After small cameos in Hasty Hannah and Journey Beyond Sodor, Rosie returns to star in an episode with James. But will The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor prove that her overhaul was a good idea? Or will it show that they should have just left her alone?
Honestly, it’s still hard to tell. Although she did appear, and did have a decent amount of screen time, this was primarily James’ episode. Unfortunately, this meant that Rosie wasn’t really given that much room to showcase her true personality. This left her with a very basic, dry character for now. Although, to be fair, I’d take that over her obsessive stalker character from Thomas and the Birthday Mail.
Fans have been criticising the fact that she's red... just because. And in fairness, it is really contrived. But let's be honest here: what were we expecting? The fact they gave Henrietta a face out of nowhere set the precedent that they can change things on a whim with no explanation. It's a shame, absolutely. But unsurprising.
James was absolutely brilliant though. After so many years of him worrying about the littlest things, him being annoyed when someone points out a serious problem was great. But it also showed that he was incredibly stubborn and unwilling to admit he was wrong until it’s too late. What is it with this series and using its characters to point out the problems with its older fans?
That said, the best part about it is that the stories that do that are so well written (mostly) that the target audience will never know. This one is no exception. Speaking of which, at its heart, the story is very basic, and one that’s been done before (Thomas Puts the Brakes On springs immediately to mind). But it’s made much better here by the strength of its characters.
I also like that the ending will lead on to the next episode. It’s great that the team have been creating two parters this series, even if one was painfully average. Done right, it gives them more room to tell bigger stories, like Diesel’s at the start of the series (and before anyone says it, Diesel’s Ghostly Christmas was a double length episode that the US broadcast cut in half). And considering tomorrow’s is about Edward finding a shed, it’s easy to assume that the crash (which was amazing) was done to set that conflict up. Hopefully, that episode ends up being as good as this one.
Which leads me, awkwardly, to the theme. As someone who’s going into hospital for surgery this month to fix a problem that’s been building for years, I truly wish that this story, and theme, had been written years ago. Although, if it had, it would’ve been nowhere near this good...
I, like James, was far too stubborn and nonchalant about going to get my legs checked out, and it’s now reached a point where the metal rods in the bones are almost pushing out of skin. So this turned into an incredibly personal episode for me. And it made me realise, once and for all, that it was incredibly stupid to let the problem fester for as long as it has.
The only issue I have is that the driver is incredibly incompetent. He could hear the conversation with Rosie; why didn't he act upon it? At the very least, he could've checked James over at the Steamworks. But no, he just whistles to a workman to turn him around and leave...
Helen Farrall is back on form, and it reaffirms why she’s my favourite writer the show has at the moment. The characters were great, although Rosie was given a rather basic characterisation. The story was strong, despite the driver not doing anything. And the theme, the big problem with her last story, was brilliant. The crash into the back of the shed was the icing on the cake.
Just... don't let Rosie become an afterthought again. Please. She's got some real potential now, and it would be a damned shame if it all went to waste. This should be used as a starting point, not the culmination, of the work that's gone in to making her relevant again.
Honestly, it’s still hard to tell. Although she did appear, and did have a decent amount of screen time, this was primarily James’ episode. Unfortunately, this meant that Rosie wasn’t really given that much room to showcase her true personality. This left her with a very basic, dry character for now. Although, to be fair, I’d take that over her obsessive stalker character from Thomas and the Birthday Mail.
Final Thoughts
Episode Ratings
Springtime for Diesel: 10/10
A Most Singular Engine: 10/10
Dowager Hatt's Busy Day: 10/10
Stuck in Gear: 8/10
Runaway Engine: 9/10
P.A. Problems: 8/10
Hasty Hannah: 9/10
Cranky at the End of the Line: 4/10
New Crane on the Dock: 5/10
Unscheduled Stops: 4/10
Philip's Number: 10/10
The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor: 10/10
A Most Singular Engine: 10/10
Dowager Hatt's Busy Day: 10/10
Stuck in Gear: 8/10
Runaway Engine: 9/10
P.A. Problems: 8/10
Hasty Hannah: 9/10
Cranky at the End of the Line: 4/10
New Crane on the Dock: 5/10
Unscheduled Stops: 4/10
Philip's Number: 10/10
The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor: 10/10
Cumulative Total (So Far)
97/120
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