S9 Ep.22: Skarloey The Brave

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

SKARLOEY THE BRAVE

Written by
Paul Larson 

Directed by
Steve Asquith 

Air Date:
11/11/05

Plot:
Skarloey was embarrassed after running away from some trucks and wants to prove he is brave

 PRO:

- N/A

CON:

- Skarloey acting young

- Why was the incline used for coal? 

The episode that made ending up hating Skarloey and the narrow gauge engines in the new series before his (Skarloey's) persona was repaired in 'Blue Mountain Mystery'. The writing for the episodes tarnished the older engines in the series. Skarloey is one of the examples of why fans are demanding for the writing to be changed. Skarloey is well over 100 years old and he should at least know that he is brave enough. I'm happy that 'Blue Mountain Mystery' restored Skarloey's true persona thanks to Andrew Brenner. As on the incline using coal, I don't know why they used that instead of slate. 

Rating: 1/5

Should The Original Thomas Theme Deserve A Comeback?

With the new changes in term of writing for Thomas & Friends by Andrew Brenner and producer Ian McCue coming soon to television screens in Autumn (fall) 2013, I believe its time for one big question that has been in the minds of Thomas fans everywhere, does the original theme composed by Mike 'O Donnell and Junior Campbell, between 1984 - 2003, deserve a comeback? You made the vote and here are the answers. 

Many Thomas fans, who grew up at the time when Britt Allcroft was the owner of the Thomas franchise, remember the classic theme song that introduce us to the imaginative Island of Sodor that many people have been familiar with. Now that the theme song has been off for nearly ten years, many fans at the time thought it was a shame. 86% (19 votes) show that yes it does deserve a comeback and it's not much of a surprise really when you think about it. The music created by the original composers of the theme song has been known worldwide for many years, it's been remade by recent composer of the series since 2004, Robert Hartshrone, in the Season 16 episode 'Percy and The Calliope' last year, even the people who grew out of Thomas still remember the theme music and if you've seen many older fans' fan made projects on YouTube whether it be Trainz, Hornby, Bachmann, Trackmaster, Wooden Railway, Take 'N' Play, use the classic theme song for their opening intro and closure, but in my opinion it has been overused a lot lately, in videos, but I am one of the people who grew up with the theme song and love to see it making a comeback.

However 4% (1 vote) think that they're not quite sure if it deserves a comeback. Maybe because kids of the new generation of Thomas fans enjoy listening to the recent theme song and it may cause bad reception to the parents today if new changes are made. But from former yellow Wiggle, Greg Page, says that children understand the concept of change.

9% (2 votes) of fans show that 'Engine Roll Call' is fine. When the series was revamped by HIT Entertainment in 2004, many fans, between 1984 - 2003, were outraged by the new changes since the departure of the original composers of the series and that even to this day, many older fans still don't like the theme music, which is now sung by a choir between the 11th - 16th series of the show. In my opinion, I think the children choir had their day and that their singing of new series song is rather bland and boring since S9. The only song from the model era of the show I find entertaining was 'Thomas You're The Leader' sung by Chris Madin. The song was fun, catchy and even though it has the mention of the 'Steam Team', it had a wider expansion of other characters of the show. With Sam Blewitt singing songs from the CGI series as well as the DVD specials, it's nice to know that Robert Hartshrone wants songs focusing for children and parents so they can enjoy it too, as stated by himself, with genre's rock, hillbilly and Irish gaelic music, the songs these days are very entertaining and fun to listen too.

In my final thoughts, it's an obvious choice of who the winner is and that is of course the people who think that the original theme deserve a comeback. As I said before, many fans who grew up during the classic era of the show and people who watched the show when they were kids and grew out of it remembered the theme song to this day. Many kids today of this generation are watching the old Thomas episodes, thanks to DVD releases over the years.

NEXT POLL QUESTION 
'DO YOU CONSIDER GOOD SIGNS FOR KING OF THE RAILWAY AFTER SEEING THE FIVE S17 EPISODES?'

A Tribute To Two Long Running Narrators...

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

As many may be aware that the new exclusive DVD 'Railway Mischief' in the US had received a new narrator named Mark Moraghan and since now he'll be narrator for both the UK and US audiences, that means last year, season sixteen and 'Blue Mountain Mystery', was both Angelis and Brandon's last year of service with Thomas & Friends. Both had stand long then any narrator, mainly Michael Angelis. Today I will give you my thoughts on these two narrators and how I like them through out the years with the show.

MICHAEL ANGELIS (1991 - 2012)

After Ringo Starr left the show in favor of his All Starr Band in 1989, the same year 'Shining Time Station' aired in American television, a third season was in production without a narrator and stepped in was the long time running narrator, Michael Angelis. I've enjoyed watching the series with MA's narration from the third season, he brought some enthusiasm and great voices for the engines around the classic era of the show. He gone down to be slow and uninteresting around S9 - 16 but I must give him credit that he still narrated even at the worse of times when the show had its bad writing around S13 - 15. He brought entertainment for two decades and its sad to see him go. But I wish all the best of luck in his other work and that he'll never be forgotten as one of the great Thomas storytellers of all time. 

MICHAEL BRANDON (2004 - 2012)

After Michael Angelis breifly did 'New Friends For Thomas' on DVD in the US, HIT Entertainment approached Brandon on a play called 'Jerry Springer, The Opera' and asked to be narrator of the series from season eight. Although Brandon has a good voice, his character voices were not great, particularly Donald and Douglas, Skarloey, Duncan etc. But he has that friendly voice and his voice work for Diesel was good too, who knows he might still be the voice of the character in S17. Even outside of the show I see how much of a good actor he's been. He has been in past British shows like 'The Bill' and I thought he was well acted. Brandon may not be loved by older fans, but was definitely by the target range of the show. But he also must be given credit, like Angelis, he still narrated the show even during the bad times for the series. 

  

It's sad to see these two great people go but I think it's time for a change with the narration. But they'll always be remembered for what they've contributed for the show no matter how good or bad they were during the best of time and worse of times. I like to thank them for what they've been doing for Thomas fans both young and old and now I like to wish Mark Moraghan good luck for his narration, so far he sounds good and energetic.  

S9 Ep.21: Bold and Brave

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

BOLD AND BRAVE

Written by

James Mason 

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

11/11/05

Plot:

Thomas was frightened by Diesel because of 'The curse of the cliffs'. However, Thomas noticed that Diesel was lying to him in the end. 

PRO:

- It was nice to see Bill having a role

CON:

- Thomas should've known not to be fooled by Diesel

This episode I believe tries its best to be good. It was nice to see Bill having a role again, even if its short. I know he should be working at the China Clay mine or the quarry but they had other jobs away from the mines before. However there is one con, Thomas has known Diesel for years, so he should know now that he should not be fooled by him. But in the end, the episode is OK, despite the three strikes. 

Rating: 3/5

S9 Ep.20: Duncan and The Old Mine

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

DUNCAN AND THE OLD MINE

Written by

Paul Larson 

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

4/11/05

Plot:

Duncan was hoping to take some holiday makers to Culdee mine. But the job was given to Bertie and Duncan is to bring coal trucks to the transfer yards with Rusty. On his way, Duncan spotted an old disused mine and wanted to go in their. But he was trapped and had to find his way out again until he spotted some coal trucks. 

PRO:

- Despite being a fictional name its nice to hear 'Culdee' a RWS reference 

CON:

- It would take more then a barrier to block a tunnel.

- Duncan's driver would have some common sense.

- The episode should've been called 'Duncan and The Old Tunnel'

An episode that is not worth the watch, its alright, but not worth it. It would take more of barrier to stop an engine from heading into a mine. They could've built gates around it. Plus the mine shaft is nothing like a mine, they should've called the episode 'Duncan and The Old Tunnel'. Though despite the bad things about this episode, it was nice to hear another RWS reference. Even though it was a location that is made up and didn't exist in the books, its nice to hear that 'Culdee' got a mention. Even though its not the engine. The episode is OK, but it needed some work. 

Rating: 2.5/5

S9 Ep.19: Thomas' New Trucks

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

THOMAS' NEW TRUCKS

Written by

Paul Larson 

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

4/11/05

Plot:

Thomas wanted new trucks like James, but they were troublesome and rude and they want to get dirty.

PRO:

- The trucks are really colourful

- The return of Bill and Ben 

CON:

- Why would Thomas and James have their own trucks? 

- Why would they bother having them clean?

Another bad episode, sure Thomas, Toby, Duck and Oliver have their own coaches, but why would an engine have their own trucks? Many engines use the same kind of trucks all the time no matter who owns them and why would Thomas and James be bothered about getting them clean? Trucks get dirty all the time. But I have to say the trucks were really colourful and it was great seeing Bill and Ben again, despite being their for a short period. 

Rating: 2/5

S9 Ep.18: Thomas' Day Off

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

THOMAS' DAY OFF

Written by

Sharon Miller

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

28/10/05

Plot:

A new engine named Dennis was lazy and wanted Thomas to do his jobs for him on his day off. 

PRO:

- N/A

CON:

- Why would an engine have a day off and goes off on the railway? 

- Toby would've been more suitable for Thomas' role. 

Even though I find Sharon Miller's 'Thomas and The Birthday Picnic' decent, I have to say that this episode is bad! Thomas having a day off and yet goes to places around the railways. If an engine is to have a day off, it should stay in the shed not going about to do things. Plus I don't know why the episode has to have Thomas in it? Sure he's the main character but Toby is more suitable in this role. For Dennis, many people think Daisy is more suitable, I don't think so as she promised never to be lazy again at the end of 'Percy's Predicament'. I find Diesel or D261 more suitable for Dennis' role. 

Rating: 1/5