THESE ARE MY OWN OPINIONS AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FANBASE
SHINY SPIFFY SANDY
Crain Greenburg
Directed by
Campbell Bryer
Produced by
Suzie Gallo
Air Date
5/02/25 - UK
Plot
After the engines decide to show their best-selves by staying clean and sparkling for the Tidmouth Sheds open house, they are confronted by a sinkhole ruining the tracks.
You know this episode could work better if was about Sandy trying to keep herself clean for the open house instead of just her and the others trying to fill in the sink hole. Having Sandy worried about being dirty can cause better conflict because she was worried about her appearance and not wanting to disappoint the Fat Controller for it. Perhaps she goes off to find another job that isn't all too dirty, kind of like 'Scruff's Makeover' from S17 and meanwhile the other engines have to make do without her but it wasn't very easy and they need to have Sandy because she has the tools to check things with. It would give off the moral that she should just be herself and not worry about being clean all the time and if she gets dirty again then she will always be cleaned again. That sounds like a much better and entertaining story than whatever this episode was trying to make.
I understand that things like a sinkhole can stop an engine from moving but it's annoying at the same time because it still shows how inconsistent the show is with its logic. You can still have the engines taking passengers and goods with them rolling on the ground, they have the power to do it or build temporary tracks to go round it as well. You still have the same story and same conflict that the episode had. I still don't like the idea of Gordon being in charge of things when we have the Fat Controller in the past doing the same thing, another inconsistent problem of the show. It's like they have no idea what to do with these characters. It would be much better if it were Gordon being like the Fat Controller's servant giving out orders from the Fat Controller on his behalf.
The episode could've been better if were about Sandy not wanting to get dirty but she should just be herself, you can still have her dirty in the end while the other engines are clean. Strange how we had another decent and already going back stinkers.
Series Rating (So far):
Sheep Stampede - 6/10
The Berry Best - 3/10
Creepy Crawly Courage - 3/10
Windmill Woes - 2/10
Quacking Quandary - 1/10
The Stinking Delivery - 3/10
Don't Train on My Parade - 4/10
Shiny Spiffy Sandy - 3/10
Overall Rating (So far):
25/80
