Worst to Best: Films and Specials

With the UK cinematic release, and my review, of Big World! Big Adventures! this week, I thought I'd take a look back at all the films and specials created since the show's inception and see where I'd rank them all.

Like the fans who have done a list like this on Twitter, I'll be focusing on the projects that Gullane/HiT/Mattel have marketed as movies or special features. That means that Bubbling Boilers isn't being counted. It also means there's 14 to get through. So let's get stuck in!

Worst: Day of the Diesels (-3/10 - Terrible)

You thought the worst would be the first ever film, right? While I've railed against that film constantly ever since the Thomas fanbase gained a larger online presence, I genuinely think this is the worst film the franchise has ever produced. Because it feels like a feature length episode in all the wrong ways. Seriously, it follows every single plot structure from series 13-16 beat for beat.

But that's not all that's wrong with this. The tone is depressingly boring (which further exacerbates the repetitive nature of the story), it's yet another steam vs diesel story (only with strong racist overtones), the ending feels unearned, Diesel 10 is far too menacing (I honestly prefer hammy, over the top Diesel 10, especially with his design) and the main motivation for Percy siding with the diesels is flat out copied from a far better special.

You could say that one positive is that another engine (Percy) gets the spotlight, but... well, so did a future special, and that was far superior. Also, if you looked at the DVD box art, you'd think that Thomas was the star of it. You'd also think that Mavis and Salty had major roles too, but... they don't.

Overall, this is the absolute worst movie because there's absolutely nothing to gain from it. Heck, you could listen to the song that accompanied the film, and not only would you get a more satisfying experience than watching the movie, but you'd have actually heard the whole thing play out its near 3 minute run time. So just listen to that rather than watch the movie.

13. Thomas & the Magic Railroad (-3/10 - Terrible)

Yeah, yeah. I've explained why I hate this film so often that it's probably become a meme at this point. But honestly? Some bits are so entertaining (pretty much any time Diesel 10's on screen, some of the really hammy acting) that I can't justify to myself that this is the absolute worst, even if I want to believe it.

Sure, Day of the Diesels has the more complete, coherent story. But when it's as terrible as it turned out to be, I'd rather a nonsensical plot that actually has some entertainment value. Also, yeah, this is the best acted and funniest Diesel 10 there's ever been. In hindsight, I shouldn't have been as harsh on him as I was.

12. The Great Race (2/10 - Bad) 

This had so many amazing sub-plots. Gordon's rivalry with his brother, Flying Scotsman. Philip and Vinnie's bullying story. Diesel being the funniest, yet most devious, he's ever been. And what was the main plot they decided to go with?

Thomas having self confidence issues and Ashima trying to set him straight. Or, to put it another way, the love child of Dream On and Tale of the Brave.

This was the first special I was truly disappointed by as I knew it could've been so much more than it was. If they'd have just focused on Gordon's sub-plot, I feel they could've gotten more character development and a far better, more interesting conflict. Heck, they probably could've tied that in with Gordon wanting to be streamlined. Sure, it probably would've gone down the "confidence issues" route the actual film went down, but it would've made a lot more sense.

Instead, we got something that ended up being far less interesting and so much potential that was left in the creative department.

11. Big World! Big Adventures! (3/10 - Bad)

Honestly, this one hurts to put as low as I have. But as good as some of the lessons are, as fantastic as some of the character interactions are, that lack of story kneecaps it immensely.

I won't go into too much detail as I've only recently reviewed it. But needless to say Nia's the best character in it because she's actually a character that happens to be female rather than being female spouting "I don't need no man" cliches that so many female characters seem to be saying these days.

10. Misty Island Rescue (3/10 - Bad)

This one has the opposite problems that Big World! has; terrible themes and really bad characters (and atrocious dialogue), but a really good story.

Because of that, it was tough to decide which was the better of the two. But I think this is better (slightly) because the story has higher stakes, actual tension and an actual flow to it throughout its run time. Also, that post credits scene is still fantastic. It didn't really lead to anything good, but it left you intrigued as to what Diesel 10 was planning.

9. Calling All Engines! (5/10 - Average)

If Day of the Diesels is a feature length episode done wrong, this is one done right. Mostly. I don't mind the learning segments that much, and I can understand why they were included. But I'm glad that no other special has any and I feel that the deleted scenes could've replaced them and nothing would change.

Overall, this was a steam vs diesel plot done right. And it's honestly where the rivalry should have ended, rather than being dragged on and on, being used as a crutch when the writers have no other ideas. It's also great that they actually show that not all diesels are bad, as Mavis helps Thomas try and sort the problem.

The only real issues are that the story, while good, is also unremarkable, the climax with Thomas, Diesel 10 and George feels tacked on solely to have Diesel 10's appearance have a point and (not an issue with the actual special, but still a shame) Daisy's appearance is never built on. Fans had to wait 10 years, a change to CGI and a change of production studio, for her to do anything.

Honestly, I can never hate this special. It was released, and I saw it, at a time where the staff at my school were hell bent on getting me to distance myself from the franchise (because why should schools celebrate individuality when they have targets to meet, am I right?) and this was the major factor that kept me attached to it. And while my liking of it has waned since I first reviewed it 7 years ago (I've since reverted the review to a draft state; I may re-review it soon), I still think it's alright. I'd go so far as to say it's slightly underrated, even if I understand that it's not everyone's cup of tea.

8. Hero of the Rails (6/10 - Average)

While I think Calling All Engines! is underrated, I think this is overrated. The story is fine, and it does a decent job of making Hiro seem sympathetic, I feel they go a bit too far at times, passing the line from sympathetic to annoying.

Not only that, but the dialogue is really bad at times. Not as bad as Misty Island Rescue, but it's bad enough to detract from the overall experience. Also, the ending was completely devalued since Hiro's been seen so often on Sodor since then (I hope Thomas goes to Japan in the future so we can see Hiro in his homeland).

That said, I really liked the story, I like that the main cast actually came together and worked as a team to help Hiro, I like the theme and lessons and I liked that Spencer was the main antagonist rather than a diesel (even if the turn came from nowhere).

It's an OK film overall, but definitely could have been better.

7. Journey Beyond Sodor (7/10 - Good)
Talk about an OK film made so much better with its theme and characters. Granted, Frankie's motivations could have been a lot clearer, but the new cast of characters here are far better overall than any other film so far (I'd have said it was BWBA, but we don't really get much time with any of the new characters besides Nia and Ace).

Honestly though, the film's fortunes really turn when Thomas sings I Want to Go Home. While I personally think Hottest Place in Town is better, that song is the one that makes you really care for Thomas as, up to that point, he was really selfish and - deservedly - paid the price for it.

Also, I still love Theo. He's the most precious little cinnamon roll and deserves so much more attention than he's gotten.

But that's all I can really say. My opinions on it are still pretty similar to how they were when I wrote the review last year. It's an enjoyable enough adventure with a really strong lesson.

6. The Great Discovery (7/10 - Good)

My love for this has waned a bit over the years, but I still really like it. I think the problem this has had is one that's not really this special's fault: current specials just have better writing (for the most part) and stronger characters. Case in point: Ryan is a far better realised version of Stanley (even if I like both and like writing for both).

Another issue this has is that it's stuffed with so many characters that do absolutely nothing. I get why: it was the last project to only use the models, so they wanted to use as many as they possibly could. But I'd have  much preferred a smaller cast where every character has purpose.

The other thing that puts me off is the narration. Don't get me wrong, the fact it's narrated by Pierce Brosnan makes it feel even more special since the others (except BWBA which removed the narrator's role entirely) were narrated by Michael Angelis and, later, Mark Moraghan. But it felt like he was narrating a bedtime story too much. I think, for a project like this, it would've benefited more from a bit more enthusiasm.

Other than that though, this was a really good special. It had a good dynamic between Thomas and Stanley, the story was fairly solid and the theme was decent as well. Also, Thomas, You're the Leader was an excellent way to end it.

5. King of the Railway (8/10 - Good)

OK, now we've reached the big guns. Ordering these five was difficult, but I'm satisfied with the order. And this is what I've chosen to be number 5.

It's genuinely impressive that they managed to create a story that ended up branching off into different directions while still managing to tie itself together really well. It's why I'm really disappointed with BWBA, as this managed to do all of that in an hour yet they barely told one story (and left one character dynamic completely open ended) with 20 extra minutes.

Not only that, but they added so much world building and lore to the show and it didn't feel out of place whatsoever. They tied it into the story really well, and it led to a really fun adventure.

The only real negative is that Stephen and the Earl were the only new characters that got a good amount of screen time and a solid personality. Millie, Connor and Caitlin are just... there.

Overall, this was a really strong solo debut for Andrew Brenner. But his previous contribution is just that little bit better.

4. Blue Mountain Mystery (8/10 - Good)

It's difficult to pinpoint who made this special as good as it was, or how much of the original script that Andrew Brenner edited. But it was definitely the best special ever made up to that point.

Sure, Luke being the "mysterious engine" could have been seen from a mile away thanks to the marketing spoiling it. But the way the whole mystery played out on screen was fantastic. And the twist with Victor was really unexpected. It was also nice that they added more to a character that had been around for a few years.

Another nitpick is with Rheneas being painted yellow. It didn't look that great and it was really pointless in the long run. As much as it tied his "I want a repaint" sub-plot up, it felt like it was only done to sell toys. In fairness, it makes sense that they didn't use Duncan since the Talyllyn's Douglas was being repaired when Nitrogen went to the railway for research. But it's still a bit of a shame.

Also, I still think Paxton should've been introduced here. He had more of a point, more of a character and it felt like he belong in it far more than he did in Day of the Diesels.

Overall, this is the only Nitrogen special that still holds up. It's a well written mystery with great characters and it was a fantastic way to bring back the narrow gauge engines (unlike series 16..!).

3. Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure (9/10 - Great)

Oh boy...

Ever since this film came out, I've been torn about whether this or the actual number two should have taken that spot. But after so much deliberation, I feel like this is the best positioning for the two.

They're both good in their own ways. This has much better music and songs, it has far more action and drama, it feels like the only special so far that's truly belonged on the big screen and it had a really fun sub-plot with Marion, the small engines and the two Olivers. Also, Sailor John was a fantastic villain and Skiff was a really sympathetic character.

The only real issue? Thomas and Ryan's dynamic feels far too much like Thomas and Stanley's. Thankfully, Ryan has been given a more defined character now, but here he was a generic, happy go lucky character like Stanley.

Also, and this is going to sound slightly controversial... all the action makes it feel... less like a Thomas movie and more like an action movie with Thomas character. It kind of lacks some of the charm and heart that the show's known for. It's not something that turns me off completely like it did with Magic Railroad as this is a fantastically written story. But it's because of this that I feel that number 3 is the best spot for it.

2. Tale of the Brave (9/10 - Great)

Out of all of the 60+ minute films/specials (whatever you want to call them), this is the best one... just. Why? Because it feels like a Thomas & Friends film more than any other. Is it a perfect story? No. Is it the most action packed? No. But what it has is what the franchise should be known for: heart, charm and bags of character.

And even if the story isn't perfect, it's still great. It removes an aspect of Percy's character that really wasn't necessary (until Three Steam Engines Gruff at least) and his dynamic with Gator was simply amazing. Seriously, it was so great that the ending where the visitor leaves was the most emotional of the entire franchise (for a year at least). Even now, I get a bit emotional when watching it. It's such a good dynamic that they tried copying it two years later. And failed.

Also, James as the antagonist was great. It didn't feel out of character or out of place, he fit the role brilliantly and he genuinely felt remorse in the end. He's definitely one of the better antagonists of the franchise.

I could honestly gush about this special for days. But all I'll say is that it's, by far, the most underrated film of the franchise. And the only reason why, I think, is because it focuses on telling a good story rather than adding lore like King of the Railway or being an orgy of action like Lost Treasure. Maybe it'll get the recognition it deserves some day, but all I know is that I'll always love it and will always sing its praises.

Also, the song Tale of the Brave is one of the best of the franchise, and the full version should've been released on streaming services.

Best: The Adventure Begins (10/10 - Great)
Could it be anything else?

Yes, it could be considered 40 minutes of fan service. But I tell you what, when the story is this good, I don't mind it feeling fan servicy-y (it's when it overshadows the story when it becomes a problem).

This is, to be blunt, the best adaptation to ever exist from any era of the show. It has the perfect mix of emulating the existing material and Andrew's own interpretations of Thomas' story. It develops Thomas fantastically well, and the ending is still best of any project in the franchise. Even though Thomas' branch still doesn't get much attention, and Thomas is seen everywhere, that ending still brings a tear to the eye solely because of how triumphant it is.

Also, this has Edward's best role since 1998. No joke, no hyperbole. He felt like the old, wise, patient guardian that he truly should be. And if taking him out of the main cast and putting him with Philip means we get more of that, I'll happily take it.

On the whole, this (and Lost Treasure) was an excellent way to celebrate the franchise's 70th anniversary. I'd go so far as to say this is the definitive version of Thomas' story. It's just incredible, and absolutely deserves the title of best Thomas & Friends special ever produced.

Worst to Best: 2015 DVD Releases

With the final DVD of the year being released, it's time to look back over the year and rank them from the worst to the best.

The only criteria is that the DVD has to have been released in stores in the United Kingdom. There was a huge DVD set revealed by Sam Wilkinson over Facebook, but that won't be featured as it wasn't in any stores.

Anyway, let's begin!

Worst

This was an absolutely disgraceful release. You got Percy's New Friends, Up, Up and Away! and a few bonus features. That's it. And Smyths Toys was selling it for five pounds! Sure, you could get it for free if you spent over £10 on Thomas merchandise, but this was redundant in every sense of the word.

The sad part is that HiT have actually sold a 2 episode DVD really well in the past. Woolworths and the Daily Mirror gave away two Pack episodes (Jack Owns Up and Percy's Scary Tale), as well as three music videos, on separate occasions, and that was brilliant as the content had never been seen before on British shores. Had they done that with this DVD, it might have actually had a purpose.

Thankfully, it's not available any more, but it doesn't take away the fact that this release was the epitome of a cash grab.
Rating: 0/10

...you've got to be kidding me.

Truth time: this blog post was completed on Halloween afternoon. Every entry on this list was decided, and my thoughts were written out. I completed it that early because I didn't think that any other DVDs would be released, and I've waited until now to release the post in case HiT released something on the fly. So imagine my surprise when this came along on November 2nd.

The UK is no stranger to re-releases. The Classic/Complete Series DVDs (series 1-7 at least) have been repackaged multiple times; the last of which included remastered episodes of the first three series. But no re-release has ever taken away content... until this one came along.

As you'll recall (or not; I highly doubt anyone looks back on series 16 fondly, especially now that series 19 is slowly surfacing), Merry Christmas, Thomas! was released at a time where the DVDs were being criticised for not having enough content on them and festive episodes were criticised for replacing Christmas with "winter holidays". In response, this release had six episodes, all of which were re-dubbed to mention Christmas, and there was an extra DVD bundled in called Big Bang Surprise which had five extra episodes.

For this "new" release though? Big Bang Surprise has been completely removed, yet the price is exactly the same price as the original. No, wait, the original is slightly cheaper, yet this offers half the content!

It's pretty obvious to me that this is a blatant Christmas cash grab. But considering they released The Christmas Engines a mere week before, and it has much better value and episodes, there's no need to get this. You can get the original for £5 or series 16 on one DVD for the same price. If you want a Christmas DVD, get Holiday Express from B&M Bargains, which is £3.99. Sure, it won't have CG episodes, but it's still better value than this!

Stay well away from this.
Rating: 0/10

If I could describe every 3 DVD set that's been released here over the years in one word, it'd be this: pointless. All they do is fill up space on retailers' shelves and online stores' warehouses. It didn't particularly help that The Adventure Begins was released on the same day as this. I wonder which one they'd be more drawn towards..?

The kids that this set is targeted towards probably already have the DVDs, and even if they don't, they could get complete series DVDs for around the same price as this set is being sold for, if not cheaper.

Do they have their place? They must do if more are being produced. But I'd rather HiT spend more time and effort trying to get more current US releases over here faster.
Rating: 1/10

Yep, I really think this little of this release. Even at £5, I wouldn't buy this if you gave me the money for it. Because out of all of the releases this year, this was by far the biggest disappointment.

I've heard all of the excuses as to why there's a CG heavy focus on this DVD, and I don't buy any of them. If they really want to make a 20 episode release with a mix of CG episodes, I'd be perfectly fine with that. Just don't market it as a "celebration of Thomas from 1984 to the present" when you're barely going to focus on the era from 1984-2008!

This may be called "1st Class Stories" but, for me, it barely registers as third class.
Rating: 2/10

So if I slated series 16 as the worst of the show, why is this higher than 1st Class Stories?

Because you know exactly what to expect. You know which episodes will be on this release, it's just a case of how much it's sold for, and I think it was sold at a very good price.

That said, I think my review of it was too kind rating-wise, and I really wouldn't recommend it to anyone whatsoever. But if you really want a series 16 release, don't bother with the individual four-six episode releases, just get this. It has much better value.
Rating: 2/10

Out of all the box sets over the years, the best ones are the Smyths exclusives. Released around October for Christmas, this features the two specials from 2013 and 14 as well as the themed 6 episode releases that were, formally, never seen on TV.

At £20, the value is there, and you can get it free if you spend 40 quid on Thomas merchandise. But, sadly, it has the exact same problem as the previous box set: the kids this is targeted at probably have the DVDs separately already. Also, the DVDs are probably around £5 each anyway, so parents don't need to go to Smyths to get the set.

That said, it is the easiest way to get them if you don't have them, so yeah, I'd recommend it. But only if you don't have any of the releases in the set.
Rating: 5/10

Series 17's DVD releases finally concluded... two years after it aired on TV. Seriously, you could easily watch these episodes on milkshake!'s site very soon after it aired, yet it took two years for them to reach a DVD?!

Sure, they added two episodes compared to the US, which added value, but the fact remains that this took two years to get here. But I can't really hate it as it's still a good DVD.
Rating: 7/10

Dinos and Discoveries produced... a mixed bag as far as episodes go, but I appreciated it a lot - and still do - because the episodes that were on it were, at the time, only on that DVD. Sure, they may have made it on to TV screens now, but I still think it's held up well throughout the year. And, since my review, the price has dropped to as low as £4.50, so the value is very strong.

I like this release, even now. Even if some of the content isn't as strong as the rest of series 18, it's not unwatchable in any way, shape or form.
Rating: 7/10

The second most recent release on the list has some of the best festive episodes in the show's history. But it's been a year between the US and UK release which, in all honesty, I've really been getting sick of. In an era where information is more readily available, HiT needs to really think about doing more to make sure that both the US and UK markets are well catered for with releases like this, because all the waiting does is boost piracy and moaning fans begging those who have the new shiny shiny to share it with the world due to the combination of impatience and the inability to get the same thing that others have. It's also, for this reason, that so many people import new US DVD releases.

Regardless of that, I still think this is OK. Like I've said, the episodes are brilliant and the bonus features aren't that bad either.
Rating: 7.5/10

I'd like to apologise for my mistake. In the first draft of this post, I thought there was a 12 day gap between the UK and US version. But nope, there was a year and two day gap between the two...

That has no effect how much I like this release as there were two extra episodes, and they were all really good, but it strengthens my grievances; the UK gets screwed royally with all but one of the episodic releases. I would much prefer them putting more effort into getting new releases over here faster than constant box sets and, yes, even the complete collection releases.
Rating: 8/10

For the last four years, the specials have been the highlight as far as DVD releases go, but this was hyped to oblivion. With weeks of cinema screenings, four performances at Cadogan Hall to music from the Royal Philharmonic and a lot of press coverage, it may have been one of the most hyped yet.

In the end though, I think it deserved it as, well, it really was special. With an action packed, dramatic story, tense drama, brilliant characters and a hilarious sub-plot featuring three little engines who, had someone said five years ago that they'd be returning, I'd have laughed at them and called them delusional as I never thought it would happen for multiple reasons (that and I was a real jerk back then).

Sure, it was released a tad later here compared to the US, but can we really complain when it was shown in cinemas in July? The bonus features are also a bit thin, but the special in itself was worth the cost.
Rating: 9.5/10

Best

If this was a "last minute project", as Sam Wilkinson says (I don't disbelieve him, by the way), I'd have loved to have seen how amazing it would've been had they put more time into it.

In all seriousness, this isn't just the best DVD this year, but one of HiT Entertainment's best Thomas & Friends DVDs ever. It literally has everything: a strong story with a lot of heart and character moments. It was a nice touch adding Old Reliable Edward, too.

The only two drawbacks is that it was an Asda exclusive that fans had a bit of trouble finding when it launched (although demand outstripping supplies is a really good thing) and Brits had to wait four months due to red tape, meaning that some had seen it all by the time it released here.

Even so, I loved it then, I love it now and I'll probably love it until I stop being a fan or I pass away (whichever comes first)
Rating: 10/10

So which was your favourite and least favourite release this year? Leave me a comment below, tweet me (@ChrisTomson2013) or reply to the journal that this post will be included in on DeviantART!

Top 10 Incarnations of Thomas

That's the best title I could think of. Sorry.

The Thomas & Friends franchise has been alive for 70 years, and you better believe that the little blue engine has been immortalised by many different companies for merchandising purposes. Some have been good, some bad, but here are my top 10 favourites. I don't own all of them, nor would I really want to own all of them, but they're the 10 that I like the look of the most.

There are a couple of rules to this list:

1. The merchandise has to have been sold and endorsed by HiT Entertainment. So, despite the fact that they're are many excellent variations of Thomas for train simulators, they're made by fans for fans as a hobby, so they're omitted.
2. One per brand. Many different companies have made different variations of Thomas, so only one will be featured from each.

I won't be including honourable mentions, so let's just head straight into it!

10. Trackmaster Green Thomas

It's fair to say that Trackmaster has received some very harsh criticism recently, and I can understand why; in their (what seems like) desperation to keep kids of this generation interested, Fisher Price have tried to make the brand more "exciting" by making their sets and track more and more gimmicky. As for the engines? Well... saying they're "hit and miss" could be considered a huge understatement.

To be honest, I think the one that doesn't look too bad is Thomas. Sure, the wheel arch is really small and is much too far forward, but the shape, proportions and number (and positioning) of the wheels is pretty spot on. And, on the 70th anniversary, they produced a Walmart/Asda exclusive to coincide with The Adventure Begins, and it looks lovely. It feels special, and that is great.

9. Turbo Flip Thomas

Speaking of gimmicky toys..!

Out of all the merchandise on this list, this probably has the least detailing. However, its gimmick is actually really fun and that metallic blue paint is rather appealing, making it look unique compared to other bog standard Thomas merchandise on the market.

Also, that face looks really devious. It's brilliant.

8. Tomix

Out of all of the variations on the list, this is probably the best detailed, especially for the model's size. Sadly, though, it never really made it outside of Japan. And when foreign retailers did get a hold of them, they were very expensive. A shame, too, as I'd love to have owned one of these sets.

On a slightly unrelated note, it's also one of the only ranges to actually depict Clarabel's guard compartment, which is brilliant. And also kinda sad...

7. Wooden Railway Thomas

A classic toy that, even to this day, looks really good. Not one that I'd want to buy, but it still looks as good now as it did then.

6. Thomas Christmas Ornament

It's a real shame that these have never made it to the UK, at least from what I've seen. There's always a new design every year, but this year's is probably the most adorable. Based on Santa's Little Engine, the detailing is brilliant and it just looks fantastically festive.

Like I said though, it's a shame they aren't sold in more countries. And even if you can find one on eBay, they cost quite a bit.

5. Bachmann Large Scale Thomas

While I think the HO version is alright, it feels rather dated now, although that could be because Bachmann improves constantly year on year. That and the fact that they aren't sold in the UK is rather disappointing.

The large scale model, however, looks spot on compared to the TV series version. The face is far superior to the HO version, as is the lamp, as is the addition of the front coupling.

If money, and room space, was no option, I'd love to own one of these. But alas, they're huge and rather expensive...

4. Minis Classic Thomas

On the opposite end of the scale..!

It's truly amazing how popular the Minis range has become in such a short space of time, and it's easy to see why. They're really cheap. it gives you an urge to collect them all and they look amazing despite being so small. The amount of detail applied to these puts many of the other ranges to shame.

Even though all of the variations look brilliant as well, my favourite is probably the classic one as... well it's just looking even though it looks "plain".

3. Hornby Thomas

This is gonna be fun!

I've always said that, given the choice, I would choose Hornby's models over Bachmann's (for the most part). While I have a lot of respect for Bachmann's TV series approach (and I much prefer their Edward, Emily, Annie, Clarabel and Troublesome Trucks), Hornby's feel like miniature versions of what you'd see in real life, And Thomas is one of their best examples - even though no E2s were preserved. And while I do like the original versions from 1985-2011, their recent re-release looks even better.

I originally had my reservations about the CG style face, but it actually looks really cute, and I'm really growing to like it. And yes, I love that, at least, the front of the running board has been painted. It lifts the look of the model greatly.

So yeah. Hornby > Bachmann. At least when models of the number 1 engine are being compared.

2. Fisher Price Collector's Edition Thomas

This thing is absolutely gorgeous.

Sure, there are a few details that aren't painted or missing, and the side tanks look a bit short (there's quite a lot of boiler showing), but for me, it has tons of charm. And it actually does feel like a special Thomas as Fisher Price don't make merchandise like this, unlike Bachmann and Hornby who think that applying metallic paint is enough to make their contributions feel "special", when so many ranges have done that for special releases long before they did.

Oh yeah, and it's £15 from Asda in the UK. That, for me, is great value for this, especially when you can take it off the gold coloured plastic plinth and roll it around wherever you want with moving side rods.

Oh, and despite what anyone says, it's die-cast metal and plastic, not wood. I have one, and have been gushing over it since I bought it a few days ago (at the time of writing).

1. ERTL Thomas (2003)

Who didn't see this coming?

I grew up with ERTLs, so my choice may seem to be based on nostalgia or bias, but even as a 25 year old adult, I can see this as the wonderfully crafted, utterly charming toys that Take Along and Take-n-Plays have never been able to replicate (although the 2013 TnP is really good)

Anyway, the only real issues the ERTLs had when I was young was the coupling system, which was really... fragile and restrictive. If the stalk attached to the rolling stock broke, you'd be pretty screwed. And you couldn't couple the engines up to anything; you had to couple the rolling stock.

That's why my favourite is the one from 2003, as ERTL changed the coupling system to a U-hook. While the first toys to use them had really thin "U"s, meaning they were really fragile, from '03 until they stopped production, ERTL thickened them, making them a lot more sturdy. They also didn't uncouple if they were rolled along a carpet which, let's be honest, most kids would probably do with them, meaning they were less frustrating to play with.

Whichever bog standard ERTL Thomas you got throughout the years though, you would always get a quality toy, and it's one that I'll love until the day I die.

Agree or disagree with this list? Leave me a comment below, tweet me (@ChrisTomson2013) or reply to the journal that this post will be included in on DeviantART!

First Class Stories: More Deserving Candidates

So in my last blog post, I said that the choices for 1st Class Stories were disappointing not because of the episodes' quality (although that doesn't help) but the lack of variety. So I'm sure you're thinking "which episodes would you choose?" Well, that's why this blog post exists!

The only restriction here is there will be 20 episodes, the exact same the actual DVD has.

1. Thomas and Gordon. While this isn't the best episode of the first series, it just wouldn't feel right having a huge celebratory DVD like this without the episode that kicked off the show.
2. The Flying Kipper. This is a classic fan favourite that's won many favourite episode polls, and it's understandable; it's the quintessential Thomas and Friends episode: engine pulls a train as usual, something bad happens and the problem is resolved. And I suppose the crash might have something to do with it..!
3. The Deputation. This one might be a bit weird since Donald and Douglas aren't in the current series yet, but since they're being introduced in Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure, wouldn't it make sense to show where their journey began?
4. Edward's Exploit. This is a personal preference, in all honesty. It shows Edward in a brilliant light and remained one of his best until Old Reliable Edward gave it some stiff competition.
5. Heroes. I know that most fans would go with Escape, and I can understand why. But in my opinion, half of the episode was wasted because Britt and David thought that Douglas lacked empathy. However, with Heroes, nothing was wasted. It was action packed and extremely dramatic. It's also one of the few model series episodes that gave Bill and Ben more of a personality than just being cheeky.
6. Fish (1995). Again, many would choose Gallant Old Engine, but I personally think that a couple of aspects dropped the intensity of it slightly. Fish, however, is one of the only episodes that is actually better than the original. The mood is set brilliantly, we actually see Thomas telling Duck about his incident with fish rather than it feeling like a hand-wave and the accident was shot brilliantly.
7. A Better View for Gordon. 1st Class Stories was supposedly including "exciting episodes", yet they didn't include any from series 5? Yeah, I'm not the biggest fan of the series, but one thing I would never call it is boring. And in all honesty, this is my favourite episode of that series. Whether it's because of the well written story or the brilliant crash, this is definitely one of those series 5 episodes that I really recommend. 
8. Edward, the Very Useful Engine. I know this follows a similar plot structure to Edward and Gordon (push a struggling train up the hill) and Edward's Exploit (Edward proving he's still useful), but the bits they changed made the story feel relatively fresh and it captured every character really well. That said, considering Thomas the Jet Engine is the more exciting episode, I can understand why it was chosen.
9. Gordon and Spencer. Lee Pressman (this episode's writer) has said that this was the one he liked the least. I don't know why as I thought it was brilliant. Giving Gordon someone to compete against was a fantastic idea and it worked just as well (even if the lack of water stoppages was a bit silly).
10. Edward the Great. Yeah, by this point, this plot thread was getting kind of old, but I think the addition of Spencer and Edward having to do an important, yet strenuous, job was a nice change of pace.
11. Thomas Tries His Best. This was probably one of the few episodes from series 9-16 that looked good on Thomas. He actually realised his mistakes before he caused severe damage, and for doing his job safely he was rewarded for it. It's not as exciting as episodes like Mighty Mac or Respect for Gordon but the story was really good.
12. It's Good to be Gordon. Minus the special coal being brought back, the episode was really good. It showed that Gordon had a heart and it was really interesting that the writers would go for a tender swapping plot point, something that Britt thought would confuse kids (although that could've been due to the engines that were in it).
13. Gordon and the Engineer. In an era where special specials, light engine wild goose chases and annoying dialogue were king, this episode was a breath of fresh air. It was great that they actually made an issue that could affect any railway a major plot point, something that wasn't seen again until recently. Everything about the episode worked.
14. Best Friends. This episode was so well written and very relatable for kids. And it actually treats Thomas and Percy like they are best friends rather than gay partners.
15. Tickled Pink. The closest we got to a Railway Series adaptation in the Nitrogen era, this episode showed what you can do with CGI in the right ways. It's just a shame that the repetitive dialogue and actions really hold it back.
16. Being Percy. To add to the repetitive dialogue and actions, we get rhyming and alliteration. But despite that, this episode was really sweet. And it's actually relateable for kids too. They always feel like they'd prefer to be someone else, but this episode does a good job teaching kids that you're better being yourself.
17. Stop That Bus!. Some will argue James to the Rescue is the more exciting one, but I have a real vendetta against it, so I chose this one. It doesn't make much sense, but this actually used Misty Island really well, showing how dangerous the Shake Shake Bridge could be.
18. Percy and the Calliope. This is probably one of the few episodes from this era that has some really good character interactions. Yeah, it's not perfect, but it's still a good watch, and it does become exciting as it goes on.
19. Thomas' Shortcut. Gone Fishing is my favourite episode, but this is the most exciting with all the racing around, as well as the search for the (non-existent) shortcut.
20. Duck and the Slip Coaches. What more can I say about this episode that I, or anyone else, has said? It's simply fantastic (...minus that joke, but I digress)

While I admit this isn't much of a balanced list either (only 6 are CG or have CG elements), it's a lot more encompassing of every series of the show, something the official release is not. If you wish to leave your choices, feel free below, on DeviantART (ThomasandStanley) and Twitter (@ChrisTomson2013)

Top 10 Characters with the Most Potential

Well... my last list caused more discussion and controversy than I thought it would! So let's flip the switch, join the bandwagon and discover the top 10 characters that, I think, have the most potential!

The rules are pretty much the same as my other list. The only slight difference is that these will also be eligible:

• Any characters that were never seen but have been confirmed, by primary sources, to have some sort of role.
• Characters that have been seen in the current series, but haven't really been used by the team (by that, I mean those that have had less than five lines from King of the Railway to now).

Honourable Mentions

- The Mountain Engines

Well, the small railway is being featured in Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure and series 20 (series 19 is focusing on the current crop of characters, so there probably won't be any returnees), so why not give the main engines some screen time?

The reason they're only an honourable mention though is simple: because of the strict safety measures, it'd be difficult to come up with story ideas.

- Nigel

Wait, who?

Unless you properly research, you'll know there was a dropped character for The Pack. So... why not give him a chance? His design is lovely and since he has no personality, from what we can tell, it'll be very interesting to see him

- The Blisters

No, I don't mean the things you get on your feet. I mean two small diesels that were mentioned in The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways. I would never have considered these if the small railway wasn't confirmed to be introduced to the series. That and Glynn is based on the coffee pots from the same book.

I don't think I'd want to see them (or Jock and Frank) just yet though, since they need to establish the small railway properly beforehand. But when they do, it would be nice to consider (all four of) them.

- BoCo

Fans complaining that he's just a carbon copy of Edward? Fine. Bring him back and add a couple of things to his personality to change it.

I personally would like him to return as, since they're bringing the concept of the Wellsworth-Brendam branch line back, he would complete the dynamic, bit I agree that more could probably be given to his personality.

- Trevor

If you want the prime example of a wasted character, Trevor would probably be up there. Why? Because he's been rendered since series 13! The American audiences are still treated to the Island of Sodor intro, which Trevor is a part of. The only episode he's seen in is Emily and Dash, and even then you have to look pretty hard to see him! Unless they're waiting until Arc render the vicarage orchard, or if the render for Trevor wasn't transferred with the others, why have they not given him some sort of role?!

- Alice, Mirabel, Dulcie and Isabel
Ah yes, Duck and Oliver's original coaches. I have to admit, I gave up hope on any Railway Series additions a few years ago, and I also gave up on new coaches being introduced during the Nitrogen era. But all that changed with the current team introducing the slip coaches in series 18 (I don't count Connor and Caitlin's coaches as such as they're just re-designed express coaches) and the small rathway in SLOTLT.

I'd love to see the autocoaches again, but in all honesty, I think I'd rather see Dulcie and Isabel, given the choice. That's not to say Alice and Mirabel aren't great, but with Duck having the slip coaches on TV, it wouldn't make much sense him having five coaches. Besides, Oliver's an autotrain, which is something the show has never explored, and it's an avenue that could open up really interesting stories for them all.

- The Pel Godred Branch Line
This little line was mentioned in Sodor: Reading Between the Lines, which was basically Christopher's follow up book to The Island of Sodor book from his father. And this is here for pretty much the same reason as Jeremy: it would help modernise Sodor a bit.

Not to mention, the fact that it's an electric line could introduce its own series of problems and adventures. And since it wasn't in the main series of books, the team could have a field day introducing a variety of characters for it. Not only that, but its links with the Culdee Fell railway would help the mountain engines as well. Sure, they wouldn't get starring roles, but they'd still be kept around.

10. Thumper

Wait, what?

I imagine many will be surprised that a character that I don't like is on a list of the ones that have the most potential. Yes, his design is weird. Yes, his appearance in series 5 is ridiculous (he's more of a plot device than a character). But... I can still see a place for him.

In recent years, it seems that quarries are being portrayed a bit more realistically, especially with the Blue Mountain Quarry's blasting, so seeing him there or at Ffarquhar's could actually be really interesting. And since he's a blank slate, they can give him any personality they want.

9. Stanley

My second favourite character is on this list? Who'd have thought it?

Yeah, I know he had a speaking role in series 18, hence he's only down here. But I do think he has a lot of potential that's not been explored. Then again, from what we've heard about Ryan, he could be Stanley done better. I'm serious; he could become my new second favourite character. It still wouldn't take away the fact that Stanley is still rather underused, but I digress.

8. Jeremy

I feel like I'm the only one who actually liked the concept of the airport and Jeremy. The reason I think that is simple: it follows what made The Railway Series great; it helped the show move with the times. The first diesels were introduced in the 50's when diesel power was rising to supremacy, the books took a darker turn in the 60's when the Beeching report was made public, a HST was released in 1987 when they were on the rise on Britain's main rail network. So with all that being considered, why not modernise other aspects of Sodor too?

That being said, maybe they could give him a different rivalry than one with the railway? Maybe with another plane? Heck, maybe even Harold? But I do think he's an interesting character that wasn't given much of a chance.

7. Bear

I really like Bear. It takes a lot of guts to stand up for complete strangers against someone you've known for a while, and that's what I admired about him. But since then, he's sadly done... not that much. It got to a point where he was barely mentioned by Christopher in any of his stories, nor was he illustrated by Clive Spong.

So I think that Bear has quite a bit of potential as a character with his strong work ethic and big heart. Also, I really do think the main line needs some big diesels.

6. Old Slow Coach

I really hate wasted potential, and that's why I have  a lot of scorn for series 5's newbies. At least with HiT's characters from series 9-12, there was some effort to give them their own distinct personalities. Series 5's were only there to sell the toys! And out of all of them, I think Old Slow Coach had the biggest waste of potential.

Making her a GWR Clerestory coach was a fantastic idea. Her Great Western livery was beautiful. But rather than tie it to anything, they turned it into a typical "engine saves something from scrap" story. But it wasn't Duck or Oliver, oh no! It was Thomas and Percy... Golden opportunity lost. In all honesty, the introduction of the slip coaches made me realise this. Sure, the back story was slightly convoluted, but it was still believable and the writers delivered on the potential they had amazingly well.

And that brings me back to Slow Coach. Now I don't think she should be given to Oliver (I'll get to him soon), but I do think that they could add a couple of clerestory composites and give them to Donald. Then, he could take them along the Little Western whenever he's wanted there for passenger duties.

5. Pip and Emma

And here's another modern addition.

In all honesty, I really like what Christopher Awdry did with these two; making them the main express from Tidmouth to London. And I'd love for that to be replicated on TV. Granted, they'd probably never be seen in London, but it'd still be nice if it was mentioned that they went there.

Also, it would really shut the naysayers up. Seriously, what better way to say "the show isn't sexist" than to give her the most important job on the island? Plus, since they weren't really given one, a proper personality.


4. Elizabeth

I'll admit it, my favourite character from series 6 was Elizabeth. She has a really unique design and her personality was fantastic. I quite like no nonsense characters, but I love no nonsense female characters, as it gives girls a better role model than some pink thing that's portrayed as a stick figure more often than not.

I've always wanted more focus on the roads of Sodor to show that the island doesn't just have a railway infrastructure, and if that ends up happening, then Elizabeth needs to return. With all the happy, caring vehicles on the island, it'd be awesome to see her shake things up a bit.

3. Rosie

Yep, another character from my least favourite character list makes it here. Like I've said before, I don't hate the concept of Rosie, I just hate what they've done with her. Apart from her (pretty good) role in series 12, she was a stalker in series 10 and most of the time, she's done... nothing. It's was only when I made a series of Trainz screenshots on DeviantART introducing her to my headcanon that I realised there was more that could be done with her. And with Arlesburgh gaining a port, that feeling grew.

Rosie's basis is a dock shunter, so I think she'd be brilliant at a harbour should they decide to bring any of them back (I'm not counting Brendam as they already have Salty and Porter stationed there). If they wanted to keep the dynamic with her and Thomas, they could stick her on the harbour at the end of the Ffarquhar branch. If that doesn't bother them too much, stick her at the Knapford/Tidmouth (wherever it is on TV) harbour. And if they want to continue the tomboy attitude, have her shunt the heavy trains her male counterparts won't bother with.

It's really sad that she's been relegated to cameo status, as there's so much that can be done with her.

2. Ivo Hugh

"Oh, but he has no personality!" "He's only in a few illustrations!" These are some of the complaints that I've seen about Ivo Hugh, and it feels like I'm the only one who can actually see the bigger picture.

Remember James? He started out in similar circumstances: he had no personality and he was the focus of only one story. The difference is that he actually got a book which fleshed out his personality. Chrstopher Awdry never got the chance to do the same with Ivo Hugh due to the publishers being too demanding. There's a reason it was called Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines. It's also the reason the Railway Series took an 11 year hiatus. It also may have been the reason that the final two books had a rather heavy focus on Thomas.

That is why I don't really give up on Ivo Hugh. Unlike the characters from series 5, T&TMR and series 9-12, which were obvious toy ploys, Ivo Hugh was meant to be a rising character, and I personally believe that the current team would do a brilliant job with him.

And on a slight tangent, I also wouldn't mind seeing his namesake either. Maybe put him in the Steamworks as the narrow gauge specialist or something.

1. Arthur

I'll admit that my fondness for him has waned for him slightly in recent years, due to how great new characters have been. But I do still think there's a place for him.

First off, his design is fantastic. I just love that maroon livery and the LMS influence is lovely too. I also think his introduction was one of the better ones from series 7. He thought that his spotless record was the be all and end all, but then he realised how important friendship was. He also redeemed himself in his second episode by helping Thomas after his accident with the pier and was properly rewarded for it.  But ever since, he's done very little.

What put Arthur on the top though were three main reasons:

1. The Fishing Village. Since series 15, the fishing village has been seen rather regularly, and the series 19 episode Toad and the Whale may very well take place on the Norramby branch line (even though they work on the Little Western, but I digress). So with, potentially, so much being done there recently, why not bring Arthur back to run it like he used to?
2. His personality. Unlike the majority of series 7 newbies, Arthur didn't have as much of a personality, with more focus on his accomplishments than anything else. So introducing him to the fold could give the writers a chance to flesh him out a bit. Maybe (and this may sound cliché) give him some LMS pride?
3. His name. The choice for it just seems so sweet, and one that Awdry himself would have been proud to settle on. Basically, a competition was held to come up with an official name for him and the winner had a late grandfather with the same name. Bring him back would, in my opinion, be a wonderful tribute to the winner, his grandfather and the man whose main character was inspired by one of his loved ones.

 Agree or disagree with this list? Leave your thoughts below or leave a tweet (@ChrisTomson2013)!

Top 10 Characters That Should Stay in the Past

So I've decided to do two more top 10s because... why not? And since fans are constantly suggesting which characters should return, I've decided to flip the script and make a list of the top 10 characters I think shouldn't return.

The rules for this list are pretty much the same as my top 10 favourite and least favourite characters: I can feature any characters that have been seen on TV (only here it'll be up to series 16 rather than the entire show) or the Railway Series.

Dishonourable Mentions
- Flora
I just don' like that she's basically a female Toby, only much more submissive. And it's a shame too, as I think she'd have done well with a few tweaks. Make her more confident, make her a diesel or, heck, even an electric engine and she'd have been fine.

- Proteus
He's a discount Lady. But at least his introduction may have spawned the return of Sir Handel, so I can't be too harsh

- Madge
This is less her and more the fact that, in every appearance, she constantly ran late. Get rid of that part of her and I'll be happy to see her again

10. Stepney

Before anyone gets upset, let me explain.

I don't hate Stepney... at least in the Railway Series. He's brave, bold and very grateful about his new life on the Bluebell Railway. The TV version really didn't capture this well at all, and that is the Stepney I wouldn't want to see. His TV incarnation just seems far too wimpy and ungrateful, which is shown in Rusty to the Rescue and Thomas and Stepney.

The other thing I really disliked is that he felt like a permanent resident of Sodor from series 5 onwards. Sure, he wasn't seen frequently, but his appearances were really contrived and felt like he was there to satisfy the fans.

If the team used his Railway Series portrayal as a basis, then I would welcome him back with open arms, as long as he was solely a visitor each time (with a proper explanation). But sticking to his TV portrayal? No thanks.

Oh, and if they're going to include him on the Bluebell line, rip up the narrow gauge tracks; they were just unnecessary. The rest of it was, in hindsight, beautiful though.

9. The Logging Locos

I know that Ferdinand had a small cameo in Signals Crossed, but since it was so minute, I'm including him with Bash and Dash.

So why are these so low? Yes, they're annoying as all hell. Yes, their place of residence is a death trap (and its tunnel is seemingly being retconned from the Search and Rescue Centre set) and yes, their voices can be grating.

But the less I see them, the more I... miss their presence. Not to say I like them, but I liked what Sharon Miller wanted to do with them; the execution was just poor. And since Bill and Ben have returned, these three (at least Bash and Dash) are probably never going to be seen again which is both a blessing, but a shame as well. At least in my opinion.

8. Fergus

I'm not much for Fergus. While his design is unique for the series, his "do it right" mentality just feels like a more "in your face" alternative to Duck's, and some fans are already growing tired of that (why I don't know as it's in line with how it's described in the books and in series 2). Having two characters like that is just redundant, and his doesn't have a catalyst to it at all, other than he "wants to do a good job", which is pretty much like every engine on Sodor (at least Duck has Great Western heritage to be proud of and to excuse his mentality).

7. Colin

Don't get me wrong, I like the Wharf. As a new series location for standard and narrow gauge engines to interact, it did a great job. But with the Blue Mountain Quarry, Ulfstead Castle and, most recently, Crovan's Gate being featured in CG, there's no point in having another meet up place, meaning Colin is just redundant, especially since he's fixed there.

Not that he had much of a personality in the first place. Unless Colin can be moved to somewhere on the narrow gauge railway (which I doubt, to be honest), there's no reason to include him.

6. Freddie

Like Fergus, Freddie is creatively bankrupt. But unlike Fergus, Freddie's personality just isn't very interesting. If you want a brave engine, you've got Edward, Toby, the Railway Series portrayal of Stepney. If you want a brave, wise narrow gauge engine, you've got Duke, Skarloey and Rheneas. If you want a fun engine, you have Charlie. Anmd if you want a number 7 for the Skarloey Railway, you have Ivo Hugh, who's literally a blank slate.

All in all, Freddie is pointless. Always has been, always will be.

5. Splatter and Dodge

If there are any twins I hate more than the Logging Locos, it'd be these two. At least Bash and Dash had potential, these have nothing. They're just the typical comic relief characters of Thomas and the Magic Railroad, and they become very tiring very quickly.

That's not even mentioning that they're Class 08s. I understand that these are fairly common on British railways, heritage or otherwise, but enough is enough. Especially when the majority of them are far more memorable than these two.

4. Bertram

Bertram is just a lazy plot device, combining two entries that are further down the list. He has no personality. he's seen only for 20 seconds, so why bother with him? I just see no potential in him at all. If you want to bring that locomotive back, just revert him to being Duke.

3. Billy

Arrogant. Little. Brat. That's all I really need to say about Billy to guarantee his spot on here. Yeah, Charlie was annoying too, but at least now the current team have given him a charm (unless you count Not Now, Charlie) and a proper role in the yards. Billy has absolutely nothing. He's just annoying to the point where you want him scrapped and his face is probably the root of that stupid creepypasta engine, "Timothy".

I'll be glad if we never see Billy again.

2. Smudger (TV)/Stanley (Railway Series)

What part of "Smudger is dead" do fans not seem to comprehend?

He was turned into a generator, the Mid Sodor sheds were buried under torrents of earth, no one in Duke's search party really cared about Smudger (or Stanley, at it was in the books), so why do they want him back?

Also, Smudger is basically a green Rheneas. His model is lazy - although, for a minute of screen time, I can kind of understand - and him returning is just pointless, especially since (and I'll stress this again) he's dead!

1. Lady

Yeah, yeah, yeah, obvious choice... But my choice isn't solely because I have a problem with her; she just would not work with the show as it is any more.

If they brought Lady back, the simple fact is they'd be in a lose-lose situation. If they took away her magic element (like Paul Larson and Abi Grant did in Calling All Engines!), they'd take away everything fans of Thomas and the Magic Railroad liked about her. If they kept the magical element, they'd be going against the structure of the show that they're currently rebuilding.

Whichever way you look at it, she no longer fits into the Thomas and Friends franchise at all, and that's why she should stay in the past.

Agree or disagree with this list? Leave your thoughts below or leave a tweet (@ChrisTomson2013)!