THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FANBASE
SERIES 2 (1986)
Rev.W.Awdry
Christopher Awdry
Adapted by
Britt Allcroft
David Mitton
Robert D.Cardona
EPISODES
THOMAS, PERCY AND THE COAL
I think there was some potentail lost with this story not being a two parter with 'Drip Tank' or probably as another story merger. I feel that the story's ending was just added in for the sake of having an ending instead of having Thomas and Percy reworking their friendship again in another episode, although this could've been a last minute ditch to fill in the slot that was left with the cancellation of 'The Missing Coach', as the belief goes. Plus I never liked how the way they've adapted the coal incident. In the book it was a door that opened from one of the trucks and spilt the coal everywhere whereas the episode showed a coal hopper unloading the coal one at a time. Surely there would've been models that would have opened doors on the open wagons? Anyway I think the story was fine but Thomas and Percy kind of resolved their quarrel quickly.
Rating: 5/10
I think there was some potentail lost with this story not being a two parter with 'Drip Tank' or probably as another story merger. I feel that the story's ending was just added in for the sake of having an ending instead of having Thomas and Percy reworking their friendship again in another episode, although this could've been a last minute ditch to fill in the slot that was left with the cancellation of 'The Missing Coach', as the belief goes. Plus I never liked how the way they've adapted the coal incident. In the book it was a door that opened from one of the trucks and spilt the coal everywhere whereas the episode showed a coal hopper unloading the coal one at a time. Surely there would've been models that would have opened doors on the open wagons? Anyway I think the story was fine but Thomas and Percy kind of resolved their quarrel quickly.
Rating: 5/10
COWS
Rating: 7/10
BERTIE'S CHASE
This episode is where S2 was really starting to distinct itself from S1. This story has a lot of action with Bertie trying to catch Edward from one station to another and the moments when he almost got can be frustrating to watch. However it got a good message about not giving up.
Rating: 8/10
This episode is where S2 was really starting to distinct itself from S1. This story has a lot of action with Bertie trying to catch Edward from one station to another and the moments when he almost got can be frustrating to watch. However it got a good message about not giving up.
Rating: 8/10
SAVED FROM SCRAP
Rating: 8/10
OLD IRON
This was pretty much one of the 'Edward proves his worth' stories. The story was more focused towards James and his rudeness towards Edward and he learnt his lesson about belitting Edward. I will say that I liked how Edward was flourished with his persona. I like how he just laughs off the stuff from the likes of James and Gordon and that he has a bit of humour as well too. The episode has a great action sequence of him saving James as well. This was another good episode.
Rating: 8/10
This was pretty much one of the 'Edward proves his worth' stories. The story was more focused towards James and his rudeness towards Edward and he learnt his lesson about belitting Edward. I will say that I liked how Edward was flourished with his persona. I like how he just laughs off the stuff from the likes of James and Gordon and that he has a bit of humour as well too. The episode has a great action sequence of him saving James as well. This was another good episode.
Rating: 8/10
THOMAS AND TREVOR
Someone pointed this out once which is something I didn't even think of over the years when it comes to this episode and that was Thomas' character development. In the first season he was a jerk to Terence because of his caterpillar tracks that was until he saw the usefulness in him. In this episode he pretty accepted Trevor for who he is despite how confused he was on Trevor being a traction engine. It was a nice story although I wonder how Britt Allcroft and David Mitton got the approval of adapting the story when there contract from Kaye & Ward stated that everything has to be in print first and the story wasn't released on the shelves until the same year let alone production of the second season was likely in production in 1985. Perhaps the original manuscript that Christopher wrote counts? I don't know. Anyway the story was still good with its message about usefulness as well, when it comes to Thomas' perspective.
Rating: 9/10
Someone pointed this out once which is something I didn't even think of over the years when it comes to this episode and that was Thomas' character development. In the first season he was a jerk to Terence because of his caterpillar tracks that was until he saw the usefulness in him. In this episode he pretty accepted Trevor for who he is despite how confused he was on Trevor being a traction engine. It was a nice story although I wonder how Britt Allcroft and David Mitton got the approval of adapting the story when there contract from Kaye & Ward stated that everything has to be in print first and the story wasn't released on the shelves until the same year let alone production of the second season was likely in production in 1985. Perhaps the original manuscript that Christopher wrote counts? I don't know. Anyway the story was still good with its message about usefulness as well, when it comes to Thomas' perspective.
Rating: 9/10
PERCY AND THE SIGNAL
This episode is one example on how Percy has the cheeky trait like Thomas but makes him standout from the little blue engine with his naivity. whereas Thomas, while naive himself was more arrogant and fussy. Percy took the belief of backing signals seriously as face value from the likes of Gordon and James, which is a good message and something that should be talked about these days knowing the internet and social media in general.
Rating: 9/10
This episode is one example on how Percy has the cheeky trait like Thomas but makes him standout from the little blue engine with his naivity. whereas Thomas, while naive himself was more arrogant and fussy. Percy took the belief of backing signals seriously as face value from the likes of Gordon and James, which is a good message and something that should be talked about these days knowing the internet and social media in general.
Rating: 9/10
DUCK TAKES CHARGE
Rev.W.Awdry had stated that his characters act like children and I remember in the 'The Thomas the Tank Engine Man' documentry that they were talking about the hireachies that children have to face and it clearly shows in this episode. The bigger engines represent the older children while Percy and Duck represent the younger children who get bossed around but the Fat Controller, who's the parent in all this, is the one who's in charge of them in the end. It's a pretty good analogy. Plus it definetly shows that people should stand up to themselves and always show sign of support to those in need, although be more calm about it rather then causing further trouble like what Percy and Duck did at the sheds.
Rating: 9/10
Rev.W.Awdry had stated that his characters act like children and I remember in the 'The Thomas the Tank Engine Man' documentry that they were talking about the hireachies that children have to face and it clearly shows in this episode. The bigger engines represent the older children while Percy and Duck represent the younger children who get bossed around but the Fat Controller, who's the parent in all this, is the one who's in charge of them in the end. It's a pretty good analogy. Plus it definetly shows that people should stand up to themselves and always show sign of support to those in need, although be more calm about it rather then causing further trouble like what Percy and Duck did at the sheds.
Rating: 9/10
PERCY AND HAROLD
Rating: 6/10
This was a fun episode, especially with the race. The music created by Mike and Junior was fantastic and really added to the excitment of it all with the shots that were made. I feel that the story was a bit like 'Thomas & Bertie' though like Percy meets someone he never met before and of course the non-rail character acted all boastful and they had a race in the end to prove themselves. Although how the race was done was more of a conicidence rather than being planned. So while the episode was fun it just feels similar to 'Thomas & Bertie' in my opinion.
Rating: 6/10
THE RUNAWAY
One part I was very impressed with was when the inspector scrambled into Thomas' cab. With it being the 1980's, CGI was in its infancy and of course wasn't used in much films and TV shows compare to today. So seeing one of the inspector and then gone in another with no jump cut from the film just left me in awe and it still does today, amazing piece of film editing technique with any use of CGI, bravo to the editor. As for the story I think it could've been rewritten. In my opinion the scenes with Duck was a bit unneeded as they didn't serve anything else in the story apart from being there. I think Christopher Awdry, the author of this story, should've made it about Thomas being at the works maybe he grew tired and bored of being there for a while and with him rushing an inspection not all of him was checked, like his handbrake, and while it was stiff, Thomas was denying that nothing was wrong with him until his runaway. It's not bad but maybe some work could've been done if Christopher hadn't have a deadline to meet.
Rating: 5/10
PERCY TAKES THE PLUNGE
Looking back at my blog post for this episode in 2012, I complained about Bill and Ben's appearence in the episode. Looking at this episode now, I think it worked. This was before their episode debut and of course they were just random engines to the viewers and its saves more from the model makers creating two new models that won't have anything further to add to the series. As for the story it was really good with its moral about learning the rules and respecting what signs tell you and this furthers add the characters acting like children with the way Percy had act.
Rating: 9/10
POP GOES THE DIESEL
DIRTY WORK
I still highly praise Ringo's voice work for Diesel to this day. He really brings the oilyness in his character and I can tell he was having fun with it. The story was good showcasing that just because you're all up to date and modern doesn't mean you're perfect. It's basically a 'no one is perfect' moral. Although I don't know how this story would go with today's audience. When the story was created in 1958, it was at a time when British Railways was phasing out steam engines in favour of diesels. But since we are now well over six decades since then, the story wouldn't offer the same impact anymore because it becomes dated and I think it would get people thinking that it's a metaphor of racism, you know in those same articles that those 'journalists' wrote thinking the Fat Controller is some kind of dictator. Anyway, the story was good in the end.
Rating: 9/10
DIRTY WORK
We live in a world where people nowadays take everything at face value without thinking a second thought. Whether it's on TV or social media and without researching anything we just believe something that could be lie all this time and by the time we find out the truth it could all be too late. Jumping to conclusions is bad and this episode shows that, although the engines didn't learn anything because it happened all off screen in the next episode but we see them believing something from the trucks and Diesel without thinking. This episode's story to me is timeless because of the moral and it's something that general public needs to watch and learn.
Rating: 10/10
A CLOSE SHAVE
A great conclusion for Duck and showcasing his bravey with a runaway train. I wish that the Rev.W.Awdry had written a story that revealed it was Diesel who made those names up instead of Duck because we could see the big engines' different attitude towards Diesel and diesel engines in general and learning their lesson about jumping to conclusions. But I think Awdry wanted to conclude this trilogy, or quadrilogy going by the book, with something epic and it paid off well. The runaway scene was excellent with the music, the shots and Ringo's brilliant narration.
Rating: 10/10
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
I think out the adapted stories that were from 'More About Thomas the Tank Engine' by Christopher Awdry, this one was probably the best one. It was quite simple as the message was that we should slow down as being late isn't a bad thing at times. I remember being late one time when I had a job and my boss told me 'if the trains are late, everyone is late'. So really it isn't such a bad thing.
Rating: 9/10
BREAK VAN
THE DEPUTATION
I'll say this about 'The Missing Coach', I never found it too confusing as a kid and even today I still get the story. Perhaps if they've taken some liberities into changing the story or the episode, I mean in some S2 stories they had made some parts of the stories different compare to their book counterpart, maybe something would've worked. But it is what it is and I doubt it would've done something different. Sure we would've gotten a better introduction of Donald and Douglas but I think this episode had showcased their cheeky and caring side well. Plus Thomas' special coach was never seen again after that story so it's not really a huge loss. As for this adaptation, it was good in the end.
Rating: 8/10
THE DEPUTATION
I feel like that this episode was a great conclusion but without 'The Missing Coach' the resolvement just felt a little short. I still like the episode with the message that two things are better than one, with Donald and Douglas being good in the snow, if it were one then there would be trouble. Plus you can sense another persona trait of the twins with their 'can do' determination attitude. Snow doesn't bother them because they are used to it. It makes them stand out more. Plus that steam wheeshing at the end is still one of the best endings I've seen from this show.
Rating: 9/10
THOMAS COMES TO BREAKFAST
This story showcases on why drivers are important to engines. If an engine goes off on their own then there would be trouble, although the series today don't showcase that now and to be honest, it never showcased their crews in years. Although I wish the story had punished the cleaner since he was one that caused the accident but Thomas has some blame on this too, given his boastful and arrogant behaviour earlier in the story and probably had told the Fat Controller about it off screen. I will point out the US version of this episode. As much as like the late George Carlin's narration, I feel that his narration was pretty bland in this episode and his shout of 'horrors' when Thomas was about to collide with the house just felt sort of lacking in that emotion compare to Ringo's, who sound he was more alarming about the situation Thomas was in. That's just my two cents on the whole thing.
Rating: 8/10
Rating: 8/10
DAISY
One thing about Daisy is that her character in this story is entitled and brattish, sort of like a typical teenage girl, like Angelica Pickles from 'Rugrats' and its good message towards people on not being like her. Whatever job you are given, you have to do it regardless.
Rating: 9/10
Rating: 9/10
PERCY'S PREDICAMENT
THE DISEASEL
This here shows Daisy's character development, she realised that if she weren't lazy, entitled and selfish, Percy wouldn't have had his accident. Although her fear of cows was mentioned, I wish they had adapted 'Bulls Eyes' for this season instead of the foruth, I'll explain that in my S4 review later. Because I don't think it would've cost much of this season's budget, I mean some bulls were used in 'Cows' when Edward lost his trucks, and maybe they could've used that as the replacement episode instead of 'Thomas, Percy & The Coal'. Anyway as for this story, I think it was another good conclusion with a fantastic runaway and crash scene.
Rating: 9/10
THE DISEASEL
A very comedic story with the likes of Bill and Ben and this is one of those stories that I feel that it should reflect for the people of today. Although the story never recounted the events of the Duck and Diesel trilogy it definetly shows that not diesels are bad. In many ways this is a good metaphor for people of today who use people of different cultures by generalising that they are all the same people that had done terrible things. BoCo from this story is far more different compare to Diesel. He was kind, apologetic and caring. But of course you shouldn't mess with him, which is the kind of trait I like about BoCo. Although I will say this, despite that 'The Missing Coach' was considered as too complex for children, it seems it was OK for Bill and Ben. Thier names and numbers were taken away and somehow many people weren't that confused by it either. I don't know what the difference is here to be honest.
Rating: 9/10
WRONG ROAD
I once criticised the episode for having Gordon on the branch line despite that the story said he would be too heavy for it. But someone pointed out to me that it would only happen if Gordon was going across the branch line all the time and he only travelled on it once. So the whole situation makes total sense now. Anyway, I liked this episode still and we got to see a major development in Gordon. In the original story it was that he has a dislike to diesels, which is obvivous given his situation with Diesel. But when BoCo came along and 'saved his life' from the likes of Bill and Ben, he definetly sees a different light thanks to BoCo.
Rating: 9/10
EDWARD'S EXPLOIT
This episode was very good despite it being another 'Edward proved his worth story'. One thing though, despite that at least Awdry didn't have any other story for Edward after that and wasn't forced himself to write one for the sake of a higher up, unlike the writers who would be doing that later on for him until he was dropped out of the 'steam team'. But to me this prove his worth story feels a lot more stronger compare to the other ones and I think because this story wasn't focusing on Gordon or James, sure they were badmouthing him at the start but they weren't the ones who were suffering from any sort of conflict. It was Edward who despite his age shows that he is still strong.
Rating: 9/10
GHOST TRAIN
One thing I love from this episode is its dark atmosphere at the beginning with the night sky and the fog and Mike and Junior ominous music playing in the background. It was brilliant. In fact the dark atmosphere was amazing in the entire episode. However Thomas being more concerned about his train than of Percy's well-being was kind of out of character. Sure Thomas was arrogant and boastful but he's also caring as well when it comes to his friends. Here he was straight up annoyed that Percy had an accident and he was late. I'm surprised none of those 'journalists' who think the Fat Controller is Stalin ever brought this up in their Thomas bashing articles. But despite the story was good and funny with a fantastic dark atmosphere.
Rating: 9/10
WOOLY BEAR
I don't really have much to say for this episode other than that I love the dynamic towards Thomas and Percy. They maybe friends but they don't always get along at times, which is something that friends do in real life.
Rating: 9/10
THOMAS AND
THE MISSING CHRISTMAS TREE
THE MISSING CHRISTMAS TREE
I much prefer this over 'Thomas' Christmas Party'. The story just feels right since there was no snow storm that happened so suddenly. There was a wonderful variety of characters that used that were all seen during the second season. Although I don't know why Diesel would be there but I believe he was there because to replace Daisy since both her and Boco share the some of same face masks. It was a nice story and a great conclusion to the second series.
Rating: 10/10
SERIES OVERALL
To me, Series 2 shows how vastly different it was to the first series. Series 1 was more simple and plain and was more focused on the characters whereas the second series was more focused on the characters as well as the action. There was more races, chases, runaways and rescues in this season compare to the first. The stories are rather brilliant and the music too had been improved too with memorable themes. Despite it being his last season, Ringo Starr's narration was just fantastic in this series compare to the first. He was more energetic and was really into the story. I think because Thomas was such a success story, it renewed his popularity with the general public since during the middle of the 1970's until during the whole 1980's his popularity as a musican, singer and recording artist was tanking hard. Sure he was one of The Beatles but Ringo was on his own still and he hadn't made an album since 1983. The models and sets had improved too and I love the industrial side of Sodor, partiuclary the harbour set was my favourite. Even as a kid I just loved seeing the big cranes and various barges, the sweeping camera shot from 'Percy Takes The Plunge' was something I find as breathtaking. I loved how the model makers upped their game here.
OVERALL RATING
219/260
To me, Series 2 shows how vastly different it was to the first series. Series 1 was more simple and plain and was more focused on the characters whereas the second series was more focused on the characters as well as the action. There was more races, chases, runaways and rescues in this season compare to the first. The stories are rather brilliant and the music too had been improved too with memorable themes. Despite it being his last season, Ringo Starr's narration was just fantastic in this series compare to the first. He was more energetic and was really into the story. I think because Thomas was such a success story, it renewed his popularity with the general public since during the middle of the 1970's until during the whole 1980's his popularity as a musican, singer and recording artist was tanking hard. Sure he was one of The Beatles but Ringo was on his own still and he hadn't made an album since 1983. The models and sets had improved too and I love the industrial side of Sodor, partiuclary the harbour set was my favourite. Even as a kid I just loved seeing the big cranes and various barges, the sweeping camera shot from 'Percy Takes The Plunge' was something I find as breathtaking. I loved how the model makers upped their game here.
OVERALL RATING
219/260
