All Engines Go! Review - S1 Ep.7: Dragon Run

  THESE ARE MY OWN OPINIONS AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FANBASE

DRAGON RUN

Written by
Christopher Gentile

Directed by

Campbell Bryer

Produced by

Rick Suvalle

Suzie Gallo

Air Date

26/08/21 - Mex

15/09/21 - USA

26/09/22 - CAN

16/11/21 - UK

9/01/22 - AUS

Plot

Thomas has the honour of pulling the dragon to the Medieval Faire, but everyone wants a turn as well.

MY VIEWS

Most of the episode is just Thomas, Percy, Diesel, Nia and Kana just running around with a pretend dragon wanting it to take turns just so it can eat up time. It feels like 'Emily Saves the World' from S18 with the globe rolling around but at least that episode had a story and a message saying that despite it being special you have to concentrate on getting the job done. Heck it also feels like 'Thomas and the Circus' from S8 but at least that story had Thomas not wanting to share the load because it was a circus but as he puffed on his journey he found the train harder and harder to the point his traction rods broke and after James and Percy had rescued him he realised that sharing the load is better than doing things on your own. Those two episodes at least have a story woven around it instead of just something to fill up time by having the characters mostly running around and a song added in to eat up the running time. 

There was really nothing redeemable about this episode, sure Edward and Henry were in it for the first time but they bearly did anything other than just being there and this is the first time we see the Fat Controller or as he's now referred to as in both dubs, Sir Topham Hatt, but he was just there and that's it. I think, so far, I had found the worst episode of All Engines Go! It's less story and more useless action. 

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

Overall rating (So far):

23/70  

All Engines Go! Review - S1 Ep.6: Kana Goes Slow

 THESE ARE MY OWN OPINIONS AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FANBASE

KANA GOES SLOW

Written by

Criag Carlisle

Directed by

Campbell Bryer

Produced by

Rick Suvalle

Suzie Gallo

Air Date

25/08/21 - Mex

14/09/21 - USA

25/09/22 - CAN

15/11/21 - UK

8/01/22 - AUS

Plot

When Kana's power goes out during a delivery run, Thomas teaches her that sometimes it's okay to go slow.

MY VIEWS

This is a pretty bland episode and I think it would've been better if Kana sort of looked down on branch lines, slow lines or whatever the show would call them until she learns that slowing down can be good. It might've added a bit more character for her since she's coming off as pretty bland in my opinion, this is coming from someone who hadn't seen the Sodor Cup special so I whenever I get round to it I hope more of Kana's character shines there, but I might be wrong. I don't see the harm in making a character to have a negative trait where kids can learn not to be like that and develop her. If they think parents would get angry by that then those types of parents need to re-evaulate on why they're parents in the first place. If that is Mattel's concern then they shouldn't really hold that fear. It's not bad have a character being a bit arrogant or boastful here and there as long as they learn on why being that is a bad idea. 

Sure the message of the episode is that it's OK to slow down once in a while, though it's kind of funny they have that moral despite All Engines Go's fast pace, but I feel Kana's bland character is what really held back the episode into being better. 

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

Overall rating (So far):

22/60 

All Engines Go! Review - S1 Ep.5: A Quiet Delivery

   THESE ARE MY OWN OPINIONS AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FANBASE

A QUIET DELIVERY

Written by
David Shayne

Directed by

Jason Groh

Produced by

Rick Suvalle

Suzie Gallo

Air Date

25/08/21 - Mex

14/09/21 - USA

25/09/22 - CAN

12/11/21 - UK

7/01/22 - AUS

Plot

Annie and Clarabel have a night-time delivery, so they need to get to their destination that day well-rested. Thomas volunteers to take them but must remain quiet.

MY VIEWS

There are some moments in the episode that I feel would make children on the autism spectrum uncomfortable and yes I know that one of the people who works on the show is autistic himself. While the episode was suppose to have Thomas being loud and obnoxious for the sake of the story it just feels like Mattel, at the time when making these episodes, didn't really consult with foundations and charities at that raise awareness about autism - despite them supporting Autism Speaks since Thomas the Tank Engine over the years is popular with the children on the spectrum. Thankfully Mattel had consult with charities and foundations like the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) and Easterseals for the character Bruno, who I will review later on once I get through Season 1. But it's no excuse for what they did here in some scenes, especially with the loud noises since people on the spectrum are very sensitive to that. 

Other than that I feel that the episode could at least show the message that while other want to have their peace and quiet, there are times we need to be loud in the case of an emergency like Thomas with the cows as he makes his way to Brendam Docks or, considering that it's almost common enough in the episode, tell the audience that message. This may be a nitpick but I really don't like the idea of an engine trying to be quiet because in reality steam engines are loud nosiy things, we had that in Season 13's 'The Early Bird'. This isn't a bad episode but an episode I don't really see as good. 

Though I will say the best thing coming out from this episode is the 'Chugga Chugga Snooze Snooze' song and I'm not really a fan of the songs from the show. But the song was nice, calming and soothing. Sadly though this isn't what I call a favourite of mine. 

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

Overall rating (So far):

19/50

All Engines Go! Review - S1 Ep.4: Rules of the Game

  THESE ARE MY OWN OPINIONS AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FANBASE

RULES OF THE GAME

Written by
Aydrea Walden

Directed by

Jason Groh

Produced by

Rick Suvalle

Suzie Gallo

Air Date

24/08/21 - Mex

13/09/21 - USA

19/09/22 - CAN

11/11/21 - UK

6/01/22 - AUS

Plot

At Knapford Maintenance Yard, Thomas constructs his ideal obstacle course. However, none of the trains can do the course because Thomas only built it for his abilities.

MY VIEWS

Although Mattel had done some gimmicky sets in the past to promote the DVD specials or a particular episode from the latest season of the show, I do like it how the production team try to make a part of the story instead of just being there for the sake of selling toys, although the bridge jump from 'The Great Race' was something pointless. Yes some are ridiculous like the moving bridge from S24, although I do like that since the whole gimmick was at least part of the story but this episode, as ridiculous as it may seems, fits well with the 'All Engines Go!' nature of the show and it's story worked so well with the message that not everyone can have the same fun as you. Although I do wish that the show stops telling the audience the message and just letting them digest the message themselves, it worked in the 'License to Deliver' episode. Sure sometimes an episode's message might flow naturally through the dislouge and I sometimes do that with my stories but I also try and let the message get through to audience without telling them, children are more smarter than you think. 

I think the episode was alright in the end - yes gimmicky to promote an expensive plastic train set but at least it was integeral to the story instead of just something there for the sake of being there. 

Series Rating:

A Thomas Promise - 4/10

Thomas Blast Off - 4/10

License to Deliver - 5/10

Rules of the Game - 6/10

Overall rating (So far):

19/40    

All Engines Go! Review - S1 Ep.3: License to Deliver

 THESE ARE MY OWN OPINIONS AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FANBASE

LICENSE TO DELIVER

Written by
Peter Gaffeny

Directed by

Campbell Bryer

Produced by

Rick Suvalle

Suzie Gallo

Air Date

24/08/21 - Mex

13/09/21 - USA

19/09/22 - CAN

10/11/21 - UK

5/01/22 - AUS

Plot

When Percy has to deliver a new light bulb to the lighthouse at night, Thomas suggests playing secret agents along the way to help Percy forget about his fear of the dark.

MY VIEWS

I think the spy stuff is unnecessary for an episode that teaches young kids to not be afraid of the dark. You could still have Thomas and Percy going about on the Island with their lightbulb delivery and have Percy being scared of the dark without all the spy stuff. It wouldn't make that much difference. Plus what I think could enhance the story without the spy stuff was the lighthouse bulb. Try and show kids why the lighthouse's light bulb is important and why Percy should confront the dark in order to get it there on time. That's how I think the episode would play out without the spy stuff. 

But that isn't to say that this episode was bad - I think it was OK and in comparison to 'The Case of the Puzzling Parts' from S22, this episode made the whole spy thing a bit more entertaining, personally I am not a fan of the former because I think the whole thing was really boring to sit through. Plus it was nice seeing Thomas helping Percy overcoming his fear of the dark. Another thing that I like about this episode is that, unlike the last two episodes before this one, you don't really have Thomas or any other character stating the message of the story and instead the episode lets the audience to digest the message while watching the episode. I much prefer showing the message through visuals instead of having a fictional character to tell the audience its message. 

For the latter it just feels like that you have to tell them the message because they are not going to get it. Kids are smarter than most people give them credit for and deserve to be treated that way instead of being dumbed down. 

Series Rating:

A Thomas Promise - 4/10

Thomas Blast Off - 4/10

License to Deliver - 5/10

Overall rating (So far):

13/30 

All Engines Go! Review - S1 Ep.2: Thomas Blasts Off

 THESE ARE MY OWN OPINIONS AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FANBASE

THOMAS BLAST OFF

Written by

Christopher Gentile

Directed by

Campbell Bryer

Produced by

Rick Suvalle

Suzie Gallo

Air Date

23/08/21 - Mex

13/09/21 - USA

18/09/21 - CAN

4/01/22 - AUS

Plot

Thomas is excited about a rocket launch happening at Brendam Docks. When he s tasked with delivering a battery, he puts it off to help the other engines deliver the rocket pieces.

MY VIEWS

When I first saw this episode when it debuted in Mexico in 2021, this was the episode that made me make up my mind about the new show, at the time. There is repetition and a three strike formula, however not really in the way as it was during the Miller/Barlow era of the show where it's just one engine doing something three times in a row, stuff's up and what do you know there was a spare the whole time but it's left behind somewhere and go through all the three strikes again to put it right and all is well. 

The three strikes is basically just Thomas going back and forth meeting up with the others who were taking other pieces of the rocket but mainly with him just helping them out before he has to take the battery. The message of the story is that no matter how small something is it's still important, although I think maybe it would've been better if the messages of the episodes were left up to the audience and see what they got out of the story instead of just telling them. I know I did my fair share of that but I try not to do that in my episodes sometimes. 

Looking back at this episode it's not as bad as I first thought but like the debut episode it was alright but not great. 

Series Rating:

A Thomas Promise - 4/10

Thomas Blast Off - 4/10

Overall rating (So far):

8/20 

All Engines Go! Review - S1 Ep.1: A Thomas Promise

 Yes I know that I had said back in 2021 that I won't be reviewing the 'All Engines Go!' series and had badmouthed it here when it made its world premiere in Mexico. But like the show, things change. I decided to review these episodes, despite not being such a big fan of it all, in a fair and non-biased sort of way since I had been hearing more good things about it from people who hated it at first but gradually started to enjoy it. If I see an episode that is good I'll say that it's good and if an episode is bad I'll say it's bad. Unlike my other episode reviews which were posted after its intial airing in whatever country, I'll be reviewing these episodes once all of them are released instead. With all that out of the way, let's take a look at the history that led to 'All Engines Go!'

In 2020, Mattel had paterened up with Canadian animation studio Nelvana, the creators of other classic shows like Babar, Little Bear, the Magic School Bus and more to create 'All Engines Go!' since 'Big World Big Adventures' wasn't meeting Mattel's expectations. The new show was given a new art style, which hadn't happened to Thomas since its transformation to full CGI in 2009, which is traditional 2D animation to allow a more flexable Thomas unlike what he was on screen from 1984-2020. So instead of being a conventional steam locomotive, Thomas and his friends now have the freedom to jump around, turn 360 degree, strecth, deform themselves and use their wheels as hands.

So with all that out of the way, let's take a look at the first season of 'All Engines Go!'  but is it a new start to the show? Or is it really another blunder of Mattel's thinking? Let's find out. But first:

THESE ARE MY OWN OPINIONS AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED FROM THE THOMAS & FRIENDS FANBASE

 A THOMAS PROMISE

Written by

Rick Suvalle

Directed by

Jason Groah 

Produced by

Rick Suvalle

Suzie Gallo

Air Date

23/08/21 - Mex

13/09/21 - USA

18/09/21 - Can

8/11/21 - UK

3/01/22 - AUS

Plot

After accidentally derailing Gordon, Thomas makes a promise to deliver his cargo to Whiff's Recycling Plant - while racing with Diesel to get there first.

MY VIEWS

I'll get this out of the way, I really don't like how Thomas and Diesel were shocked that they had been sent him down the wrong line when they have the power to jump off the rails, I mean Thomas did that as soon as he saw Kana coming down the same track. It's just a bit inconsistent for the sake of the plot but I can see that it worked for the sake of it. 

While the story is pretty generic it did give off the message that despite Thomas being competitive still made a promise to Gordon for delivering his cargo to Whiff's recycling plant. Something that kids can understand and learn from. 

I was watching the American dub of the show while reviewing it since it's so limited to find UK dubbed episodes here in Australia. ABC Australia airs them and have them on their iview app but it's rotational and I don't know if the show is on any streaming app, I know Netflix Australia doesn't have it. Plus barely any DVD of the episodes had been released minus the Sodor Cup special and even that is hardly for sale anymore here and that was released, as of writing this review in 2022, back in April! 

But I had seen some episodes in its UK dub form and honestly the North American dub sounds alot more better since some voices sound more better, this isn't to say that the UK actors were bad but I feel that there was some energy and talking of voice actors I am surprised to see that Neil Crone had reprised his role as Gordon since Thomas & the Magic Railroad, I still despise that movie. But I do like his voice in the show and considering that his voice had aged as well, he kinda gives Gordon a very calm but authorative kind of voice as well. 

The song 'I'm Gonna Chug, I'm Gonna Choo' is pretty forgettable. You might know some of the words but would probably forget about it much later.

I think the episode is alright but not great.

Series Rating:

A Thomas Promise - 4/10

Overall rating (So far):

4/10