S21 Ep.13: A Shed For Edward

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

A SHED FOR EDWARD

Written by
Lee Pressman

Directed by
Dianna Basso

Produced by 
Micaela Winters

Plot
When Edward's shed is being repaired he is first sent to Philip's shed, then the Steamworks, then Brendam Docks, but they are all too noisy for him to get a good night's sleep!

Air Date

4/10/17

Back around July 2017, there were rumours going around that Edward and Henry were getting booted out of the 'steam team' because they weren't marketable according to Mattel. Now this was at the time of stupid 'Thomas Wood' prank that two users on twitter had made because of the new changes and the whole 'we care' stuff that they put where instead it was more division among the fanbase and the rumours (Edward and Henry) were either a fake for attention seeking or a grain of salt, after all Edward and Henry are important characters as they've been around for nearly 75 years. 

So now that this episode had aired, I will say the removal of Edward was not that bad to be honest. It's not like he was booted out of the show for good, he is still there he just moved to Wellsworth and they've acknowledged that he has a branch line and I hope we have more episodes focusing on that in future. I mean we have Toby and he is part of the 'steam team' and he doesn't sleep at Tidmouth sheds and yet we had episodes focusing on him in the past, despite some of them being lackluster episodes.

It feels like my episode that I made for my series 'Goodbye Percy' earlier in the year. I had him removed from Thomas' branch line because I had Stanley moved there and of course him being the strong engine what's the point of having two goods engines? So that's why I have him moved there. Plus we had many engines leaving the main line before such as Thomas and we have engines like Daisy moving to the Harwick branch line in the 2015 special.

Another part of the rumour was that the new African engine named Nia, from the upcoming 'Big World Big Adventures' movie/series will be in place of Edward's berth. If that is true, which I have a feeling it would it would be most likely, then I'll wait and see how it delivers. I'm not those people that would quickly judge something as bad and hope it'll be bad. In the end, I hope we see what the writers and production team would have for Edward in stores?

As of the episode I say it was a pretty good one, maybe not as good as yesterday's. But I love it how it ties in with 'The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor', nice to see some continuity. Although that's also the puzzling issue here, this season was suppose to be set before 'Journey Beyond Sodor' and yet in the movie Edward was seen in Tidmouth sheds with the other engines worrying about Thomas. There were some comedy and I will say it was a little ridiculous that Edward was placed on a ship to get some peace and quiet but some of the comedy is pretty much OK.

Another thing now with the removal of Edward at the sheds, what is the point of a 'steam team' anyway? Sure it's there to set a character core base but in the past we have engines being located at branch lines and the main shed and they still manage to interact with each other on a daily bases. The whole main cast staying at Tidmouth sheds started way back in S5 but what was the point of that change when it was alright in the past. Not to mention that in this season we have more focus on the secondary characters.

Although if there's one bit I'm pretty confused by and that was Philip's location. He's the shunter at Knapford and stays at Wellsworth, how can that work considering that they are far apart from each other? It would've made more sense to have BoCo or the the Scottish twins! For those two you could have Boco being a big snorer or Donald and Douglas bickering. There is a small shed at Knapford yards, you could have Philip there!

In the end, despite the removal of Edward, at least he wasn't kicked off the show. The episode was good in the end and whatever the outcome is in the future we'll be there to see it.  

Episode Rating:

Springtime for Diesel - 8/10

A Most Singular Engine - 9/10

Dowager Hatt's Busy Day - 10/10

Stuck in Gear - 8/10

Runaway Engine - 9/10
PA Problems - 10/10
Hasty Hannah - 7/10
Cranky at the End of the Line - 5/10
New Crane on the Dock - 9/10
Unscheduled Stops - 10/10
Philip's Number - 6/10
The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor - 10/10
A Shed For Edward- 8/10

Series Rating (So Far):

109/130

And those are the episode's that milkshake will be airing for the time being and I'm very pleased that they've played more episodes rather than five. Much more better than how the way they've treated S19 and S20 by lagging behind other countries like Japan and Australia and other stations like 'Cartoonio'.  Well the next lot are the Christmas/Winter episodes that are out now in the US and next month in the UK on the 'Christmas on Sodor' DVD. I will make a review of that but the S21 Christmas episodes will be held back until they have aired on UK TV.

LOOK OUT FOR MY 'JOURNEY BEYOND SODOR' 
WHICH WILL BE OUT SHORTLY!

S21 Ep.12: The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor

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

THE FASTEST RED ENGINE ON SODOR

Written by
Helen Farrall

Directed by
Dianna Basso

Produced by 

Micaela Winters

Plot
When Rosie is painted red she is challenged to a race by fellow red engine James. A screeching sound leads Rosie to suggest that James should get his brakes checked, but he is too proud to do that, which leads to trouble.

Air Date

3/10/17

The reason this was released a day later is because I had a stomach bug and didn't have much energy to post it. I'm better now though! 

---

Probably one of the best episode's of S21.

Since that her persona is now shown on the back of the new 'Wood' range, I think I might place my thoughts on this new persona or should say her suppose to be original persona. I think it's great that the Thomas team had fixed her up! Since her introduction in 2006 she was nowhere near a tomboy and it had been stated on her toys and even the official website back then. Most likely she was a creepy stalker to Thomas.

A tomboy is a girl who is more associated with things that are to boys such as Misty in 'Pokemon' (despite some traces of some girly girl). Everyone had been complaining that Rosie had been neglected for years and that her original persona should be focused and now since we got our wish some people are now saying this is pleasing 'SJW's', social justice warriors, a stupid buzzword that's been going around lately. I'm sorry if I'm attacking anyone here, but this is the best thing that we could see coming for Rosie and the idea of her new livery suits her persona very well rather than her pink livery which has nothing to do with her tomboy persona back in 2006. Despite that they never explained why, there's not any reason to hate it? Although I do like it that they have acknowledged that she does have a repaint. 

I love James' persona here, he's stubborn not vain so another trait that we see from him that isn't flanderised. Stubborn about his paint and his brakes and of course for the latter it had lead to a pretty neat build up for a crash that would transit to the next episode, which I thought was really clever. James' runaway was good too and I was hoping that we have an 'Old Iron' feeling with Rosie racing along to catch him. Although I think it would've been better if it were his brakes failing and not brake fluid as steam engines don't use fluid in their brakes. 

But in the end this was great! 

Episode Rating:

Springtime for Diesel - 8/10

A Most Singular Engine - 9/10

Dowager Hatt's Busy Day - 10/10

Stuck in Gear - 8/10

Runaway Engine - 9/10
PA Problems - 10/10
Hasty Hannah - 7/10
Cranky at the End of the Line - 5/10
New Crane on the Dock - 9/10
Unscheduled Stops - 10/10
Philip's Number- 6/10
 The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor- 10/10

Series Rating (So Far):

101/120

S21 Ep.11: Philip's Number

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

PHILIP'S NUMBER

Written by
Lee Pressman 

Directed by
Dianna Basso

Produced by 
Micaela Winters

Plot 
When he is teased about having 68 painted on his side, Philip tries to discover why he was given that number. Later, when he manages to avoid an accident after 68 sheep stray onto the line, Philip decides it is his lucky number!

Air Date

2/10/17

As of this episode, I'm getting rid of my 'PRO' and 'CONS' for good now. There are many things hard to find as a good and bad element from the episodes recently and I feel it was beginning to feel forced. So I'm just going to write down how I feel:

I thought this was going to be an Andrew Brenner script, he had written Philip episodes in the past. I think this was one of the strangest episodes from this season so far and it was average in my opinion. Philip hasn't been the best character among the older fanbase since his debut in 2015. He had one good episode in my opinion and that was 'Toby's New Friend'. The strangest bits were his illusions on the number 68. It was tame at first with him looking at crates and the sky but I think by the time the troublesome trucks came along this is where it starts to get weird. Another thing too is the many errors of characters having their US dubbed voices in the UK dub. Who is responsible with the editing? Sure I understand that there are deadlines but it's just strange how this wasn't looked overed. You think after many years since voice acting had been introduced to the show since 2009.

Philip in the episode was at least bearable to watch and I feel like their was a bit growth in him as a character. So I hope he gets developed more but the production team and I believe mostly Mattel would want his youthful persona still retained. 

Lee Pressman is a good writer but his sole focus on comedy is starting to wear thin for me. Now I know this is a kids show and of course it has to be entertaining for them at least but there was a time that he had written some stories that were stories. Such as 'Kevin's Cranky Friend', there were some comedy in his previous stories but they were tame and sutble. I like him but maybe the show needs a break from it as Thomas is more than just comedy. 

However on the whole, the episode was average like 'The Missing Breakdown Train'. Nothing pretty much happens until the end. It's not an awful episode by any means but it was a bit of a dud to me but there were some funny moments. 

Episode Rating:

Springtime for Diesel - 8/10

A Most Singular Engine - 9/10

Dowager Hatt's Busy Day - 10/10

Stuck in Gear - 8/10

Runaway Engine - 9/10
PA Problems - 10/10
Hasty Hannah - 7/10
Cranky at the End of the Line - 5/10
New Crane on the Dock - 9/10
Unscheduled Stops - 10/10
Philip's Number - 6/10

Series Rating (So Far):

91/110

S21 Ep.10: Unscheduled Stops

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

THERE'LL BE SOME SPOILERS IN HERE AS THIS EPISODE HAD AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE FOR OLDER FANS. I RECOMMEND WATCHING IT BEFORE READING THIS! 

UNSCHEDULED STOPS

Written by
Helen Farrall 

Directed by
Dianna Basso

Produced by 
Micaela Winters

Plot

Thomas starts making unscheduled stops for his passengers, which in turn delays others.

Air Date

29/09/17

PRO
- Bulgy's return was the biggest surprise yet!
- A very nice down to earth episode
- The Fat Controller investigating was funny

CON
- N/A 

This was the episode I was looking forward too all week and it was even more better with the return of the double decker bus himself, Bulgy! Honestly when I first saw this through a livestream I just shouted his name in surprise. I haven't been this surprised since Harvey's return in 'Thomas' Shortcut' in 2013. The voice actor, Colin McFarland, who had voiced Beresford in 'Journey Beyond Sodor' had done a marvellous job at his voice and it was well suited for him. After watching this, I hope the production team decided to make an episode that is a 'Road Vs. Rail' rivalry. I know we had 'Thomas' Shortcut' back in 2013 but that episode was more of a friendly rivalry while Bulgy's rivalry was more fierce. It was also nice to see some continuity from the Season 7 episode 'Bulgy Rides Again'. In the end is was an unexpected return and it was great that Channel 5 didn't release a picture early on. 

As of the episode, I was hoping this was an Andrew Brenner episode. He's always good with the Thomas and Bertie dynamic and considering that this was an episode focusing on those two, I had feeling. It was surprising to see that it was actually Helen Farrall and of course I still love it! She really had captured the Thomas and Bertie dynamic and even laid some continuity from the S17 episode, 'Thomas' Shortcut', so a nice bit of balance of both era's. It was also very down to earth after the comedic storylines of Lee Pressman. A nice setback to finish the second week. Plus she has her own comedy that wasn't all to fast paced or slapstick, even though I like that kind of comedy. Her having the Fat Controller investigating did gave me a chuckle. It was also good to see him being authoritative as well, something that had been missing for a bit but it did bring a nice balance together.

However I can see there was a flaw in the episode and that is of course the ending with Thomas not getting his comeuppance. You think with him not following orders would lead him to be punished and with the Fat Controller arranging Bulgy to help Thomas was more as a reward. Perhaps what could've been better if the Fat Controller arrange Bulgy to take Thomas' passengers and send Thomas to is shed to think about what he had done. You could have a moral saying that you should be following orders. But after thinking about the episode again, it does seem like Thomas was doing a good deed but he was misguided and that's why the Fat Controller got Bulgy. But despite that I have no hate for this episode, it was nice, laid back and down to earth.

In the end, this was a good episode and a good one to end the second week. Looking forward to the last three episodes, especially Rosie's episode. 

Episode Rating:

Springtime for Diesel - 8/10

A Most Singular Engine - 9/10

Dowager Hatt's Busy Day - 10/10

Stuck in Gear - 8/10

Runaway Engine - 9/10
PA Problems - 10/10
Hasty Hannah - 7/10
Cranky at the End of the Line - 5/10
New Crane on the Dock - 9/10
Unscheduled Stops - 10/10

Series Rating (So Far):

85/100

S21 Ep.9: New Crane on the Dock

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

NEW CRANE ON THE DOCK

Written by

Lee Pressman

Directed by
Dianna Basso

Produced by 

Micaela Winters

Plot

Cranky competes against Carly the new crane when she starts taking all his work.

Air Date

28/07/17 

PRO
- Big Mickey's reveal!
- Carly's persona
- The sea monsters had great voices 

CON
- N/A

Quite honestly, I'm not much of a follower of the idea of a Thomas/TUGS crossover as I use to be. I now see it would be quite hard to have one since it'll be focused only on one place and there wouldn't be much interaction and the two shows are vastly different, but of course I do love TUGS as its own series, a fantastic kids show with great writing and dialogue from David Mitton and his crew back in the late 80's, it has quality. But of course in today's episode it was quite a surprise to see a crane, who had been in the series since the third season 26 years ago, having a face for the first time! And what's even more amazing is the crane is named 'Big Mickey'! Quite a big surprise for older fans of course and it's a nice tribute to TUGS, Thomas' sister series, and I feel it was a nice tribute to the late-David Mitton's work and to the man himself. I think to the fans of the Thomas/TUGS crossover, this is close to a crossover between both shows. TUGS just didn't live on in the fanbase but now it lives on in the official show too! 

So now onto the episode itself, I liked it more than yesterday's episode. We get to see Carly in action and I do like her persona. She's bubbly and excitable and with her and Cranky together, they feel like a brother and sister duo. You have Carly being the new sibling and everyone was admiring her while Cranky is the jealous 'older sibling' and wants to get the attention as well. But in the end they need to work together, I know that's an overused moral but for a kids show it works for them.

Salty's story about the sea monsters was a good metaphor for the episode and they had great voices too and Ian McCue had provided some terrific voice acting with the little comedy.

The reveal of Big Mickey at the end of the episode was a funny, I love how it was over the top and big and then after all that build up he just said 'What?' but I also love how for the consistency that said that Big Mickey had been standing their all these years without uttering a word. How better it would be if Channel 5 didn't reveal the picture, everyone would be reacting differently! Oh yeah and the movement was in the episode too, I'm not all that annoyed with it honestly.

Episode Rating:

Springtime for Diesel - 8/10

A Most Singular Engine - 9/10

Dowager Hatt's Busy Day - 10/10

Stuck in Gear - 8/10

Runaway Engine - 9/10
PA Problems - 10/10
Hasty Hannah - 7/10
Cranky at the End of the Line - 5/10
New Crane on the Dock - 9/10

Series Rating (So Far):

75/90

S21 Ep.8: Cranky at the End of the Line

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

CRANKY AT THE END OF THE LINE

Written by

Lee Pressman

Directed by
Dianna Basso

Produced by
Micaela Winters

Plot

Cranky thinks he will be replaced by a newer, shinier crane.

Air Date

27/09/17

PRO
- I'm OK with Porter having his US voice
- Pretty ballsy to have a character's dream being morbid

CON
- The fear of replacement trope is getting old
- Thomas going to the mainland again despite that this was set before JBS

Although it was obviously an error, since Steve Kynam was credited in the episode, I'm pretty much OK with Porter having his US voice in the UK dub since obviously his basis is from the US, pretty much brings some sense of accuracy. I was pretty shocked by Cranky's morbid dream of him falling into the water. If you follow those dream meaning websites they say that falling in the water is a feeling of helplessness, not being in control and unpleasant consequences and those types of symbolism is what the episode was referring about, so kudos to Lee Pressman for doing a very creative thing it's pretty ballsy considering that there are many oversensitive parents out there trying to wrap cotton wool around their kids. 

But there are some cons such as the fear of replacement trope. While it's coming from a person who made a fan fictional episode of Glynn being scrapped last year, we all know that the TV series on its own would never do such a thing. Rev.W.Awdry may have stated that Coffee pots were scrapped in his Sodor book from 1987, but we all know that there needs to be some light side of things. Plus another thing is the continuity. Since this season is set before 'Journey Beyond Sodor', it's quite odd that Thomas had already gone to the mainland to collect a new crane with Edward and yet the special made like it was Thomas' 'first time', despite previous encounters as well. This is one of the things why I don't like the series before special thing. There's bound to be some errors within the continuation of the series. 

There's not much on Carly since she was only in it for a few seconds but I will say I like her design and the colour yellow was a good choice too since it can easily attract kids with its vibrant brightness, it happened to 'The Minions'. I hope we see more of her character tomorrow as this is a two parter and I this episode was OK but it doesn't have much originality. 

Episode Rating:

Springtime for Diesel - 8/10

A Most Singular Engine - 9/10

Dowager Hatt's Busy Day - 10/10

Stuck in Gear - 8/10

Runaway Engine - 9/10
PA Problems - 10/10
Hasty Hannah - 7/10
Cranky at the End of the Line - 5/10

Series Rating (So Far):

66/80

S21 Ep.7: Hasty Hannah

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

HASTY HANNAH

Written by

Lee Pressman

Directed by
Dianna Basso

Produced by
Micalea Winters

Air Date
26/09/17

Plot 
While Henrietta is getting her seats refurbished, Toby is given a replacement carriage named Hannah. However, she is so headstrong and reckless that Toby gets fed up with her urging him to go faster and faster, and abandons her to visit Henrietta. Meanwhile, Hannah joins up with James and learns to her cost that going too fast for a little carriage is not at all wise.

PRO
- Moral: Best to be safe than sorry
- The relationship between Toby and Henrietta
- Henrietta and Hannah being sisters was a good twist

CON
- If Hannah is Henrietta's sister wouldn't Toby know her too?

I remember how the way this episode was 'announced'. Sometime last year there were these fake title cards on twitter and one them was for this episode and someone on the Thomas & Friends wikia made a whole page thinking it was real. But of course I now think they knew the whole thing after countless emails to Lee Pressman about upcoming episodes and characters. Now I understand the excitement of it all but they, the email writers, need to realise that not all people like to be spoiled about upcoming things and that needs to be taken to account. Plus they are asking a writer about these episodes who was under contract by HIT Entertainment and Mattel, thankfully though he didn't reveal too much info or the company not knowing about this. But if they did it would be in violation and he could've been given the sack! To me it shows the impatience of fans, yes we all want things now but there is a saying, 'Patience is virtue'. I wait for the product to come out and it's really not that hard to wait. 

Now on with the episode, I quite enjoyed it! The episode did showcase the moral that it's better to be safe than sorry with Hannah's character of course and the voice acting by Lucy Montgomery, who was the voice of Lexi in 'Journey Beyond Sodor', which by the way my review comes out on October 4th after my review of the 13th episode. Her voice was incredible and I enjoyed it. It fits with her personality. 

I also love how Lee Pressman captured the relationship between Toby and Henrietta. They are like a married couple. They need and love each other! They are such a husband and wife duo and the writers capture that so well. It was also a nice twist to know that Henrietta and Hannah are both sisters and I think it was great that they both came from the same railway. A bit like Toby's real railway, the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway. But one thing puzzles me. If Henrietta and Hannah are sisters, wouldn't Toby know her as well? You could create an even better story with the Fat Controller finding her in a scrapyard and gave her new life as a spare coach incase anything happens to any other coach. Toby remembered her very well and just hates her way of thinking. It's not bad but it just a bit puzzling. You might say 'oh they might be from different railways!' the coach that Hannah was made is the same as Henrietta and were built for the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway. 

Episode Rating:

Springtime for Diesel - 8/10

A Most Singular Engine - 9/10

Dowager Hatt's Busy Day - 10/10

Stuck in Gear - 8/10

Runaway Engine - 9/10
PA Problems - 10/10
Hasty Hannah - 7/10

Series Rating (So far):
61/70