I'm back with more episode reviews for S3 of AEG which had finished its run in Canada back in late June and will be making its US run soon on Netflix next month. So after a dissapointing first half, will S3B be any better? I don't know but I'm not going to hold my breath here. Anyway it's just ten episodes to get through and then I'll be reviewing the 60min Christmas special when its released. But let's get on with the reviews, shall we? But first:
THESE ARE MY OWN OPINIONS AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FANBASE
CRAB CROSSING
Peter Gaffney
Directed by
Campbell Bryer
Produced by
Suzie Gallo
Air Date
11/05/24 - CAN
19/09/24 - US
Plot
Sandy and Carly learn how to construct better after an attempt to repair a sea wall fails.
Another example of AEG's consistency problem with Carly and Sandy coming up with the realisation that there are animals living on the Island as well, even though we already had an episode like that,and a really terrible one at that, in this season already called 'Duck, Duck Whoosh' and a whole song about that too. I don't know how fast the process is for TV production but surely someone would've noticed some of the similarities, right? Anyway, despite that, the episode was not good. Sure it was nice that Carly and Sandy were trying to help the crabs but that was basically it and most of it was done to fill in time and Thomas' runaway wagons just so Sandy and Carly can meet up with Darcy in the mine so she can escort them to the beach but it can also work without such need to fill in time.
Perhaps you can have Thomas, Sandy and Carly trying to find ways to move the sea wall, yes it would be repetitive but hey it's better than adding pointless filler to eat up running time. Also while I know the episode's resolution is a crab crossing, I also think it's a bad solution since they placed the sea wall next to the beach to keep the waves away from the railway line. Why not build a tunnel through the sea wall underneath the sand instead of slabs of steel? Also why would Carly and Sandy want the crabs to come again? The whole point of the episode was to take them back to their habitat. I know these are nitpicks but they are very annoying little details that I want to point out.
Also the song from reading the lyrics because I can't be bothered to sit through it, I feel it's ironic that they were trying to force down a message that we must build things for everyone but that messaging will be forgotten about in later episodes because consistency and character development aren't important. I don't believe that the crab crossing and the sea wall will be a permanent feature, hell the new engine wash from Bubbly Build wasn't featured in it despite that the events of the special had happened. Sure the wikia might say this was set before the special but that doesn't hold much weight since AEG has continuity but they are just bad at it, look at 'Sights of Sodor' for example from S2.
The episode is bad, it's a rehash of the Kana duck episode but even worse and wouldn't hold any importance for character development since its whole message will just be forgotten about.
Series Rating:
What's the Buzz - 4.5/10
Bells are Ringing - 4/10
Abraca-Diesel - 2/10
Overcommitted - 2.5/10
Sandy's Fine Mess - 4/10
Nia's Green Surprise - 3/10
Duck Duck Whoosh! - 1/10
Choo-Choo Check In - 5/10
Percy's Little Problem - 3/10
Fill-In Friend - 4/10
Cake It Easy - 1/10
The Can-Do Crew - 6/10
Pizza Picnic Problem - 3/10
Travels With Terence - 2/10
Crab Crossing - 1/10
Overall Rating (So far):
45/150
45/150
