S23 Ep.8: Lorenzo's Solo

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

LORENZO'S SOLO

Written by
Becky Overton

Directed by
Dianna Basso

Produced by
Ian McCue (HIT/Mattel)
Tracy Blagdon (Jam Filled)

Plot
Lorenzo plays a little trick on his loyal coach, Beppe, 
but he discovers that taking the legendary opera star Dame Bella Canto to the music festival 
by himself isn't as fun as he thought it would be.

Air Date
22/10/19 - AUS

This episode does show that an international episode can work without Thomas. Show him a little bit so kids would know he's there and know that they are watching a Thomas episode. Yes naturally he is a lead character but other characters need their shine in the spotlight too after all it is called 'Thomas & Friends'. Heck he wasn't in the end of the episode too! 

It's nice to see a story focused towards the two, especially more towards Lorenzo who was a bit egotistical and cheeky towards Bepe. Also Dame Bella Canto shows she has a bit of sassiness and ego too that was until both her and Lorenzo know that a duo can be better than a solo. 

I also like how in the fantasy sequence, as it also fits in well in the episode's opera theme and it wasn't as over the top as some previous fantasy sequences were, Lorenzo and Dame Bella Canto were singing 'Funiculì, Funiculì' which was a neapolitan song from 1880 to commemorate the opening of the first funicular railway on Mount Vesuvius in the region of Campania. So it's quite fitting to see the production team placing that in a kids show about railways. 

In the end, the episode was a good one. It's nice to see that the current team are steadily improving a lot more than last season in my opinion.

Episode Ratings (So far):

Free The Roads - 10/10
Chucklesome Trucks - 8/10
Heart Of Gold - 9/10
Panicky Percy - 6/10

Crowning Around - 10/10
First Day On Sodor - 8/10
Rangers Of The Rails - 7/10
Lorenzo's Solo - 8/10

Series Rating (So far):
66/80