let's put this season to bed with Tim Bain's final contribution to the show (I presume), Kangaroo Christmas.

If there was one word I could use to describe this episode, here it is - nice. It really is sweet of Thomas to help the little girl get her toy kangaroo back after a bit of mistaken identity, and it makes the ending feel satisfying. Plus it's funny how her parents reacted to her wanting a real kangaroo next Christmas.

There are a couple of problems; for one, how would it be Thomas' first Christmas without now if we consider that Daisy's Perfect Christmas didn't have snow? Maybe if he said it was his first Christmas in summer, that would've made sense. The second problem doesn't affect the episode's enjoyment factor, but it would be nice to see Thomas being pleased at not wearing a snowplough during Christmas.

But despite those issues, I still think it's a lovely episode and a good way to end the Australia saga.

Episode Rating: Good

Season 22 has been... interesting, to say the least. A lot of people are saying that it's the start of another dark age for Thomas, but I don't really think that's the case - at least, not right now. This is only the first season of the revamp, so I don't want to judge the current state of the show based off of one season. However, I can say that the series does need direction; the Sodor stories are overall pretty solid (barring Apology Impossible), but the international stories? They're hit or miss at best, and out of place at worst.

I mean, the show feels like it's trying to be two things at once; traditional Thomas and seeing Thomas go around the world. It's hard to explain, but it feels like both and yet feels like neither all at once. The most likely explanation is how the season aired by mixing international and Sodor stories together, making the whole thing feel confused. Here is what I suggest to Mattel if they continue using the format for season 23 onward:

1. Remove the Thomas bits before and after the episode. Put simply, they're redundant and end up either forcing a message down the throat or teach a lesson completely unrelated to the episode. If you want to engage kids, make sure we cut straight to the actual episode after the intro plays, and then to the ending song when it ends!
2. The elimination of Narrator Thomas. Do we really need a narrator anymore? The visuals can tell the story for the audience, and as we've seen with episodes like Forever and Ever and What Rebecca Does, as well as Big World! Big Adventures!, they didn't need a narrator to tell the story for us. It may have worked for the model era since the narrator was explaining to the audience what was happening, but since the show switch to CGI, the narrator's role has been reduced greatly (especially since season 17), and we don't hear a narrator in CGI episodes of Fireman Sam, do we?
3. Separate the international and Sodor based stories. If the international episodes were their own thing, I wouldn't have a problem with that, but mixing them with Sodor stories, again, would just make things confusing. Even if a season is only thirteen episodes long, it'll at least feel consistent.
4. Better handling of the international characters. For every Shane who's given some personality, there's an Ashima who turns up bland as bread. More often than not, they're constantly shoved aside in favor of Thomas who constantly hogs the spotlight. If, for example, I was rewriting Thomas Goes to Bollywood, I'd give Rajiv the lead role, wanting to be in the movie and ends up getting his wish, but not in the way he wanted. Not only that, if they're trying to push a female agenda, ironically, they're failing at that since the likes of Noor Jehan and Tamika are barely given much of a chance to shine.
5. Don't put culture before story. This is a must; more often than not, international culture is put into the forefront, and any story we get in the episodes comes off as paper thin or nonexistent. If you look at episodes like Runaway Truck and Kangaroo Christmas, they manage to do a good job of blending culture into the story very well; why can't all international episodes come off like that?
6. Hire writers from other countries to write for their own countries. They got Tim Bain, an Aussie, to write for the Australia-centric stories. The China and India-based stories were written by Davey Moore and Becky Overton, respectively, to varied results - mostly failure on Overton's part. What was wrong with hiring writers from China and India to write for episodes based in those countries? Like, is that a double standard on Mattel's end?
7. Don't force United Nations' goals down our throats. I can't stress this enough; this is why I feel the Thomas bit at Vicarstown after the episodes is pointless. Even if he's stating what the episode's message was meant to be, surely kids would know the message they just learned? United Nations, I understand, have good intentions, but do agendas need to be forced into our faces? There's a reason that the 2016 reboot of Ghostbusters, The Last Jedi, and The Emoji Movie got backlash for forcing feminist messages. Rather than force it down our throats and post videos about them on YouTube, why not implement them more subtly in your stories like School of Duck with recycling? That'll work much better, and you won't get ripped a new one by angry conservatives.
8. Tone back the fantasy segments. There are episodes where these make sense like in Thomas and the Dragon, Forever and Ever, and perhaps the best usage being An Engine of Many Colors. Having fantasy segments once in a while is alright, but once every episode, it becomes annoying real fast. Not only that, they sometimes derail the pacing and come off as forced. If it doesn't add to the story, don't use a fantasy segment.

I know that it won't take a season to fix all of these problems, especially as the writing team (barring newbie Michael White, a.k.a. our very own WhitehouseFilms on YouTube) are getting used to writing for a shorter run time, but taking baby steps is still at least showing that they're listening to the criticisms.

What are my hopes for the future of Thomas and Friends? I don't know at this stage, but I think it could go either way; they can learn from their mistakes or keep repeating them. Season 22 is a "trial and error" season, much like season eight from 2004, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. At this point, I find season 22 is the least good of the Brenner era, but if you're in the mood for anything from 2018, I suggest sticking with Sodor.

Season 22 Rating: Okay
(The Sodor stories are generally great on their own, but it's the international stories and overall drawbacks that hold the season back for me.)

Thomas & Friends Season 22: Week 5

We're on the home stretch now! It's the rest of season 22 that's aired in Australia! (Barring Kangaroo Christmas, of course; that'll be its own individual review.)

Hunt the Truck

Written by Michael White

Everyone has been asking for Edward, Bill and Ben to have a scene together for many years. It was a dynamic that they tried to replicate during the Nitrogen era with Bash, Dash and Ferdinand but failed miserably. This episode shows that there's no reason to fix what isn't broken.

Many will be disappointed by BoCo not appearing in CGI for the first time, but I'm not one of those people constantly begging for his return, treating him like some sort of messiah or whatever. I will admit, however, he would provide muscle power for the diesel fleet; the mainline is lacking in diesel traction. But onto the episode itself, I like how it begins with Edward and Nia being peaceful with one another, almost like it's a "take that" to those thinking she's "replaced" Edward in the series. Almost like the Emily and Duck scene in What Rebecca Does.

Bill and Ben also play their roles brilliantly; they think they've played a good joke on Edward, but are horrified when his van goes missing, and they even show remorse for what they did. It's one of those episodes where the fantasy sequence works within the story, showing the (potential) consequences of their prank. Plus, that moment where one of the twins gets covered in snow at Henry's tunnel? Brilliant.

But even though he's a supporting character, Edward was the best player of the story, and this is why he works best in a supporting role. He's worked with Bill and Ben long enough to know what tricks they're planning, and even knows how to outsmart them at the end. And come on; you know you were laughing when he dramatized the missing van incident in a Shakespearean-like tone. In the end, he outpranked the pranksters!

There isn't much you can say about an episode that's practically nearly flawless. It plays out like a traditional Thomas story, the characters are well chosen and well written, and... well, it's just fun to watch - unless you're a Christmas Scrooge - so this can only get one rating from me.

Rating: Excellent

Cyclone Thomas

Written by Tim Bain

I like the little bit of continuity with Outback Thomas in which Isla remembers Thomas' near miss with the bridge. Isla has her own role to play by transporting Dr. Claire (shame we never got to hear her speak) to patients far away hospitals; and I know some are going to be annoyed by Thomas pretending to be a doctor train, but there was that line from Isla where she tells him to leave it to the medical professionals. Plus, it worked into the episode's theme pretty well.

I also liked how there was a bit of expansion to Shane, Aubrey and Aiden. Shane gives Thomas some emotional support when he's feeling down, and Aubrey and Aiden admire Isla's heroism. As I've said with Outback Thomas, Shane is such a fun character.

If I had to point out some issues, it's down to the pacing; the first and second acts are about Thomas wanting to be like Isla and then feeling down when he can't get to patients in record time. In fact, it's around the 4:30 mark where the action finally begins and Isla finds herself unable to pass through the cyclone, so it's all down to Thomas to help the people of Katherine (good to know that they're acknowledging real Australian cities).

And to be fair, there is some tension and drama that Thomas Goes to Bollywood wished it had, especially when Thomas is puffing through the cyclone a la Edward's Exploit. I just wish it had a longer run time...

The lesson, whilst good, isn't really anything new - heck, not even for Thomas himself - the pacing is rather awkward, and the seven-minute time-frame doesn't do it enough justice. But... the characters are nice, the stakes are fairly high, and the dangers of cyclones do have some emphasis put on them; so, I can forgive the drawbacks and say it's a good episode.

Rating: Good

The Case of the Puzzling Parts

Written by Davey Moore

This was another interesting episode, especially as it starred Sidney and Paxton, two of the dimmest and yet the most friendly of Sodor's diesels. Seriously, those two make a great duo, especially as Paxton is the smarter of the two, but still gullible and naive. It's even funny how he does a bit of a fourth wall break when it comes to the fantasy sequence.

A complaint I have is how Sidney broke down hours after Diesel bumped into him, especially the way his buffer fell off. I know it's a kids' show, and I can usually suspend some disbelief, though I do kind of find that hard to believe. Unless Sidney was going through a bit of wear and tear, then maybe I could understand.

For the most part, there's... not really a lot to talk about here. It kinda feels like a filler episode, perhaps a leftover from season 21? Still a nice episode, but not one I'd rewatch all that often.

Rating: Okay

Banjo and the Bushfire

Written by Tim Bain

There's something about the title that's perplexing; why is it called Banjo and the Bushfire when the titular koala barely turns up? Wouldn't having Thomas' name in the title work much better? Unless the writers were sick of having his name turn up in many episodes...?

Anyway, the episode itself is rather decent, and it felt like an improved Thomas in the Wild, which was extremely tedious to sit through. But that doesn't mean this episode was without problems of its own; how did the bushfire towards the end start up? It's another episode where the seven minute time frame is a disadvantage. It may have been hinted at when Jill stomps one out, but bushfires usually happen when campers act carelessly.

Speaking of, that would've been a good way to show kids how to act responsibly when camping, and why leaving campfires unattended is a bad idea. But, again, because of the runtime, we don't see that.

We're also introduced to Tamika the steam motor rail in what's apparently her sole appearance. I'm really disappointed they didn't give her much to do in Australia, even more so that they had four episodes to work with. I personally liked the idea of introducing a steam motor rail to the series, and when I heard of Tamika, I was excited as to what they could do with her, but again, left disappointed that she does what another engine could've done. That being said, I liked her personality.

On whole, it's not really Tim Bain's strongest episode, but there isn't a whole lot for me to dislike either. It has a good message about protecting animals (probably the best execution of said message), and the baby crocodile at the end was pretty cute. Plus, it's funny how Thomas must've had bad memories from his near-miss when he first came to Australia!

Rating: Okay

Counting on Nia

Written by Lee Pressman

Finally, after making some small appearances throughout the season, Nia finally has an episode dedicated to her. Prior to this episode, people have been accusing her of being a Mary Sue; I don't agree. If anything, it's Ashima who's the Mary Sue (but that's a topic for another day). And this episode shows that Nia is far from perfect.

What the episode shows is that Nia is confused by the Arabic numeral system (basically, numbers 0 to 9) and feels embarrassed by her mistake. She's come across a language barrier - if you look online, you'll notice that there are different looking numbers in African, which may be what Nia is used to seeing - and so Annie and Clarabel help her out to recognize the shape of numbers. I really love their portrayal here. It makes them feel motherly and supportive.

Speaking of, this is probably the only issue I have with the episode; why is Nia being asked to pull Annie and Clarabel, and therefore what is Thomas doing in the meantime? I know he's taking a goods train at the end, but neither narrator Thomas nor Sir Topham tells us that. Heck, Thomas narrates the story but doesn't speak within the actual episode!

I also like how the fantasy sequence is utilized; it's not as outlandish as we've come to expect, but it served to help Nia understand what the Arabic numerals look like - 1 being a tall tree, 2 being a swan, 3 being on a butterfly wing, etc. It's a nice touch.

For Lee Pressman's final contribution to the current series, I think it's safe to say he went out pretty strong. And it's a Nia episode to boot, so bonus points for that. It's a lovely, simple story with a relatable message about language barriers, and the fantasy sequence was done in a rather tastefully. Lee Pressman, you'll be missed by many, but your contributions to the show will always be appreciated.

Rating: Excellent

Thomas & Friends Season 22: Week 4

The United Kingdom may be taking a temporary break from season 22, but that doesn't mean there aren't episodes from Down Under that I've yet to review, so I'll be covering the remainder in blocks of five, with Kangaroo Christmas being a solo review. So let's start by reviewing the episodes that aired alongside the first fifteen in Australia!

Thomas and the Dragon

Written by Davey Moore

I've been critical that some of the international based episodes put culture before story, but in the case of Thomas and the Dragon, it implements culture within the story and does so brilliantly.

Here, I felt that Thomas' inquisitive nature worked well because he's used to New Years being celebrated in winter rather than spring, but there's more to him than that when he's terrified at the thought of bringing a dragon to the celebrations. I've seen a lot of people complain that it goes against him picking up the Chinese Dragon in season three, but of course, I've kept in mind that he's had a history of being scared in the past like Ghost Train, so I can let it slide.

Also, Yong Bao is just a delight to see. Although he's a kind, helpful engine, he's not above playing cheeky jokes on Thomas when he startles him just by saying "boo". Twice. And because of that, he's suddenly become more charming than Ashima has ever been.

Hong-Mei too had a great moment when she came up alongside Thomas when he thought a chicken was talking to him. Seriously, how can you not laugh at anything with a chicken in it? Chickens are so stupid it's funny. Well, that depends on how you define them as "stupid".

It was also cool to see what a lion at a Chinese New Year celebration is. No, it's not a dragon - the actual dragon is a puppet controlled by multiple people - but the lion is two people in costume. All in all, there's really nothing wrong I found with the episode. It feels like traditional Thomas storytelling with culture weaved into it quite naturally. It's a winner in my books.

Rating: Excellent

Samson and the Fireworks

Written by Lee Pressman

Samson has had a very mixed reception among the fandom, much like Philip, and whilst the latter has received some great character development that many fans ignore, the former remained largely stagnant, not helped by his sporadic appearances since season 18.

Thankfully though, this episode managed to do Samson justice. Him being scared of fireworks is something I can relate to; this past fourth of July, I was pretty much disturbed by the noise of fireworks even though I didn't mind them when I was younger. I suppose with age, tastes can change.

What really makes the episode is Samson's interactions with Bradford, especially when the latter has a deadpan reaction to Samson's fright and when Bradford shows a gentler side in encouraging Samson to follow the fireworks to Ulfstead Castle. Some fans have been wanting to see the two together since Bradford's debut in season 20, and now they finally got their wish.

What no one expected, I bet, was Cyril's return to CGI. I like how he emerges from and disappears into the fog, and demonstrates the use of a fog detonator in between.. That was brilliant.

There were two issues with the Nia bit; one, how did she not hit the fog detonator before Samson did? And two (this has nothing to do with the episode, but I'll mention it anyway), she's been given very little since her debut in Big World! Big Adventures!, so Rebecca seems to overshadow her when it comes to roles. I hope they do more with Nia in the future; she's too great a character to get this treatment.

Despite that, it's a great episode, Samson's best to date, and it's something fans young and old can enjoy.

Rating: Excellent

Runaway Truck

Written by Davey Moore

I really like the way the episode starts by cutting straight to the chase. Literally. There's no exposition as to why Lei is running away; the first minute establishes everything we need to know. Lei's a runaway, Yong Bao is chasing him, and Thomas happens to be in the way and wants to help.

As a matter of fact, the episode is very well paced and implements culture into the story very well. And I like Yong Bao more than I initially thought; he's upset with Thomas for messing up his heroic plan, but he doesn't get angry about it. He even willingly helps Thomas in doing an engine variation of tai chi with Lei.

Speaking of, I liked how in Big World! Big Adventures!, we see the foreign trucks be something other than troublesome - African trucks like music, and Brazilian trucks are super friendly to one another. Lei looks to be a friendly truck as well; he doesn't even get upset when he's knocked off the tracks. I'm surprised he's still in service despite having many accidents!

It's especially interesting to see an incident being caused by human error; some railway employees are performing tai chi in the signalbox, but one of them is out of sync, much to the annoyance of (I presume) the lead signalman. Little things like that much the world feel much more alive.

Runaway Truck might just be one of the best international episodes so far. There's really nothing majorly wrong with it, though as much as there are some visual errors like the runaround track appearing to be longer than it really was, they're little issues that aren't worth freaking out over. And the messages about learning from mistakes and practice paying off were brilliant.

Rating: Excellent

Rosie is Red

Written by Davey Moore

Well, that one's sparked a fanbase frenzy...! Not going to go in full depth on that because I'd rather focus on the episode on its own merits.

And the episode is absolutely fantastic. Then again, many of the Sodor-based stories have been fantastic, but they're practically overshadowed by the international stories which, ironically, have very little in terms of substance. Not thirty seconds in, I knew the episode was taking risks; not just the implication of two workmen being LGBT - though I'd love it if that was the case, plus it's a very sweet moment between them - but the idea of there being a romance-based story in a series about talking trains.

Ironically though, it's Sir Topham Hatt who's the true star of the episode. He wants to show how much he loves his wife by giving her a pet cat, and he needs help from Rosie and Thomas at Vicarstown. It really gives Topham more depth to his character than being a clown constantly tripping over because "hurdy hurr", and it makes you sympathize with him more.

Thomas and Rosie also shone very well; the former because he's given more character than simply being curious about the world around him, and the latter because girls can most likely relate to her when they feel like they've been rejected by the guy who stood up for her. Though to be fair on Thomas' end, teasing from Bill, Ben, Diesel and Gordon did not help him any. I'm glad that he and Rosie chose to stay friends, and if this is a series were the entire cast is LGBTQ+ - or more specifically, asexual (lack of sexual attraction to anyone of either gender) - then I'm all for it.

So was the episode worth having a meltdown over? No, it wasn't. It's an episode meant to be for kids, and we should think about that more often. It's very superb and has a good message about misunderstandings, plus Percy's comment about sharing love every day rings true. If only all people had the same mindset...!

Rating: Excellent

Thomas' Animal Ark

Written by Lee Pressman

There are a lot of sweet episodes in the series, this one included.

I like how one of the zookeepers at the Animal Park on Edward's branchline is given a name, Headkeeper Jack. It makes Sodor feel a lot more alive with human characters being given some personalities, and the voice he got in the UK dub makes him sound gentle and soft spoken. And the monkey in his arms is adorable. Maybe he's the animal Jack is the closest to?

And whilst Sir Topham is given comedy moments, they don't come off as annoying; he falls off his ladder because Thomas startled him unintentionally, he takes credit for Henry's idea of using the Steamworks as a temporary sanctuary for the animals (nice to know Henry hasn't been forgotten), and has a deadpan reaction to an ostrich stealing his hat.

Speaking of, the episode has an extended ending with James and the ostrich egg. At first, he was annoyed by the idea of babysitting birds, but by the time the egg hatches and a baby ostrich comes out, he's changed his tone completely. It really is nice that they're giving more to James than having him constantly going around saying "I'm red; don't I look splendid?"

Interestingly enough, this is the only Sodor based story this season where Thomas takes the lead role. This makes season 22 the most Thomas-centric since 10 and 13, both of which had him star in thirteen episodes, but 13 is greater in terms of percentage (do the math). Meanwhile, 22 has him star in fourteen, the most episodes in any season. But this is probably one of his better roles in the season; you have to admire how determined he was to help the animals find warmth. It was also surprising that they referenced Trusty Trunky when it came to the snowdrift, and that episode was forgettable at best.

So apparently, this could be Lee Pressman's last season as it's been confirmed he's written four episodes for the season. It'll be a shame because he was perhaps the current team's most undervalued writer. A Shed for Edward, Henry in the Dark, and Dowager Hatt's Busy Day were among his best episodes, and he gave some brilliant development to Diesel's character as well. I think it's safe to say he wanted to go out big, and so far, he's done that pretty well.

Rating: Excellent

Thomas & Friends Season 22: Week 3

So the first week of season 22 turned out surprisingly good, but the second week was lackluster at best with a strong finish. But how will the third week stack up?

School of Duck

Written by Lee Pressman

Interestingly enough, despite that this is the 11th episode of the season (or 16th, depending on where you come from), this was technically the first episode of the season we saw in whole (I don't count Thomas and the Dragon because it was a preview clip for the season), albeit in Italian. And it's a brilliant one at that.

The story very much reminds me of Thomas, Percy and Old Slowcoach from season five, as well as the penultimate Railway Series book Thomas and Victoria. With the former, it did suffer from having a short run time, meaning there wasn't enough time to develop the story. And in the latter, whilst Victoria looked like she had potential as a character, she did kind of have a flat personality - the fact that she was introduced so late into the book series didn't help her any.

Fortunately, School of Duck manages to have a story work within the allotted time, and all of the plot points are tied up very well. And even if Dexter is stuck in one place (for now, I believe), I think he'll be a fun character whenever he turns up; maybe we'll get some insight into his past? And yes, it's so nice to hear Mark Moraghan voicing him; glad to know he's still part of the franchise, and I can't wait to see him as Mr. Evans the signalman.

Duck also had a great role; it's nice to show more shades of his personality besides going on about the Great Western Railway. He was very inventive in working around Dexter's problem with his broken wheels, and even willing to put his pride aside to help others. It's perhaps his best starring role since All at Sea, which, coincidentally, also expanded more on his character.

However minor their roles were, Daisy, Reg, Hannah, and Gordon really shined. Daisy's fussiness about children riding her, Reg's eccentricity with scrap, Hannah's excitability about going fast, and Gordon's refusal to give up one of his coaches (seriously, that part always makes me laugh) - it's nice to show how diverse Sodor is. Reg trying to play the broken trombone was funny, especially when it turned into a brick joke at the end by becoming a flower pot next to Dexter. Little things really do make a huge difference.

I do say this quite a lot in my season 22 reviews, but it's the strength of the characters that pull the Sodor episodes through, something that some international episodes (especially the India episodes) lacked. School of Duck is yet another contender for season 22's best, and there's only one rating it can truly get.

Rating: Excellent

Tiger Trouble

Written by Becky Overton

The more I think about this episode, the more I feel it's similar to Thomas in the Wild, only based in India. However, it's marginally better because it has more plot and interesting characters, especially Rajiv and Shankar; seriously, someone make an episode with those two as the stars!

But that doesn't mean I like the episode. They're adding more comedy to the episodes, but this episode is one where it's completely out of place with the theme they're trying to convey! Tigers being hunted as a trophy is a serious issue, and if you make a joke about it, it'll destroy the message you want to tell. Next time there's an episode with a serious issue - keep the comedy and the message apart!

Also, and this is nitpicking but I'll mention it anyway, when do hunters capture tigers with nets? They're something you'd use to capture rabbits! I understand why they can't use guns in a kids' show, but it makes the issue feel far too sanitized.

There's other problems; Shankar doesn't mention poaching until the episode decides he can, and how did Rajiv not suspect that he was taking tiger hunters from the start? Maybe the conflat with the cage covered in a tarpaulin would've been a clue? Yes, I know that if he knew what was happening from the start, there wouldn't be a story, but even for an arrogant engine, Rajiv would at least have some common sense on display! And why would a pair of hunters pose as tourists? The whole thing just feels disjointed.

And that's all we're getting from Thomas' trip to India; four episodes, and not one episode could leave me consistently entertained. Tiger Trouble sums up everything wrong with the India saga - characters shunted into the background to revolve around Thomas (only here, it's not as prominent), dull and uninteresting stories, and themes which feel like they were pulled from out of the arse.

Rating: Bad

Seeing is Believing

Written by Andrew Brenner

After Journey Beyond Sodor, I was hoping to see the engines introduced in it again in the show to see how they'd interact with Sodor. Well, it seems I got my wish with Merlin in Seeing is Believing. Not as great as many of the Sodor-based stories this season, but it's still a good episode in its own way.

I like how Merlin's eccentricity and thinking he can turn invisible becomes a driving plot point in the story. Many of the engines are impressed by this "feat", but Percy wants to see him for real. I don't think the plot would've worked with any other character (maybe except for Philip).

And I really like how, unlike Three Steam Engines Gruff, Trevor actually had his own part to play. He's gained a new whistle which later comes to play when Percy thinks he's come across the invisible engine, ironically not realizing he's actually speaking to Merlin. But that's what hurts the episode for me; the ending just feels rushed and incomplete, as if we don't know if Percy found out he'd actually spoke to Merlin. This is one of those episodes where the seven-minute runtime doesn't do the episode justice.

I do wish I had more to say, but there's not a whole lot to talk about there. It's nice seeing Merlin again, even more so that Hugh Bonneville is still voicing him, but the rushed ending kinda left me feeling a bit empty in the end. And the scene at the Blue Mountain Quarry makes me learn for more appearances by the Skarloey engines. They've got a lot of storytelling potential, even within the current format, and it's a shame they're constantly denied the opportunity.

Rating: Good

Apology Impossible

Written by Becky Overton

I was pretty certain that after the stories based in India, Becky Overton would feel much more at home Sodor. But this episode makes me feel like she doesn't understand the Sodor universe either, and considering she also gave us The Beast of Sodor and Wild Water Rescue, that's a shame.

The biggest sticking point is James being a jerk to Philip for an accident the box cab didn't cause at Brendam. I thought we were past James being arrogant about his paintwork, but instead, he's a jerk to Philip for the sake of being a jerk. I get that James is proud and vain, but you'd think after episodes like All in Vain and The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor he'd have matured a little more.

It does say a lot that Philip is more sensible than an engine who's at least seventy years old, and it is great to see him stand up to James for being rude, and you'd expect him to try and push him out of the way to let the other engines go past, right?

Nope! He reverses to let James pass and let Sir Topham Hatt do the scolding. That ending is what ruined the episode as a whole. We could've had a great message about standing up to bullies, but instead, it basically says we shouldn't stand up to bullies, and given the state of the world, that is a terrible message to tell preschool children.

Here's what I'd have done; have Spencer be the one picking on Philip (since they haven't interacted much) and have Edward scold Spencer for being rude, further expanding on the blue engine's relationship with Philip. Then when Philip and Spencer confront each other again, the boxcab calls out Spencer for his rudeness and demands an apology from him, which Spencer does. Some would say Gordon should be in the role, but I don't agree, considering his humility at the end of Philip's Number.

This could've been a decent episode and Becky Overton had a chance to redeem herself, but because of the unfortunate implications, I've pretty much given up on her altogether. This is the worst Sodor-based story of the season, and quite possibly one of the worst episodes ever made in the Brenner era, and that says a lot.

Rating: Terrible

The Water Wheel

Written by Davey Moore

Considering what happened back in Number One Engine, you'd expect Thomas to remember that taking shortcuts would only get him into trouble. But instead, it felt as though his character was once again written to suit the narrative. Why couldn't they have used Hong Mei for the lead role? Since her debut in the aforementioned Number One Engine, she felt... rather flat in terms of character. So did An An and Yin-Long, come to think of it. A story with those three would've been much more interesting! But once again, it's always Thomas...

As for the story, how does it relate to the message about conserving water? What we saw was Thomas delivering a water wheel and learning about bamboo being used to build things. Choose one story and stick with it! With School of Duck, at least it related to recycling, one of United Nations' global goals, and The Water Wheel... doesn't.

I'll be fair to this episode and say that the antics with the runaway water wheel are rather funny, but it does get a little tiring after a minute, almost like it's being used to fill up the runtime. If you had to make an episode about conserving water, why not have Thomas and/or Hong Mei (preferably the latter) disobey orders about staying in the sheds due to a water shortage and land in trouble? Then you get the Chinese Diesel from the movie (why did they bother rendering her if she'll never be used again?) rescue them and the blue engines get their tanks refilled with a water wheel; that would've A) ensured Hong Mei had a bit of character on display, B) related to a global goal, and C) given us a good story in the process.

Whilst I enjoyed the China episodes more than the India episodes even though they were generally hit or miss, this one was definitely a miss for me. Sure, there's comedy, but it felt like it came before story. It was basically a rehashing of Emily Saves the World, only not as interesting. Better luck next time, Davey Moore.

Rating: Bad

Week two had a very poor start but a strong finish. Week three started with a bang but ended in a whimper. Week two had the worst written episode of the entire series (Thomas Goes to Bollywood), but week three presented one of the worst morals the show has ever spewed (Apology Impossible). So no; week three wasn't much of an improvement over week two.

Thomas & Friends Season 22: Week 2

So far season 22 seems to be doing way better than what people were fearing! We've had three Sodor-based stories introducing newbie Rebecca, and a story each based in China and India. For this week's batch, we've only got one Sodor based story and four set around the Eastern region of the world and Oceania. How will it stack up?

Thomas Goes to Bollywood

Written by Becky Overton

Oh dear... This was the first episode this season that I strongly disliked. Whilst Trusty Trunky (ironically, also set in India) was rather dull, Thomas Goes to Bollywood is a different beast altogether.

I'm not beating around the bush when I say that this episode emphasizes the problem with the international-based stories; because Thomas is forced into the spotlight and take the lead role every time, the international characters aren't treated like actual characters the audience can care about. And even when Thomas is the one we're meant to care about, he's more often than not extremely one-note and uninteresting. Why can't they just write him like an arrogant jerk and have him learn a lesson the hard way? Just because he's the hero, it doesn't mean he isn't immune to making mistakes.

This could've worked so much better if it was Rajiv in the lead role; from what we've seen, he's arrogant and proud, and wanting to be in a movie would work much better for him. And then maybe he'd learn that fame isn't everything? Nope! It's Thomas in the spotlight because he's the main character, and he's the one kids should care about.

Now I would talk about the story... but there isn't any to speak of. It just shows kids that Bollywood is a thing. So what? Is that what they come to watch the show for? Trusty Trunky worked better despite being mediocre by implementing culture into the story, but Thomas Goes to Bollywood puts culture before story, which not a good idea when it comes to writing. And because culture came first, it makes the episode boring. The fact that very much everyone in the story doesn't have much character to speak of makes it worse.

I have not seen a seven minute episode this degrading since season 12's Push Me, Pull You. Based on her writings in season 19, I don't think Becky Overton is a bad writer, but this not an episode I'll be re-watching any time soon. It's the worst of the Brenner era since Three Steam Engines Gruff and Emily in the Middle. Not as frustrating as either episode, but from a story telling perspective, Thomas Goes to Bollywood is an all new low.

Rating: Atrocious

Thomas in the Wild

Written by Davey Moore

Like Thomas Goes to Bollywood, Thomas in the Wild puts culture before story. Unlike Bollywood, however, there is some bit of a story going on and more character present, but even then, it's not enough to completely save the episode.

It was nice to see An An and Yin-Long interact with Thomas again, especially when they get annoyed by him stopping when he thinks he sees a black and white panda, but how did he manage to forget what they looked like after being told what they looked like - twice? Yeah, it's a three-strikes plot in play here. They first come across a red panda, an Asian black bear, and then two baby pandas and their mother.

To be fair, though, if it had been any of the Chinese engines in the lead, it might make them look a bit stupid, so it has some advantage of putting Thomas in the forefront. However, for the most part, there is very little I can talk about here. It's a pretty boring episode salvaged slightly by adorable baby pandas. And is it just me, or does the film crew leader look a bit like a certain Mr. Attenborough?

Rating: Bad

Thomas and the Monkey Palace

Written by Becky Overton

So the last two episodes did little to impress me, but was this better than either of them? Well... sort of, but the bar wasn't really set high to start with.

For a start, there's more of a conflict happening; there's a coconut shortage at the Indian railway station (really; they couldn't give it the name of an actual Indian railway station?), and so Thomas is sent to pick up a truck load of coconuts but gets distracted by the monkey palace and loses the coconuts when startled by a monkey. Yeah, it does sound like a Barlow era script, only there's one strike as opposed to three.

Yet despite having more happening, it's still a typical "Thomas-national" episode with little happening. There are funny moments like the "raining coconuts" comment, and the monkeys are pretty cute, especially the one who steals Thomas' driver's hat, but for the most part, again, there isn't a lot to say.

Rating: Bad

An Engine of Many Colors

Written by Michael White

Now we're talking! After three painfully tedious international episodes, we're finally back to familiar territory... and, apparently, back in season 21!

Yes, this episode is another one that takes place after The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor, much like A Shed for Edward. Of course, An Engine of Many Colors is essentially the latter episode taken from James' point of view during his time at the Steamworks. Mostly during the bit where Philip chatters to Edward during their first night together at Wellsworth. In fact, you could make an entire special with those episodes alone!

This is one of those episodes where the fantasy sequences make sense; James had been involved in a bad crash and was worried at the prospect of losing his red paint for another color - blue, green and silver, in that order. Each time, he likes it and shows off, which results in him crashing, but we never see it. However, we can bet it was horrifying based on James' reactions alone. Even though it's just a dream, the child mistaking James in his blue livery for Edward was rather cute; a call back to when Henry in his old shape and blue, and then being mistaken for Gordon, perhaps?

There isn't much story going on besides James dreaming about being in a different color, but it is funny how he thinks being in a new color enhances his usefulness - blue for speed, green for strength, and silver for, I'm guessing, being special. At least in his mind. And it's funny how the Duke and Duchess don't even react to James and the coaches spinning in the air. In fact, it's that dream which makes James realize that his ego and stubbornness may get him into trouble again, and he even apologizes for his carelessness in the end.

And whilst I fan fanservice annoying at worst (see New Crane on the Dock, for example), the reference to James and the Coaches worked quite well as James remembered when he caused trouble after getting his red paint for the first time. But in the end, he's forgiven and given a new coat of red paint after he's repaired. Not a whole lot more I can say; it's a crazy but fun episode and fit James' character well.

Rating: Excellent

Outback Thomas

Written by Tim Bain

The international episodes of week two were disappointing, to say the least, so imagine how surprised I was when this turned out to be really good!

Shane is such a fun character; he's very laid back, has a good sense of humor, and the slang he uses in his dialogue is funny. Like Yong Bao and Rajiv before him, Shane's got the sense of charisma Ashima wished she had. Plus, Shane Jacobson does a great job in voicing him, and I've never heard of the guy before!

Thomas' role in the episode makes sense here; he's way outside his comfort zone on Sodor, and it's funny when he keeps messing up the details Shane described during the first tour, hilariously half-steaming his excuses. Though it may not have been as funny if he didn't have Aubrey and Aiden to play off against.

But perhaps the episode's greatest strength is that an actual Aussie wrote the episode. The India and China episodes were written by British writers, so why not let writers from those respective countries tackle those episodes? For a first timer, Tim Bain really understands his own culture very well.

For the most part, there's not really a lot to talk about. It's a typical episode about telling lies and landing into trouble because of it, but it worked very well for the setting and that's all that matters. Oh, and a crocodile riding the train? This I ought to see some time!

Rating: Good

It's safe to say that week two was a step down from the previous week; whilst two episodes were really good (both written by newbies), the first three felt very half-baked at implementing culture into the story... what little there was, at least. Still, I'm hoping week three will turn out better, especially when it comes to a certain returnee from last year...!