Wednesday, 24 April 2013

S10 Ep.9: It's Good To Be Gordon

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

IT'S GOOD TO BE GORDON
Written by
Abi Grant

Directed by
Steve Asquith 

Air Date:
6/10/06

Plot:
Gordon is breaking the record of hauling the express and so he was proud to be himself. But on the day of his record braking, he took Henry's special coal but Gordon thinks that it'll make him better at his record. But when Henry took the normal coal, his boiler did not accept it well. In the end, Gordon decided to switch tenders so Henry can have his special coal. 

PRO:
- I liked the tender switch
- Despite that Henry doesn't need his special coal, they did make a RWS reference

CON:
- Henry's special coal

I like the episode, the story is good and it certainly is entertaining. Though a good episode can have some flaws and that is really the special coal thing. As of course Thomas fans who remembered reading in the RWS book 'Henry the Green Engine' in 1951 or who watched the adapted story, 'The Flying Kipper' in 1984 would know that when Henry went to Crewe he was given a new shape and larger firebox and he doesn't need his special coal anymore. Despite this flaw it was great to acknowledge the RWS, even though it was used again in S15. 

The tender switch may seem odd, but it was great seeing what the engines are like with different coloured tenders. Though in my opinion, I think the plot will work better if the coal was in bad quality like it was in 'Out of Puff' that way it would make perfect sense and will leave out the continuity error. But I think the episode is good.

Rating: 4/5