S3 Ep.19: One Good Turn

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

ONE GOOD TURN

Written by

Britt Allcroft and David Mitton

Directed by

David Mitton 

Air Date:

4/09/92

Plot:

Bill and Ben are sent to the yards on Edward's branch line by the Fat Controller to help out with BoCo with the trucks and coaches. As a reward, they get to go on the turntable for the first time, but the foreman had accidentally left Bill at the wrong place and Ben was puffing directly to him. The two engines were cross and gave themselves the silent treatment. They caused a fuss in the yard to BoCo and Edward and the big green diesel had a plan, which was approved by the Fat Controller. Bill and Ben are to take the regular goods train. Ben coupled to the train himself, but can't. Then the twins laughed and decided to pull together. 

PRO:

- It's nice to see Bill and Ben working in other places then the china clay works.

CON:

- 'Mischievous engines on the Fat Controller's Railway' they are privately owned engines, so the Fat Controller never owns them as his own. 

- Wouldn't it be better if the twins were coupled up to each other rather then being uncoupled?

- Why shoe-horn Thomas in the end?

This is one of my favourite Bill and Ben episodes as it was good episode to see them working in other places rather then just the china clay works, but what I don't like is that they claimed to be on the Fat Controller's railway, when really in the RWS, they are privately owned engines of the china clay works. Other then that and my other two cons, this is another personal favourite, its great to see BoCo and the twins again.

Rating: 4/5

S3 Ep.18: All At Sea

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

ALL AT SEA

Written by 

Britt Allcroft and David Mitton

Directed by

David Mitton

Air Date:

19/01/92

Plot:

Percy and Duck like to work at the harbour. One day, Percy and Duck saw a Regatta and Duck wished he can be travel to far away lands. Harold told them all about it as he's needed in case of emergencies. Percy thought Duck was silly. Just then a man from the Regatta had hurt his hand and is in need of help to get to the hospital. After Duck gave the man to Bertie, Duck realised that Percy was right. That night, flag came down as it was a thank you to Duck for helping the man. Duck still has his dream about what's on the horizon. 

PRO:

- Percy having common sense at the time, unlike today's episodes.

- The revamped 'Viaduct' theme was amazingly catchy.

CON:

- Why is the man taking Duck and Bertie for the hospital, he needs an ambulance.

- Brake vans should be added to Duck and Percy's trains.

I enjoyed this episode and I watch it again and again. But there are a few flaws, yes, there are no brake vans on the back of the two tank engines trains and yes why would Duck wish himself to be a boat? And why on earth did Bertie take the man to the hospital? What about an ambulance? But I do like how Percy actually has common sense in this episode rather then the episodes today and the revamped 'Viaduct' theme is extremely catchy and I enjoy listening to it on its own, if only HIT released them on CD.

Rating: 3.5/5

S3 Ep.17: Buzz Buzz

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

BUZZ BUZZ

Originally Written by

The Rev.W.Awdry

Adapted for Television by

Britt Allcroft and David Mitton

Air Date:

2/01/92

Plot:

James met Trevor at the vicarage orchard and discovered some bee hives due to the noise. As BoCo came, James puffed away indigently as he doesn't like to be told what to do by a diesel.  As James was to take the express, a bee hive fell down from the porter's trolley and broke open, the passengers ran away and the bees flew everywhere as they need a new home and that was James' boiler. One bee burnt his foot and stung James right on the nose. James tried everything until they gave up and they took the bees back to the hive. The vicar made a joke about James' nose saying that its a pity its not Christmas and calls him 'James the Red Nosed Engine'. Even James laughed but they called the 'bee knees' 

PRO:
- It's great to see more characters connecting to Trevor rather then Trevor.
- The animation for the bee stinging James

CON:
- Shame we never get to see BoCo hauling the express.
- James hadn't done the three things in the story. 

I do enjoy this episode, but why couldn't they keep this for the second season? The book shows Duck not respecting BoCo because he's a diesel, but as he knew Edward and the twins, the pair became good friends. Here, we see that they are already good friends. The opening is nice and it was great to see Trevor talking to more characters then just Edward all the time, minus Thomas. But its a shame we never get to see BoCo hauling the express as mentioned in the book and the three things that James did to get rid of the bees, never actually happened in the book. In the story, we have BoCo taking the express and in the end James went back to the shed in disgrace. 

The episode is alright, but it was in a poor state and it would be better if the episode stuck close with the original story, though they should've kept it for the second season to make more sense with it. 

Rating: 3.5/5 

S3 Ep.16: Edward, Trevor and The Really Useful Party

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

EDWARD, TREVOR 

AND THE REALLY USEFUL PARTY

Written by

Britt Allcroft and David Mitton

Directed by

David Mitton

Air Date:

24/11/91

Plot:

The Vicar is raising money for the children to go to the seaside by having a special garden party. Edward wanted to help, but the vicar forgot to put up posters and with that Edward helped out by having posters on his boiler and coaches. Trevor was dozing in his shed when Bertie arrived and teased him about being old. As the party came, the wet weather went, mud laid all around the road, but Trevor's smile hadn't faded away. Later Bertie was stuck in a mud patch and Terence and Bertie pulled him out of the mud. Later that evening, the money was raised to the right amount and the children can finally go to the seaside. Edward and Trevor were pleased.

PRO:

- The posters were made brilliantly. 

CON:

- I don't get it why Trevor is working the scrap yard?

- The posters would burn off easily since they're on Edward's boiler and smokebox.

- Trevor didn't even help with the rescue.

Despite the nitpicks, I really enjoy this episode, this is another great episode by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton. I love the design of the posters, though it would be much better if they were on Edward's running board and tender since the posters could easily burn on his boiler. I don't know why Trevor is working at the scrap yard at the beginning of the episode and in the end Terence was the only vehicle who helped Bertie out of the mud. 

But I do like how the episode is focused on the road characters, wish they did that in the recent series of Thomas, minus 'Race to the Rescue'. The setting for the garden party was great and this episode is one of the favourites. 

Rating: 4/5

S3 Ep.15: Toby's Tightrope

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

TOBY'S TIGHTROPE

Originally Written by

The Rev.W.Awdry

Adapted for Television by

Britt Allcroft and David Mitton

Air Date:

20/11/91

Plot:

As the winter snow melted to spring, Mavis was still cross that she was punished by manager for not shunting trucks to places were Toby knows. One day she decided to let the trucks push her down the branch line. But the trucks decided to do it to Toby. As they got to the first crossing, the trucks surged him on right onto the trestle bridge. As the snow and ice had melted, the water raged through causing the bridge to be collapsed. Toby stopped and was dangling on the rails like a tightrope. Mavis saved him and she proved to be a useful engine. As a reward, she's welcomed to the Ffarquhar branch line under the approval of the Fat Controller and her manager. 

PRO:

- The accident is well filmed.

CON:
- Why was Percy telling Mavis about where to put Toby's trucks instead of the manager?
- Toby's bump was delayed after the trucks had bumped him.
- No brake van on Toby or Mavis' train
- Why Tidmouth Hault? The quarry is near Ffarquhar?

Again, no problems with the episode itself, just a few flaws I've picked out. First, why was Percy telling Mavis about the trucks? In the RWS book, the manager is the one who was telling her off about not taking Toby's advice and there were no brake vans on the back of Toby and Mavis' trains. But the accident is well filmed and I enjoy the music along with it. 

Rating: 4/5

S3 Ep.14: Mavis

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

MAVIS

Originally Written by 

The Rev.W.Awdry

Adapted for Television by

Britt Allcroft and David Mitton

Air Date:

10/11/91

Plot:

Mavis is a young diesel and is full of her own ideas. She shunts the trucks in different places instead of the places Toby wants them and this made him very cross. One day, Mavis was taking some trucks along the quarry line, Toby warned her but Mavis didn't listen about the crossing and the trucks decided to push her around and as they arrived at the crossing, they were stuck. Toby came and pushed her back to the other side. After feeling embarrassed for what she have done, she raced back to the quarry.

PRO:

- A perfect moral about 'respecting your elders'.

CON:

- 'Diesel knew nothing about trucks...' he's an 08 class shunter! of course he'll know about trucks. 

- The branch line now claiming its Toby's? It's Thomas'. Toby's line is closed.

Despite the faults, this episode has a perfect moral about teaching kids to respect their elders. Mavis is a young diesel engine and disrespect Toby by calling him an 'old fusspot', but later on she felt foolish for not taking Toby's advice. Comparing this Mavis to HIT's (S6-16), they really wised her up and to make  her look like she's been taught well. Sure maybe a few faults here and there, but at least her persona is more better then any of the engines in the recent series, look at 'Bust My Buffers' and you can see that.

But there is the faults, first off is Diesel. When the narrator mentioned he knew nothing about trucks. First off, Diesel was never seen nor heard of again in the RWS until Christopher Awdry's one-off book and how would Diesel know nothing about trucks? He's an 08 class shunter. In the RWS it was Daisy who did the talking to Mavis and this role would've fitted her perfectly, such a shame that they left her out in the entire season. 

The branch line claiming to be Toby's, how's that? Toby's line is closed and he works on Thomas' line, despite that the quarry line is privately owned, it is still part of Thomas' line, not Toby's.

The episode has a great moral about respect, but there the faults. 

Rating: 4.5/5

S3 Ep.13: Trust Thomas

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

TRUST THOMAS

Written by

Britt Allcroft and David Mitton

Directed by

David Mitton

Air Date:

5/11/91

Plot:

Bertie the bus was cross that the tar was not delivered as the roads were filled with holes. Thomas promised that he'll get to the bottom of this. Meanwhile, James was in the yard shunting trucks while Percy goes to the harbour. Gordon told James to get him out of the job he has to pretend to be ill. Thomas fell for it and he offered to take James' trucks. The trucks were cross with James for bumping them and decided to get revenge on Thomas instead. The trucks bumped Thomas right to an old jetty and began to sink. Duck took the trucks and Edward took Thomas to the yards. Edward knew about the tar wagons and took them to Bertie. James and Gordon apologised to Thomas and Bertie thanked him as well.

PRO:

- The realistic thing is the jetty sinking.

CON:

- What was the purpose of Thomas stopping at the signal?

- James is also seen at the harbour.

- If the roads are filled with holes, Bertie shouldn't do bus trips.

- Why is Duck there? He should be running his own line.

- Shouldn't Edward take Thomas to the works instead of the yards?

Again, the cons are just nitpicks. But here are the reasons why. First off the signal at the beginning, what was the purpose? There is no explanation why did Thomas stop there, during the third series, he seems to the be the only one running his branch line. Second, if their are holes in the road, why would Bertie be running bus services then? Yes the road looks flat and smooth when he reached to Thomas, but the Bertie should've taken a different route or if there is one route to the bus halfway across his usual route and give the passengers to Thomas. When James is shunting trucks in the yard he was sulking that Percy went to the harbour, yet the setting of it looks like it was part of the harbour. 

The jetty, although they do exist, how did it float, it looks abandoned and why is Duck taking the trucks? Would it be better if it were Percy or Toby? Duck has his own branch line, he needs to run on their. And when Edward was at the yards, there was no explanation why he was there and not at the works? Though there is one realistic thing in the episode and that's the sinking of the jetty. This episode has many faults, but the story is OK. 

Rating: 2.5/5