Season 4 Episode 22: Thomas and The Special Letter

Thomas arrives with his last train for the day, where Toby and Percy are waiting. They discuss that they all are going to the big station and that something must be up. The meaning of somethings up confuses Toby's old man brain. 

It's not funny, Thomas.

Just then, coming up the line they see Mavis, BoCo, Bill, Ben, Donald, Douglas, and Oliver. Donald reminds them to hurry they are all wanted at the station. Thomas is even more curious about what's going on. The three leave to find out what is the hub bub.

At the station, The Fat Controller from on top of Duck reads a letter from a little girl. The girl asks if the engines could visit her at the station near her house. The girl is a huge Thomas fangirl.

I am Mufasa 

The Fat Controller takes this as an opportunity for publicity and announces that they are going to the big city. Well, only a select few of them. 

The engines who were going on the trip begin to show their replacements the ropes of their lines. Thomas gives the low down to Oliver. 

All the excitement begins to give Thomas' ego a big boast. He begins to brag to Oliver about how useful he is, how everyone loves him, and winning a race against Bertie. 

You know typical Thomas stuff

Thomas couldn't just tell Oliver about it. Nope he has to show off and reenact it. All the sudden, Thomas takes off like a horny jack rabbit. And has a GIF worthy accident.

I love Bill/Ben's face back there.

Thomas or crew didn't die or anything. But, Thomas did have bent buffers. The Fat Controller is called. He sends out some workmen and makes it clear that Thomas is danger of not going on the trip if he is not mended in time.

8 o' clock the next morning, Gordon, Edward, James, Percy, Toby, Henry, and Duck are waiting to see if Thomas makes it.

It's all about Thomas.

And god dammit, Thomas makes it. They all head off to the city, where dreams are made.

In the city, the engines where put up in a fancy shed surrounded by their adoring fans. Sounds like my worst nightmare.

It's a metaphor for Thomas being the center of the universe.

Don't forget to check out this blog's sister, Kidisasters. A snarky look at various kid shows.

Season/Series 3 Review

What can be said about Season/Series 3? Well the crashes were not as spectacular as prior seasons for one thing. Before we saw damage in the crashes, this season it was very mild. Which was budget issues in all fairness.

For example, Oliver looks pretty unscathed but, he was sent to The Works.

With our characters this season, some of them are starting to loose their edge. Thomas is becoming less of a jerk and more of the good guy. Percy is slowly dumbing down. Henry is suddenly a tree hugger. 

We did though get introduced to some new ones that I enjoy. Mavis, Oliver, Toad, and Bulgy. 

Mavis being a favorite.

I did enjoy the 2D animation that was thrown in this season. The bee scene with James was great. 

All and all it was a pretty good season. And I know it will be looking even better when I get pass Season 7. Season 8 is where the snark is going to go over and beyond. 

Just to note, I actually still enjoy this show.  But, I like to make fun of those things I like. I am loving looking back on these stories and remembering them. The work and the talent that went into this series is amazing. Even looking back on the original books, that took imagination. I truly appreciate the talent in took to bring this characters to life.

With that I leave you and tomorrow we'll dig into Season 4. We will meet the Narrow Gauge Engines, Stepney, and a postal postal worker. And we will also see elephants, more cows, The Queen, and The Flying Kipper return.

Season 3 Episode 15: Toby's Tight Rope

On this winter day, Percy arrives at the quarry to gather his trucks filled with stone. He finds Mavis hiding from embarrassment. 

And then he kissed me.

Mavis complains about Toby some more and the manager telling her she had no business on Toby's line. This ticks Percy off and he quickly lectures her about Toby knowing a lot about trucks in his old age. He also spurts out about putting trucks where Toby wants them and blah blah blah very useful engine.

Mavis still doesn't want to listen to anyone. She gripes about why she shouldn't be able to go down Toby's line. She is also annoyed by the siding lines. They way they were laid down caused her to have to make multiple trips to arrange the trucks the way Toby wants them.

It would be easier to do Calculus. 

Mavis schemes that using Toby's line would make it much easier. Her driver who is being manipulated goes along and allows her to go to the first crossing. 

Within a few days, the weather begins to change for the better. The green is appearing from under the snow. Business starts to pick up with the change. The trains begin to become so long that Mavis begins to challenge going beyond the crossing.  

Mavis does the dumbest thing ever and tells the trucks about her scheme to go further and further down the line. She asks them to bump her at the level crossing.

You'll have regrets.

 Toby arrives while Mavis went off to do her Mavis things. He decides to shunt the trucks himself. Once again looking for engine blood, the trucks decide to bump Toby for shits and giggles. 

Toby reaches the crossing and hits his brakes. With a help from a hand they bump Toby across the crossing. They send Toby flying down the line.

The Hand Gods have spoken Toby.

Whoever was suppose to inspect the lines did not do a very good job that day. No one noticed that with the snow melt, the streams and rivers were overflowing. This caused a bridge on Toby's line to be very dangerous. It was dangling like a Tightrope. Hence the title. 

Toby tries to stop before he hits the bridge but, with no avail. He stops right at the worst spot.

I like Toby's "I Nearly Shat Myself" face.

Mavis frantically tries to catch up. She was scared silly. But, she had it together enough to rescue Toby. Workmen anchor down Toby while Mavis pulled back the trucks. She then focuses on Toby. She pulls him back with a chain using all her force. 

Once Toby is off the bridge, the two of them have a chat. Mavis apologizes for the trucks' assholery. Toby just jokes about being a circus folk now.

The Fat Controller arrives later on that day. (I am actually surprised he didn't just show up out of nowhere.) Mavis breaks down confessing it was her fault. But, The Fat Controller actually is not angry. He agrees that if her manager says it okay she can come down Toby's line. 

Maybe she didn't interrupt his iced bun?

We end with Mavis being happy and declared very useful. 

Thank goodness this episode is over. I was getting sick. The cameraman was shaky as hell on this one. I suspect he was sniffing model glue. 

Season 3 Episode 14: Mavis

Now, this is exciting an episode with my cat's namesake. I really liked the name Mavis and the character. Thanks Thomas!

Mavis is ashamed.

Enough cat talk, on with the episode. We start with an introduction to Mavis the diesel engine. The narrator tells us that Mavis is a sexy little number of a diesel. She was brought in to work at the quarry. Mavis is young, like rearranging things, has nice side plates, and a female. 

Meow!

One day, Mavis takes the rearranging things too far when she messes up Toby's trucks. Toby totally bitches her out for having his trucks in different spots everyday. Mavis is like screw Toby and heads off.

This happens daily until Toby looses it and tells Mavis to shove it and take the trucks herself. Mavis is tickled pink at this. 

Damn Toby...

Mavis is at the station waiting, while Diesel oiled up to her. (As the narrator put it) Mavis makes the mistake of complaining about Toby. Diesel was overjoyed by this act of venting. He squirms his way into causing trouble. He builds Mavis up on the Diesel mentality that they do everything better then steam engines. This lights Mavis' fire.

Wasn't he banned awhile back? I'll have to consult Maury.

The narrator who is really into explaining things this episode tells us about Toby's line. I'll try to sum it up. 

1. It crosses with the main road
2. For a short way follows a farm lane
3. Frosty weather makes it rock hard and slippery 
4. Toby stops before reaching the lane
5. His fireman stops the traffic at the crossing
6. Toby goes
7. Toby uses the heavy trucks to push him down the hill
8. It helps him get across the lane
9. It is the safe thing to do  

Visuals once again

Toby tries to explain to Mavis this very lengthy procedure. Mavis is less then thrilled to listen to Toby's advice. She basically calls him old man fuss pot. 

Mavis heads out with the trucks. Her trucks have been growing quite angry with her. Mavis has the habit of treating them roughly and we know where this is going. The trucks chatter about revenge unknown to her.

Mavis not heeding Toby's advice stops right at the crossing. And wouldn't you know it? She is stuck. The trucks are holding her back.

Bertie is enjoying the show.

Workmen arrive and try to sand and dig out the mud. But, nope. 

Toby meanwhile is in the yard, when someone tells him of Mavis' ordeal. Toby gripes about warning her. Toby's driver explains, "She is young and naive. And she has your trucks so we'll probably get in trouble for this. We better help."

Not that I'll ever get in trouble.

Toby finds Mavis being verbal assaulted by a farmer. (Dang, there is a lot of presumed cussing in this one.) Toby teases Mavis and then helps her by pushing her back to the top. Toby tells her good luck and Mavis does not reply. She is embarrassed. 

Mavis drops the trucks into a shed and heads back to the quarry to hide.

What a way to end this?