Thomas and Friends: Season 20 Week 1

As the week draws to a close, we finally review the first five episodes of season 20! It's hard to imagine that Thomas and Friends would actually get this far; twenty seasons across thiry-three years of television, and with over 500 episodes by this stage (yes, Pack episodes included) along with ten hour-long specials, a mini special, and a feature length movie under its belt. We shall see in due time if season 20 is actually worth celebrating, but let's kick things off with the first five episodes!

Episode 1: Sidney Sings

Written by Lee Pressman

Ah, Sidney. Ever since he got a resolution for his absence in The Missing Christmas Decorations (which this episode shows stock footage of), he's done... very little. Here, he finally has something to do, and does it play off?

Yes, it does. I like how Sidney's job is to bring Percy his new wheels (whether intentional or not, I'm not sure, but whatever) and I feel Thomas' role made sense. Sure, it was minor as all he did was make a suggestion for Sidney to remember his task, but it made a huge impact. Sidney himself does feel like Dory from the Finding Nemo franchise, as many have said, and you can actually relate to him regardless of age, unlike, say, Henry Spots Trouble.

Not much else to say, really. A pretty good start to what seems to be a very promising season, and it's how a Nitrogen episode should be done. Although, why (in the UK, at least) does Whiff sound like he's got Henry's voice? He seriously needs a recasting for both dubs.

Episode 2: Toby's New Friend

Written by Andrew Brenner

It's fair to say that during season 19, Philip has since gained a mixed reputation among the fandom. Personally, I think he's a fine character, but yeah, his persona does need some tweaking (I mean, can you shut up about the time you beat Gordon in a race, Philip?!) and his role in The Great Race leaves a lot to be desired.

Other than that, I think it's another really good episode, and how Big Belle should've gone. Once again, Toby and Henrietta have that husband/wife relationship, especially when she teases him about Philip, and the workmen's reaction to the idea of the race was genius. Also interesting that Toby, whilst annoyed by Philip initially, is more subtle about it compared to Gordon and James.

Philip appears to be heading in the right direction when it comes to character development; keep playing him off against characters that won't pander to his childlike mannerisms... just because.

There are some issues like how on earth did Philip think Toby was a diesel? Being box-shaped I can understand, but thinking a steam tram is a diesel? And that near-collision between Philip and Thomas seemed rather illogical; is there no timetable for Thomas' branchline? The moral is pretty good that not everybody has to agree on everything just to be friends, and that I can understand greatly.

Episode 3: Henry Gets the Express

Written by Helen Farrall

I'm gonna say it right now; Helen Farrall is certainly Thomas' equivalent to Meghan McCarthy. Not that I've anything against Andrew Brenner's writing, but he's got storytelling issues he needs to work out after The Great Race ("Spoiler alert!" - Twilight).

I absolutely loved this episode to bits. Everything feels like it came out of the Railway Series, and Henry gets his best episode in who knows how long (about bloody time that he isn't portrayed as an idiot or a wuss!) Well, Henry does worry when Gordon gives him a confidence knock, but he gets back on his high horse when Thomas reassures him, so... phew! And Gordon's comeuppance, much like Slow Stephen, was very much laser-guided karma for him. So far, it's season 20's best episode, and is a joy to behold.

Episode 4: Diesel and the Ducklings

Written by Lee Pressman

Whilst I might not have much to say about Henry Gets the Express, I do have a fair amount to talk about with Diesel and the Ducklings. Whilst the former was almost universally praised, the latter is a little more... mixed. What do I think of it?

On first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking, "Oh dear; it's another Run of the Miller script in this era," and to some extent, you may have a point. Does the rhyming bother me? No, because - if you put it like this - it could be like the chanting you'd hear at a football match, like "2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate? [Insert town/city name here]". "Rough and tough" is the diesels' equivalent. Well, the bad ones, anyway.

Diesel was fantastic throughout; his inner conflict was pretty good alternating between good and bad, but it comes to a head at Knapford when Diesel mocks Emily, under the influence of Arry and Bert (yeah, it kinda bothers me, but it's also funny how she reacted to Diesel acting nice under Thomas' presence).

Speaking of whom, was Thomas' appearance shoehorned? The answer is no; had it been Duck, him blackmailing Diesel, even if it was for payback, wouldn't really be the Great Western Way of doing things now, would it? Blackmail does seem to fit Thomas' style a bit more if you ask me. Arry and Bert, for their first starring role since season 16, were handled quite nicely, even if they didn't add much.

So on whole, I may be in the minority, but I liked this one a lot, as I can relate to it when I first got into MLP back in November 2013; I wanted to keep it to myself, but when my mother got wind of it (and eventually, my father) and I became more open about my interest over time, even if it's waned due to lackluster writing as of late.

Episode 5: Bradford the Brake Van

Written by Lee Pressman

A new brakevan character, huh? Interesting. But how does it play off? Amazingly well, in fact!

Even though this is his first episode, I think Bradford would make an excellent addition to the cast. He does act like Toad, if the GWR brakevan was more direct than polite, and if he's to be seen with Samson more often, they could make a great dynamic with Samson with the cabless engine's silly mistakes and the brakevan's strictness. Shame it had to be Thomas in the spotlight, but the episode the way it went was just fine.

Bradford himself is fantastic; Rob Rackstraw delivers that Welsh accent perfectly, and the design of Bradford alone is simply excellent. It's also interesting to how several engines were frustrated with his overzealous attitude, but why did all of them (barring Whiff) have to be Steam Team members?

I do have a couple of other issues, both concerning the Fat Controller; one, why did the Fat Controller not realize it was Bradford causing the engines to run late? And two, why did he say that safety was more important than running on time? Shouldn't both be equally important? I get that he'd be concerned about safety, but it makes the moral feel a bit muddy.

The episode could use a bit of a rewrite, but otherwise, it's a great episode on the whole.

Thomas and Friends Season 20 Scorecard

1. Sidney Sings: 8

2. Toby's New Friend: 8

3. Henry Gets the Express: 10

4. Diesel and the Ducklings: 9

5. Bradford the Brake Van: 9

Season Rating So Far: 44/50

Thomas and Friends Specials: Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure

Wow... I should've completed this a long time ago. What kept me from writing this up was laziness, other projects, and... some other third thing. But now, with only a week before The Great Race comes out in America on DVD, I figure it's high time I finished what I set out to write in the first place. So, without further confusion or delay, let's talk about Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure.

This post contains spoilers for The Great Race; reader discretion is advised.

Written by Andrew Brenner

Produced by Ian McCue

Directed by David Stoten

Released July 17, 2015

This special is a huge landmark in Thomas history; not only was it, along with The Adventure Begins, released for Thomas' 70th anniversary, but it also contained a few A-list celebrity guest spots, a grand orchestra, and a compelling story. Does it all pay off? Without a doubt, yes it does!

One of the special's strongest aspects is the storytelling; like Tale of the Brave, Lost Treasure's story is multi-layered, and none of it felt wasted... well, maybe except for a few aspects here and there, but still. Of the subplots, Marion's is my favorite, without a doubt. I love her interactions with Rex, Bert, and Mike (a reference to Small Railway Engines, I've no doubt), and it's funny to how she confuses the two Olivers, and the way it resolved itself was very clever. I do feel bad for poor Mike when he's left high and dry by Bert and Rex at the buffers of Marion (actually, no, I don't XD).

I feel like getting the songs out of the way early cause I don't feel it's fair to leave them for last. "Never Overlook a Little Engine" is perhaps my favorite song out of the Arc era (especially considering most of season 19's songs were rubbish, anyway), and the visuals almost remind me of the Yellow Submarine film. Am I the only one to think that?

"We Make a Team Together" is also fantastic and it plays twice; once when Thomas joins Sailor John and Skiff to look for the treasure, and at the end during the opening ceremony of the Harwick branchline. It's a bit of a shame that it's overshadowed by "Never Overlook a Little Engine", probably because of the visuals, the fact that characters are singing it, a combination of both, or some other fourth reason.

Ah yes, Sailor John; many people feel he's got what P.T. Boomer never did, and who am I to argue? Seriously, that guy makes Diesel look like cute and cuddly in comparison! Well, probably not his flanderized stereotypical villain role in the Thomas Creator Collective series, but I digress. John Hurt, for his sole guest appearance on the series, sounded like he was having a blast in the recording studio, as did Jamie Campbell Bower (who should be appearing in season 20, I presume) as Skiff. You can't help but feel sorry for the poor guy when Sailor John abuses him, telling him to be quiet, and even threatening to kill him! (No, that's not an exaggeration; this is dead straight - no pun intended.) Thankfully, Skiff gets his happy ending; too bad about Sailor John being arrested... :P

(Seriously, did you ever think that a Twilight actor would star in a kid's show? I sure didn't! But then again, we had a comedian who swore a lot to narrate the show in the classic era.)

But of the newbies for this special, my favorite is, without question, Ryan. I love the basis they chose for him, and Eddie Redmayne's performance was phenomenal. I've not seen his performance as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything, but I hear it's a great film. It's a shame that it's the only time Eddie will be voicing Ryan, but I guess that's what makes his performance in Lost Treasure special.

And no, I've no issues with the idea of an N2 being painted purple. Otherwise, I'd be complaining about an E2 in blue; this is Thomas and Friends, so who cares if a livery is realistic or not?

Speaking of whom, I feel this is one of Thomas' best starring roles in the Arc era, and I don't say that lightly. It's loosely similar to his development in The Adventure Begins, but here, he causes trouble by accident because of his overconfidence rather than inexperience, and that further digs him into a deeper hole - metaphorically speaking, of course - and he completely loses the Fat Controller's trust.

As an aside, when it comes to animation, I've noticed that Thomas' number being covered up by dirt is practically a metaphor for losing his position as number one, and his pride being wounded, but when the dirt is washed off, it's a metaphor for rebirth or revival. Clever, isn't it?

That brings me onto the Fat Controller; people say he was too harsh on Thomas - I completely disagree on that front. Here's the thing - the Fat Controller is a father figure to the engines as he punishes them when they are naughty (or thinks that they were) and he rewards them when they're good. Some will say he went too far in his scolding when Thomas saved Ryan from the dynamite, but if you think about it, Thomas didn't tell Ryan about the bad coal from the old hopper, and that led to Ryan spouting sparks from his funnel, and that led to the dynamite catching fire, leading to a humorous hot potato scenario and a chase between Thomas and Ryan. Plus, the Fat Controller thought (from the car) that Thomas was trying to hurt Ryan on purpose and chewed him out even when Thomas tried to explain - he did try to say it wasn't his fault, but technically, even though his role in the scenario was minor, it was Thomas' fault, whether it was directly or indirectly.

So was he too harsh? No. I feel it was justified, and handled far better than The Great Race (and this is why I put the disclaimer near the top) - there, the Fat Controller somehow became an incompetent controller during season 20. When Thomas is away from his work, the Fat Controller simply asks him calmly if he's supposed to be on his branchline, doesn't investigate in full detail the accident at Knapford involving Thomas, the diesels and the trucks, and when Gordon nearly kills himself trying to win the actual Great Race, he just shakes his head and feels like a parent who didn't care that their child got hurt in a car crash! Who still lets him run the North Western Railway, especially as he won an award for his services in Spencer's VIP?! It felt as though Andrew Brenner took that criticism way too seriously and failed to come up with a compromise between the two extremes (and considering other problems The Great Race has got, that doesn't feel far-fetched).

Okay, back to Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure. Another interesting aspect is Thomas' respective relationships with Ryan and Sailor John. At the start (well, more like near the middle, really) Thomas doesn't trust Ryan as he thinks the N2 is replacing him, but he trusts Sailor John because he (Thomas) had an indirect contribution in helping the ex-sailor. Later, Thomas briefly feels smug when Ryan takes on the bad coal, but later feels bad for doing so; Ryan didn't deserve it as he was simply doing his job as an engine. Around that time, Thomas becomes more wary of Sailor John when he suspects someone else (Marion) has found the treasure instead of him, and when they later confront one another, Thomas refuses to let Sailor John touch the treasure and vows to stop him from doing so. At this stage, Thomas and Ryan have finally made peace, and Thomas realizes he should've trusted Ryan from the start. So, a multi-layered story is really driven by the characters written for it, and the moral about trust is handled brilliantly...

...but even the best stories can have their faults. One of them being a scene where Duck interacts with Donald and Douglas. What purpose does it serve, anyway? I mean, the scene with Marion, Oliver the engine, Toad, and the Arlesdale trio had purpose; Duck and the Scottish twins' scene does not, and Duck doesn't speak for the rest of the special after that, especially since they're close to his branchline! At least they weren't forgotten about like Reg, as there are bigger problems than that moment of fanservice...

Henry's little subplot is practically the weak link in the story's chain (again, I'm using metaphors to prove my point). In his review, The Unlucky Tug says that Thomas (once repaired) should've been in Henry's place instead, and that if Thomas heard the story of Captain Calles from Salty, then he'd have more reason to follow Sailor John and Skiff. Rewatching the film, I can see that, and I can't believe no one else thought of it (if you have but hadn't the time to say so, do leave a comment!), especially as Thomas follows them because... why not? Not only that, but Henry's subplot has no closure to it; is he still scared of Skiff? Will it be answered in season 20? (More on that later.)

Speaking of lack of resolution, Rocky takes credit for Thomas' discovery, but aside from a few comments of disgust from Thomas, it's never brought up again. Did the Fat Controller learn Thomas' side of the story whilst he was being repaired again? Was it Ryan who told the Fat Controller everything? I know there's a sixty-minute limit to these specials, but you can't leave little plot threads hanging like that! (I'm looking at you, Friendship Games; you and your poor treatment of Flash Sentry!)

Then we come to the usage of human interaction. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to see a human playing a major role, but why were Thomas' crew not involved whatsoever? Actually, that reminds me - in Unlucky Tug's aforementioned review, he points out there's a closeup shot of Thomas' driver as the chase (which is amazing up to that point) comes to a close - why?! Are they implying Thomas' crew was aware they were working for a pirate and didn't say anything? They should be treated more than just the engines' "hands", you know, especially since Gordon's driver scolded him for not trying in The Adventure Begins! Either the crews exist, or they don't; choose one idea and stick with it (preferably the former)!

As many people brought this up, it'd be criminal of me to leave this out, so how did Sailor John manage to steal the pirate ship to get away from Thomas? Does he use "magic" like Marion would think?

But for me, the biggest issues with the special have nothing to do with the film itself, but rather, they're more of an annoyance when it comes to both continuity and voice actors (this will also most likely affect future seasons and specials, by the way). This special takes place after season 19, but it was seemingly produced alongside it, and likewise, The Great Race is coming out on DVD the week after season 20 begins airing (or the same week, depending on whether you're from the US or the UK). Why would you release a special before the season it supposedly takes place after hasn't even finished airing? (I mean, Best Engine Ever seemed to hint at the special.) Now, this is what the chronological timeline for the Arc era supposedly is:

-The Adventure Begins

-King of the Railway

-Season 17

-Tale of the Brave

-Season 18

-Season 19

-Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure

-Season 20

-The Great Race

-Season 21

-2017 special

The voice actors are also an issue, at least for the UK; in season 19, Percy is voiced by Nigel Pilkington, but in Lost Treasure, his voice his done by Keith Wickham (a likewise case happens in Sidney Sings, but it doesn't hurt the episode as a whole, to be truthful). I know it's only one line of dialogue, but wouldn't it have hurt to have Nigel record one additional line for that special? (Also, where was Philip when the accident happened?) Not only that, but the changes to one of the voice actors for season 20 (this time, for both US and UK) is an issue; Daisy is voiced by Teresa Gallagher for one line each in Lost Treasure and The Great Race, but in season 20, she'll be voiced by Tracy Ann-Oberman. Can we have continuity with both specials and seasons, please? Especially when it comes to voice actors?

Okay, continuity nitpicks aside, I had seen the UK dub of this, and I'm gonna say it; when it comes to voicing Thomas, John Hasler > Joseph May. When Joseph voices Thomas, he sounds a little bored stiff like he'd rather be anywhere than the recording studio, but with John, he sounds more natural and British, like he should be. Also, Joseph can't sing; have you heard him performing "Streamling" for The Great Race? Yeesh. It also reminds me to why I hate the US voices to both Edward and Henry, even back in 2010; hearing them just makes me cringe.

There are plenty of tidbits throughout the special that I feel should get their own paragraph together; there's plenty of humor and action throughout, especially when Sailor John pouts, and the Rev. W. Awdry's cameo was a nice touch for the 70th anniversary. And there's also the humorous irony that after his office is redecorated in Goodbye, Fat Controller (assuming it is the season 19 finale), it's promptly destroyed by Sailor John. Daisy's appearance near the end was quite nice, but sadly it's spoiled because a screenshot of her and the other engines was leaked by a Chinese website (I'm presuming) before the special even came out, so it doesn't even make it a surprise anymore.

Final Thoughts

For all of its flaws, they're largely overshadowed by the positives. Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure is, without doubt, the best of the hour-long specials, probably the best Thomas special of all time. It feels like a feature-length movie throughout, and if it were fifteen minutes longer, it probably would be the closest we'd get to a second theatrical Thomas film. The humor and suspense were brilliant, it's just overall a great special, and if you ask me, no Thomas DVD collection would be complete without it.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Is Every Thomas Special Influenced by the Railway Series?

This post contains minor spoilers for The Great Race.

This is something that purely came to me whilst showering, and it's something that has been on my mind as people on Sodor Island Forums have noticed similarities between The Great Race and Thomas and the Great Railway Show. Then, I thought about every special to date (even the bad ones) in reverse chronological order - yes, even Magic Railroad - and believed that from the start, every Thomas special has had some level of Railway Series influence.

(Note: I'm discounting The Adventure Begins because it's a remake of RWS books rather than making subtle/blatant references about them. There might be some that I'm missing; I'd love to hear what you can come up with!)

The Great Race (2016)

Book #23: Enterprising Engines

Both involve Flying Scotsman in some capacity, and they feature him having a brotherly relationship with Gordon (although the special gives Scotsman more character than the book did).

Book #35: Thomas and the Great Railway Show

Both involve a Railway Show on the mainland; in the book, it was about engines on display, and in the special, it's about engines competing to see who's the best.

Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure (2015)

Book #22: Small Railway Engines Engines

Both feature the Arlesdale engines (at least, the original three) and rather than being shown how useful they are, they sing about their usefulness.

Book #34: Jock the New Engine

Again, both utilize the Arlesdale trio, but they also feature an engine screwing up (Frank and Thomas) and both engines work to redeem themselves.

Tale of the Brave (2014)

Book #21: Main Line Engines

Both feature Bill and Ben playing a major supporting role. They also feature one of the original seven (Edward and Percy) proving themselves when the big engines put them down harshly.

Book #33: Thomas and the Twins

Like the book, Thomas goes to Edward's branchline when a bridge on his undergoes repair and works with Bill and Ben.

King of the Railway (2013)

Book #20: Very Old Engines

Both utilize an engine built earlier than 1900 (Skarloey and Rheneas, Stephen). We even get flashbacks for both.

Book #32: Toby, Trucks and Trouble

An elderly engine (Stephen and Toby) is the primary focus. Both also end up in scrapes but get out of them (Toby derails at a level crossing, Stephen gets trapped in a mine).

Blue Mountain Mystery (2012)

Book #19: Mountain Engines

Both feature narrow gauge engines as a major focus (Skarloey and Culdee Fell Railways).

Book #31: Gordon the High Speed Engine

Both feature two diesels of the same class as supporting characters (Diesel and Paxton, Pip and Emma).

Day of the Diesels (2011)

Book #18: Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine

Both have a diesel as a threat to the steam engines in some capacity (Class 40 and Diesel 10).

Book #30: More About Thomas the Tank Engine

Both feature Thomas and Percy as leading characters, as well as a strain on their friendship.

Misty Island Rescue (2010)

Book #17: Gallant Old Engine

Both involve an engine getting stuck and they have to get out of that situation.

Book #29: Great Little Engines

Both involve an engine leaving Sodor, but they return by the end.

Hero of the Rails (2009)

Book #16: Branch Line Engines

Are there any similarities? All I can think of is that both feature a snobby character (Daisy and Spencer) as a major character.

Book #28: James and the Diesel Engines

Both feature an engine opposed to another engine (James to diesels, Spencer to Hiro), but by the end, the engine opposed to that other has their viewpoint changed.

The Great Discovery (2008)

Book #15: The Twin Engines

Both have an engine under threat - Douglas for fear of being scrapped, and Thomas for fear of being replaced by Stanley.

Book #27: Really Useful Engines

Both have tank engines as a leading focus (Thomas is joined by Percy and Duck in the book, and by Stanley in the special).

Calling All Engines (2005)

Book #14: The Little Old Engine

Both feature Rusty and involve steam engines being opposed to diesels.

Book #26: Tramway Engines

Both feature Mavis as a major character, and they involve a bit of steam/diesel rivalry (in the book, it's just Toby and Mavis, and in the special, it's more extreme).

Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000)

Book #13: Duck and the Diesel Engine

Both have a diesel as the leading antagonist (Diesel and Diesel 10).

Book #25: Duke the Lost Engine

Both have a lost engine as a major plot point (Duke and Lady); the only difference is that Duke has some defined character and Lady kind of... doesn't.

General

Notice the pattern in the books referenced. Every special from The Great Discovery onwards references both a Wilbert book and a Christopher book, possibly until we get to the 2019 special, which would reference Tramway Engines (again) and Wilbert the Forest Engine. At this rate, the 2020 special will reference Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines, and I presume both are anniversary-related.

By coincidence, every Thomas special (again, starting with The Great Discovery) is released 25 years after the Christopher book being referenced is published, most likely until 2021 with New Little Engine and (most likely again) James and the Diesel Engines. Also, if you subtract the smaller book number from the larger book number (38 minus 26, for instance), the difference is always twelve.

If we are to believe that the 2017 special will be referencing both Oliver the Western Engine and Thomas Comes Home (especially considering Oliver's cameos in The Great Race), then there's a chance that some of the following will happen: Duck and Oliver get major focus, Donald and Douglas and/or Daisy will have a small role (if you consider their upcoming roles in season 20), the special is branchline-centric and there's trouble on said line, there's a road rival on the loose, an animal making an appearance, weather trouble (rain or snow), and/or Thomas leaving Sodor for a while.

I don't know if I'm crazy or not, but I think I might've made a remarkable discovery in the Thomas fandom. What do you think?

Thomas and Friends: Thomas' Shortcut and Season 17 Overall

Here we are. We've finally reached the end of the line with the final episode of Thomas and Friends I'll be reviewing. (Don't worry; I will do season 20 when it comes out!) After two years, I've finally covered every episode of the show that has aired to date (I may do the specials I haven't covered at some point), even the ones I don't feel like doing. What better way to make a grand finale than Thomas' Shortcut?

Season 17, Episode 26

Thomas' Shortcut

Written by Andrew Brenner

Re-watching this episode again, I never felt the need to even pause once. It was definitely a modern day take on Thomas and Bertie the same way Old Reliable Edward was a modern day take on Edward and Gordon. The three-strikes formula had been used to good effect, and the accident was very entertaining, and would still be even with models (as long as the crash wasn't slowed down!) The whole thing feels like Awdry could've written it himself. A perfect closer to season 17.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Season 17 Overall

A fresh start for the show? It sure as heck was! In fact, this is definitely the strongest set of episodes since season six (seven and eight, as good as they were, did have a few pretty low lows) and it showed that Thomas was certainly in good hands. The animation is pretty good for a first season despite its ridiculous mistakes, but Arc did improve over time. I mean, compare season 17, visually, to how it looks in future projects:

See any changes to Thomas? You can draw your conclusions.
Also, times may or may not be approximate.

With Nitrogen, they didn't make any visual improvement with the models by Blue Mountain Mystery. Sure, the trains got longer, but that wasn't good enough. With Arc, they improve on visuals and lighting every season and special, and the above picture with Thomas throughout their tenure so far proves my point. It's sad that Arc filed for bankruptcy earlier this month, but I hope they can pull through. If not, then it looks like Thomas will have to move to a new animation company, and hopefully that will take the ball Arc blew up and ran with it.

Well, that does it for seasons 5-17! I've already gone through 1-4 along with the Railway Series, along with 18 and 19 when they were airing (in other countries in 19's case), so all I have to say is, bring on season 20 and The Great Race! Making tracks to great destinations!

Episodes Ranked from Worst to Best

26. The Frozen Turntable (3/10)
25. Steamie Stafford (4/10)
24. Scruff's Makeover (5/10)
23. Not Now, Charlie! (6/10)
22. Henry's Hero
21. The Phantom Express (7/10)
20. Kevin's Cranky Friend
19. No Snow for Thomas
18. Wayward Winston
17. The Thomas Way
16. The Afternoon Tea Express (8/10)
15. Luke's New Friend
14. The Lost Puff
13. The Smelly Kipper
12. Gordon Runs Dry
11. The Switch
10. No More Mr. Nice Engine
9. Away From the Sea (9/10)
8. Santa's Little Engine
7. Calm Down Caitlin
6. Percy's Lucky Day
5. Too Many Fire Engines
4. Gone Fishing
3. The Missing Christmas Decorations (10/10)
2. Bill or Ben?
1. Thomas' Shortcut

Season 17 Final Rating: 8/10

Thomas and Friends: Season 17 Poll Winners - Part 3

The last batch of episodes out of season 17 is finally here! After that, we're done with Thomas episodes (well, at least until October 2016).

Episode 2: Scruff's Makeover

Written by Lee Pressman

Eh, don't really care much for this one. When the synopsis came out I wasn't too big on it because I didn't like either of Scruff's starring roles in season 14. But for the episode for what it is? I think it's alright! It was handled way better than Thomas and Scruff, especially as there were no discriminatory implications involved. It does utilize the Status Quo is God trope as Scruff returns to his dirty state at the end... but he learns that appearances aren't so important. It also utilizes the three-strikes formula, but it doesn't feel as annoying and it shows Gordon being wise (I don't know if that was the intention, but it was a nice touch).

On whole, it's a bit on the meh side. Not terrible, but it isn't great either. Although Whiff could seriously do with some more starring roles - he's constantly overshadowed by Scruff!

Episode 6: Steamie Stafford

Written by Paul Larson and Laura Beaumont

Oh boy, is this one gonna be interesting! Some people call it the worst of season 17, but is it really that bad? That's what I'm gonna find out.

So the premise is that Stafford wants to be a steam engine (that's what I'm gonna use as the term "steamie" is just stupid). On paper, that sounds... rather dumb. From a child's perspective, it could be viewed as relatable as they will imitate other people as they are impressionable, but sometimes that can lead to trouble. That's actually not a bad idea for a premise.

In execution? It's very hit-or-miss. The "steam engine sounds" that Stafford were kind of childish, but I bet that Keith Wickham had fun in the recording studio (at least he didn't say "poop poop" :P). Also, how did Stafford travel longer distances than he did in his last episode and yet didn't run out of battery?

And yes, I'm gonna bring up Katie the sheepdog (as Wonky Whistle gave her that name, that's what I'm gonna go for) standing outside the brakevan. That's just dangerous! I know Arc was in their early stages, but even that is no excuse. Sure, the moral on being yourself is good, but in terms of execution, it's been done better in other episodes and specials.

Episode 11: The Lost Puff

Written by Davey Moore

Another controversial one - people love it because of its humor, but people hate it due to how silly it is. Let's see which side I go for, shall we?

DUCK! No, not the tank engine. I mean, like, an actual duck. Apparently, the Fat Controller's workmen aren't the sharpest tools in the shed, and it was a good way of showcasing that. Perhaps they should have their own spinoff...? Of course, that humorous bit at the start does play into the main conflict when Paxton doesn't listen to the Fat Controller's warning and ends up getting Thomas into an accident with Toby. That shows that actions can have consequences.

The moment where Stephen stares at Paxton in bewilderment was absolutely hilarious. Although I can't help but feel it feels like Twilight's face in Magical Mystery Cure when she realizes that things aren't fine in Ponyville. Take a look at this screenshot and you'll see what I mean. (See the similarities? You can draw your conclusions.)

Of course, this episode isn't without its flaws; why did Paxton still have his trucks attached to him when he said he was returning them to the shunting yards? I mean, they're just... there. And how did Thomas' fire get put out if the hosepipe was right next to him rather than ending up in his cab? Some will say that Toby felt out of character, but I don't really see it. How is it more out of character than playing a prank on Thomas with Percy and later laughing at the latter for being a "woolly bear"?

Having gone over this, I can confidently say that I liked this one. Sure, it might be seen as ridiculous, but I think it's good if you need a laugh or two.

Thomas and Friends Season 17 Scorecard

1. Kevin's Cranky Friend: 7
2. Scruff's Makeover: 5
3. Wayward Winston: 7
4. Gordon Runs Dry: 8
5. Calm Down Caitlin: 9
6. Steamie Stafford: 4
7. Henry's Hero: 6
8. Luke's New Friend: 8
9. The Switch: 8
10. Not Now, Charlie!: 6
11. The Lost Puff: 8
12. The Thomas Way: 7
13. The Phantom Express: 7
14. Percy's Lucky Day: 9
15. Bill or Ben?: 10
16. Too Many Fire Engines: 9
17. No Snow for Thomas: 7
18. Santa's Little Engine: 9
19. The Missing Christmas Decorations: 10
20. The Frozen Turntable: 3
21. Away From the Sea: 9
22. Gone Fishing: 9

23. The Afternoon Tea Express: 8

24. The Smelly Kipper: 8
25. No More Mr. Nice Engine: 8

Wait a minute! We've only reviewed 477 episodes! There's only one episode left for me to review, and that's the season 17 finale... Thomas' Shortcut! We'll see you then.

Thomas and Friends: Season 17 Poll Winners - Part 2

Here's the next batch of poll winners for season 17!

Episode 3: Wayward Winston

Written by Lee Pressman

It's fair to say that in Happy Birthday, Sir! and Blue Mountain Mystery, Winston received very little character development, being overshadowed by Paxton and the other newbies (yes, even Merrick). Would this episode fix that?

Well... sort of. Whilst he gets more screentime than the aforementioned Nitrogen productions, there are significant problems. For one, how did Winston move by himself if the Fat Controller didn't but the brakes on? Even if the throttle was at zero, it's still very illogical. And how would the gates just randomly open and close like that? It feels like they just make Bertie a butt monkey because... why not.

That said, I do like the Fat Controller's portrayal; he takes initiative when he sees the damaged track, but even he is prone to making mistakes when it comes to driving Winston, and he learns to take care in the end. The vibes of season two were quite nice, and they fit nicely with the moral - be careful what you wish for. (Take the hint, MLP fandom - take... the hint!)

Episode 5: Calm Down Caitlin

Written by Davey Moore

Now, this (and a few other episodes) aired before King of the Railway was released on DVD. Is that a problem? That sort of depends on the situation. In said special, Connor and Caitlin didn't do anything that impacted the plot so for me, at least with this episode, that doesn't matter, even though Ulfstead Castle is shown to be restored, but I digress.

As for the episode itself, I quite like it. A damaged bridge can lead to trouble for a railway, and it can have effects on passenger and goods trains. It was a nice touch to see Percy show some maturity when he asks Caitlin to show some consideration for everyone and their sleep. It was also mature of her to admit what she'd done wrong and realized that staying up late was probably not a the smartest decision she'd made (and I know what that's like). Oh, and did I ever mention how beautiful Sodor looks at night? Especially in CGI.

I like how the engines have reactions to Caitlin's antics such as the other engines silently urging Percy to let him give Caitlin his mail duties (I think) and Gordon's reaction to Henry giving the Kipper to Caitlin. ("Giving the Flying Kipper to Caitlin, Henry? That's suicide! It's a genius suggestion!" - Probably not what he was thinking; just a funny observation.)

Episode 9: The Switch

Written by Davey Moore

Considering how much people like the dynamic between Millie and Luke, I'm surprised this didn't get more votes, but I don't make the votes on my own polls now, do I?

The best thing that's got nothing to do with this episode itself is the lack of standard gauge engines, much less Thomas and the Steam Team. Why do they need to turn up all the time? There's other characters, you know. The plot feels a lot like The Prince and the Pauper (I haven't read the story, but I have seen other TV shows and/or films that reference the idea - i.e. Blackadder the Third) - however, the two engines are of totally different shapes and liveries. And yes, I'm mentioning the stare-off because you'll probably chew me out if I didn't.

One thing that was off-putting was Rheneas' attitude towards Millie. If this was Sir Handel (who'd only had one line of dialogue in Luke's New Friend), then I'd understand. But why Rheneas? Surely it wouldn't have hurt if he'd offered to be Millie's back engine? (That's for when Millie first struggles to pull her trucks, for the record.)

Thomas and Friends Season 17 Scorecard

1. Kevin's Cranky Friend: 7
3. Wayward Winston: 7
4. Gordon Runs Dry: 8
5. Calm Down Caitlin: 9
7. Henry's Hero: 6
8. Luke's New Friend: 8
9. The Switch: 8
10. Not Now, Charlie!: 6
12. The Thomas Way: 7
13. The Phantom Express: 7
14. Percy's Lucky Day: 9
15. Bill or Ben?: 10
16. Too Many Fire Engines: 9
17. No Snow for Thomas: 7
18. Santa's Little Engine: 9
19. The Missing Christmas Decorations: 10
20. The Frozen Turntable: 3
21. Away From the Sea: 9
22. Gone Fishing: 9

23. The Afternoon Tea Express: 8

24. The Smelly Kipper: 8
25. No More Mr. Nice Engine: 8

Thomas and Friends: Season 17 Poll Winners - Part 1

This is it, people; the home stretch! After 467 episodes, we're finally gonna get to the remaining episodes of season 17, and after that, I'm done with Thomas episodes (well, at least until season 20 airs). In between them, I... don't know what to do, really. The specials, perhaps? Anyway, the season 17 poll winners!

Also, considering that Arc Productions went bankrupt, I find it very disheartening, but nonetheless, I'll still be reviewing those episodes because they (and King of the Railway) set the benchmark for what we've gotten in The Great Race and will be getting for season 20.

Episode 1: Kevin's Cranky Friend

Written by Lee Pressman

As it got the most votes, I think it's fair that this be reviewed first, especially as it's the premiere episode of the new era of Thomas. How does it stack up, three years later?

One of the first indications that the show has gotten better is the intro; one sentence about the weather on Sodor, and after that, the story actually begins in ten seconds flat (and yes, I counted). Another change is how the three-strikes formula is utilized; it isn't used so the character makes the same mistakes three times. No, when Cranky makes a mess, Kevin tries and succeeds in clearing it up - at least, the first two times. For #3? Kevin tries to save the barrel, but to subvert expectations, he takes a dive into the sea, and you feel sorry for him when he's scolded despite that he didn't mean to cause an accident.

I have to say, Kevin is portrayed a hell of a lot better than he was in season 15; I guess it's due to the fact that the writers didn't know how to write for him and treated him like an idiot. Here, whilst he's a bit childlike, Kevin understands that work is important, especially when he takes initiative by clearing up every mess Cranky makes. On whole, it's quite a good episode, and I like how they chose to start the new era with a whisper, rather than a bang.

Episode 21: Away From the Sea

Written by Andrew Brenner

This episode (until the 11th hour) got the second most votes, and considering who's introduced, I think there's good reason as to why.

Considering how little Porter has received screentime since Tale of the Brave, I feel sorry for him since he's a character with loads of potential (see my review on Salty All at Sea as to why that's the case). I just hope that's fixed for season 20. For the episode itself, and speaking of characters, it was also interesting that Cranky showed concern for when Salty's engine began spluttering (I dunno if that was intentional or not, but kudos for research that 07s did have engine troubles) and to how much Salty cares for his job.

When I read the description, I felt it was rather amusing that a diesel feared being replaced by a steam engine - the irony in the role-reversal! The season six references were a nice touch; it gives Salty an explanation as to how he came to Sodor but why replace Diesel with Mavis, even if for one shot? Other than that, it's a great episode that lived up to its full potential, so nothing feels wasted.

Episode 22: Gone Fishing

Written by Andrew Brenner

...wait, what do you mean, this isn't the season four song? Oh, I'm sorry! It's an episode out of season 17! I understand now.

Yes, it's Harvey's first full appearance in CGI, and it's fair to say he came back with a bang. I also like the episode's own continuity as it takes place after Away From the Sea. For most of season 17, a number of the episodes are self-contained, as you could put them in any order. With season 18, there's a certain order to some of the episodes as Nicholas Goodrich explained in his review on season 18.

The moral is absolutely brilliant, especially as it was explained through Porter; yes, he's different by having three domes (possibly except for Rosie) but he doesn't care as they make him useful in his own way, and prior to this episode, I'd never heard of the phrase "water off a duck's back" before (I'm surprised by the usage of Ducks in this season!) but it's a clever way of explaining the moral with an idiom. If only fans could actually realize that...

It's absolutely brilliant, and I'm gonna rank it the same as the previous episode. In fact, a lot of the best from season 17 come from Andrew Brenner alone (barring The Frozen Turntable).

Episode 25: No More Mr. Nice Engine

Written by Paul Larson and Laura Beaumont

It's fair to say that I find Hiro overrated, as well as the special he was introduced in, but I'll expand on that in the near future.

I've heard discussions that Edward should've been in Hiro's place, but I don't agree with that. Edward knows Diesel long enough to put up with his antics, and he's been seen with him several times in the past (the only time I can think of is Calling All Engines, but I could be wrong). Seeing Hiro with Diesel is something new because it makes for a memorable storyline and breaks cliches.

Also, Hiro has high tolerance for the trucks' tricks when other engines would've succumbed much sooner. The emphasis of brakevan importance was a nice touch, and it was satisfying to see Diesel get his comeuppance for causing trouble.

I know it's a nitpick, but why would Edward simply leave trucks for Hiro to pick up when he could've taken them to Knapford himself? That doesn't make much sense from a narrative standpoint. Although it was rather funny to see the Fat Controller's trousers get messed up, but it is worth pointing out that in the UK, Keith Wickham puts more emotion in the Fat Controller's voice, but in the US? Kerry Shale makes him sound uninterested. Come on, man - you can do better than that!

Overall, good episode, and a good watch.

Thomas and Friends Season 17 Scorecard

1. Kevin's Cranky Friend: 7
4. Gordon Runs Dry: 8
7. Henry's Hero: 6
8. Luke's New Friend: 8
10. Not Now, Charlie!: 6
12. The Thomas Way: 7
13. The Phantom Express: 7
14. Percy's Lucky Day: 9
15. Bill or Ben?: 10
16. Too Many Fire Engines: 9
17. No Snow for Thomas: 7
18. Santa's Little Engine: 9
19. The Missing Christmas Decorations: 10
20. The Frozen Turntable: 3
21. Away From the Sea: 9
22. Gone Fishing: 9

23. The Afternoon Tea Express: 8

24. The Smelly Kipper: 8
25. No More Mr. Nice Engine: 8

Thomas and Friends: The Rest of Season 11

Finally, we finish up the Barlow Era with three more episodes out of season 11! After that, I can at last get back to season 17. This should be a doddle!

Episode 15: Hide and Peep

Written by Simon Spencer

If Thomas and Percy didn't have anything to do at Brendam Docks whilst waiting for the ship, why couldn't they have found other work to do like, say, shunting trucks? If so, then we'd have no plot, but if you wanted to find something of a compromise between the two, why not play Hide and Peep whilst shunting trucks? It doesn't take much thought, you know. That said, Percy's hiding place in the coal hopper (especially after Middle Engine) and being hidden by Rocky looked rather dangerous, which could send bad messages to kids.

I do find it surprising that Cranky would actually want to join Thomas and Percy in their game (doesn't he have work to do?), especially considering his grumpy nature, but it was nice that they tried giving him a bit of personality expansion. The episode itself is okay, but I wouldn't watch it over and over again.

Episode 20: Percy and the Left Luggage

Written by Abi Grant

Why would Percy think that Dowager Hatt's luggage should be saved last? I get that it was meant to add to the moral that work comes before play, but Thomas Tries His Best did that plot way better. Also, why wasn't Percy given a schedule in the first place? I know that some disbelief had to be suspended for this plot to happen, but come on. At least use some railway realism, especially when you consider Gordon and the Engineer!

Episode 24: Ding-a-Ling

Written by Sharon Miller

Another bad episode. Couldn't Mr. Percival have simply bought a new bicycle bell and installed it himself? And how did Freddie not know what one really was? Surely he's smarter than that! Once again, the three-strikes formula and rhyming crop up with "Ding-a-long, ding-a-ling, find the bell with the very best ring." Also, Mr. Percival's bike has been seen in episodes previous.

Season 11 Overall

Half and half for me. For every Gordon and the Engineer that they get right, there's a Don't be Silly, Billy that they get wrong. It's better than seasons nine and ten, but not by much. At this point, the show switched to high definition as opposed to standard definition, and it makes the resolution look much better for the models, even as they neared the end of the line.

There's only one more season to cover, the season where things really began to turn things around - season 17!

Episodes Ranked from Worst to Best

26. Don't be Silly, Billy (0/10)
25. Skarloey Storms Through (1/10)
24. Toby's Triumph
23. Smoke and Mirrors
22. Thomas Sets Sail
21. Thomas and the Big Bang
20. Sir Handel in Charge (2/10)
19. Ding-a-Ling (3/10)
18. Percy and the Left Luggage
17. Duncan Does it All
16. Edward and the Mail (5/10)
15. Hide and Peep
14. Cool Truckings (6/10)
13. Dirty Work
12. Henry's Lucky Trucks
11. Thomas and the Stinky Cheese (7/10)
10. Wash Behind Your Buffers
9. Thomas and the Spaceship
8. Thomas and the Lighthouse
7. Thomas in Trouble
6. Thomas and the Storyteller (8/10)
5. Emily's Rubbish
4. Thomas and the Runaway Car
3. Dream On (9/10)
2. Hector the Horrid!
1. Gordon and the Engineer (10/10)

Season 11 Final Rating: 5/10

Thomas and Friends: The Rest of Season 10

Another day, another set of reviews. It's the rest of season 10 to go!

Episode 1: Follow That Flour

Written by Sharon Miller

I think the design for the Wharf looks fantastic; it's a clever idea to have standard and narrow gauge engines work in the same place, but with the presence of the Blue Mountain Quarry, the Steamworks, and Crovan's Gate station, why do we need a fourth location for both gauges?

For the episode itself, yes, this is where Sir Handel made his true return to the show, but that's irrelevant. Why would James want Thomas to shunt his truck of flour away when he could've simply taken it with him whilst he took on water? Seems he's got more capacity for gallons of water than he's got any for common sense. :P And how did Thomas (or his crew, if they existed back then) not notice the flour trail beforehand, especially as he reversed? Is he blind or something? Even stranger was that whilst the first truck had flour in sacks, the second had flour dumped haphazardly.

Rather amusing that season nine ended with a flour-themed episode, and that season ten began with a flour-themed episode, isn't it?

Episode 6: Duncan Drops a Clanger

Written by Paul Larson

Again, you'd think Duncan's crew would learn to control him by now. That said, at least there wasn't a three strikes formula and it was nice seeing Rheneas be a bit stern when Duncan was slacking off, but it's kind of odd that a bell would be delivered to the clock tower just to be polished? Why wasn't it already installed and Duncan could've simply brought the cleaners to the bell instead of the reverse? Other than those problems, the episode is fine.

Episode 10: Seeing the Sights

Written by Wayne Jackman

Since when did Thomas tell the passengers when to come aboard his trains? That's supposed to be the guard's job. It's got vibes of Bertie's Chase, except this episode was handled a lot better and used the three-strikes formula to a good effect. Thomas is once again an idiot for letting Gordon get to him, something he should've outgrown by now, and for being so careless in leaving his passengers behind. Oh, and the moral on not rushing has been handled better before and since.

Episode 11: Fearless Freddie

Written by Simon Nicholson

This episode got the most votes before I skipped it in order to review a few at a time. So, what is it that made people want me to review it?

I suppose Freddie himself was one of the reasons. I think he's an alright character; sure, he's got Ivo Hugh's number, but he has a very interesting basis - I mean, just look at that valve gear and pistons! Persona wise, there's... erm, not much going for him. Some could argue that he's a clone of Duke; I don't agree. I guess they made him a cheeky old scamp to try and differentiate him from Duke.

However, I suppose you wanted me to review it because of Skarloey and Rheneas. If that were the case, then I don't blame you as, once again, they're childish by racing Freddie instead of - oh, I don't know - doing their work?! If this had been Peter Sam (or Duncan) and Sir Handel, I'd understand, but Skarloey and Rheneas? Sorry, but no can do. Another bad episode.

Episode 26: Thomas and the Treasure

Written by Marc Seal

...seriously? Trying to find lost treasure rather than taking the admiral to the maritime museum? (Good use of vocabulary, by the way, but sorry, that doesn't save the episode.) We've got the typical three-strikes and frankly, I'm siding with James and Emily on that. It's another boring episode that I didn't even bother re-watching as it really isn't worth it.

Season 10 Overall

Out of the model seasons, this is practically the worst. For the first time, we had two episodes that didn't get any points - Topped Off Thomas and Thomas' Frosty Friend because they were stupid, boring, and downright pointless. If you cut them out altogether, then it'd be slightly better than season nine but... nope. The highs are just as good, but the lows are lower. Of course, there had been worse to come...

Episodes Ranked from Worst to Best

28. Thomas' Frosty Friend (0/10)
27. Topped Off Thomas
26. Edward Strikes Out (1/10)
25. Wharf and Peace
24. The Green Controller
23. Thomas and the Birthday Mail (2/10)
22. Fearless Freddie
21. Thomas and the Colors
20. Thomas and the Treasure
19. Thomas' Tricky Tree
18. Seeing the Sights (3/10)
17. A Smooth Ride
16. Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out
15. Sticky Toffee Thomas (4/10)
14. Follow That Flour
13. Percy and the Funfair
12. James the Second Best (5/10)
11. Duncan's Bluff
10. Thomas and the Shooting Star (6/10)
9. Which Way Now?
8. Duncan Drops a Clanger
7. Big Strong Henry (7/10)
6. Missing Trucks
5. Toby's New Shed
4. Thomas and the Jet Plane (8/10)
3. Toby's Afternoon Off
2. Emily and the Special Coaches
1. It's Good to be Gordon (9/10)

Season 10 Final Rating: 4/10

Thomas and Friends: The Rest of Season 9

It's the home stretch! With less than a regular season's worth of episodes to go, let's kick off by finishing up season nine!

Episode 6: Thomas and the Toy Shop

Written by James Mason

If Henry's track was blocked by a fallen crate, why didn't A) the workmen actually clear up the mess, or B) Henry actually back up and take another track? Or was he just being lazy because plot convenience? Further, how was it that Thomas was able to take the circus train over Gordon's hill, and yet here, he was unable to pull Annie, Clarabel, and the trucks of toys? I do like the Easter egg of the RWS poster in the toy shop though, and Annie and Clarabel did at least have something to say. By the way, it's still Christmas, and not the winter holidays. Anyone who says that Christmas is "wrong" can sod off, frankly.

Episode 9: Tuneful Toots

Written by Sharon Miller

I know, I know - this was one of the two episodes (along with Duncan and the Old Mine) where Rusty was referred to as a girl in the American dub. Does it ruin the episode? Sure, it's a problem, but it doesn't wreck the plot completely. Although I'm not too sure as to why the engines would be judgmental to Rusty based on the sound of his horn. And how was it that they understood that he had a horn, and yet they didn't notice that he doesn't have a funnel? It's even stranger that his horn worked even after his engine broke down and that he was seemingly shy about his horn. Where'd that come from?

Episode 15: Thomas and the Statue

Written by Marc Seal

This one's alright; it's actually surprising that Thomas willingly volunteered to help clear the tracks despite his hatred for his snowplough, but I suppose it's because not only did he want to help his friends get to Peel, he wanted to make up for his earlier bragging. Still, it doesn't give Thomas the right to brag even if the statue that was covered looked somewhat like him, and why a statue of the Steam Team? What was its purpose to begin with?

Episode 20: Duncan and the Old Mine

Written by James Mason

Why is it called a mine shaft if there are two entrances? Surely it would've been called Duncan and the Old Tunnel instead, but I guess they went with Mine to set up a half-baked climax. And you'd think after Trusty Rusty that Duncan's driver would at least have a bit more common sense... Yeah, nice barrier you got there, Mr. Percival. :P

Episode 21: Bold and Brave

Written by James Mason

I don't really see what purpose Diesel had in this episode. All he did was mock Thomas for being scared and then just leaves. Speaking of which, why would Thomas listen to Diesel about the so-called Curse of the Cliffs? That could've gone to Bill and Ben as they're much younger than Thomas. Pity it was just Ben without Bill. I wouldn't say this was James Mason's worst, but it's rather dull and a bit of a chore to sit through.

Season 9 Overall

At this point, this is where the show hit seasonal rot, and it'd continue to get worse from here on out. Every now and then, you get a decent plot like Respect for Gordon, but there are bad ones like Thomas and the Rainbow that bogged them down. I hate how the Skarloey engines were treated, Rheneas and Skarloey especially, as they were supposed to be elderly, mature engines, not childish, silly ones. Blue Mountain Mystery gave them a return to form far better than season 16 did. Not the best way to celebrate 60 years now, is it?

Season eight was far superior to nine on a lot of levels, and it was the only good season out of the Barlow era. Based on past reviews, ten and eleven never reached the bar that eight did.

Episodes Ranked from Worst to Best

26. Rheneas and the Dinosaur (1/10)
25. Skarloey the Brave
24. Thomas and the Rainbow
23. Toby Feels Left Out
22. Thomas and the Golden Eagle
21. Saving Edward (2/10)
20. Bold and Brave
19. Mighty Mac
18. Thomas and the New Engine (3/10)
17. Henry and the Flagpole
16. The Magic Lamp
15. Duncan and the Old Mine
14. Thomas' Milkshake Muddle
13. Tuneful Toots (4/10)
12. Flour Power
11. Thomas and the Toy Shop (5/10)
10. Thomas and the Statue (6/10)
9. Thomas and the Birthday Picnic
8. Emily Knows Best (7/10)
7. Thomas' New Trucks
6. Percy and the Oil Painting
5. Thomas' Day Off (8/10)
4. Respect for Gordon
3. Keeping Up with James
2. Molly's Special Special
1. Thomas Tries His Best (9/10)

Season 9 Final Rating: 4/10