S11 Ep.1: Thomas and The Storyteller

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

While fans were enjoying the new eleventh season, HIT Entertainment were in debt at the time and so discussions were made about the future of their brands and that includes Thomas the Tank Engine. It was then decided that Greg Tiernan, now former director of the show as the animation was transferred to Arc Productions in late 2011, to take over as director and turn the show from traditional models to CGI, which is broadcasted a year later. But for now, let's focus on the eleventh series, which now has a total of 20 episodes and is filmed in HD and was given new footage for its opening intro, the first episode is:

THOMAS AND THE STORYTELLER

Written by

Abi Grant

Directed by

Steve Asquith 

Air Date:

3/09/07

Plot:

A famous storyteller is coming to the Island of Sodor to open the new library. While Thomas was chosen to collect her and showing her the inspiration of Sodor, he was helping his friends Emily, James and Percy and after feeling bad for her biscuits getting wet, the storyteller was smiling and told Thomas he was her inspiration to write a new story.  

PRO:
- Thomas being helpful and not stupid

CON:
- The episode does get, as usual, repetitive 

It was decent. It was nice seeing Thomas being helpful to the storyteller and the other engines then his usual stupid self. But the episodes does get repetitive with Thomas' dialogue 'I'm sorry, I can't take you there I have to help my friend'. But it would be better if were an homage to the Rev.W.Awdry, the creator of Thomas the tank engine and his friends, but a man can dream can he?

Rating: 3/5

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