Why am I reviewing all nine episodes at once? Well, I want to turn my attention to seasons 5 through 17, as well as the remaining Railway Series books, and maybe a few revisits of season 18, all whilst reviewing
My Little Pony's fifth season. I'll also be reviewing
Thomas and Trevor from season two this month, as well as
Thomas' Christmas Party and
Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree in December. So now, let's get to the episodes out of season three I haven't reviewed yet!
THE OPINIONS, THOUGHTS AND MUSINGS IN THIS BLOG POST ARE SOLELY THOSE OF ZACK WANZER, NOT THE THOMAS FANDOM IN GENERAL
(special thanks to the Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the images)
I've already done a review of Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure back in November 2014, hence it's not counted. Also, for each of these episodes, Andrew Brenner wrote the original magazine stories, and Britt Allcroft and David Mitton did the adaptations. The only exception to this is All at Sea, completely written by Allcroft and Mitton.
Episode 6: Thomas Gets Bumped
Based on "Hello, Thomas!" and "A Bump in the Line"
One day, Thomas is running late and is talking to some children. Percy teases that if Thomas runs late, he could be replaced. Thomas rubbishes this, but he is worried. The next day, he's stopped at the goods station because some children need help getting home; the school bus has broken down and the parents may get worried. Thomas agrees to help them out and brings them to Bertie. However, he runs late and is worried as to what the Fat Controller would say. Surprised the passengers weren't mentioned complaining, but meh, what can you do?
However, Thomas is relived when the Fat Controller isn't around, but Thomas runs into more trouble when he derails at some bumpy track - they were bent out of shape due to the hot sun. Interesting fact, this may have been based on an incident that happened with Flying Scotsman back in 1950. While Thomas' branchline is closed for repairs (odd that he's the only engine on the line) he's made to shunt trucks while Bertie looks after his passengers - nice touch with the "No Trains" sign! Later, Thomas' branchline is reopened, and the Fat Controller adjusts his timetable so he and Bertie can work together more often, and Thomas is grateful for Bertie's help.
I do enjoy the episodes with Thomas and Bertie, and this is no exception; this is one of many that wouldn't look out of place in the Railway Series - I mean it! Why doesn't Andrew Brenner write new Railway Series books? If he does, then I'd like if Lorraine Marshall did the illustrations. As for the title, I quite like how it reflects that Thomas had been bumped off the tracks. Did have a few oddities here and there, but still, it's a great watch.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Episode 7: Thomas, Percy and the Dragon
Based on "Percy's Night Out" and "Percy and the Dragon"
Thomas is annoyed with Percy for continually bringing up his ghostly trick, but the little green engine keeps up at it, especially at night. In the morning, the Fat Controller assigns Thomas with an unusual delivery. Percy has shunted trucks onto a siding and when Henry passes by, the points jam up and Percy is stuck on the siding for the night, but he's afraid of the dark. At the harbor, Thomas' delivery turns out to be a Chinese dragon made of paper for tomorrow's carnival. Soon, Thomas passes by a sleeping Percy, and when he sees the dragon, he is terrified and refuses to open his eyes until morning.
The next morning, the points are repaired and Percy heads to Knapford (ironically, it was called the junction while it's the big station in the TV series) and tells Gordon about his encounter, but Gordon tells Percy that his dome must be cracked. The other engines laugh at Percy too, and he feels he may have been imagining things, but not when Thomas arrives with the dragon! At first, Percy is upset, but he feels better when he and Thomas agree that everyone can get scared sometimes.
If this is a sequel to Ghost Train, then I say it's a good one at that. The use of Chinese-themed music for the Chinese dragon was brilliantly composed, and it shows that you don't need engines from different regions to represent their home countries - not that I've anything against foreign engines, of course. Kind of surprising that the dragon wasn't torched at all by the lights surrounding it, isn't it? Sadly, this episode's moral had been shot in the face by
Scaredy Engines in season six, and I'll get to that soon enough...
Rating: 9 out of 10
Episode 8: Diesel Does it Again
Based on "Trouble in the Harbor Yard", "Bumps", and "Diesel's Race"
At the harbor, Duck and Percy are exhausted from being overworked, so the Fat Controller promises that another engine will be sent to help. Unfortunately for them, the engine in question turns out to be Diesel, and already, he's rough with the trucks. Duck and Percy are so shocked with Diesel's behavior that they refuse to leave their shed, leaving Diesel to do the work himself. The Fat Controller is informed of this and orders Percy and Duck to go back to work, and they reluctantly do so.
However, things don't improve the next morning when Diesel bumps into Percy and doesn't apologize, and they get worse when he bumps the trucks so roughly that their loads spill out of them. Diesel even calls Percy and Duck "goody-goody tattle tales" (tell tales in the UK) forcing them into silence. The next day, Diesel goes too far by shunting some trucks filled with china clay into the sea. The Fat Controller sends him away again, and Duck and Percy go back to work.
I'm going out on a limb to say that
Thomas and the Evil Diesel should've been adapted instead of this being made an episode; it showed that even though Diesel could be a prick at times, he does have a heart in his engine block. But here, it's to expand on the Duck vs. Diesel rivalry after
A Close Shave and it's an excuse to get Diesel to come back, and the same is said for a few other stories in season three. On whole, it's pretty pointless since nothing changed during Diesel's visit, except maybe a few trucks being in need of repairs.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Episode 11: No Joke for James
Based on "The Express" and "A Passenger for James"
James brags to Thomas and Percy about how he's the most useful engine on the line, but Thomas tells him they're all useful, and Percy says that James is getting all puffed up in the smokebox. Gordon also tells James that he's a mere goods engine to which the red engine takes offense, claiming he can pull coaches as well and fibs that the Fat Controller has plans for him. Later on, James lies to Thomas that he's taking Gordon's coaches and suggests that Gordon can pull the red engine's trucks. Gordon is furious at having to pull trucks and the Fat Controller sends James to the sheds for his trick.
The next day, James is apologetic for playing his trick on the others and he shunts trucks at the harbor all day. Later, before he can go home, an inspector shows up as he has a meeting with the Fat Controller, so James and his crew agree to give him a ride all the way Knapford station.
How did Gordon and Thomas so easily fall for James' trickery, and wouldn't the red engine's driver have a bit more common sense? It is amusing that the passenger who gave James' crew a bootlace (Jeremiah Jobling) had become a railway inspector. Not a bad episode, but it isn't the best either. It could've been better.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
Episode 12: Thomas, Percy and the Post Train
Based on "The Post Train" and "After the Last Train"
We start off with the narrator describing the runs of the post train at night, serviced by Thomas and Percy. One night, Henry runs late because the post from the mainland was delayed, and Percy hurries to make up for lost time, but is tired by morning. Matters aren't helped when Harold teases Percy for being too slow with the mail train, and the offended green engine calls him "birdbrain". Later in the evening, Percy and his crew start off early in the evening, but they're not off to a good start when Thomas explains that the person in charge of the post has complained to the Fat Controller, even though it was out of Percy's control. Harold tells them that the post train will be scrapped and he'll be used instead, much to the engines' shock.
Spurred on by the threat of having their trains replaced, Thomas and Percy make good timing with the post, and at a station, Thomas' crew offers to give a passenger a train ride home, having missed his train home. Next afternoon, Percy finds Harold looking glum - he's been grounded due to strong winds, and Percy jokes that he needs rails. The man who had missed his train writes to the Fat Controller that Thomas and Percy are both splendid engines, and the post train's reputation is restored.
It's always nice to have a story that is focused on the rivalry between railways and roadways - or in this case, airways - as they're a good breath of fresh air from the steam vs. diesel cliche. Plus, we get some insight as to what happens on Sodor at night other than Gordon and Edward's evening trains. Oh, and for the record, this is the first episode where Thomas is seen pulling the mail train, not
The Early Bird in season 13 (huh, I should've reviewed that episode before this one, but meh). Definitely another favorite from season three.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Episode 13: Trust Thomas
Based on "Bertie's Bumpy Roads"
Thomas is in a cheerful mood today, but Bertie is cross as he runs into another hole in the road, and complains about the railway not delivering tar to mend them. If the roads are damaged, then why is Bertie using them? Has he not heard of things called alternate routes? Meanwhile at the harbor, James is cross at having to shunt trucks, but Gordon suggests that he fake illness to get out of work - yeah, give it a few years, and see what happens with Sir Handel and Peter Sam. Speaking of that story, Thomas feels sorry for the big engines, but agrees to do James' work.
Unfortunately for Thomas, James' trucks are cross at having been bumped about, and so they decide to take it out on Thomas instead. Thomas picks up stone from the quarry and is about to set off home, but the trucks shunt him onto a jetty in the pond. As a toad eyes him, poor Thomas is dismayed that his day had been ruined. Duck takes over for Thomas and Edward helps the blue tank engine back to the yard. On the way, Thomas tells Edward about the missing tar, and the blue tender engine promises to make sure it gets to Bertie. James and Gordon apologize for getting Thomas into trouble, but Bertie thanks Thomas for keeping his promise.
Welcome to the classic series' Episode of Plot Holes, ladies and gentlemen - Thomas was said to have brought Annie and Clarabel to the big station, but at the harbor, it's never explained what became of them. Plus, how did Gordon and James get into trouble? Did they get a scolding we didn't see? And again, why did Bertie not take alternate routes? And above it all, it just rips off
Trucks!, even though that aired next season, and it was written better. This is my least favorite of season three, and I feel more effort should've gone into it. A lot more.
Rating: 3 out of 10
A summer regatta is being held close to the harbor. Duck imagines sailing to faraway lands, but Percy reminds him that engines can't go sailing. Harold tells Duck that he can go to the horizon and beyond, much to Duck's interest, and he talks about the regatta all day, but Percy has none of it and would prefer to stay on his rails. Suddenly, an emergency is called upon - a man has injured his hand and needs to be taken to hospital. Since Harold has to stay at the regatta in case of emergency, Duck takes the injured man as far as the level crossing where Bertie takes over on road, commenting that Duck looked splendid flying along the rails. Duck also decides that Percy has a point that engines are happiest staying on the rails.
Later that evening, Harold drops a flag close to Duck - it has a message from the regatta giving their thanks to Duck for helping the injured man, and the pannier tank comments that Harold does understand what an engine needs.
While Duck may not be my most favorite character for the moment, I will admit that this is his best starring role to date, more so than
A Close Shave,
Fish (season four), and
Duck and the Slip Coaches. Plus, it is my favorite season three episode; yes, I prefer it a little bit more than
Escape, not by much. That ending shot is just breathtaking, and it was one of David Mitton's favorite shots. He even framed a picture of it for Britt Allcroft, and she's said it's one of her favorite episodes. And the last sentence has probably told one of the best morals the show has ever taught - "
sometimes the best travels are those we can only dream about."
Rating: 10 out of 10
Episode 24: Heroes
Based on "In a Muddle" and "Heroes"
One day at the china clay workings (I say it because they don't work at Anopha quarry), Bill and Ben are bored and are desperate for a surprise. Their manager sends them to the station at the harbor because the Fat Controller needs their help to take over the shunting for Edward. Gordon tells them that they're on the mainline and must behave, but he gets huffy when they remind him of their trick and demands that they get his coaches ready and on time for his evening train. Bill and Ben set to work with arranging trucks in the yard, and they play tricks on the twins by placing them the wrong places. Because of this, Gordon's train is very late.
The next day, the twins are back at the china clay works when suddenly, a rockslide occurs, and a workman shouts a warning to evacuate. The workmen scramble into the trucks, and before Ben can leave, a workman has been left behind, so he waits while the stranded workman climbs aboard, and escapes just in time. Everyone is safe, but the china clay works are in a dreadful mess. However, Bill and Ben are praised for their heroic actions the next day, and they appreciate it as a pleasant surprise.
I find it unlikely that the twins wouldn't know how to handle trucks, especially considering
Thomas and the Twins. Plus, like I said, they work at the china clay works, not Anopha quarry. It's also odd that no one else was helping the twins, which does make the situation in the middle act convoluted. However, the rockslide was brilliantly filmed, although it's never explained what really happened, but the moral about keeping calm in emergencies is definitely admirable in good story telling, and it makes up for some of the drawbacks.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Episode 25: Percy, James and the Fruitful Day
Based on "Percy Gets Jammed"
When James stops near a signalbox, he scolds Percy for running late even though the trucks gave the small green engine trouble all morning. At the harbor, James takes a few trucks loaded with crates of fruit to deliver to market; he takes this job with pride, boasting to Thomas, Annie and Clarabel that he is really reliable, but can't say the same for Percy. Thomas notes to his coaches that trouble will come back to haunt James. It does when the red engine's brakes jam and Percy is sent to deliver the fruit instead, and he also adds insult to injury by joking that James got into a "sticky situation".
Percy pushes the trucks and hopes to make up for lost time, but due to failed points, he ends up on a siding and gets covered in squashed fruit. The Fat Controller knows Percy isn't at fault for the points' failure, but reminds him that he doesn't run a jam factory. That evening in the sheds, Percy and James feel sorry for themselves, but Thomas comments that even if they get into jams helping one another, they're still really useful engines.
A story featuring James and Percy is bound to be entertaining like this episode. For example,
Tale of the Brave had them play off one another brilliantly, and
Jack Frost showed that sometimes while James can be mean to Percy, the red engine often gets his comeuppance in humorous ways. This episode is another case of incidents taking place while the engines are doing their work - James suffers from jammed brakes while taking a train of fruit, and Percy helps him out with disastrous results. A bit odd that fruit was loaded into three open wagons (even if they were in crates) and only one closed van, but I still think it's a great episode.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Season 3 Overall
I think this is a very good season; it's not perfect, but it cast the stone to allow original stories to be written; some good, others not-so-good, and some more near the middle. I admit that some adaptations were not perfect, and I'm aware that Awdry disliked some scripts, Henry's Forest especially, but I don't expect perfection every single time (although I'm pretty sure some would beg to differ). Basically, what I'm pointing out here is that nobody is perfect. I haven't seen every Michael Angelis narration, but I can tell he really enjoyed himself back then. However, for me, George Carlin will always be my favorite narrator for the show - even in my most disliked episodes in seasons three and four, I can't faults his narrations. A great shame he was taken away from us in 2008. You'll always be remembered, George...
Episodes From Least Favorite to Most Favorite
3/10
26. Trust Thomas
4/10
25. The Trouble with Mud
24. Tender Engines
5/10
23. Diesel Does it Again
6/10
22. Time for Trouble
6.5/10
21. No Joke for James
20. Percy's Promise
19. Donald's Duck
7.5/10
18. Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure*
17. Oliver Owns Up
8/10
16. Gordon and the Famous Visitor
15. Toby's Tightrope
14. Buzz Buzz
8.5/10
13. Heroes
12. Thomas Gets Bumped
11. Percy, James and the Fruitful Day
10. Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party
9. A Scarf for Percy
8. Mavis
9/10
7. Bulgy
6. Thomas, Percy and the Dragon
5. One Good Turn
4. Henry's Forest
9.5/10
3. Thomas, Percy and the Post Train
10/10
2. Escape
1. All at Sea
* - T&PCA's official rating is 7.5/10; the Mountain rating is 4/10
Season three's official episode average is 7.6/10.
Final Season Rating: 7.5/10
Season 11, Episode 18
