S18 Ep.17:Long Lost Friend

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

LONG LOST FRIEND

Written by

Mark Huckerby and Nick Olster 

Directed by

Don Spencer 

Produced by

Robert Anderson (Arc)
Ian McCue (HIT) 

Air Date:

18/10/14 - AUS
23/12/14 - UK 

Plot

Gator returns to the Island of Sodor after being away for a long time. He is looking forward to seeing his old friend Percy. When Percy hears that Gator is back, he is very excited and immediately heads off to see him. But the two engines keep missing each other. They both have doubts they will see each other, but finally they connect and have a wonderful reunion.

PRO:

- Crew interaction between Gator and his driver
- The new crossroad turntable at the steamworks
- Percy and Gator's reunion was nice

CON:

- Gator knowing Owen
- Narrow gauge engines hauling standard gauge trucks
- The plot was a bit repetitive 
- What was the point of the rock salt?

This episode is alright, but not the best in my opinion. The plot was repetitive, but not as annoying as S13-16's episodes. Plus there was an unexplained moments of Gator knowing Owen at the BMQ, though that is just a nitpick. Plus the purpose of the rock salt, it was delivered to the Island of Sodor along with Gator and was sent back to the docks later, what was the purpose of it all? Is it a plot device to keep the story going? Plus there's the usual Arc error's which Peter Sam hauling standard gauge trucks, I like Arc but they need to solve these errors. But there is a positive aspect in this episode. I love it how they're bringing back the crew interaction between the driver and engine, we haven't seen that since S8's 'Too Hot For Thomas' ten years ago! Or another episode I've missed, but most episodes during the new series era weren't memorable. Plus the new crossroad turntable at the steamworks was a nice feature as well as Percy and Gator's reunion, was nice and warm and shows the same moral as 'Last Train for Christmas' that friends and family should be home for Christmas. It's an alright episode, but not the best. Even the duded episodes of this new era are watchable from time to time.

Rating: 6/10