THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FANBASE
SERIES 20
Written by
Andrew Brenner
Lee Pressman
Helen Farrall
Davey Moore
Directed by
Dianna Basso
Produced by
Robert Anderson (Arc Productions)
Tracy Blagdon (Arc/Jam Filled)
Ian McCue (HIT/Mattel)
Told by
Mark Moraghan
EPISODES
SIDNEY SINGS
This was quite a charming episode looking back. Not big or grand just simple and the best part is that it's focused on Sidney a lesser known character whose first appearance was in S17's '
The Missing Christmas Decorations'. Yes their was a three strikes formula and it was a wee bit repetitive, although not as bad as what we got from the Miller/Barlow era because here it works fine. Although Sidney had been described as 'forgetful' I think he was more 'easily distracted' since his attention is focused onto something else. Which is something I can find a relatable since I can be easily distracted by somethings. It was a nice follow up from the S17 episode with Sidney giving new wheels for Percy too. It's not the best episode but certainly far from the worst I've seen and I also love the little nod to Annie and Clarabel's singing and I feel that trait works well for both. For older fans its something that they know and for younger fans it's something new to them.
Rating: 7/10
TOBY'S NEW FRIEND
This was another charming episode and I do like the dynamic role between Toby and Philip and how they showcase that not everyone likes the same thing but you can still be friends despite all that. I also like Philip's growth as a character here when it comes to racing with Toby like how he slowed down for Toby to catch up instead of just thinking about himself. Not much else happens since it's plot was kinda thin but it was still a charming episode all the same.
Rating: 7/10
HENRY GETS THE EXPRESS
To me, I see this episode as a 'cookie cutter' episode. If you replaced Henry with Edward, chances are the episode will stay the same but with just Edward instead of Henry and I honestly think thats what it is. The episode wasn't bad but it was never about Henry or him getting used to the express as it was more about Gordon not pulling the express and not liking the idea that someone else was pulling it. Henry just managed to get used to the express in just a few seconds and that's it, doesn't go through anything that made him lack confidence of pulling it which made him a very bland and an uninteresting character, I honestly much prefer '
Henry and the Wishing Tree' from S8 compare to this at least that episode made Henry go through something when pulling the express. I understand everyone likes this episode but it's just a Henry episode, in the style of an Edward episode, but disguised as a Gordon episode. I don't hate it but I think it's a tad overrated because Henry was not what the older fans not want him to be.
Rating: 4/10
DIESEL AND THE DUCKLINGS
I still think this should've been a Duck episode and while he's mature, he would still have deep resentment towards Diesel after what he had done to him and people go through that and want to get back at them for it and you could have him realising that revenge isn't sweet. He would be alot more interesting than what he was in S17 and I think kids might've been engaged with him more, since we know they weren't with him over the years. I also don't understand some of the hate this episode gets because Diesel is not the character that the older fandom had enjoyed when they were kids. I honestly love to see more human sides from villians than just them being evil because they just are, I understand that many people groan at this because it can be a bit cliched but the whole character of Diesel being this revolutionary item that he is superior towards steam engines is just as outdated as his basis had debuted, we aren't living in the steam era so his character from back when we were kids would be well out of context towards the children of today. I like this episode because of that and it showcased the moral that it's OK to showcase a soft side even if you look tough on the outside. I still think this should've been a Duck episode.
Rating: 8/10
BRADFORD THE BRAKE VAN
This was a good episode still and I still enjoy Bradford's character such a shame more wasn't done with him, especially with Samson, although there was the fireworks episode two years later. I understand that the writers have to use Thomas since he's the star of the show but it would've been interesting to see him with Samson instead since the latter is very headstrong, up himself and makes tons of silly mistakes and Bradford being this overzealous rule obsessed brake van, honestly a bit more interesting than that prop called a character named Fergus. Considering how this season had handled Thomas, they probably would've gotten away with it being a Samson episode. I understand that people have a problem with the Fat Controller telling Thomas that following rules and being safe is better than trying to be on time since Thomas had been late with unloading his stone train and the Fat Controller was cross in the middle of the episode. I think it should've been better if you don't have the Fat Controller scolding him and maybe replace him with the dock manager instead. That way both characters would have a different idea about being punctual. I also think maybe Bradford should've apologised for being overzealous to the engines too and maybe bring some character development in. In the end, the episode was good with maybe some tweaks to make it better. Also I love the reference to '
Ain't Half Hot Mum', with Bradford saying, '
Oh dear, how sad, never mind.' I can see that Lee Pressman was a fan of the show. Took me five years to understand that fast paced piece of dialouge.
Rating: 8/10
SAVING TIME
This episode was OK but mediocre. Nothing new happened such as engine being stuck on the hill and Samson's character being wasted as the usual. I think Thomas was great in the episode with his cheekiness towards Samson, excellent use of his character here and it was great seeing the narrow gauge engines again, despite that they had hardly any episodes to themselves after their comeback in S18. The reason why I feel Samson's character development was wasted is because he learned his lesson but still acted like a fool rather than not taking too many trucks at once. I get it that it was suppose to be comedic but I think it would've been better if he had actually learnt his lesson instead of being a buffoon. While I'm all for slice of life stories, I feel that the short runaway with Samson and Thomas should've ended with a crash instead of just rolling down the hill fast and then stop, it could be more engaging and have Samson taking the lesson hard.
Rating: 5/10
RYAN AND DAISY
Ryan is really not my favorite character of the Lost Treasure crew. He just feels like generic character no.245. However his friendly, naive character that he was given over his overconfident and dismissive persona works well here with Daisy taking advantage of him to get out of work she doesn't want to do, which is a good moral for kids. Ryan's too friendly nature works as a great flaw for him. However if this episode were to be any better, I think Ryan and Daisy not getting along could've been interesting. They could cause so much confusion and delay that maybe the Fat Controller threatening to take away the branch line would be good lesson about working together, perhaps if Brenner hadn't changed the script of the movie, because of Mattel disliking it, maybe a more dismissive Ryan would've made the episode even better with Daisy. Davey Moore did a great job at Daisy's character and he kept her very consistent in all of her episodes after this one with her being lazy, arrogant, up herself and stubborn. I really have no problem with the episode at all. It was engaging and fun seeing these two characters together.
Rating: 8/10
POUTY JAMES
I didn't love this episode unlike other people when this episode was new but overtime I began to have a soft spot for it since it DOES feeling like James from the classic series, vain, arrogant and stubborn when he's in the wrong. This episode gives me more of a feeling towards '
No Joke For James'. Him talking back at the Fat Controller seems out of the norm for a Thomas episode. However while characterisation is great, even with the likes of the Fat Controller being more of a parental figure, the episode is not really fresh or new as it is your typical James being arrogant episode. I don't hate it like I use to but don't really have that much affection for it apart from the nostalgia of James' character and nostalgia isn't really a good excuse to make a good episode nor is it an excuse to say something is good. I will say it was better than Andrew Brenner's other episode, '
Saving Time'.
Rating: 6/10
BLOWN AWAY
Like Ryan, Skiff was never my favorite of mine. He was a bland character and had uninteresting development in the 2015 special and he only stood up to Sailor John for like a few seconds. Honestly him being teased by his size, going rouge because of that, met Thomas realised that he suffers the same fate but sympathise with Skiff for going what he was going through made him realise what a true friend Thomas is compare to Sailor John, for more take a read of my
Lost Treasure review from 2020. Anyway with the episode, it was fine but not great in my opinion. Skiff is kind of like Winston, he had a purpose on the railway but nothing really makes him stand out and his voice, no offence to Jamie Campbell Bower, but the voice sound so grating, especially when Skiff was talking to himself about Duck and Oliver crashing into him and the tree. Also the script does feel like Helen Farrall's '
Slow Stephen' episode, a character gets berated, although for Duck and Oliver it was more for them being worried for Skiff than berating him, then saves the day. Plus the collison kinda lost its impact due to how long it went. It's a pity too that Skiff's award wasn't revealed and that it was never shown afterwards. To me the episode was nice but not my favorite.
Rating: 5/10
THE WAY SHE DOES IT
If there's one thing that truly makes this episode great is that self hype can lead to dissapointment if it doesn't go your way. Daisy was looking forward to be taking entertainers but it turns out that it was for children and was upset by the outcome. Self hype has always been a problem in this day and age in not just the Thomas fandom but in other fandoms too like '
Star Wars', '
WandaVision' and even '
Pokemon'. People create theories for a show or for games and when the outcome is different, they blame it on either the people working on the show/game or the company that showcases it when really the fault lies towards the people who made those theories in the first place because they put too much expectation and hype towards it. I would rather not worry about theories made up by people and expect any of that coming true and just watch the show and see how it unfolds, it makes it more enjoyable, some theories can make sense but should be taken with a grain of salt. I do have one niggle with the episode, I felt that Daisy's bragging had gone on for a while but I understand that it might've been done for time, since the episodes were a bit longer compare to the time limit with BWBA, you can see why they change it for the latter. But one other great thing about the episode is that while Daisy forgot to bring the wagon for the entertainers, she came up with a different solution for the show by using her window instead of trying to get the truck again like we saw between S13-16. In the end, the episode is great.
Rating: 9/10
LETTERS TO SANTA
Honestly I think the flashback of '
Percy & Harold' was a great way to showcase to the younger generation on why Percy doesn't get along with Harold too well. It's much more better than a mere mention of past events. Plus it was amazing how the animators at Arc Productions had faifthfully recreated illustrations of the Railway Series story '
Percy & Harold' instead of the S2 episode. It was nice seeing at the time respect for Thomas' roots before Mattel dumped that in favour for a reboot that would be Thomas in name only. Yes, let's not forget that Mattel were in charge of the brand during this era. It was great seeing the Percy and Harold dynamic back for this episode and its a shame that they haven't use them again after this season and yet their was more on Thomas & Bertie's rivalry. I will say this episode really has so much heart placed into it with it being a Christmas story and all. Harold's arrogance was a great addition but definetly showed that he was only trying to be helpful to Percy despite his wording that was in your face to Percy. It was also nice seeing how Percy came to Harold's rescue and it was a great way to convey the message that Christmas is a time for goodwill and to be nice to others, although that should also be every year. Plus Chris Renshaw's music was just amazing with its '
Home Alone'-esque style. I often sometimes sing to the original score everytime I hear the music when watching this episode.
Rating: 9/10
LOVE ME TENDER
It was great seeing Donald and Douglas again after their last appearance in 2007 and at the time it was great seeing them as their original selves. But overtime, I began to see them just as scottish Bill and Ben since their arguing and bickering was mainly focused in this episode and if if you count, their sense of humor according to the Thomas wikia. Donald and Douglas do more than just arguing and play pranks. They are intelligent and are a great example to people who just see work as work no matter if its dirty or clean. They are also firm with the big engines like Gordon and Henry. Sure conflict won't work for them but they can be good in secondary role.
I feel this episode was a bit more better compare to what we got with them in the next season, I will writes views on that after this season. But with this episode, despite what I said about the twins earlier, I feel this episode being more personal since I have a brother and we sometimes argue and bicker over many things but in the end we always get back together and look out for each other like all brothers should do. It was such a nice and relevant message that everyone no matter how old they are should follow. Even people who have sisters should follow this as well.
I know I said that railway realism was thrown out of the window since S5 but sometimes the signalling in this episode and sometimes during this era really just irks me. I mean the signals were treated more like traffic lights instead of actual signals which tells an engine that they either stop because an engine is blocking their path, yellow because they need to slow down and procced with caution and green to go since the path had been clear. I mean why not for the scenes with Donald and Douglas going backwards and forth with their bickering add some engines going past with their trains since it is a railway. It would at least add some sense and it would still work for the scene with the twins' bickering. It's a shame that won't happen now given the reboot that Mattel had announced.
It was great seeing the twins back at the time and this episode is still good despite them being scottish Bill and Ben in this era.
Rating: 8/10
THE RAILCAR AND THE COACHES
The introduction to Daisy was nice but we already had her being introduced in '
Ryan and Daisy' as what she is compare to the other engines. I think it would've been better if you have Daisy being introduced again but showcase why her and Annie and Clarabel don't get along and when it all started, just like Percy and Harold's rivalry in '
Letters to Santa'. I don't know how the target audience, kids, reacted when this episode came out but either they didn't care or were confused why Daisy was so rude to them. It was however interesting to see more of Annie and Clarabel and Daisy not getting along, just like real life and it was clever to use the two coaches getting back at Daisy for berating them to showcase the moral that just because Daisy was rude doesn't mean that we should be the same in return. Annie and Clarabel should've been the bigger pair of caoches to showcase that they would turn the other cheek and get on with their work. I think it was also a pity that we didn't get a sequel to the episode when it comes to Diesel and the coaches, it would've been interesting to see how they would cope with someone like Diesel but I guess we have to leave that for our imagination since Mattel will be having their reboot.
Rating: 9/10
MUCKING ABOUT
I think I had been a bit harsh to the episode when I reviewed the DVD release '
Team Up With Thomas' in 2018 when it came to the idea of ignoring bullies when the episode showcased that with Thomas not trying to give, but he does eventually after Max and Monty made a sharp turn to avoid running over the mother duck and her ducklings. It was shown visually that ignoring bullies can lead to even more trouble and it was shown throughout the rest of the episode what with Max and Monty causing Oliver's frontloader to be disabled and then them dumping their rubbish on the railway line, although those two were more of an accident from their part since it wasn't done intentionally.
However it does showcase the moral that mucking about and not thinking straight can lead to trouble, although Max and Monty should've been punished for their trouble instead of giving a stern talking to by the policeman. I feel like Davey Moore was trying to showcase two morals, one on Thomas' side and the other on Max and Monty's. I think it was a good episode, Max and Monty were entertaining and the story was fine too despite a few little bumps here and their. But the ending with Thomas telling off Max and Monty is interesting to see considering that Mattel and HIT Entertainment had tried to push the whole 'friendship' stance of the show towards the younger audience. It's a good message to teach to kids that not everyone can get along. Although even years after this episode had aired, I still don't get what is wrong with Max and Monty's UK voices. Their US voices were just cringe to listen to. They sound more like goofballs whereas their UK voices sound more normal while comical.
Rating: 6/10
CAUTIOUS CONNOR
'Connor and Caitlin are even faster than Spencer & Gordon', although I think in the world of the TV series it's written like that to make them sound cool for the younger audience considering that Gordon and Spencer had boast over the years in the show that they are the fastest. In reality they aren't faster than those two based on their basis, but the show had never been that accurate with realism for years. But at times there can be some nice bits of realism in the show, such as Connor's connecting rod being broken. Something similar like that happened to 3801 when it was taking 'The Bicentennial Train' to Perth, Western Australia when Australia was celebrating 200 years of european settlement.
It left its big end glowing red and had to strip off its connecting rod and valve gear and it had be hauled by a diesel, although 3801 pulled into Perth terminal under its own steam with one piston and its pin was beyond repair and had to take a while to fix before they made their way to Adelaide, South Australia. So despite me saying that realism had been thrown out of the window, I do like it when the show had actually showcased some railway realism. It is also interesting to see how would an engine react to it in the aftermath and I can understand we can feel the same as well and want to be more cautious but being afraid of something that isn't happening right now isn't worth it, although we should take time to bring up confidence again.
I love Stephen's pep talk to Connor but I feel that Edward should've been the one doing since he had went through something similar to Connor when it came to his connecting rod. It's stuff like this that makes Edward such a great secondary character for the show. He gives out advice to the other engines given his years of experience. One other great part of the pep talk scene was the camera making great sweeping shots, showcasing the spirit of Stephen's words.
Although the comedy with Skiff going past Connor was funny, I think it would've been better to have Trevor chuffering by since he's slow as well and would pass Connor. But all in all, this was a great episode looking back.
Rating: 9/10
ALL IN VAIN
After seeing this, I tend to think this was more as a standard episode instead of a sequel to '
Pouty James'. At the time it felt like a sequel given how James had grown since his pouty episode. But James is still pompous and vain in this episode still as he was before. However it was interesting seeing James being responsible instead of trying to keep clean in order to take his special job until a tiny scratch ruined it all because he was still obessesd with his red paint. It adds a nice message that worrying about a small problem will create it to an even bigger problem with don't ignore or worry about it. It was also great seeing the Edward and James dynamic again too. The episode was really good and James' reward for his hard work was something that is deserving too. A well written episode.
Rating: 9/10
BUCKLED TRACKS & BUMPY TRUCKS
I think could've been better if were about what buckled tracks can cause in the serious heat. Maybe make the Fat Controller think they are safe enough for engines to get through, a bit like him in '
Percy Gets It Right' from S7, despite their protest, and maybe have him learn that he can make bad decisions as the problem got worse when one of the engines derail, while a lineside fire breaks out thanks to dry grass, maybe the derailed engine can be Belle like the in the episode, just without Flynn, as she tries to put out the fire and one of the other engines, Thomas most likely since he has to be in the story regardless of his reason since he's the star and in the end, the tracks were repaired and were painted white so they can reflect the heat and they wouldn't have to worry about buckled tracks. I feel that the Fat Controller's scenes in the actual episode, while comedically good, were added in to support the story since the buckled track idea that we have in the episode wouldn't hold much weight to make a good story. The episode wasn't bad, but could've been touched up to at least make it a bit more better. However, the title could've been much better since buckled tracks were a part of the story but the trucks really nothing to do with the episode, apart from Whiff taking rubbish trucks and that's it.
Rating: 4/10
TIT FOR TAT
The last time the show ever had stories adapted from the Railway Series books was back in 1995 when S4 was only on Cartoon Network in the UK. If you were around the time when the show was at its lowest before the Brenner/McCue era, chances are the idea of ever bringing a character straight from the book to the screen or an unadapted story to the screen you would be dreaming. It was an amazing move made by the production team at the time and a great way to introduce the miniature engines. I honestly felt at the time when this had first aired in Canada in early 2017, before all the BS that followed afterwards, that these stories should've been held for the 70th anniversary as they were stories from the Railway Series, which was the foundation of the franchise. I love the little nods that the episode had made like with the Thin Clergyman, Rev.W.Awdry, and the Fat Clergyman, Teddy Boston, went to see Skarloey puffing by. It's a nice nod to Awdry's strong support to the Talyllyn Railway in Wales as well as too his family who are/were volunteers of the railway too. Thomas puffing into Ffarquhar station is similar in style to the original intro from the classic series and have him talking to Awdry, his creator.
The other great part about the episode is that its one of the rare cases to see a crew member interacting with an engine and there was alot and its great to see it again and I wish that the show had kept that later on. The whole story was the same with some originality in it like Thomas wanting to get his photo taken. This personally my favorite adaptation of the Small Railway Engine's story and huge well done to the production for making this great episode. My only complaint and its a small one, I wish the title had 'Based on the story by the Rev.W.Awdry' under Andrew Brenner's name of the episode title, this applies to the other two stories from 'Small Railway Engines'. Just to give the general public the idea that this story was written before by the creator of the characters. Yes we have 'Based on the Railway Series by the Rev.W.Awdry' title in the intro, but pretty much every episode has that. I wish though that the production team had gone forth with other stories that were left unadapted but I'm happy with what we got all the same.
Rating: 10/10
MIKE'S WHISTLE
This was another good adaptation and it had some liberties to meet the length of time, like with dialouge and Thomas' mandatory appearance, but it didn't make the story too different. There's really not much else to say other than that this is another great adaptation. Although I much prefer '
Tit For Tat'.
Rating: 9/10
USEFUL RAILWAY
Another good adaptation with some liberties, although the addition the passengers not taking the small railway seriously was a nice touch so it can build up to the ending of it all and I also like how they explained about how the wool was rolled into bails, which is something not from the book. The slowmotion of Rex's derailment I think adds comedy but it also gave much more impact of the whole accident. Plus it had led to the fandom's meme 'RexVEVO' on social media after it had aired in Canada back in early 2017. These adaptations were a nice touch and proves that the Railway Series stories can work in the series in a length of 9mins. It's a shame that none followed after it.
Rating: 9/10
HENRY IN THE DARK
I will say this is better than '
Henry Gets The Express' but I feel Henry was mostly used more as a plot device because of his greeen glow-in-the dark paint. The other engines were mostly the ones going through something and while Henry was more of his original self, I feel he came off quite as bland, boring and uninteresting. Yes this is the same engine who was built so horribly from stolen plans of a prototype and has a small firebox and other worn out parts and had welsh coal to help him until his accident with the Flying Kipper which lead to him to his new shape at Crewe. But after that nothing else happened to him until he'd rescued two 'dead' diesels and then nothing else happened after that until Christopher's book '
Henry and The Express' and even that book didn't do much for him, Henry had bad coal, got an overhaul and then took a train from a failed diesel, the end, he didn't go through anything just something bad happened to him because it did. Christopher's books aren't really as good as his father's to be honest. Heck that book acknowledged that Henry had no book for ages. In my opinion maybe it should be about Henry being worried about retirement, you see him being worried is a good trait for him that makes him stand out, much better than a carbon copy of Gordon and James mashed together. I like that Henry is a worrier, his two S19 episodes proved that it can work if its executed well, because he actually goes through something like Henry worrying about getting chickenpox, despite it being extreme, because it's something unknown to him since he's an engine and him worrying about an abominable snowman because its a well-known myth. This episode is good but I don't see it as praiseworthy that some fans had with it.
Rating: 6/10
THREE STEAM ENGINES GRUFF
Over the years I began to have a bit of a soft spot for this episode, probably because Thomas, Toby and Percy were used together as a trio and we hadn't that for years, probably since the second season and it was very nostalgic to me. But despite that it was still messy with the use of the characters. I say to keep in the true Awdry/early years spirit of Thomas, the episode should've had Percy fearing the spooky nature of autumn, Thomas teasing Percy for being silly and Toby being the level headed engine of the three. While Thomas was teasing Percy even he began to feel scared by the noise, just like with him in 'Ghost Train'. It would honestly be better if it were that instead of the mess that we got, but I think if we got that we might have Amazon Moms moaning about Thomas being 'mean' because have Thomas being actually relatable to kids is a bad thing, even though Thomas acts like a kid himself! I think this was Brenner's weakest script and there's really nothing redeemable.
Rating: 3/10
ENGINE OF THE FUTURE
And we come to the newbie of S20, Hugo. However his debut episode was really flat. He came to the Island, for some reason, the engines were amazed by him but are worried that he would replace them, even though that whole trope was done to death in the show, since he's the future of the rail travel. However he points out that he doesn't have couplings like the other engines and that his propeller is dangerous when he's at stations, which are really the problems that the real rail zeppelin had in Germany. However the ending of it was just bad as well with Hugo taking passengers and then the engines came to cheer for him at the big station, I know to just cheer him up after being terrible for him but it was out of nowhere this hurrah for him. I remember people comparing him to Harvey as a defence but the difference between those two is major, Harvey was badmouthed by the engines because he was different to them however once he rescued Percy from an accident with his crane, the engines all began to realise how useful he is. Hugo was cheered because they were terrible to him and wasn't because of anything he did that made him useful. I honestly think this episode would've worked if you have Daisy involve. She sees herself as bang up to date and once she saw Hugo and saw how fast and futuristic he is, she began to worry about being replaced and was terrible to Hugo when he was working on the Harwick line. But when Daisy had an accident, Hugo took her passengers for her and Daisy realised how useful Hugo can be despite being 'the future'. It's a more freash idea and would be like 'Away From The Sea', but instead of a diesel fearing to be replaced by a steam engine, it's a rail car fearing to be replaced by a rail zeppelin. Heck, someone in fandom
made a whole video of that idea!
I wish the production team did that story instead of what we got. I'm sorry but this a bad episode. Hugo seems like a sweet gentle character but his debut story was just flat.
Rating: 1/10
HUGO AND THE AIRSHIP
This episode is still confusing even four years after it was released on DVD. The start of the episode looks like it was shown as a mystery about the airship and after Thomas had seen, Hugo randomly yearns to fly. I think there should be better set up for the episode like have Hugo maybe going to an airshow with passengers and saw amazing things can fly and he then saw zeppelin in the field on display. After the show he saw it taking off and he then asked one of the passengers what it was and told him that it was zeppelin and refer it that it looks like him and then he begins to yearn to fly. The set would've worked perfectly but sadly it didn't here. I will say the lack of sound during Hugo's montage felt odd, wheather it was intentional or not. The episode was alright and its better than Hugo's debut episode but there should've been better set up with the airship.
Rating: 4/10
THE MISSING BREAKDOWN TRAIN
I think this episode was a bit boring to sit through. Nothing much happens until Daisy's accident. I think to make the story a bit more better, perhaps have Judy and Jerome trying to get to an accident site before Rocky but the latter got their before they do. However when Rocky was needed for something on the otherside of the Island, an emergency was called and their were no spare cranes except for Judy and Jerome. Have them save Daisy and the Fat Controller sees use to them as a second crane with the message that two is better than one. This episode is basically just two cranes looking at spots and then a crash. It really didn't add much to the message for kids to learn from. It's not bad but far from great.
Rating: 3/10
SKIFF AND THE MERMAID
As I said before, Skiff is not a favorite of mine. But this episode really made me like him for a bit. He has more of a persona here than what we got in the 2015 special and in his first episode from this season. He was naive about the idea of a mermaid and the comedy with the Fat Controller at Bluffs Cove was funny as well. I will say its a shame that Oliver was used more as Toad's transport since he barely had any episode, and sadly we were robbed of one for the next season. I wish we had that episode instead of Samson. Anyway, this episode was good. Not the best or anything but it had some great comedy and Skiff was nice here too.
Rating: 7/10
THE CHRISTMAS COFFEE POT
One thing that surprised me about this episode, according to Ian McCue,
this episode was made only for DVD and it, along with '
Over the Hill', were seen to be part of S21. Although I love Marion in this episode and Olivia Colman had done an excellent job with her voice acting, I feel that Marion's part still could've changed to Thomas, Percy and Toby hearing Glynn's voice and thought it was a ghost, maybe that idea would come more to Thomas and Percy and maybe have Toby being the level headed one and tell Thomas to actually look through the trees to see whats on the otherside, perhaps you can have Toby remembering vaugley that he'd moved an engine in that old siding years ago.
Although Rev.W.Awdry had stated that the coffee pots were scrapped, from 'The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways' from 1987, the television show had over the years said that the Fat Controller never scraps steam engines, giving it the biggest misconception of the character. Although to give further context so that some normies go ranting how Thomas is a communist, Awdry sees his engines as machines with human characteristics and he like many enthusiasts sees engines as a living mechannical being. Just listen to his interview from Wogan in 1988 when it comes to steam locomotives.
So of course like all steam engine they will sadly meet their fate. However its annoying, to the TV series' side to see the engines worrying that the Fat Controller would scrap Glynn because he's old and with years of establishing the fact in their word the Fat Controller never scraps a steam engine, you think they would get it by now! Perhaps instead of fearing for scrap you have the Fat Controller seeing him and would love to have him working on his railway but they don't have anything suitable for him since the workload had become more heavier compare to his day and Glynn tried his best but fails and was sad that he might have to be placed in a siding again rusting away. However the Fat Controller had decided to give him to Sir Robert who can keep him at his estate doing tours with Stephen and it would further increase the jealousy of the latter with Glynn.
The episode was good though but maybe be tweaked a bit.
Rating: 6/10
OVER THE HILL
The sad thing about this episode is the fact that the idea of the Railway Museum by the Earl is no longer a thing now that Mattel had rebooted the series. Who knows what the museum would've been if they had kept on with that idea without BWBA being greenlit. Maybe we were to have more historical pieces of railway history, maybe someone like '
Lion', it doesn't have to be Lion but an engine that shares his basis or maybe it was for the international engines from '
The Great Race'. Who knows but one can only dream, unless someone emails Ian McCue and asked what the idea was about, however don't bombard his inbox.
As for the episode, the Stephen and Glynn dynamic was excellent and pretty much the best part of the whole episode. Stephen really wanted Glynn to be jealous of him but Glynn pretty admires or just didn't bother with Stephen which makes its really funny. Plus his 'race' with Glynn was hilarious as well with the music, inspired by 'Eye of the Tiger', building up to be this awesome and epic race but once they start they puff away almost like old men. When the episode was new, it reminded of Herbert vs Franz in Family Guy, apart from the surroundings but really this was
the first thing that came into mind when I first saw this episode.
One thing I find odd about Glynn's burn to Gordon in the UK dub was that he said 'would you like a cup of tea with that, young Gordon?' unless that was a way of saying a burn but the whole glass of milk quote in the US dub makes more sense since they were calling him 'young'. But in the end, it was a good episode.
Rating: 9/10
OVERALL
I like S20 but I feel that it might've been a little overblown by some people in the fandom as the best season ever of the Brenner/McCue era. There are good episodes but their are also some crummy ones, like Henry's ones. However even the good ones could've been better than what they were in my opinion. But the character dynamics were great such as Daisy with Annie and Clarabel, Glynn and Stephen, Toby and Philip etc. they all really brought something. How the way the show had used Thomas' mandatory appearances was good but they are still his mandatory appearances really.
One of the best things from this season was the music. Chris Renshaw had given the characters their own special theme, similar to what Mike O'Donnell & Junior Campbell gave to the characters when they were composing for the show. However there were some generic music for the background but they seem to be used for any moment unlike the previous seasons when they were just their in the background.
That's all I have to say about S20. It was a good season but I feel that it had been overblown by some people as the best ever. It's not a great season nor a perfect one but it was good none the less.
OVERALL RATING:
188/280
