THESE ARE SOLEY MY OWN OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE
PERCY TAKES THE PLUNGE
Originally Written by
The Rev.W.Awdry
Adapted for Television by
Britt Allcroft, David Mitton & Robert Cardona
Air Date:
24/09/86
Plot:
Percy was talking to some engines about the time he braved bad weather to help Thomas. Henry sniffed at Percy about him saying 'Water's nothing to an engine with determination'. Percy met up with Thomas near a sunken quay that has a danger notice. Percy was curious and decided to make a plan, but he didn't know that the foundations of the quay had sunk. As he was making his way with the trucks to the harbour, Percy asked them to bump him at the quay. But every wise engine knows that you cannot trust trucks. Percy was pushed by the trucks and had sunk. Percy couldn't be let out until high tide and the next day, with Percy filled with rust, cold and stiff was put onto Henry's goods train. Henry teased him and told him he can do better next time. Percy hoped that there won't be a next time.
PRO:
- Another perfect example that Awdry's characters are like children.
- A perfect moral lesson about obeying orders.
- The panning shot at the beginning of the episode.
CON:
- Why Bill and Ben? They were never seen nor mentioned in the books.
- 'Percy's Promise' doesn't happen until Season 3
What can I say, I love the panning shots that the filming crew had made, some David Mitton magic in this season. This episode is OK, but it has three pros. This is another example of why Rev.W.Awdry's characters are like children, they want to do something but they can't do it and they found why they can't do it by doing it. This is also a perfect moral about obeying orders. If you can't obey orders something bad will happen. But why are Bill and Ben the engines? They could've got a bigger budget at the time, they could at least make a Jinty and Pug locomotive and use them as the extra characters or painted Bill and Ben black and pretend to be Pug locomotives.
And this episode would confuse children as the story that Percy was telling has actually happens in Season 3. But the episode is OK and I do enjoy it.
Rating: 4.5/5
