THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE
PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME OF THE EPISODES ARE OUT OF ORDER.
PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME OF THE EPISODES ARE OUT OF ORDER.
JACK AND THE PACK
EPISODE REVIEWS
In 2002, the world was introduced to Jack and the Sodor Construction Company in Series six with just two episodes. This was to be part of a proposed spin off series but was cancelled for some unknown reason, some say that when HIT Entertainment took over that it has the similarity of 'Bob The Builder', one of HIT's most popular brands. The Pack made their comeback in 2007 when HIT Entertainment released a VHS and DVD called 'On Site With Thomas and Other Adventures' in the US and 'Thomas' Trusty Friends' in the UK. They've appeared in 'The Great Discovery' and Season 12's 'Percy and The Bandstand' and Jack has made a comeback in the recent 'King of The Railway', in an all new design. Instead of making each review for an episode, I decided to do a list of episodes to save some time. So let's have a look at the 13 episodes of the 'Jack and The Pack' series. Please read the warning above.
1. A VISIT FROM THOMAS
Written by
Paul Dawson
Directed by
Steve Asquith
Produced by
Phil Fehrle
Plot:
Oliver, the excavator, found a dinosaur,
while the pack are making the building site for the new school.
PRO:
- Nice to see the Pack once again as well as some new characters
- The dinosaur bones were impressive
CON:
- The title is misleading
The episode is an OK opener, it was nice to see the pack once again after four years of being away from the series and I do like the new characters such as Buster the Steamroller and the bones were impressive but to be honest they weren't as impressive as the ones in 'Rheneas and The Dinosaur'. The story was nice and innocent but too simple, even though I think Thomas the Tank Engine works with simple stories, having it too simple will make it boring. The main criticism for me of this episode is its title. It was to be called 'Oliversaurs'. The title we have now only worked for the first few minutes of the opening scene before Oliver found the bones. In the end the episode is OK in my opinion.
Rating: 3/5
2. JACK OWNS UP
Written by
Paul Larson
Directed by
Steve Asquith
Produced by
Phil Fehrle
Plot:
Jack was over excited to work that he knocked down the slate, by accident of course, but the blame was put onto Ned, who caused accidents and had feared to be sent back to the yard. But in the end Jack owns up to his mistake.
PRO:
- Moral: Always be brave to own up
- The setting of the warehouse set
CON:
N/A
I like this episode, it still shows Jack being a role model for kids as it shows a great moral about being brave to own up by your actions. Plus the setting of the warehouse was fantastic as well. I do like seeing the sets of Sodor with some industry, it shows that the Island has a working background then just trees and green fields of countryside.
Rating: 4/5
3. ON SITE WITH THOMAS
Written by
Will Ing
Directed by
Steve Asquith
Produced by
Phil Fehrle
Plot:
Patrick has been bragging that he's the most important part of the pack as he's a cement mixer. This causes a stir by Jack and Alfie of who's the most important.
PRO:
- Moral: Everyone is important as a team
- Patrick's crash
CON:
- The misleading title
The episode is OK, not great though. But I do like Patrick's crash and I have to say the episode does have an important moral about being a team is important not just yourself. But like the first episode, the title is very misleading and that they've should stuck with 'Who's The Boss?' but I think, at the time, HIT has an obsession with the name Thomas so that children will buy the DVD.
Rating: 3.5/5
4. PERCY HELPS OUT
Written by
Brian Trueman
Directed by
Steve Asquith
Produced by
Phil Fehrle
Plot:
Nelson wished he would be carried. One day Thomas was broken down at Maithwate crossing, his wheel fell off. So Nelson took him to the repair yards and was brought home by Percy.
PRO:
- Moral: Dreams can come true and rewards are earned.
- Thomas' part reminds me of 'Thomas and The Great Railway Show'
- The repair yard set
CON:
- Misleading title
I've enjoyed this episode when I first saw it back in 2006 and today it is still good to watch. The story was nice and simple and Thomas being carried onto Nelson did had some reminders of 'Thomas and The Great Railway Show' towards it, 'Not the Ticket'. The moral is nice as well as it shows that dreams can come true and that rewards are earned. Plus the repair yard set looks so much like a real repair yard, unlike the one in S8-11 or 12? But if there is one con and that is of course the title, it's very misleading. Maybe HIT thought kids would want to get it because there favourite characters are in it? After all Percy only had two parts in this episode. But it's a good episode in the end.
Rating: 4/5
5. THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE
Written by
Will Ing
Directed by
Steve Asquith
Produced by
Phil Fehrle
Plot:
Oliver was dreaming what'll be like to win a race as they were building the new racetrack. Max and Monty were teasing him that he's slow and so a race was made, but the two dump trucks fell into a ditch and were stuck and Oliver won the race!
PRO:
- Moral: Slow and steady
CON:
- The story's a bit loosely based on the classic story 'The Tortoise and The Hare', but I know it's play on words.
It was OK but not great. The episode had a nice moral about being slow and steady, but if it were trying to be like 'Tortoise and The Hare' then it would've have referenced the part of the hare sleeping as the turtle was slow, here it's just Max and Monty bashing and arguing. The only reference to the story in a Thomas episode was 'Edward the Great'. But it was OK and I'm sure it would've had a different title.
Rating: 2.5/5
6. THOMAS' TRUSTY FRIENDS
Written by
Paul Larson
Directed by
Steve Asquith
Produced by
Phil Fehrle
Plot:
Ned is bored of clearing up rubble. Meanwhile Oliver was trying to demolish a wall, but to no avail.
PRO:
- The crash scene was excellent
- The transition scene of Oliver's face with the third wrecking ball was spot on
CON:
- Three strikes
- Oliver's wrecking ball seems unrealistic to be placed
- Thomas' trucks can't be loaded that quick?
- Misleading title
This is not bad, but it has some problems. First off I would say that there are two scenes I like visually, the building crash was shot well and gave a dramatic part towards the story and I do love the transitions of the changing emotions of Oliver. But there was the three strike formula, yes in the classic series there was a three strike formula, but in the end it has been handled well but it did get a bit repetitive. Also there is the misleading title as the whole episode is focused on Ned and Oliver.
Rating: 3/5
7. A TALE FOR THOMAS
Written by
Paul Larson
Directed by
Steve Asquith
Produced by
Phil Fehrle
Plot:
Jack and Alfie were taken to the forest to save an old tree that was struck by lighting. But Max and Monty carelessly raced around the forest and crashed into the tree. The machines held the tree as it was about to fall but in the end it was safe.
PRO:
- Max's line was funny
- Moral: Safety first
CON:
- The title is very misleading
I do like the episode and its moral about safety, even though it was used in previous episodes that are focused on the machines. But of course the title is very misleading and I'm sure it had a different title rather then anything that has the name Thomas or Percy in it. But it's a nice episode in the end.
Rating: 4/5
8. ALFIE HAS KITTENS
Written by
Abi Grant
Directed by
Steve Asquith
Produced by
Phil Fehrle
Plot:
The pack were at a demolition site and Alfie was teased because of his sizes. He later found cats in the demolition site and saved them, thanks to his sizes.
PRO:
- Moral: It doesn't matter what size you are
- The story was intense
CON:
- N/A
I like this episode, it has a very nice moral towards it for the target range about size. It doesn't matter what size you are. Plus the story was intense with Alfie saving the kittens. In the end it's an a enjoyable episode.
Rating: 5/5
9. A HAPPY DAY FOR PERCY
Written by
Paul Larson
Directed by
Steve Asquith
Produced by
Phil Fehrle
Plot:
Byron is disappointed that his hard work is being avoided. But after he saved Alfie, everyone praised him.
PRO:
- You can feel sorry for Byron
CON:
- The title is very misleading
It's a nice episode, but once again it was very misleading, the title. Nothing doesn't even happen to Percy, the episode was never even focused towards him. But in a positive note you can feel sorry for Byron as we all liked to be praised for our work but not many would take much notice.
Rating: 3.5/5
10. MUD GLORIOUS MUD
Written by
Jonathan Trueman
Directed by
Steve Asquith
Produced by
Phil Fehrle
Plot:
The pack was digging new foundations for a dairy farm, but they all ran out of fuel and Isabella is the only one running on steam. So she has to drive all through the mud to collect the fuel.
PRO:
- Moral: Appearances doesn't matter
CON:
- N/A
I do like the episode and we do see some more development and screen time for Isabella. The episode has a nice moral visually about appearances when she rolled through the muddy fields to collect the fuel.
Rating: 4/5
11. PERCY'S SCARY TALE
Written by
Jonathan Trueman
Directed by
Steve Asquith
Produced by
Phil Fehrle
Plot:
On Halloween night, Percy was sent to work with Alfie at Maithwate forest. Later that night Kelly told the story about the 'one-eyed' truck. But Max and Monty claimed that they weren't scared but in the end they were scared of a one bright lamp, but it was not the truck...
PRO:
- The setting of Maithwate forest
CON:
- The title is very misleading
- You think Max and Monty knew it was Thomas' whistle
The episode is average, I do love the model making craftsmanship of the forest. But the title is of course very misleading and I'm sure it would've had the working title 'The One Eyed Truck' since that Percy only had a secondary role in this episode and a little nitpick here, Max and Monty should've known it was Thomas' whistle coming through the forest as he's been in many episodes of the spin off series. But I think that if we have that in the episode then there'll be no plot. But the episode is at a medium standard, it's not scary, but since it's aimed at pre-schoolers it is convincing.
Rating: 3/5
12. KELLY'S WINDY DAY
Written by
Phil Fehrle
Directed by
Steve Asquith
Produced by
Phil Fehrle
Plot:
Kelly is nervous after he was repaired when he was blown down by the wind. But with Isabella in danger, Kelly bravely saves her.
PRO:
- Moral: Don't loose confidence
CON:
- How the way Isabella was dangling in danger was unrealistic
- You think after Kelly broke the shed they should think if some workmen could be in there?
The episode has a nice moral for kids to learn from, don't loose confidence. But there are some problems with the episode. Isabella dangling over the road bridge, as seen above, was just unrealistic and that includes Kelly removing the piano and another nitpick is that they should've checked the shed to see if there are any workmen injured? Maybe that wasn't intended and it's no big deal.
Rating: 3/5
13. THOMAS AND THE MOLES
Written by
Jan Needle
Directed by
Steve Asquith
Produced by
Phil Fehrle
Plot:
Moles had dug around the football/soccer field at Dryaw and Buster came to the rescue
PRO:
- The idea of Sodor having a football/soccer team
- The way the moles heads were moving
CON:
- Alfie at the back of the low loader seems unsafe, and that will go towards other episodes
I do like this episode, it was nice. I especially like the idea of Sodor having a football team at Dryaw, it would be nice to see all locations of Sodor having a football team and I do love the smooth movement of the moles' heads, wonderful stop motion there. But there is one con, and this will go towards other episodes, the way Alfie was on the flatbed is very unsafe and they should've used a second low loader.
Rating: 4/5
OVERALL
I don't know why people claim this being to similar towards Bob the Builder, when HIT took over the rights of Thomas & Friends in 2002? This idea was inspired by Jim Henson's Construction Site, I loved that show when I was young, so as I heard. You have Chugginton and some people claim that to be a 'rip off' of Thomas the Tank Engine and it's still on the air today! But other then that, I like the episodes as they are nice and simple and have some great morals and wonderful sets. It also has that vibe of the classic series from the early 2000's despite the 'new series' music. There are episode titles that I find very misleading and that they should've kept the original titles the way they should be. It's a shame that not many were made, as there were some episodes revealed this year but didn't make it towards production. I would've loved to see 'Snow Rescue'. This is not the first idea they had for a TTTE spin off, in 2001 there were plans to have a spin off for Harold the Helicopter and Bertie the Bus, two others that I think would've be incredible to see, shame it had never seen the light of day. In the end, these episodes are great and are still out on DVD, although in full screen and two episodes are in widescreen on Virgin Demand in the UK or some Woolworths promos from years ago.
OVERALL RATING:
4/5
