All Engines Go! Review - S1 Ep.11: A Wide Delivery

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

A WIDE DELIVERY

Written by

Liz Hara

Directed by

Campbell Bryer

Produced by

Rick Suvalle

Suzie Gallo

Air Date

27/08/21 - Mex

17/09/21 - USA

3/10/22 - CAN

22/11/21 - UK

13/01/22 - AUS

Plot

When the trains must deliver in pairs, Thomas is disappointed to be paired with Diesel instead of his BFF Percy.

MY VIEWS

Although the moment we see the episode transition backwards and forth between Percy, Nia, Thomas and Diesel with them messing around while taking their wide delivery, it did feel part of the story instead of being useless filler to eat up time. It had brought up a nice message that you can have more than one best friend and have fun with others as well when it comes to playing games. The song, while having some forgettable lyrics, has a nice beat to it. In the end, the episode was alright but not great.

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

The Biggest Adventure Club - 7/10

Percy's Lucky Bell - 5/10

Sandy's Sandy Shipment - 6/10

A Wide Delivery - 4/10

Overall rating (So far):

46/110

All Engines Go! Review - S1 Ep.10: Sandy's Sandy Shipment

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

SANDY'S SANDY SHIPMENT

Written by
Karissa Valencia

Directed by

Campbell Bryer

Produced by

Rick Suvalle

Suzie Gallo

Air Date

27/08/21 - Mex

16/09/21 - USA

2/10/22 - CAN

19/11/21 - UK

12/01/22 - AUS

Plot

When Sandy learns about a massive shipment of sand that needs to be delivered, she is determined to help, despite her size.

MY VIEWS

I don't know if this is a nitpick but the episode is more about Sandy being helpful instead of making the delivery, as said in the title. Wouldn't it be better to call it something like 'Helpful Sandy'? It fits with the narrative of the episode and would make way more sense instead of the title it has now. But other than that I do like how the episode showcase more of Sandy's personality, we know that she likes sand and that's how she got her name and that she has a helpful side for any situation. She kinda grows on me as a likeable character. The episode wasn't bad but sometimes the puns kinda irk me a bit since not all them are clever nor funny in my opinion.  

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

The Biggest Adventure Club - 7/10

Percy's Lucky Bell - 5/10

Sandy's Sandy Shipment - 6/10

Overall rating (So far):

42/100

All Engines Go! Review - S1 Ep.9: Percy's Lucky Bell

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

PERCY'S LUCKY BELL

Written by
Aydrea Walden

Directed by

Jason Groh

Produced by

Rick Suvalle

Suzie Gallo

Air Date

27/08/21 - Mex

16/09/21 - USA

2/10/22 - CAN

18/11/21 - UK

11/01/22 - AUS

Plot

When Thomas borrows Percy's lucky bell for a dangerous delivery, Thomas accidentally loses the bell.

MY VIEWS

To me this episode was OK. There was a bit of story but the song was pretty much forgetable in my opinion. I would say that they should've used Carly to get the bell instead of Sandy but it was there to create some conflict and having something that would be logic would not add that tension to make confliction. There's not really much else I can say except that it was an OK episode.

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

The Biggest Adventure Club - 7/10

Percy's Lucky Bell - 5/10

Overall rating (So far):

38/90 

All Engines Go! Review - S1 Ep.8: The Biggest Adventure Club

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

THE BIGGEST ADVENTURE CLUB

Written by
Peter Gaffney

Directed by

Jason Groh

Produced by

Rick Suvalle

Suzie Gallo

Air Date

26/08/21 - Mex

15/09/21 - USA

26/09/22 - CAN

17/11/21 - UK

10/01/22 - AUS

Plot

When Thomas finds a treasure map, he creates The Big Adventure Club to seek the treasure and Sandy wants to join, but Thomas says she's too little, so Sandy forms her own club.

MY VIEWS

Honestly, this was actually a good episode for a show like AEG! Sandy was a very engagable character with her wanting to prove that despite being small she can be brave and clever. I was thinking through that it would be great if Thomas was a bit for sympathetic towards Sandy's since he can be put down for his size but I don't think it would work with Sandy's character development in this episode. Plus this is mighty better than 'Dragon Run' as I feel there was more story here and less messing around from the characters. For the first time on this blog an AEG episode is getting a higher rating. I really don't have any qualms with the episode, although this might be a nitpick but Diesel being annoyed at the bridge falling down in the caves is kind of stupid considering that the engines have the power to jump across but despite that. This was a good episode. 

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

The Biggest Adventure Club - 7/10

Overall rating (So far):

33/80  

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