S22 Ep.24: Banjo And The Bushfire

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FANBASE

BANJO AND THE BUSHFIRE

Written by

Tim Bain

Directed by

Dianna Basso

Produced by

Micaela Winter

Plot
Thomas offers a lift to a ranger while working in the Australian Rainforest. Thomas is excited to learn from her about all the animals that live there, but he is too loud and impatient to be very useful.

Air Date

26/09/18

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One thing I do like from the Australia episode is the little depths of realism that was added in the bundle of episodes. Tamika works in Kuranda Rainforest, which is located in far North Queensland, which I think that's why there's narrow gauge track, because Queensland is home to cape gauge, which is a bigger size of narrow gauge. Anyway, Kuranda Rainforest also has a scenic railway that crosses a waterfall, although the show's version is nothing but a slab of concrete whereas the real one is a curved wooden bridge:

Kuranda Rainforest Scenic Railway

There was also a steam locomotive going through it as well. But although these things are nice, the episode wasn't bad but it certainly wasn't my favourite. One thing is the title, I find it a bit misleading. Why create a title for animal that barely had any screen time? Wouldn't it be better if the episode was called 'Thomas And The Bushfire' or better, 'Thomas And The Australian Wildlife', they make more sense in my opinion. Tamika is another oversized NG engine that runs of standard gauge and it makes me wonder what is the point of the dual gauge track? Unless there might be more engines that work in Australia to be introduce in future. Plus they never explained why the bushfire started. I pretty much blame the shorter running time for this and I'm coming to the point that they should go back to what it was before. While the shorter running time does add the much more faster pace that test audiences want, the shorter time does not add time for development, explanations and all. The scene with Thomas trying to save Banjo also felt rushed and a little underwhelming too Thomas just puffed up to Banjo collected him and the tree falling was a little unneeded. I know it's for dramatic effect, but it was underwhelming. It could've been better if he saved Banjo from the tree before it fell after trying to find ways to get him down and after he collects him, he puffs out of the forest as fast as he can maybe have the tree fall behind him just in time. That could've been better dramatic effect if the timing wasn't short.

The fantasy sequence though was something that I laughed at though. Speaking of Tamika, I feel that she has a tomboyish personality towards her, I think it's her voice that adds to it and the colour they've given her wasn't anything stereotypical gender wise. She's kind of like Shankar by being an animal lover. I would love to see more of her though as she was just there at that's it.

I kinda preferred 'Cyclone Thomas' despite its faults. It at least had a plot and it sort of followed what the title had given us and Thomas wanting to be like Isla at least add something to it.

The episode wasn't bad nor it wasn't great, it's more in the middle.

Episode Rating

Number One Engine - 8/10

Forever and Ever - 8.5/10

Thomas and the Dragon - 10/10
Confusion Without Delay - 10/10
Trusty Trunky - 6.5/10
What Rebecca Does - 9/10
Thomas Goes to Bollywood - 6/10
Samson and The Fireworks - 10/10
Runaway Truck - 7/10
Rosie Is Red - 10/10
Thomas In The Wild - 5/10
Thomas' Animal Ark - 7/10
Thomas and the Monkey Palace - 7/10
An Engine of Many Colours - 8/10
Outback Thomas - 10/10
School of Duck - 9/10
Tiger Trouble - 9/10
Seeing Is Believing - 9/10
Apology Impossible - 3/10
The Water Wheel - 6/10
Hunt The Truck - 10/10
Cyclone Thomas - 8/10
The Case Of The Puzzling Parts - 6/10
Banjo And The Bushfire - 4/10

Series Rating (So far):

179/230