THESE ARE MY OWN OPINIONS AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FANBASE.
SKIFF SAILS SODOR
Written by
Daniel Share-Storm
Daniel Share-Storm
Directed by
Campbell Bryer
Produced by
Suzie Gallo
Air Date
29/05/22 - CAN
9/06/22 - AUS
7/10/22 - USA
1/02/23 - UK
Plot
When Skiff gets a crack in his hull, Thomas needs to move him overland to Harwick for repairs, but Skiff’s land-sickness makes that challenge.
At first I thought the idea of 'Land Sickness' was ridiculous and was just some idea for Skiff to go through as conflict during the episode. But after researching to see if it is true it turns it actually is for some people. But Skiff getting landsick was getting to be a bit annoying as the episode progress through and could at least be more devouted to Thomas and the others looking for ways to avoid Skiff getting sick. I know they had done that in the episode but they didn't need to establish Skiff getting sick all the time. Plus when it comes to the bumpy side of things why couldn't Thomas just run over some hills since he has the power to move on the ground. Plus throughout this whole season why give the engines that power but most of the time they just stay on the tracks?
Sure there are somethings that work for plot reasons but in this episode it would work fine since it does work for the plot! You could have that be a solution for Skiff getting to Harwick but he still needs a solution to the problem of land sickness and that would be Sandy giving him his wheels. But overall I think the episode was OK.
Series Rating:
A Thomas Promise - 4/10
Thomas Blast Off - 4/10
License to Deliver - 5/10
Rules of the Game - 6/10
A Quiet Delivery - 3/10
Kana Goes Slow - 3/10
Dragon Run - 1/10
The Biggest Adventure Club - 7/10
Percy's Lucky Bell - 5/10
Sandy's Sandy Shipment - 6/10
A Wide Delivery - 4/10
Counting Cows - 3/10
Music Is Everywhere - 6/10
Backwards Day - 4/10
Chasing Rainbows - 2/10
Nia's Balloon Blunder - 7/10
Capture the Flag - 8/10
Mystery Boxcars - 6/10
Super Screen Cleaners - 4/10
Overnight Stop - 5/10
The Joke is on Thomas - 3/10
Lost and Found - 4/10
Thomas' Day Off - 4/10
The Real Number One - 7/10
Rollercoasting - 1/10
No Power, No Problem! - 3/10
The Tiger Train - 7/10
The Can-Do Submarine Crew! - 7/10
Thomas and Percy's Eggsellent Adventure - 3/10
Calliope Crack-Up - 7/10
Tyrannosaurus Wrecks - 4/10
The Super-Long Shortcut - 8/10
A Light Delivery - 5/10
The Paint Problem - 7/10
A Wonderful World - 4/10
Whistle Woes - 4/10
Letting off Steam - 4/10
Nia's Perfect Plan - 3/10
Something to Remember - 5/10
Sandy Versus the Storm - 3/10
An UnbeLEAFable Day - 4/10
Ghost Train - 3/10
A Rusty Rescue - 4/10
Hide & Surprises! - 6/10
Pop a Wheelie - 4/10
Goodbye Ghost-Scaring Machine - 3/10
More Cowbell - 2/10
Sir Topham Hatt's Hat - 4/10
Nia's Surprising Surprise - 5/10
A New View for Thomas - 5/10
Song of Sodor - 1/10
Skiff Sails Sodor - 5/10
Overall rating:
227/510
SERIES OVERALL
I know I said I'm not going to be biased but after witnessing this whole series, I want to do this because it's bewildering that Mattel thinks this would work better than what the original series did.
After sitting through all of this I still prefer the likes of 'Big World, Big Adventures' anyday. As flawed as that iteration of Thomas & Friends is, it at least respects the world that Awdry had created even though some ideas are ridiculous. The writing of BWBA doesn't rely too much on puns unlike 'All Engines Go!' and some kids shows in general like 'Paw Patrol' try to force it down as a joke when really it's just cheap, lazy, uncreative and unfunny writing. I would say catchphrases as well but the original show always had catchphrases but at least those are more for situations that get Thomas and his friends in a conundrum.
AEG is a complete opposite with its writing and is more like any kids show you would find on wherever just so desperate parents can find something for their kids to be entertained by when they have time to themselves. 'Bluey' is one of those rare kids shows that is the complete opposite.
Bluey doesn't even have that much of what higher up's think kids would want and rather just gives something that audiences can relate too when it comes to kids and some of the episodes were more about the element of play but it has a little neat story around them and some are very memorable that adults and children can understand at their own level like the episode 'Onesis' where Chilli's sister Brandy had been distant from her sister because she was infertile, meaning she can't get pregnant.
The parents and adults can understand the situation because they may've heard about it or knew someone be it a friend or family member who has that issue and for the kids they might not understand what her sister is going through but they explained it in a way that kids can understand from Bluey's perspective. She wanted to have the Cheeta onesie but she was into Zebra's and that in the end she just couldn't get what she wanted. It was such a touching and beautiful episode and deserves to be praised for that explanation towards kids.
The humor in Bluey doesn't rely on puns or stupid catchphrases. The humor is pretty subtle in some cases like the parents being hungover after a new years party, that happened, but it's something for the parents to laugh at while it goes over the child's head until they're much older. When you think about it fits in the words that Awdry had stated interviews over the years during his lifetime that you're not merely writing for children but you're also writing for the less fortunate who has to read it over and over again. Some parents do sit through kids shows when looking after their kid at home or elsewhere and not many of them are made with what Awdry had in mind and 'All Engines Go!' is one of those shows that I believe parents would cringe at.
Bluey feels less punishable
Most of the episodes, in AEG, rely on puns and catchphrases that you would find in the toys, which is obvivous for a company like Mattel. There are some episodes that are fine and I still personally love 'The Super-Long Shortcut' for its take on Thomas & Gordon's relationship and I still think that it would work in the original series had Mattel still given it a chance. But most of the episodes that I've seen this season were all forgettable, bland and boring stories that never had that spice with the characters.
The characters in the show such as Thomas, Percy, Diesel, Kana, Nia and Carly had never really clicked with me. They feel generic and never really had that much personality. I will say Sandy was alright herself in comparison in some episodes that had been focused on her and I wonder how she would work in the original series and I think of one story where she thinks she's very limited in her capabilities but founds that being a track maintenance vehicle is important work.
I honestly hated the music in this show because it doesn't sound anything interesting and it feels like it's just there in the background to fill in all the quietness. I know that sounds harsh towards the composer but I much prefer the composition of Mike O'Donnell & Junior Campbell as well as Chris Renshaw because they at least added some personality towards the characters' themes as well as some incidental themes and themes that involves runaways or something dangerous is about to happen to an engine. I will say for Renshaw, some of the themes he'd made for the characters were his own but you can tell there was so much influence from the former. His themes for James and the Scottish twins had really stood out for me.
I didn't add the Hartshorne's because I too think that their music feels a bit generic and plain and were just there for the background, patriculary for the likes of S13-16. But I do love Peter's son's compsition for 'The Adventure Begins' it might be the nostalgia talking but it just feels nice to hear interesting takes of the original music. But the music for AEG, to me sometimes, is forgettable and when I was reviewing the episodes I sometimes forgot that there was music.
While the movement was made to be more engaging, it seems that Mattel had never seen a realistic looking steam, diesel or electric engine nor a child's reaction to something as powerful or as awesome. Thomas is meant to be like these steam engines that kids see in real life whether it's on the main line or on a heritage railway. The engines of Thomas are meant to be like the real thing!
If this was a way from them to make kids find trains 'less boring' then they clearly have no idea why there are train obessed kids out there. Although one person had said to me that he thinks kids would see a steam locomotive and expect it to jump like in this show. Kids are not that dumb as they could see how big and heavy the steam engine is when they see one in real life and see the difference between reality and fantasy. If anyone thinks that kids are that stupid then they hadn't interact with a kid at all and are underestimating their intelligences.
So yes, this first season is not in anyway worth sitting through. I don't know why Mattel thinks this would be a competitor in the world of children's television when the original series stood out more in comparison with morals and messages that a contempary audience can enjoy without too much need of trying to make it too modern and trendy with bad puns and catchphrases.
AEG feels like something that Mattel thinks kids and parents want instead of what parents and kids actually want.
I will review Season 2 when all the episodes are released but next I will be releasing my 'Race for the Sodor Cup' review in early May.
Now I need a break after reviewing everything from S1 of AEG.
