S10 Ep.28: Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out + Overall

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

THOMAS AND SKARLOEY'S BIG DAY OUT

Written by

Paul Larson 

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

15/10/06

Plot:

Skarloey was in need of repairs and so Thomas took him to the works. Along the way Thomas showed the narrow gauge engine the sites of the island. 

PRO:

- Nice to see the S4 models again

CON:

- The route to the 'Fitter's yards' is inaccurate. 

This episode is alright, but I don't find great or anything. It was nice to the see the S4 model of Skarloey again. But the story was in three strikes, there were repetiviness lines from Skarloey saying 'It's really nice but we have _______ in the mountains', which gets annoying. Plus, if you know the RWS, the route to the fitters yards is wrong. Skarloey actually lives near by the works so why can't Thomas just transfer him there from the wharf. I know the series don't reflect from the RWS anymore, but it would be nice to see the show following its accurate route of the island. In the end, I don't find this to be the best, but it's alright in the end. 

Rating: 3.5/5

OVERALL

Despite the downgraded episodes, this season is just a tiny improvement towards its last season. There were the good ones and the bad ones. I haven't seen the US narration for this season but Michael Angelis does sound like he'll make you go to sleep, not that I'm hating it, I find him a very underrated british actor and a great storyteller, but he seems less enthused from this season, but he is getting old of course. 

The sets were amazing, the Wharf and the Maritime museum especially. The wharf shows some industry of the Island instead of repeat after repeat of trees and fields. In the end S10 may not be perfect, it was an OK season. Stay tuned for S11 reviews.

OVERALL RATING:

75/100

S10 Ep.27: James The Second Best

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

JAMES THE SECOND BEST

Written by

Paul Larson 

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

15/10/06

Plot:

James was shocked that Edward was to be on a poster for the railway. So James tries his best to make him the best engine, but things went wrong in the end. 

PRO:

- Nice to see Ffarquhar again since season eight 

CON:

- You think James should learn his lesson from the past about Edward?

- The three strikes

Didn't enjoyed it, it was boring, repetitive lines from the engines and despite that the writer don't follow the series chronologically, you think James should be wise enough to know how important Edward is to the railway? But give this episode's credit, it was nice to Ffarquhar again since eighth season, despite being called 'the station' in this episode. But that didn't save the episode from being bad, I didn't like it and its not worth the watch.

Rating: 1/5

S10 Ep.26: Thomas and The Treasure

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

THOMAS AND THE TREASURE

Written by

Marc Seal 

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

14/10/06

Plot:

An Admiral is coming to the Island to open the new Maritime Museum. After hearing a tale about lost treasure buried under a skull and cross bones from Salty, Thomas wants to bring the admiral and the treasure, to make the opening more special. 

PRO:

- The maritime museum 

- The vocabulary in the episode

CON:

- N/A

Nothing bad about this episode, I've enjoyed it. Like 'Percy and The Calliope', this episode has two great vocabularies that a child can learn from, 'Maritime' and 'Admiral'. Much like the word 'Calliope' in the S16 episode. I especially love the building of the maritime museum, when its close up with the large scale models of the Fat Controller and the admiral. Sure there were three strikes, but they were not as boring or annoying as the CGI stories. I've enjoyed this episode very much and I'm happy to call this a favourite. 

Rating: 4/5

S10 Ep.25: Missing Trucks

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

MISSING TRUCKS

Written by

Wayne Jackman 

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

14/10/06

Plot:

Rheneas lost all of Skarloey's trucks when he tries to help him 

PRO:

- Rheneas was in character.

CON:

- Skarloey whinging that he was tired. 

The episode's OK, but not at its best, I don't have full on concern that Rheneas was in his character, being a helpful and wise engine. But I hate Skarloey, whinging that he is tired. I know he's an old engine, but, he should know that however hard the work is he need to please the thin controller for his work. 

Rating: 2.5/5

S10 Ep.24: Duncan's Bluff

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

DUNCAN'S BLUFF

Written by
Paul Larson 

Directed by
Steve Asquith 

Air Date:
13/10/06

Plot:
Duncan was teasing James for being late. James was not in the best of moods for a joke; he has to take the children to a concert. So Duncan and James challenge themselves for coal race to see who is fastest. But in the end, James was all out of coal as Duncan shunted some coal trucks in a siding without telling James. Duncan learn his mistake in the end. 

PRO:
- N/A

CON:
- One NG coal truck would never fill up a SG tender

Nothing bad about the episode I found it OK. But my main complaint is the coal loading from one NG truck. It would take more trucks then one to fill up a tender in real life.

Rating: 3/5

S10 Ep.23: Thomas and The Birthday Mail

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

THOMAS AND THE BIRTHDAY MAIL

Written by

James Mason 

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

13/10/06

Plot:

It was Alice's Birthday and Thomas is to take her presents to Hill Farm but a storm was in the way and Thomas was determined to bring the presents in time. Meanwhile a new engine called Rosie was trying to be like Thomas and in the end, helped him out with the mail. 

PRO:

- Rosie

CON:

- N/A

I have to say, this was a nice episode and I certainly like Rosie. Her persona is what Emily should be; kind hearted and caring. Though it was mean of Thomas to avoid her, but its like a child wanting another person away from them because when they're copying them they get annoying. But in the end, it's a nice episode and I do like the basis they chose for Rosie, the SR USA Dock tank engine. 

Rating: 4/5

S10 Ep.22: Thomas and The Colours

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

THOMAS AND THE COLOURS

Written by

Marc Seal 

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

12/10/06

Plot:

Thomas is jealous that James is to take the Sodor football team to the mainland for a match. Thomas tries to get James' vanity against him but ignored and Thomas was running out of ideas until James was switched into a siding filled with trees growing over the tracks. 

PRO:

- N/A

CON:

- The line James was on is more like a passing loop then a siding.

The episode really has an unusual title, sounds more of a drug reference here, even though the episode is not focused on that. But the episode is not worth the watch and does make Thomas look selfish wanting to do the special job. 

  Rating: 1/5

S10 Ep.21: Emily and The Special Coaches

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

EMILY AND THE SPECIAL COACHES

Written by

James Mason 

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

12/10/06

Plot:

Gordon had broken the record for pulling the express and so Emily was to bring some new coaches for him as a reward for his hard work. But Diesel was jealous and he made a record too, but Emily didn't listen as she hasn't have time for him. In the end, Diesel took the coaches and hid them in a siding and his engine was burning hot. It turns out in the end that Diesel shunted the most trucks and so in the end, Emily gave Diesel his reward for his shunting. 

PRO:

- The coaches

CON:

- Diesel can not go too fast in real life.

The episode is OK and I can get through with it. I have to say the coaches look splendid in that colour and I wished they were used in other episodes. But as a railway enthusiast, Diesel would never go at such speed in real life, as his basis, the 08 class shunter, can only travel at least 15 or 23mph. But to be fair, Diesel was still his devious self and I do enjoy that, as it is his persona. 

Rating: 3/5

S10 Ep.20:Thomas' Frosty Friend

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE.

THOMAS' FROSTY FRIEND

Written by

Sharon Miller

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

11/10/06

Plot:

An inflated snow man was attached behind Thomas' buffers.

PRO:

- N/A

CON:

- The three strikes was painfully obvious. 

- Thomas should at least know that the snowman was inflated.

This is one of the worst episodes in the season, the three strikes were just painfully obvious and the story was just completely bland. Plus Thomas' stupidity really irks me during the HIT era of the series, why does he think the snowman's real it's obviously inflatable it floats and has chains on him! I know Thomas is made for kids but Thomas was found on railway realism by the Rev.W.Awdry and it's a shame that at the time this was filmed that all of it is gone.

I didn't bother watching this episode as I knew the easily predictable and bland storyline.     

Rating: 1/5

S10 Ep.19: Wharf and Peace

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

WHARF AND PEACE

Written by

Abi Grant

Directed by

Steve Asquith

Air Date:

11/10/06

Plot:

Skarloey was scared about going to the wharf. 

PRO:

- N/A

CON:

- Skarloey's old persona never gets scared of anything.

I didn't bother watching this episode as I've read the plot of it and I can tell it was bad. First off, I hate this Skarloey, it's really his persona that killed the character and made me loose some respect for the character as the writer had tarnished him to a young, immature idiot. Second, Skarloey has been at the wharf many other times in this season and he never messed up once. The episode is bad and that goes to the next one tomorrow. 

Rating: 1/5

S10 Ep.18: Sticky Toffee Thomas

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

STICKY TOFFEE THOMAS

Written by

Paul Larson 

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

8/10/06

Plot:

While the children were preparing for a costume party, Thomas thought what he likes to wear. But in the end, Thomas landed into a sticky situation with trees and bushes.

PRO:

- Thomas being covered is like an homage to 'Woolly Bear'

CON:

- N/A

To be honest, the episode is not great and I didn't even bother watching it. It has the usual three strikes. But when Thomas was covered in trees and bushes thanks to syrup, it does remind me of 'Woolly Bear'.

Rating: 2.5/5

S10 Ep.17: Big Strong Henry

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

BIG STRONG HENRY

Written by

Simon Nicholsan 

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

8/10/06

Plot:

Henry wants to help Farmer McColl with his sheep, but the job was given to Gordon because he says he was stronger then Henry. In the end, Henry did help out with McColl's sheep because of opened doors from a big blue engine's goods train. 

PRO:

- Despite persona changes for Gordon it's good to see he is pulling goods trains.
- The effects of the cows moving along with Henry's flatbed

CON:
- N/A

The episode is OK, it does have a good moral about not everyone can be strong but helpful. But when I first saw this episode back in 2006 on the internet, at the time ABC Australia weren't showing much of the new and improved Thomas episodes from HIT Entertainment as they were showing the classic series between S6-7. I thought it was wrong of them to have Gordon pulling trucks. But now when I look at it, it's actually a good improvement, despite the persona change. And I do love the effects of the cows as they moved along with Henry with him moving without jumping with the cows' stop motion. 

I find the episode OK and I do like this one as well. 

Rating: 3/5

S10 Ep.16: Thomas and The Shooting Star

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

THOMAS AND THE SHOOTING STAR

Written by
Abi Grant

Directed by
Steve Asquith 

Air Date:
9/10/06

Plot:
It was the night of the shooting star and the engines were excited to see such a thing. But the electric company was broken down and Thomas has to take the workmen. But he was worried that he might miss the shooting star when he was losing his way. But Thomas was guided by a star in the sky that light up the whole of Sodor. 

PRO:
- The red lamp on Clarabel
- Sodor looks great in the night setting

CON:
- N/A

This is a good episode, I really like how the focus of railway realism was their with the red tail lamp on Clarabel and the Island does look good in the night sky and so was the shooting star. The episode has the feeling of 'Thomas and The Rainbow', but this one is better then that episode.

Rating: 3/5

S10 Ep.15: Which Way Now?

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

WHICH WAY NOW?

Written by

James Mason 

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

9/10/06

Plot:

Rusty is to do two jobs, take the signs to their respected routes and taking the Hatt family on their holiday around the mountains. However, in the end, Rusty gets things muddled up. 

PRO:

- Moral: Don't rush

CON:

- N/A

The episode's OK and it's only good thing about it is the moral, telling kids not to rush things. 

Rating: 3/5

S10 Ep.14: Topped Off Thomas

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

TOPPED OFF THOMAS

Written by

Sharon Miller

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

10/10/06

Plot:

The Fat Controller lost his top hat and so Thomas has to find it. 

PRO:

- N/A

CON:

- Three strikes 

- Thomas' steam would be blocked when the hat landed on his funnel

- 'Mr. Wind'

Another poor episode. Their is the typical three strikes and these were annoying to watch and I also hate the fact that they made Thomas calling everything, 'Mr.' like 'Mr. Wind' for example. The episode was poor and not worth the watch. 

Rating: 1/5

S10 Ep.13: Edward Strikes Out

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

EDWARD STRIKES OUT

Written by

Sharon Miller

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

10/10/06

Plot:

A new crane called Rocky arrived on the Island of Sodor. But Edward and Gordon thinks he's 'new fangled nonsense'. But in the end, Edward needs Rocky's help. 

PRO:

- Rocky lifting up Gordon.

CON:

- Edward was out of character.

I find this episode to be the worst in the season and the worst in the series. One major problem is Edward, I said this a lot but, he's suppose to be a kind and wise engine and looks out for others if they're been teased. But no, Edward's persona was butchered up in his episode. However, Rocky is not a bad character and I am impressed by how the way he was lifting Gordon. But I hate this episode because of Edward's new persona. The episode would be more suiting for Henry or James but not an engine like Edward. To me this is one of the worst episode in the brand's history. 

Rating: 1/5

S10 Ep.12: Toby's New Shed

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

TOBY'S NEW SHED

Written by

Simon Nicholsan 

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

7/10/06

Plot:

Toby's shed roof is leaking and so the Fat Controller decided to build a new roof. But the old tram engine doesn't like his new shed because he loved the bird chirping in the holes and in the end, Thomas decided to have the old wood to be turned into a birdhouse.

PRO:

- N/A

CON:

- The title's misleading

The episode is decent but my only complaint is the title. It should be called 'Toby's New Roof' but all in all, it's an OK episode. 

Rating: 3/5

S10 Ep.11: Fearless Freddie

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

FEARLESS FREDDIE

Written by

Simon Nicholsan

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

7/10/06

PRO:
- N/A

CON:
- Duke would've easily been used for this episode
- Skarloey and Rheneas' persona

Plot:
An old friend of Sir Handel's is returning home. He met up with Skarloey and Rheneas who were racing along the line. Freddie decided to race with them too and took shortcuts along the railway line. 

This episode could easily bring back Duke, even though I can live without him. Freddie is OK, but I still find Duke to be the oldest engine and not him. What I really hate from this episode is Skarloey and Rheneas' persona's that were given, they're not young and stupid when really they're to be wise and determined. It's pathetic for what they were given as great characters. Thanks to 'Blue Mountain Mystery' for restoring the persona's of the two engines, mainly Skarloey. 

Rating: 1/5

S10 Ep.10: Seeing The Sites

This was held back for respect to the ANZAC's for ANZAC Day

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

SEEING THE SITES

Written by

Wayne Jackman 

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

6/10/06

Plot:

Gordon was jealous of Thomas for taking important visitors around the Island and that it should be his job. Thomas was cross and so he decided to take his visitors in one day, but Thomas rushes his important job. 

PRO:

- Thomas and Gordon rivalry

- The plot has a bit of 'Bertie's Chase' towards it

- Moral: Slow and steady and don't rush

CON:

- Three strikes

Once again, the slow and steady and don't rush moral is used once again. The episode is OK and its plot does have a bit of a 'Bertie's Chase' story towards it. I love how the young children today has a Thomas and Gordon rivalry like the ones who saw it back in the day of the golden era of the show. But the three strikes was used and it's not as annoying as the one from the CGI era of the series but it does get a bit annoying. 

Rating: 3/5

S10 Ep.9: It's Good To Be Gordon

THESE ARE SOLEY MY OPINIONS AND NOT FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FAN BASE

IT'S GOOD TO BE GORDON

Written by

Abi Grant

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

6/10/06

Plot:

Gordon is breaking the record of hauling the express and so he was proud to be himself. But on the day of his record braking, he took Henry's special coal but Gordon thinks that it'll make him better at his record. But when Henry took the normal coal, his boiler did not accept it well. In the end, Gordon decided to switch tenders so Henry can have his special coal. 

PRO:

- I liked the tender switch

- Despite that Henry doesn't need his special coal, they did make a RWS reference

CON:

- Henry's special coal

I like the episode, the story is good and it certainly is entertaining. Though a good episode can have some flaws and that is really the special coal thing. As of course Thomas fans who remembered reading in the RWS book 'Henry the Green Engine' in 1951 or who watched the adapted story, 'The Flying Kipper' in 1984 would know that when Henry went to Crewe he was given a new shape and larger firebox and he doesn't need his special coal anymore. Despite this flaw it was great to acknowledge the RWS, even though it was used again in S15. 

The tender switch may seem odd, but it was great seeing what the engines are like with different coloured tenders. Though in my opinion, I think the plot will work better if the coal was in bad quality like it was in 'Out of Puff' that way it would make perfect sense and will leave out the continuity error. But I think the episode is good.

Rating: 4/5