Showing posts with label Thomas and Friends Season 14. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thomas and Friends Season 14. Show all posts

Thursday, 3 May 2012

S14 Ep: 20 Henry's Magic Box + Overall of Season 14

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINION 
AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

HENRY'S MAGIC BOX
Written by Sharon Miller
Directed by Greg Tiernan 
Produced by Nicole Stinn

Air Date:
8/11/10

Plot:
Henry helps The Fat Controller prepare a secret holiday surprise for all of Sodor

PRO:
- When Henry moves back to the field during the first strike you can hear a bit of a braking sound from the classic series. 

- The lights at the end were amazing with the CGI technology and gave it a great Christmas look

- The winter music is always great to hear in winter or Christmas related episodes

CON:
- How can all the trees that are seen at the end can fit in just one box? 

- Wouldn't a crane be useful for taking the box down from the flatbed instead of the workmen? 

- Henry shouldn't be worried about a box, if someone stole the box then blame Farmer McColl for putting it their, it's his field. 

- Despite that this issue is out of date, I hate the 'Happy Winter Holidays'. If you dress up as Santa and have several Christmas trees around you then its called Christmas.

Despite the great effects of the Christmas lights and the winter music, this episode is bad. Why would Henry be worried about a box? Though I do have to say, even though that I'm getting older every year I can get worried about something sometimes, but not a box filled with trees. Plus, how Henry came to the farm their are workmen their, just workmen. No crane, no cherry picker nothing. How did they bring the crate down? I don't know. And yes, the Christmas/Winter Holiday stuff and i'm not going through with it.

Rating: 1/5

OVERALL OF SEASON 14 

In my eyes, season is not the best, but it is a slight improvement to season 13. Their are some good and some bad stories and there are some I like and some I don't like. The CGI animation is once again flawless, Greg Tiernan's crew did wonders despite the bad story line. I gave Season 13 a 39/100 but since this is a 'meh' season, I'll be giving it a:

40/100 

But still this season is bad. And now I would start reviewing the worst written season in Thomas & Friends history, Season 15, trust there will be lots of negative touches to that season. After that I'll be taking a short break from episode reviewing and get ready to review other merchandise and the Thomas movies in time for the world premiere for 'Blue Mountain Mystery' in July. I will be heading to England around August/September and since I'll be in London at the time for the release of the movie, I might meet up with some of my YT friends :) 

So I will now be reviewing.... Season 15 :P Hooray(!)

S14 Ep. 19: Merry Misty Island

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINION 
AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

MERRY MISTY ISLAND
Written by Sharon Miller
Directed by Greg Tiernan 
Produced by Nicole Stinn

Air Date:
4/11/10

Plot:
Bash, Dash, and Ferdinand prepare for the first ever Misty Island Christmas party.

PRO:

- Ferdinand saying more than one line was a breeze

- Ferdinand's Christmas tree was a laugh to look at.


CON:
- Wouldn't the 'Logging Locos' know what a Christmas holiday party is?

Ferdinand saying more than one line was nice to hear and we will see more of that in the next season, which I'll be reviewing in the next couple of days. However, this episode is not great and its not bad and Ferdinand's tree was hilarious and that's pretty much how fans remember this episode. But wouldn't the logging locos know what a Christmas party is? Salty tells them that they've been around for years in 'Misty Island Rescue' so they should know what a Christmas party is anyway?! 

But as I said this episode is not great but its not bad in my books. So I'm being nice to this episode. 

Rating: 3/5

Wednesday, 2 May 2012

S14 Ep.18: Jitters and Japes

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINION AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

JITTER AND JAPES
Written by Sharon Miller
Directed by Greg Tiernan
Produced by Nicole Stinn

Air Date:
3/11/10

Plot:
Thomas takes Dowager Hatt on a slow tour of Misty Island, but the Dowager wants to have a more exciting trip.

PRO:
- Toby being classified as an older engine? Great to see Thomas asking Toby for help and not acting like a complete know-it-all idiot. 
- Dowager Hatt was funny in this whole episode.

CON:
- How does Thomas know what Dowager Hatt is saying in Annie? The windows are closed and its hard to hear through wood.

This episode is not bad but it wasn't great. But I do have to admit, Dowager Hatt is of course one of the best human characters in the animated series and also I like how Thomas called Toby an older engine and asking him for advice. But on the downside there was lots of rhyming and alliteration that makes this episode dull. It's an OK episode but its not favourite. 

Rating: 3/5 

S14 Ep.17: O The Indignity

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINION 
AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

O THE INDIGNITY
Written by Sharon Miller
Directed by Greg Tiernan 
Produced by Nicole Stinn 

Air Date:
2/11/10

Plot:
Gordon is put in charge of Whiff's Waste Dump on "Clean Sodor Day"

PRO:
- Whiff hauling the express was the only nice feature to this whole episode.

CON:
- Gordon would know who Whiff is already
'Scruff's scruncher has scrunched' its called a buffer beam
- Whiff doesn't have to wait for Scruff to fixed 
- Spencer, James and Diesel would've seen Gordon already!

The only thing good about this episode is seeing Whiff pulling the express. A rare site to see in the TV series these days until S16's 'Express Coming Through'. All the rest is junk itself, why did Whiff introduce himself to Gordon now when he was introduced to him in his debut in Season 11? Scruff's buffer beam is broken, its not called a scruncher! Why was Gordon in charge of the waste dump yard there could be a more suitable engine like Percy, Thomas, Diesel, Bill or Ben (If they're in the recent series.) or hey, even Whiff if he wasn't staying at the steamworks. This episode's three strikes is repetitive, with Gordon going 'I'm fastest and best and pull the express', and boring. 

 Rating: 1/5

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

S14 Ep: 16 Thomas and Scruff

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

THOMAS AND SCRUFF
 Written by Sharon Miller
Directed by Greg Tiernan
Produced by Nicole Stinn 

Air Date:
1/11/10

Plot:
Thomas tries to clean a new engine named Scruff, but as soon as he knows he's getting a wash, he runs off in terror!

PRO:
- Once again, I like how Henry was classified as 'old' in the episode. Despite that the writing makes him an engine who gets worried a lot.

CON:
- I hate it when the narrator says 'Thomas liked Scruff' and yet Thomas just met Scruff how would he like him? What if he's an engine who's rude?

- Thomas being discriminative about Scruff not being useful for being dirty? Look at Thomas he has weathering all over him. 

- Scruff scared of soap suds and brushes? That is just stupid. 

Never liked this episode and it has a boring plot. Scruff scared of suds and brushes? That is like saying you're being scared of sitting on the floor in your home. Another thing, why was Thomas worried that Scruff would not be useful for not being clean. Most engines like goods engines or shunting engines don't need to be clean as they're not taking passengers, I remember hearing that from a railway enthusiast who works as a tour guide at the NSW Rail Transport Museum five years ago. The D53 class locos from the NSWGR were goods engines and they don't even need a clean since they're taken the goods trains. Here is a picture of one near Orange, New South Wales, Australia taking a goods train:


They don't need one wash until they take an enthusiast special when they're in preservation. But anyway, this episode is bad, repetitive and poorly written and is not worth watching again. 

Rating: 0/5 

Monday, 30 April 2012

S14 Ep.15: Jumping Jobi Wood

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINION AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE.

JUMPING JOBI WOOD
Written by Sharon Miller
Directed by Greg Tiernan
Produced by Nicole Stinn

Air Date:
29/10/10

Plot:
Thomas is ordered to collect some precious Jobi wood from Misty Island, but chaos ensues when Old Wheezy starts throwing the logs around.

PRO:
- Ferdinand calling the Fat Controller 'Boss' was pretty funny

CON:
- 'Ol' Wheezy and Hee Haw won't be any trouble for us'. Really? Look at Misty Island it's a death trap! Logs being thrown everywhere by poorly maintained cranes, where is the Occupational Health and Safety inspector (OH&S) in all this?

- Once again Edward is a wimp and not in his usual old but wise self.

- The logs bashing Edward on the 'Shake-Shake Bridge' that would've damaged the bridge and of course Edward severely. 

- How the logs were loaded on the flatbeds was unrealistic. That can kill people, if there is people on Misty Island.

In the words of Dash from this episode. This episode is 'just plain crazy'. Despite that I like the logging locos, I don't like Misty Island. Look at it it's a death trap for the engines and people. Logs being thrown everywhere, a bridge that doesn't even break and poorly maintained cranes just buzzing about acting like junk. If there is going to be another episode of Misty Island, my suggestion is to clean it up and make it new again instead of leaving it a mess for the merchandising range. 

Edward and Thomas, what has happened to you? Edward is the usual wimp on the Fat Controller's new and improved railway and Thomas is the idiotic engine of the day thinking he knows everything from magnets to death trapped island of misfit engines.

But, despite the flaws and my dislike of Ferdinand, the 'Boss' scene was funny. But this episode by its writing is just crazy, weird and not a firm favourite. Though I do have to say the title is catchy, but that doesn't matter. 

Rating: 1/5

Saturday, 28 April 2012

S14 Ep: 14 Thomas' Crazy Day

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

THOMAS' CRAZY DAY
Written by Sharon Miller
Directed by Greg Tiernan
Produced by Nicole Stinn

Air Date (UK):
28/10/10

Plot:
The Fat Controller enlists Thomas to teach the silly Logging Locos how to be useful, but he has already promised to play a game with Percy.

PRO:
- The scene when the 'Logging Locos' saw Cranky for the first time and him lifting Ferdinand was funny.


- Ferdinand said one line and that's 'This is not right!'

CON:
- Piston's can't pop, they can be jammed like in the annual story 'Responsibilities', this goes to show how HIT's writer don't understand anything about locomotives or railways.

- Why have Playtime on the railway when their are more important things like passengers or freight? 

- I do like the 'Logging Locos' but I have to agree with everyone about Ferdinand, he is a bland one dimensional character that constantly repeats 'That's Right' after every sentence in the episode and it gets annoying every minute. 

This had gone on since the beginning of HIT era of Thomas. 'Engine X popped or broke a piston'. For those people who don't know what a piston is, go on the official Thomas & Friends YouTube, a tutorial video is their from the 'Day of The Diesels' DVD and Blu-Ray about how steam engines and diesel engines work. But anyway, I have a collection of annuals written by Christopher Awdry, the son of the father who created these characters and not the Logging Locos. There is this story called 'Responsibilities' where Gordon teaches Percy about how to run the railway efficiently and later on Gordon's pistons got jammed, that can happen and they do not pop. Another thing, I do like 'The Logging Locos' and I understand that there are many people who don't like these character and that's fine by me, but if I chose one of them as my least this goes to Ferdinand. Since his debut in 'Misty Island Rescue' all he says was 'That's right!' does he have any other lines at all? Despite the one in this episode. Many people don't like to have these back in future episodes or specials, but I think Andrew Brenner should give these engines a chance with a much more better personality and more lines from the Climax loco. The two funny scenes I pointed out cannot save the episode. This episode is boring, but I do like the episodes focusing on the friendship between Thomas and Percy. But sadly it was not good.

Rating: 2/5  

Friday, 27 April 2012

S14 Ep: 13 Thomas and The Snowman Party

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

THOMAS AND THE SNOWMAN PARTY
Written by Jessica Sandys Clarke
Directed by Greg Tiernan
Produced by Nicole Stinn

Air Date:
27/10/10

Plot:
Thomas must find a special hat for a snowman before the party can begin.

PRO:
N/A

CON:
- Thomas' driver and fireman should at least know not to take people's hats without permission
- 'Thomas' best friend Percy was there.' We get it, Thomas and Percy are best friends, do we really need to hear that so often, kids would know it too.

Like 'Splish, Splash, Splosh' this has to be, for me, the worst episode in Season 14. There is a bad moral for children in this episode, Thomas' crew taking hats without permission! If they're trying to tell kids not to take things without permission, the Fat Controller would punish Thomas and his crew for stealing and they learn an important lesson about how wrong stealing is. I even hate the overuse of the sentence since the CGI series began how the narrator kept saying, 'Thomas' best friend Percy was there', why? We get it, they're best friends, i'm sure kids would know that by now since they've been hanging around in every episode. Yep, this episode is boring, repetitive with rhyming and not worth the watch again. 

Rating: 1/5



Thursday, 26 April 2012

S14 Ep: 12 Merry Winter Wish

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINION 
AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

MERRY WINTER WISH
Written by Miranda Larson
Directed by Greg Tiernan
Produced by Nicole Stinn

Air Date (UK):
26/10/10

Plot:
Thomas delivers the Star of Knapford, a festive light that makes wishes come true.

PRO:
N/A

CON:
- Why does 'Star of Knapford' come from the mainland. If its from Knapford then it should stay at Knapford!
- I hate the 'Winter Holiday' term they used in the episode, thankfully they put Christmas back into the show in S16. 
- How the way the star just flew away was just unrealistic. 


An episode that is part of the 'Merry Winter Wish' DVD that got delayed in the UK due to newspapers talking about how Political Correctness got Thomas for not saying Christmas. Yes, even I don't like how they put the term 'Winter Holidays' in the show, but thanks to Hilary Awdry, who's father is a vicar of course and the many parents and older fans complaining about this, they got the word Christmas in the show again in Season 16. But this episode is bad and I didn't enjoy it, kids would like it though. But to me their are no positives for the shows, except for the animation, but sadly that would not save the episode from being written badly. 

Rating: 1/5

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

S14 Ep: 11 Being Percy

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINION AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE.

BEING PERCY
Written by Rachel Dawson
Directed by Greg Tiernan
Produced by Nicole Stinn

Air Date (UK):
25/10/10

Plot:
Percy decides to imitate Gordon in order to get the other engines to take notice of him.

PRO:
- This episode has a great moral about 'Being Yourself'
- The accident was great, it almost felt like Gordon and Percy's first near miss in 
'Percy Runs Away'.

CON:
- Thomas and James' appearance was really pointless, there was no explanation why they were at the docks in the first place and it should've just been Salty shunting some trucks out of the way.

I really enjoyed this episode, it teaches children about being themselves, we all wanted to be like our friends or hero's, but its more important to be yourself. The accident as well was clever, as Gordon and Percy neared each other, the accident reminded me of 'Percy Runs Away' from the first season, when Gordon stopped inches away from Percy at Wellsworth. However, I do find the scene with Thomas and James just sitting their like sitting ducks and having no explanation on why they were there. They were just there and thats it, but that didn't disappoint me. This episode is good with a perfect moral. 

Rating: 4/5 

Monday, 23 April 2012

S14 Ep. 10 Thomas In Charge

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

THOMAS IN CHARGE
Written by Mark Daydy
Directed by Greg Tiernan
Produced by Nicole Stinn

Air Date:
22/10/10

Plot:
The Railway Inspector pays a visit to Sodor, but Thomas' ambitious plans to impress him lead to chaos.

PRO:
- I do like it how Thomas reversed back to Mavis instead of magically turning around and talked to her, like Misty Island anyone?
- I love the interior of Gordon's cab, well done to the animators.

CON:
- Why did the Fat Controller gone to Gordon's cab since he had the express with him.
- 'But shunting will please the inspector most of all!' no it won't, there are other jobs that are more important then shunting trucks, there are passengers, mail and heck even transporting trucks.
- The accident was highly unrealistic and can be seen miles away with the coal dust and the loud bang.
- A railway inspector doesn't just check all the engines are busy. They need to check the engines, the railway lines, signals, stations etc. Just like at the beginning of 'Spic and Span' in Season 8.

This episode is just boring. There is pointless rhyming and one of my least favourite episodes in the CGI series thanks to the writing. Shunting is good, because you need to keep the trucks in order for the engines, but there are more important jobs for the engines. The accident was unrealistic and a railway inspector doesn't check if the engines are busy. I've watched 'Postman Pat and The Train Inspector' once and they actually show what a railway inspector does. He checked around the station and the engine. And seeing 'Spic and Span' from Season 8, you can see all the stationmasters and workmen were actually busy making the stations looking good and the signals working well. However, I do like it how Thomas didn't magically turn around to talk to Mavis, not like from this movie:

Which I will review later in June in time for the world premier of 'Blue Mountain Mystery' in Australia. And the interior of Gordon's cab was a nice feature to the episode. However, despite the wonderfully made CGI from Nitrogen Studios, this episode's writing is a bore to look at.

Rating: 1/5

Saturday, 21 April 2012

S14 Ep: 9 Victor Says Yes

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

VICTOR SAYS YES
Written by Denise Cassar 
Directed by Greg Tiernan
Produced by Nicole Stinn

Air Date (UK):
21/10/10

Plot:
Victor bites off more than he can chew when he agrees to fix almost every engine on Sodor on the same day.

PRO:
- 'Arry and Bert are back in full CGI since season 12
- Gordon's regulator and the engines parts were a nice addition of realism
- The episode has the same plot of 'Steamy Sodor', but only a little bit
- There is a moral to this episode, 'Their is a time to say no.'  

CON:
- I'm sure Victor could have plenty of time to fix Thomas' footplate, that is if the workmen were helping out if they're not seen for decorations.
- The episode is repetitive with the engines saying what parts they need fixing
- I don't think black soot burst out of Gordon's pistons. 

I enjoyed this episode more than 'Steamy Sodor', there were more engines and plus 'Arry and Bert being back for the episode. However, I remember hearing people saying that they should be at the Dieselworks, well let me say this, these episodes would've been written around 2009 or 2010 so the Dieselworks wasn't planned around that time. Gordon's regulator was a nice addition to see as well as the engines mentioning their parts that need fixing, however, I don't think Gordon's pistons would burst out black smoke, but he would've cramps with his traction rods jammed, as so it happened in a Thomas annual story 'Responsibilities'. Despite that the episode have some flaws, this was a enjoyable episode. 

Rating: 4/5

Friday, 20 April 2012

S14 Ep: 8 Pop Goes Thomas

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE.

POP GOES THOMAS
Written by Mark Robertson
Directed by Greg Tiernan
Produced by Nicole Stinn

Air Date (UK):
20/10/10

Plot:
Thomas is amused by the popping sounds coming from his load of lemonade, but when he delivers the cargo, he discovers that the bottles are empty.

PRO:
- The way the cork knocked Mr. Bubbles nose was a laugh

CON:
- Why was Thomas allowed on the 'bumpy track'? When the line is in need of repairs, you close the line to lay new lines and sleepers.
- Despite the Mr. Bubbles scene being funny, a flying like that can seriously cause damage to his nose.

Only two dislikes and like and this episode is just flat out boring and pointless, despite that I said it was funny seeing Mr. Bubbles having his nose knocked off by a cork, but it can damage his nose. 

Rating: 1/5

Thursday, 19 April 2012

S14 Ep: 7 Diesel's Special Delivery

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE.


DIESEL'S SPECIAL DELIVERY

Written by Jessica Sandys Clarke
Directed by Greg Tiernan
Produced by Nicole Stinn

Air Date (UK):
19/10/10

Plot:
Diesel swaps his dull load of slate for a haul of shiny red apples and bright flowers in order to please Sodor's schoolchildren.

PRO:
- Despite Diesel was portrayed as nice in this episode, it's actually great to see Diesel and not another 'steam team' character.

- Interesting to see a 'push pull' combination from Diesel.

CON:
- How the way the engines transport the fruit and vegetables, if they're going to be loaded into open wagons, they should put tarpaulins to stop the ashes.

- I have to say, I don't like how James discriminate Diesel as being a Diesel because he never gets to take the piglets. It's just unfair to Diesel, despite him being devious. 

- I know, I know, why was Diesel being nice?

- Why did Diesel push the van of piglets when Thomas was in the way?

Along with Edward and Toby losing their original personalities, Diesel's personalities was gone too! What happened to the word 'Devious' for this character since his introduction in 'Pop Goes The Diesel'. Not only that, but how the way James said to Diesel that he can't pull piglets because he's a diesel, I know this happened in the Railway Series books during the time Rev.W.Awdry wrote them, but around the time Christopher Awdry wrote them, he made James realised that Diesels are useful, why can't have a episode were engines realised that diesels are useful? 

But however, it's nice to see Diesel having an episode to himself, but that didn't save the episode for being poor.

Rating: 1/5

Tuesday, 17 April 2012

S14 Ep: 6 Henry's Health and Safety

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

HENRY'S HEALTH AND SAFETY
Written by Sharon Miller
Directed by Greg Tiernan
Produced by Nicole Stinn

Air Date (UK):
18/10/10

Plot:
Henry becomes so concerned about safety, he interferes with Percy's jobs.

PRO:
- The beginning shot really gives the nostalgia of the second series with the viaduct.
- I'm glad they classified Henry as old.
- It was funny how Victor says 'Bam!'
- This episode does show how rolling stock can cause accidents if they are stranded on the main line.

CON:
- Their was a workmen near the truck that Henry crashed into, why couldn't he warn him?
- How can Henry's traction rods break after a bump like that?
- How did Victor know about Henry crashing into a truck?
- Despite that Henry is old, he should at least know what health and safety is.
- Instead of lifting the flatbed of telegraph poles and Percy on another line, why can't Henry shunt them to a siding?

This episode I give about 50/50, many fans thought this episode is about crashes, I thought so as well when I first saw this too. But looking back, it shows what can happen to an engine if rolling stock was left on the main line, despite that happened in other pre-season 14 episodes during the HIT era. There have been a few flaws, but this episode is good and I enjoyed. 

Rating: 4/5

S14 Ep: 5 Toby and The Whistling Woods

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINION AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

TOBY AND THE WHISTLING WOODS
Written by Louise Kramskoy
Directed by Greg Tiernan
Produced by Nicole Stinn

Air Date:
15/10/10

Plot:
 Thomas and James help Toby get through the Whistling Woods.


PRO:
- The waterfall and the owl are the only good things about this episode, almost looks like as it was filmed instead of animated and the owls gliding past was great too.

CON:
- Like Edward, Toby just lost his old but wise personality that he had since the beginning. Now he just a wimpy tram engine.
- Toby wouldn't go at that speed when bumped the trucks off the rails.
- Why was the driver at the back of Toby's cab?
- Thomas and James are older then Toby, there basis were built before him as Thomas was made in 1913, James in 1913/14 and Toby being built in 1914.

What has happened to the loveable tram engine? He was a great character to look up to during the golden era of Thomas the tank engine and now he is a wimpy character who can be scared of anything. I hope the new writing staff and production team bring back the old personality of Toby. How the way Toby bashed into the trucks the last time being derailed was highly unrealistic. Toby can't go at that speed to do something like that. Another thing, Michael Angelis says that Thomas and James are young engines. Thomas and James are much older then Toby with their building years.

The only positive thing that I have for this episode is how the CGI created that wonderful waterfall and the owl gliding past. That is the wonders of the CGI from Nitrogen studios, but despite the wonderfully created waterfall and owl, this episode's writing went down.

Rating: 2/5

Monday, 16 April 2012

S14 Ep: 4 Charlie and Eddie

THESE ARE MY OWN OPINION AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS AND FRIENDS FAN BASE

CHARLIE AND EDDIE
Written by Sharon Miller
Directed by Greg Tiernan
Produced by Nicole Stinn


Air Date (UK):
14/10/10


Plot:
Edward tries to show Charlie that he is a fun engine instead of delivering the Fat Controller's car to a mechanic.


PRO:
- The chase scene with Bertie did bring a nostalgic moment of 'Bertie's Chase'.
- I was watching the US version of this episode and I have to say 
Charlie's recent voice in Season 16 is much more better then this one in the episode


CON:
- Edward was wise about his job at first and then after that
Charlie have accused him for being old to be fun, he's out of character again.
- The plot is very similar to 'Play Time'.
- Why put a funnel in car? What are the IQ's of the workmen at the Steamworks?
- Why did the Fat Controller blame Edward instead of Charlie for what happened to his car?


Edward has always been claimed as an old but wise engine in the Railway Series and the TV series. He was determined about his job until Charlie appeared and you'll know that this episode is going down the drain. I hate it how Charlie accused Edward of not being 'fun' when really Edward wouldn't even care about having fun, just doing his normal jobs is more important. I hate how the Fat Controller accused Edward for what happened to his car when really it was Charlie's fault for not letting Edward going to the mechanic on time! The Fat Controller would've trusted Edward instead of accusing him. 

Then again, some CGI episodes does leave some nostalgic easter eggs, by accident or just for fun, we had the Original Thomas theme in 'Percy and The Calliope' and in this episode it reminded us about 'Bertie's Chase' when Edward and Charlie were chasing Bertie who had the mechanic. Another thing, while I was watching the US version on YouTube, since I couldn't find the UK one and while I was writing this review at work, I can't download the updated Adobe player on Dailymotion, where the UK version is. But anyway hearing Charlie's US voice in this episode and then hearing his recent one in 'Race To The Rescue' I actually like his recent voice more then his old one. He sounds more like an adult with his S13 - S15 voice. Despite that I never like Charlie since his debut and that Edward is out of character in this episode, this one is an OK, but it need some work and a better plot. This felt like 'Play Time'. 

Rating: 2/5