Series 21: Daisy's Perfect Christmas

We're back on the Little Western extension to Harwick again with Daisy in the starring role! She's been a delight whenever she's showed up, but would Daisy's Perfect Christmas be just that?

Well, it was certainly surprising! Whenever this show tackles "old vs new", they so often teach that old is still useful at the expense of destroying the new. But we actually have an episode where traditions are broken and it's treated as a good thing. And I absolutely love it.

I also like that they gave Daisy the starring role. Not just because she's become one of my favourites due to her portrayal, but because she's one of the few characters it would have worked with. She's been known to like things "just so". So to have her struggle with the changes... well, it actually feels like an allegory for whiny, petty fans complaining about every single change of the show up to this point (the latest being Edward's move to Wellsworth).

The fact that they added children strengthened that allegory further. With every single complaint that the overgrown manchildren moan about, they care only for themselves. The fact is, however, the show is for children.

The funniest thing about this episode though isn’t the Troublesome Trucks (although they were superb). It’s that Jerome and Judy were given more character development here than they were in The Missing Breakdown Train - the episode they starred in! I really liked it, and they’ve suddenly become more charismatic than Rocky’s ever been.

Diesel may only have had a small role, but I love that he’s still conflicted about his feelings. It’s obvious that it will take a while for Diesel to fully reform and develop. He genuinely feels like a more layered character than most at this point.

Final Thoughts

This is yet another lovely episode. It's a fantastic showcase of how great the dynamic is between the four characters at Harwick. The theme is brilliant, the story is great. It's just another episode that I have no complaints about.

The big takeaway from all of this is that change can be good. Yes, some of the toys are terrible. But rather than moaning because you don't like them, just... don't buy them? Or, if you are going to whinge, think about what the kids think? Same goes for the show. If you can't give the changes a chance, don't bother watching it.

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 Shed for Edward: 10/10
Terence Breaks the Ice: 9/10
Emily in the Middle: 10/10
Daisy's Perfect Christmas: 10/10

Cumulative Total (So Far)

136/160

Series 21: Emily in the Middle

Is there a hidden rule saying Donald and Douglas can a) only have one episode and b) only star in a wintery episode? I hope not; I feel there's potential for them year round, together or separate. Anyway, they've now thrown Emily into the mix. But how does Emily in the Middle fare?

I don't think it's as good as Love Me Tender. However, I do think that it's about on par with it. And it's definitely one of the best episodes this series.

I believe that this has one of the strongest (not the best) stories so far. Granted, it is like the episode I mentioned, and could probably be compared to Twin Trouble far more than the series 20 episode could. But adding Emily into the mix was a really good idea. She would definitely have been one of the only main characters (besides Edward) that could handle them at their worst. And throughout, she proved why.

Her patience was really tested here. And she knew that, after the accident, she had no other choice but to yell at them and put them firmly in their place. I know I said that it was great that Donald and Douglas learned their lesson without help last series. But when arguments become this bad and disruptive, there's no other alternative than to do what Emily did.

Besides which, they both ended up realising (on their own) that they were both to blame for what had happened. After they'd simmered down and Emily's words had sunk in.

On a side note, completely unrelated to the main story, I loved the little gags that they came up with for Toby. It's a great little development for his character, and it feels like he was in series 2. You know, when he was up for having a laugh from time to time.

Other than that though, there's not much I can say here that I didn't last year. I like that they took a slightly different angle with their bickering; involving the whole island in their squabble and how it would affect other engines. But that's about it really.

Final Thoughts

While I really like this episode, and think it's one of the best of this series so far, can we have the Scottish Twins in more varied episodes from now on? There's only so far they can take these types of episodes before they become familiar. Familiarity breeds contempt. And I'd hate for two classic fan favourites to be hated solely because the writers only had one idea for them (with a few extra characters sprinkled in) every time they showed up.

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 Shed for Edward: 10/10
Terence Breaks the Ice: 9/10
Emily in the Middle: 10/10

Cumulative Total (So Far)

126/150

Series 21: Terence Breaks the Ice

Channel 5's run may have ended, but a new DVD has been released in the US. Five of the episodes featured are this year's Christmas episodes. And since (at the time of writing) I'm due in for surgery very soon, I thought I'd get these out of the way now while I have the energy to talk about them. So here are my thoughts on Terence Breaks the Ice!

Terence was never the most dynamic character in the early Railway Series books and the TV series in general. Some (myself especially) would say he had no character whatsoever. It was only in Toby, Trucks and Trouble where he actually gained a more cocky personality... and this episode has adopted that beautifully.

Also, I quite like Thomas and Terence's dynamic. Thomas trying to pass on the lesson he'd learned back in the day to help Terence now when the tractor was in trouble was a nice bit of development for him. Speaking of which...

The theme here was fantastic. Granted, "better safe than sorry" has been taught before. And it did feel rather hammered in at points. But it was a lesson that Terence really needed to learn.

I also thought the story that was told was really good. It did have pacing problems, with the flashback taking up nearly a quarter of the episode. It's not a bad flashback, and I'll get to that in a second. But it did take up a lot of time, which says there wasn't enough new story to fill the near 9 minute time frame.

Onto the flashback. I really like it. Is it fan service? Yes. But it's also a good way to introduce kids who don't know Thomas and Terence's past to their dynamic. Like I said though, it does take up a bit of time, disrupting the pacing.

The other is a bit more nitpicky, but it needs to be said. Thomas said he always wore his snowplough after the incident in Thomas, Terence & the Snow, but series 17's No Snow for Thomas (and Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough from series 8) was all about not wearing his snowplough! Trying to follow the continuity of this era is near impossible at times. Do they only care about following the classic era? Are they mentioning every era? It's hard to tell at times.

Final Thoughts

Before this episode was released, I wouldn't have been that bothered if Terence was never seen again. Ever. There was nothing about him to gravitate towards, and I really didn't miss him that much. Now though, I'm glad they did bring him back. And I'm glad that his first episode was really great.

Yes, the pacing is an issue due to the fact they spent so long on the flashback. But it's not like it destroys the episode completely. The characters (Terence especially) are fantastic and the theme is great, even if it's a bit heavy handed.

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 Shed for Edward: 10/10
Terence Breaks the Ice: 9/10

Cumulative Total (So Far)

116/140

Series 21: A Shed for Edward

So it turns out that The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor was the build up for this. It did so brilliantly, and was a fantastic episode in its own right. But could the last new episode to air on Channel 5 until Christmas - A Shed for Edward - be as good, if not better?

Well, this has caused some controversy..! I'll get to that at a later date; I don't want to bog this review down with fan criticism. I'd rather talk about the episode, because that's the only thing that matters for now.

And the episode is absolutely wonderful. The main plot actually feels like The Frozen Turntable done right. Mainly because it's not boring. Every time Edward finds a new place to sleep, we're shown how disruptive the world can be to someone's sleep, rather than denied those situations because Gordon was too proud and arrogant to stay there. Although, it turns out he was right..!

I'll be honest, some of the places he "found" to sleep were a bit ridiculous. But I feel that added to the comedy and entertainment value solely because of how absurd it was. It also showed how desperate he was to find a resting place.

However, this episode is really special because of the heart and charm that Edward and Philip's dynamic are. It's, by far, one of my favourite dynamics. And the fact that they'll be together more often now makes me incredibly excited. It'll be this generation's Thomas and Edward, and it feels natural for Edward to have a younger engine to mentor. This is where his character will really shine: by passing on his wisdom to another younger character.

As for why I think it's one of my favourite dynamics? Well, they have fantastic chemistry. Philip as the excitable child and Edward as the old guy who just wants to rest after a busy day. It worked really well...

...but the best part of it was that it developed wonderfully. Philip instantly understands where he screwed up and does his best to look out for Edward when he falls asleep on the job. It got across the messages really well. Philip learned to be more considerate of Edward's feelings, while kids learned (through Edward) how important sleep is.

To be honest, up to that point, the episode was really good. Not really worth top marks, but definitely close. And then the ending scene happened... and that pushed it over the edge to become one of the best episodes of the CG era and the show as a whole. The fact that Thomas was the one to say goodbye was incredibly sweet as we'd been through their journey together two years ago. I'll be honest, I did feel emotional watching it.

Some have complained about the ending, but I genuinely don't care about it. First off, Edward left of his own volition because it was closer to his branch line. Secondly, it could really help kids get through similar situations of a friend moving house. You can either be emotional about it (and that's perfectly fine too), or you can look to the future and be excited about living near a new friend. Thomas fans would barely relate to this since a lot of them have no other friends away from the fanbase. It also showcases how much inner strength the engines have.

Will the engines miss Edward? Absolutely; there'll probably be an episode focusing on that in the future. But as things stand, he's where he wants to be. And I'm really looking forward to his future episodes (which he will get, no matter what certain fans think).

Final Thoughts

I stand by the opinion that this is the best episode of this series. It could possibly be the best of the show, but I think Edward's Exploit still has the best music and editing. But this one has so much heart and charm, the characters were great, the themes were wonderful and they left things on a positive cliffhanger.

As an Edward fan though, I'm delighted that he's going back home. I'm excited for the story opportunities this will bring, and I'm relieved that there's more of a possibility now that he'll never be mischaracterised again. You'll be missed at Tidmouth, old friend. But at least you're where you feel you belong now.

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 Shed for Edward: 10/10

Cumulative Total (So Far)

107/130

Series 21: The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor

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...

Final Thoughts

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.

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

Cumulative Total (So Far)

97/120

Series 21: Philip's Number

Never has a series had such a great start and faltered so quickly With this stretch of episodes quickly reaching its conclusion, can Philip's Number claw things back?

It’s fair to say this episode was going to be divisive regardless of the content since Philip is a Marmite character. At first, I didn’t like him that much as he was an annoying one trick pony; constantly bugging characters for a race, causing trouble (directly or indirectly) and getting away with it. But series 20 developed him really well, and this continues that development really well.

Another character that got some fantastic development was Gordon. Him belittling Philip at the start set up the conflict really well. But him praising Philip and willingly apologising was wonderful. This era has focused so much on his arrogant, stubborn side that it forgot (until now) that he can be humble and supportive when he wants to be. Percy Runs Away and James & the Express being prime examples of this.

The story is great. I do have an issue with it (and I'll get to that in a bit), but it suit Philip's childlike wonder really well. It's nice that they'd move him away from what he once was and on to where he fits in.

Also, the theme is absolutely wonderful. The theme of "carving your own path" and "only you can define who you are" is a take on the "be who you are" thread that the show hasn't really gone down before. While it has been known to reuse themes, I love that some episodes are taking said reused themes and making them more nuanced.

And I also want to heap praise on the animation and editing. I don't really do this in episode reviews any more as a) you can only say "the animation's great" in so many ways before sounding like a broken record, and b) good animation should be the standard by this point. However, because this episode went above and beyond, and it produced a huge talking point, it feels right to discuss the weirdness of some of the scenes.

In most media, they make dream and thought sequences so obvious. Editors add so many filters and effects that it's obvious that there's a dream or thought sequence. This episode doesn't do that. It respects its audience enough to think that it's an insight into Philip's thoughts. The thoughts are ridiculous and over the top while the rest of the episode is grounded. They didn't bother adding filters. They didn't add effects. They just showed you Philip's thoughts and expected you to fill in the gaps. That is some excellent film making, and something I respect Dianna Basso and her team immensely for.

The only real issue I have is with the story's pacing. It does take a while to get going since there's so much fluff about the main characters and their numbers, and even the middle meanders a bit as Philip travels around looking for why he was given the number he has.

Final Thoughts

I've written this conclusion three times before publication. I've watched the episode three times and I saw a fantastic thread on Twitter. At first, I was really torn on this episode, but now I think it's my favourite episode this series has offered so far. The pacing is a bit wonky, but the story is great despite that. The characters are fantastic and the theme is one of the strongest of this series, and possibly the show as a whole.

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

Cumulative Total (So Far)

87/110