Classic Series Review Revisited - Series 4 (1995)

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

SERIES 4

Originally Written by

Rev.W.Awdry

Adapted by

Britt Allcroft 

David Mitton 

EPISODES

GRANPUFF

One criticism I made back in 2012 was how they'd reused Rheneas' shape as Smudger instead of making a new model because they made a Class 40 locomotive for one episode. But I believe the reason why they reskinned Rheneas was to save money, a bit like how Jam Filled had done those reskins of various Sodor engines for the international episodes. But I also believe their was another reason why Smudger was made and that was because in the original story, Stanley was American and in the book he was your stereotypical American; loud, obnoxious and rude, no offence to any american readers out there, and since Thomas was shown to Americans at that time, the idea of showing that kind of character could cause major offence to some of the more sensitive parents who watch with their kids and would believe that Thomas has an anti-American stance. I believe Awdry wasn't that and only used and made him like that for comedy and to have him being taught a lesson. That's my idea so don't take it as fact. As for the story, I think it was a nice origin story, although I think it would've been better if it was shown later once kids began to know who Peter Sam and Sir Handel are. It's quite simple but it was heartful and emotional with the idea of no one buying Duke because he was too old and Sir Handel and Peter Sam trying to show some optomism but were facing reality that Duke might never come to their railway. I honestly wish that they didn't put music in the scene when Duke was sheeted up and was placed in the shed but I think they don't want it to be too emotional.

Rating: 8/10 

SLEEPING BEAUTY

I think if they had put these stories in later rather than the beginning, there wouldn't need to be Thomas telling the story because kids might've been used to Sir Handel and Peter Sam already and they can tell the story instead of Thomas. But I believe Allcroft & Mitton decided the latter because they want that familiarisation for kids who are watching these episodes. But like I said, they should've let the Duke stories come later. Anyway this was a nice conclusion but why is the finale the second story of this line up? In the book it worked because we were getting to know Duke and his adventures with Sir Handel and Peter Sam back on the Mid-Sodor line through other stories and the people who had listened to those stories were inspired to find him. To me this was an odd choice. But it was a decent episode to say the least.

Rating: 7/10   

BULLDOG

I think for the beginning, they could've gone with James acting all arrogant and boastful about his new coat of paint instead of Percy. Sure Percy was like that in the second season but it seems the show at this time was showcasing the characters with gimmicks since the third season and James fits that bill whereas Percy was becoming more of the naive scaredy cat character. But I think they did that so they can have Thomas telling the story, although what I pointed out could still work and have Percy being cheeky towards James instead. As for the story, I think it was faithful to the original, although this could've worked as the second story if these were to come later on in the series. 

Rating: 8/10

YOU CAN'T WIN

I like the story and this episode proved that these can work without Thomas telling the origin story. I think the story was true to the original despite some little liberties. It got a nice message about not respecting your elders too, something that still is needed today. Yeah, I had complained about Thomas' appearence in this episode before and I think they could've just reshoot the scene without him in it. But in the end, it is what it is.

Rating: 9/10

FOUR LITTLE ENGINES

I feel that this episode was to be the series opener, it gave us a small introduction to the narrow gauge engines and the railway. But I think the idea of merging 'Skarloey Remembers' and 'Old Faithful' was a bit pointless. I think if they'd kept the two stories seperate maybe for the former we could've been told more about the Skarloey Railway, sure there wasn't much action but I think it would've great to introduce the audience all about the line and characters like Skarloey. Also I feel that the title is a bit misleading for an episode like this. They only showed four engines at the start and that was it, they barely, Sir Handel and Peter Sam, had any importance later on in the story. I think it was OK but was a needless story merger.

Rating: 5/10

A BAD DAY FOR SIR HANDEL

Was this a flashback? Or is this still a continuation of the last episode? We were given another introduction with Skarloey and Rheneas but in the last episode Rheneas was away at the works and for some reason he came back. Next we were introduced to Sir Handel and Peter Sam who were new engines and yet they were somewhat introduced briefly in the last episode too despite being introduced much earlier and were shown on the Skarloey Railway much earlier too. They could've easily adapted the original story 'Sir Handel' maybe with some little liberties for the sake of filming and time. But here it was poorly adapted and poorly placed, if this episode was one of the early ones instead of the Duke stories then it would make more sense but with what we got now, I'm sorry to say this but this episode was poor.

Rating: 1/10

PETER SAM & 
THE REFRESHMENT LADY

This story was major improvement over the last episode. Although some liberties were taken to shorten the story, it was still consistent and mange to stay true to the original. That's all I have to say really.

Rating: 9/10

TRUCKS

Honestly, what was the point of Rusty meeting with Harold when, from reading the original story, they could've just started with Sir Handel being grumpy that he was to shunt trucks in the yards and with a mention that Skarloey was away at the works, it doesn't have to because of his loose springs since they'd already covered that for whatever reason, and maybe introduce Rusty from there? I guess the original way was to introduce him but even so he barely had that much importance in this story, both in the original and in this episode. In the original he was breifly mentioned and was later helping Peter Sam out of the wreckage nearing the end. I think if they had cut back the Harold and Rusty scenes they could've added more explanation on the incline as well like the mention of the brakes and it could've hinted on what was yet to come. I had complained back in 2012 that it was ridiculous to have the trucks mistaken Peter Sam for Sir Handel, despite the different colours, but when you look at it more carefully, there shapes do almost match and the funnels are one thing since they are both familar, so I guess that makes sense. In my opinion this was OK but I think they could've cut back on the whole Rusty and Harold interaction.

Rating: 5/10 

HOME AT LAST

In the last episode they didn't mention Skarloey being away at all and yet in this episode he back came from the works. It just feels confusing. I mean sure in the book he was away because of his springs but in 'A Bad Day For Sir Handel', the episode, he was fixed and that was it. I mean why can't they take the liberty and just come up with a different reason to avoid continuity errors? Like maybe he was away working on another railway, I mean they had done that later that on this season. But despite that this adaptation was OK at best. But I think they could've gone away with adapting the whole story more faithfully. I mean their were new coaches named in the original and some different ones too but surely they could just say; 'We have some new coaches while you were away. They are quite like what we have before but Sir Handel keeps calling them cattle trucks. Except for the ones he was given, because they look like smart express coaches according to him.' and with that they can get away with the coaches they already have.

Rating: 5/10

ROCK 'N' ROLL

This adaptation was alright, not bad. It managed to be something different but tried to at least stick to the original. That's all I have to say really.

Rating: 7/10

SPECIAL FUNNEL

I think this was another good adaptation, the story managed to stick close to the original story with some changes made but only minor. Although Peter Sam's funnel looks odd compare to the gisel funnel, but I think it was more to do have smoke come out of his funnel during production.

Rating: 7/10

STEAM ROLLER

Another good adaptation like the last few. It had stuck close to the original story with some minior liberties and all.

Rating: 7/10

PASSENGERS AND POLISH

'Don't you want to look nice until Rheneas comes home?' and yet in the last episode Rheneas was seen with the other engines. This series continuity with the narrow gauge engines was just all over the place. But despite this was another good adaptation that had stuck close to the original story.

Rating: 7/10

GALLANT OLD ENGINE

Rheneas was away at the work but was seen in a different episode after that and now he's still away, the continuity for Rheneas was just bad. I don't know why Allcroft & Mitton have any second thought, no offence, but they had done a poor job. With this adaptation it was alright and it had a good message stating that passengers are important when it comes to a railway.

Rating: 7/10

RUSTY TO THE RESCUE

To me this was an obvious rewrite of 'Escape' and most people that I've seen had criticised the idea of the show reusing old plots, particulary towards the more recent episodes, I'm no angel in that field as well of course. At this point in time I do see what Allcroft and Mitton tried to achieve here, the show has become more and more of a worldwide success and the idea of making Thomas as British as possible could be alienating for people who don't understand British culture too well, not that I'm saying all non-British people don't know about Britain. So they made the mainland a very ambigous place to make it more international. But it also makes me question on why they need to make Stepney a Sodor engine later on? What was the appeal or the potential of him? He didn't have much character in his book to hold a story on his own whereas he was part of the situation that the characters are into. I will give credit to Allcroft and Mitton for having a diesel saving a steam engine from scrap, a bit of originality. But the story was more of a rewrite because 'Bluebells of England' was short and doesn't have much going on, apart from engines being cut up on the mainland. 

Rating: 5/10

THOMAS AND STEPNEY

I think this was the start of the 'Thomas dislikes new engine' trope. It also happened in the original story by Rev.W.Awdry, with Thomas being shunted on his branch line, so it was an Awdry trait when you think about it. As for the adaptation, I understand why they have to create the original stuff. There were engines that would require to be built for one shot and we know that the production staff at the time would never do that, I mean look at Smudger. It's better than 'Rusty to the Rescue' in my opinion and I think it did better than the original to be honest, that's not saying that Awdry is a bad writer, far from it.

Rating: 7/10 

TRAIN STOPS PLAY

This was a good adaptation. It was kept close to the original story. So I don't have anything to complain about.

Rating: 8/10

BOWLED OUT

One problem that annoyed me with the episode was how Micheal Angelis was narrating. When he and Duck met Gordon at the station, the way Angelis narrated sounded like Stepney was the one that told Gordon that James said the diesel was sick as boilder sludge when really in the original it was Gordon who said it. The tone of his voice was very different and it felt a bit distracting. Anway as for the story, it was another adaptation that was good and although back in 2012 I complained about D261 or Class 40 having model used once, I do know that he was planned later on in the show but they'd dropped him out instead. Now his post S4 model is on display at Drayton Manor and his S4 model is now preserved by ThomasTankMerch.

Rating: 8/10  

HENRY AND THE ELEPHANT

One of the problems that I have with S4 is the point of them adapting stories that would've worked around S1-3. This is one of them. Thomas' really useful and right on time scene served nothing for the story and it was just basically filler. Then we see the big engines grumbling with the same vibe as 'Trouble In The Shed' like them protesting of them getting no rest. In S3 they at least tried to make new creative ways of telling the story dispite throwing some of the RWS continuity out of the window due to budgeting. Here there wasn't much done to do that. It just feels redundant and feels like it was treated as a leftover, trust me I'll be saying that for the next few episodes, and in my opinion they should've adapted Christopher's story instead.

Rating: 3/10

TOAD STANDS BY

Another redundant story and this episode feels like a straight up sequel to 'Oliver Owns Up' and they already resolved his trouble with trucks by being wise about them. So what was the point? I think they should've kept this for S3 instead. For the plot I think it was faifthful to the original, apart from Scruffey getting rebuilt but I think at the time the idea of killing off character might be a bit dark, I mean the spiteful brake van didn't get a rebuild. But I still stand by that episode could've worked in the third series with Oliver's character development when it comes to trucks. Here it just felt out of place. 

Rating: 3/10 

BULLS EYE

 I said in my S2 review that this should've been the one that replaced 'The Missing Coach' episode because it would've helped with Daisy's character development. But here the episode was treated like a leftover. There was no reason for this to be adapted anyway but they did it just to fill in the 26 episode list. There was no reason for Daisy to be acting all arrogant and boastful, she was just that because she is. Like I said the adaptation just feels like a left over and this would've worked better in S2.

Rating: 3/10

THOMAS AND THE SPECIAL LETTER

I had once complained about Pug and Jinty not being used and was annoyed about them using Donald, Douglas, Boco, Mavis etc. but as I grew over the years I realise that the show has a budget and I think it was a better idea to reuse establishing characters for them to take over the work of the main engines while they were away. Besides it's a railway and many engines can go to different lines to look after work while someone is away. I think this was a good episode and a good story to adapt since at the time it was the 50th anniversary of the Railway Series and also the 100th episode, so it's quite fitting to make some special out of it. I also wish that the Fat Controller scolding Thomas was added in, to showcase to kids what showing off can lead too. Anyway it was a good episode with a great viratey of characters.

Rating: 9/10

PAINT POTS AND QUEENS

I do feel like that this episode should've served as the season finale but this is still a redundant story to adapt. This whole episode is a straight up continuation of 'Down the Mine' and possibly it could've worked in S1. Sure the 26 episode order was most likely the cause of it being axed because I think they wanted a Christmas story to serve as a finale, if they were given an extension on the order perhaps things would've been different and it would help with Gordon's character development. I mean the whole script shows they couldn't be bothered doing the changes to the script like Gordon was in disgrace and Thomas not having his branch line, now that might seem harsh but come on they had taken some liberties in other episodes. Now some people might tell me that maybe people back then might've known. Here's the thing, one, many kids who were probably around three or four in 1984 would've grown up and moved on from Thomas and not really caring at all about the episodes in the 90's and two, when I was a kid at the time this episode was new, I never knew it was a sequel until I read the Railway Series collection book in the late 90's, so it seems the idea is really far fetched. I will say they went all out on this episode but it was still redundant.

Rating: 3/10  

FISH 

I think the addition of Thomas warning Duck about fish was a nice little addition, definetly shows how he was grown. I think the introduction was nice as well but I don't see why they can't use the introduction as it was in the original story. I think the episode was rather good overall.

Rating: 7/10

SPECIAL ATTRACTION

Honestly, most of the story from 'Special Attraction' was short lived and the whole story was more about Bulstrode. The former was placed as filler. In my opinion, I think they could've made 'Special Attraction' as its own episode. They don't have to repaint Toby and could use Donald/Douglas' model with a different face mask, like what they did for Smudger earlier in the series for 1020. The title was misleading and they should've just adapted the whole of the 'Bulstrode' story instead.

Rating: 5/10

MIND THAT BIKE

And so we come to the last Railway Series adaptation for the next 21 years. Anyway, the story was good and the adaptation was good too, although I wish they went with the boys playing with the bike and almost getting hurt instead of Tom Tipper being careless. For the former it would've been a great message to tell kids that playing on railway property is dangerous and that you shouldn't be touching other people's property. 

Rating: 8/10

SERIES OVERALL

I'll say this, I think the production order of S4 was poorly laid out. There were more episodes focusing on the narrow gauge engines then the standard gauge engines and what they could've done instead is a back and forth motion have like four stories focusing on the narrow gauge engines and then another four on the standard gauge engines. Because to be honest, I was getting tired of seeing the narrow gauge engines constantly. They were fine characters but can't we see something else? It was exhausting and I think they needed a break. This is why I like what 'Big World Big Adventures' was doing when it comes to its balance. Have one episode on Sodor and another in a different country. Plus, based on some beliefs here, wouldn't the domination of the narrow gauge engines go against the whole familarisation of Thomas? 

I'll also point this out, stories like 'Henry and the Elephant', 'Toad Stands By' 'Paint Pots & Queens' and 'Bulls Eyes' are redundant. I feel that these stories were treated as left overs. I believe they should've lifted some stories from Christopher Awdry's books. 'Triple Header' seems like a story they could've adapted. They have the sets, the characters and coaches, it would've been good that way. This isn't me saying that this season was bad but it did make me feel annoyed with the creative output they gave to it. But some adaptations were good and stayed true to the original with some minor liberties which I'm OK with.

However I will give credit for the visuals in this series, especially in the narrow gauge stories. The mountains, sceneary and all was just beautiful and there were great industrial settings and countryside for the standard gauge stories too. Excellent work to the production team for the effort.

Micheal Angelis was good in this though but I more prefer his energy in S3.

OVERALL RATING
161/260

Classic Series Review Revisited - Series 3 (1992)

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

SERIES 3 (1992)

Originally Written by

Rev.W.Awdry

Andrew Brenner

Britt Allcroft

David Mitton

Adapted by

Britt Allcroft

David Mitton

EPISODES

A SCRAF FOR PERCY

Honestly, I much prefer this over Rev.W.Awdry's version. I like how Britt Allcroft and David Mitton had taken the liberty into expanding the episode to make it more as a story instead of keeping as it was originally. I feel that the original story deviated away from being Henry's book. This isn't the best adaptation but it was alright with its 'be careful what you wish for' moral. Percy wanted a scraf and he did but it wasn't what he expected. 

Rating: 7/10

PERCY'S PROMISE

I don't see the point of Percy having a brake van. Sure it was to use as a van but it was never part of the original story. As for the story, I think it was good but nothing too special about it really.

Rating: 7/10

TIME FOR TROUBLE

I've always believed that 'Gordon Goes Foriegn' was intened for this season because of the dialouge said by Gordon when he left the big station at the beginning of the episode. However I was surprised to learn from SiF that it was really intended for the second season. Although the story was fine, I don't see the point of changing the title really.

Rating: 7/10 

GORDON AND THE FAMOUS VISITOR

I think the story worked on its own, since this was part of the Duck and Diesel book. Duck's appearance in the book was to set up with his boasting of Great Western pride but it was quite small in the original story. Although I don't know why they decided to have Thomas talking about Truro's record breaking instead of Duck since he's the one with the Great Western pride. In the end, the story was more of a Gordon being arrogant episode and it was nice I'll say.

Rating: 7/10

DONALD'S DUCK

I find it odd that Duck and the other engines were building a new station when in fact there was one right there. In the original story it was a shed they were building, why didn't they go with that? It would make more sense to be honest. Despite that little oddity, I think the story was still good. It was similar to the original story.

Rating: 8/10

THOMAS GETS BUMPED

Some story merges can work, but this one didn't in my opinion. I felt that the story was confusing with Thomas helping the school children to get home and the other was about Thomas dealing with Bertie taking his passengers because of bent tracks. Both of the stories felt like seperate plots and they literally are as I have both of the magazine stories. To me the original story 'A Bump on the Line' by Andrew Brenner could've worked on its own and maybe add something original to it to lengthen the plot. The episode feels like they were going for another Thomas and Bertie story so, for the beginning of the episode, why not have Bertie teasing Thomas that the passengers will prefer him over Thomas and use the rest of the magazine story? Scarp the 'Hello Thomas!' magazine story and just use the former. The original episode's merger of the two stories was just confusing and a bit messy.

Rating: 3/10

THOMAS, PERCY AND THE DRAGON

Unlike 'Thomas Gets Bumped', this story merger actually works with the whole being afraid scenario. It flowed nicely but I also think this is where Percy's scaredy cat trait started off from and I think it makes him stand out more from Thomas to be honest. I love the dark atmosphere and the music too with the dragon it was really good. Plus I like the message that we can't be brave all the time.

Rating: 9/10

DIESEL DOES IT AGAIN

Honestly, I don't think it's a bad idea to bring Diesel back into the series despite him being sent away a season ago. Everyone deserves a second chance in the end despite what happened before but if you mess something up big time then that chance is gone, which shows for Diesel in the end. I think Britt Allcroft and David Mitton wanted a recurring villian for the show but it got inconsitent later on. Plus I liked the Duck and Percy pairing here, they do work so well together as a duo.

Rating: 9/10

HENRY'S FOREST

Probably the most infamous episode because of Rev.W.Awdry's 'Rule 55' criticism but despite that I think it's overrated and that due to the fandom being sentimental with this episode. Ever since Awdry's criticism about the episode was uploaded on YouTube many years ago, it was part of the 'Thomas the Tank Engine Man' documentary back in the mid-90's and back in the early 2010's it was rare to come by unlike now, I have seen some people in the fandom protecting the episode because they generally think that everyone hates the episode now because Awdry says so. But maybe those people have more reason to dislike the episode and it's not just because of a railway regulation, and yet this is the same fandom who would go nuts over anything not railway realistic from the likes of Mattel and yet would defend anything that came before them, with the execption of the Miller/Barlow era. 

The reason why I think it's overrated is that the story basically feels like a story draft being told. Nothing had pretty much happened to Henry character wise. It was basically, Henry loves the forest, storm came destroyed it all and Henry was sad. Toby then, for some reason, took young trees to the forest and Henry is happy that he got his forest back, the end. There was nothing that made me engaged with Henry's character, no character conflict or anything. It almost felt like a nothing story offering no valuable life lesson after watching it, especially for a season that was designed to be in sync with the Shining Time Station episodes at the time when it comes to morality and life lessons. Plus Henry only had ONE line in the entire episode.

It's like someone had written the draft and had forgotten to write the script by the deadline had given them the draft instead and they just went with that in the end.

So despite Awdry's critical standpoint of the episode based on a real life railway regulation, the episode is pretty much a bland, uninteresting, shallow story that feels like it was mandated just so Henry could have a story and is only loved because it was sentimental. Nostalgia is great to have but it shouldn't be an excuse by parts of the fandom to justify why an episode or a movie is good. I like the first Pokemon movie as a kid and I still have nostalgia for it but that doesn't mean it was a great film with some errors in the original and the 1998 english dub.   

Rating: 1/10

THE TROUBLE WITH MUD

I don't know why in this version they made Gordon feel too important to not have a wash down when in the earlier seasons we see him feel beneath his pride of pulling goods trains, since they are dirty, heck in the US dub they stated that he felt his position was down deeply. To me its clearly out of his character, and yet strangely some people think that Allcroft and Mitton know the characters well more than Awdry, that argument makes no sense in my view, and the title of the episode to me was a poor choice to go with. The mud part of the story lasted for a little while and was only made to give Gordon a role, and it had no importance in the second half of the story when most of it was about leaves. To me the story could've worked in S1 since two of Gordon's stories were used and it would add some continuity. I think this was poorly adapted and more tweaks should've been done to make it a bit better.

Rating: 3/10

NO JOKE FOR JAMES

Looking at the original magazine story 'The Express', which this episode is based on, I think that magaine story could've worked without the scene of James shunting trucks around the yard. Sure it was suppose to be a happy ending for James but I think if they had written, ''James was wise enough now to know that he shouldn't be playing a trick on Gordon again.'' but then again that line would feel too similar to 'Thomas & Gordon' but it would make sense to do it. The overall story was bad though but the ending just feels like filler.

Rating: 5/10

THOMAS, PERCY AND THE MAIL TRAIN

I feel that the man who had missed his last train could've been dropped and maybe try and write something more original. Like maybe have the post person expirementing the idea of delivering the mail by Harold but a strong wind had come to the Island and blew Harold off course of his mail route, perhaps he had an accident and Thomas and Percy came to his rescue. Realising that Thomas and Percy can do the work whatever the weather he/she agree that the engines are more useful when it comes to the mail and apologises to the Fat Controller for blaming him for the post delay. In the end, the episode was still good and I do love the atmosphere at the beginning with the mail train.

Rating: 7/10

TRUST THOMAS

Honestly, what was the point of James pretending to be ill subplot? It added nothing to the subject matter of the missing tar and it was completly another story until Thomas told Edward about the missing tar, surely they could've thought something original that keeps in touch with the story, like trying to find the tar wagons? Sure it's called 'Trust Thomas' but why add that illness subplot that deviates away from the actual focus, maybe it could've been better if it were two seperate stories.

Rating: 3/10

MAVIS

I think Diesel was the elephant in the room moment in this episode. I think Britt Allcroft and David Mitton wanted a continuous villain in the series and Diesel fits in the picture but I also think Daisy could've worked more better like in the original story a diesel like her who has no knowledge of trucks, heck her and BoCo share some face masks in this series what was stopping her from appearing? Plus I think Diesel's appearance messed up the continuity of the series with him being sent away by the Fat Controller seven episodes ago but then again many of the episodes were randomly filmed during production.

As for the episode, Mavis was an interesting character to see progressing. She was an inexperienced and impatient diesel engine who is young and wants things done in her own way. Her character is like a brattish rebellious teenager and her dealing with Toby feels like she was dealing with her father who told her to do things the proper way. But ignores everything she says and got herself into trouble. 

Rating: 8/10

TOBY'S TIGHTROPE

Despite that Percy meeting Mavis was entierly original, the story was actually quite faithful to the original source. I really got nothing else to say though.

Rating: 9/10

EDWARD, TREVOR AND 
THE REALLY USEFUL PARTY

This story was alright but I think they could've done a title change since the majority of the episode is focused more on Trevor. Edward had played in a minor role and didn't offer much apart from having posters all over him, I mean it was good use for him since he was in the original story but I feel he was mandated because all of the S1 established characters have episodes themselves. In the story was good.

Rating: 7/10

BUZZ, BUZZ

I think how the way Britt Allcroft and David Mitton handled the Railway Series stories in the series was good. They write something original to avoid continuity errors. I think it could've worked for Series 2 with BoCo's appearence but budget might've been the thing that stopped them. Although there were some comedic bits with James trying to get rid of the bees, it was entertaining in the end.

Rating: 8/10

ALL AT SEA

For this being a completly original story, no source to adapt from, this was really well done. I think it was good to expand more of Duck's character such as his interests. He yearns for the sea, yearns to travel and see things beyond the horizon, a bit like Thomas wanting to see the world, although now that might have to depend on interpretation knowing that he actually wants to the globe. I think this story had better focus because there wasn't any pointless filler for sake of the time limit. I think if Allcroft and Mitton had decided to create more original stories instead of adapting magazine stories maybe this series' episodes would've been better. I will always love the ending shot of Duck with Thomas and Percy and the sunset those shots along with the music by Mike and Junior was just beautiful and I've always loved that moment so much as a kid. 

Rating: 10/10

ONE GOOD TURN

This is one magazine adaptation that I think was the best out of the lot. The two stories 'Head On' and 'Pulling Together' blended in well together with the message that it's more better to work together than to fight each other.

Rating: 10/10

TENDER ENGINES

I don't like the idea from the model makers that Flying Scotsman had two coal tenders, they just look wrong and odd to see two coal tenders, surely they could've made the water tender. It was also a pity that Flying Scotsman didn't get to appear but I understand that part because of budget. Anyway, I like how they still manage to retain some of the original story and had to make some original parts because, like I said earlier, they had a budget to work around. It was a good adaptation. 

Rating: 9/10

ESCAPE

I quite like how Allcroft and Mitton had tried to create an alternative opening for this story since characters like Bear and Old Spamcan weren't made for the series and Flying Scotsman's tenders were only seen because of budget reasons, although a classic series adaptation of 'Super Rescue' would've been great to see. But here they've written an entire new opening with Edward talking about him and the vicar saving Trevor. It shares some importance about saving something from scrap when Douglas was trying to save Oliver. I will say I much prefer the original story because Awdry did some exploration of Oliver's escape but it the way the story was adapted with its atmosphere, the music and all was just great. Personally one of my most favourite episodes.

Rating: 9/10

OLIVER OWNS UP

I quite like it how Allcroft & Mitton had managed to adapt this episode without the Arlesdale miniature engines like in the original story. It managed to work and I do like Oliver's development in this episode too being all arrogant and cocky, any of the writers out there in the production staff today are reading this he needs episodes badly, though I wish they'd adapted Scruffey's episode to help with his progression more. All in all this was another good adaptation. 

Rating: 9/10

BULGY

I don't see the reason why a holiday has to be called a 'Special Holiday' in this episode. Why can't they just go with summer holiday? The whole world has those they can relate too. It's a nitpick but just seems so unimagitive to come up with that. But apart from that the episode was another faifthful adaptation to the original. Plus Bulgy deserves his comuppance for lying to the passengers and I think he deserves it. He caused so much confusion and distrust and with that the bus company would not want to have someone who is that for the sake of their image, this is out to the 'journalists' who think that the Fat Controller, despite that he never runs buses, scraps things because they are not useful.  

Rating: 9/10

HEROES

This adaptation was alright, although I find it a bit inconsitent of the twins thinking that the trucks would help them since they work in an industry that had to deal with trucks on a daily basis. But then again without that then there's no plot. I think the message shows that we should be careful what we wish for because Bill and Ben wanted something different and they got it but was the wrong type of surprise. In the end, it was alright.

Rating: 6/10

PERCY, JAMES AND 
THE FRUITFUL DAY

Another alright adaptation of a magazine story. I love the James and Percy dynamic here and the story was faithful to the original. I think Thomas' message was good but I think it could've gone with James saying that Percy's accident served him right when it comes to being jammed. But all in all, it was alright.

Rating: 6/10

THOMAS AND PERCY'S 
CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE

I think I get why Britt Allcroft and Rick Sigglekow went with a Thanksgiving story instead of Christmas for the North American audience. The villagers want to thank the engines for saving them but with S3 being made with an American audience in mind, why did they go for a Christmas setting anyway? What I think could've worked is have the whole story still with maybe some tweaks here and there for the setting and all, since Thanksgiving is in the autumn, and have a heavy rain storm and it caused a landslide to the village and when the engines rescued them, the villagers all have a party for them. It may not be Christmassy but you could remove one episode from S3 and have room for another episode that is Christmas focused, I mean 'All At Sea' was an original story by Allcroft & Mitton so why couldn't they try a story about being thankful? In my opinion, I think they should've kept the episode for another Christmas special for 'Shining Time Station' so that they can avoid the confusion and the poor editing of the episode that American fans have to deal with in the aftermath.

As for the story, I think this was probably the strongest Christmas episode from the series. The episode doesn't involve a Christmas party like the last two seasons and it was more focused on being helpful and kind at the time of the year. I think it was a fun episode to sit through.

Rating: 9/10

SERIES OVERALL

Visual wise, the third series I think has the best sets and camera work for the show. Plus it was really colourful compare to the last two seasons. I think because the show, at the time, was popular in the United States and Japan it increased the budget for the show thanks to their support. But storywise, I can see why Allcroft & Mitton took the liberties into the stories because with an american audience in mind, they would want to focus more attention on the core characters so they can introduce them further. But you think with maybe the home videos and Shining Time, kids might've known who these characters are. And for the latter they might've been reruns of the show too. But adding further characters from the books would requrie more attention to them and less focus on Thomas and his friends. Plus their is budgeting and all. But the stories that they were giving, particulary the magazine adapted stories, just feel poorly adapated. They just don't know what to focus on and it feels like they add some filler to fill in the running time. In my opinion, 'All At Sea' was a great episode and that wasn't adapted from any source material and I believe they should've gone with original stories instead. As for the narration, I think Micheal Angelis had brought great amount of energy towards all of the episodes. I haven't seen much of George Carlin's narrations while reviewing these episodes but from my memory I think he was better in this series compare to the last two he had to renarrate. I also like how he added distinct voices to the characters as well.

I have a soft spot for this season because this was the series that I grew up with back when I was a kid. But just because it's nostalgic, doesn't negate the errors and flaws that some episodes have. I like this series but I think it should've made some tweaks for the episodes.

OVERALL RATING
186/260