Since season 19 is over and done with, and with the recent trailer of the Great Race, we still have season 20 to look forward to in between later on this year.
We do have two episodes that have been confirmed to be released:
Sidney Sings, in which Sidney gets his first episode to himself, and an episode introducing a new character Bradford the Brake Van.
Since this is after Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure, season 20 obviously has a lot to get anticipated for. We have Daisy, Donald and Douglas back, as well as the introduction of the Arlesdale Railway Engines. I can already see potential brewing in the writing room for just those characters.
There's also Ryan to work with, and perhaps Skiff, too.
We can only guess though what other surprises season 20 has to offer. Hopefully, unlike season 19, it won't have such a muddled release and get back to the release formula season 17 and 18 had.
Post any thoughts, predictions and reviews below. ;)
Sidney deservers his own episode. Well over due!
Bradford the Brake Van sounds interesting. I wonder what he will look like!
I'm really excited to see the Arlesdale engines more, especially since that was one part of the original books that never made it to model form.
Quote from: Jacob Wilson on February 12, 2016, 05:53:01 PM
Sidney deservers his own episode. Well over due!
Bradford the Brake Van sounds interesting. I wonder what he will look like!
Bradford sounds very interesting... Wondering if they will make him like the spiteful breakvan. Haven't had any real antagonists introduced into the tv series for ages
^ Above 1 Reply - @Reply #3 By mully: Good point there. Maybe Bradford the Brake Van will be the new Spiteful Brake Van and the Spiteful Brake Van's replacement, since he got crushed!
I don't know what Bradford will look like. We'll just have to find out. Anyways I think there could be an episode called Bert and Bert where Iron Bert goes to the Aralesdale railway to get ballast for a new line being built at Farquar Quarry. Iron Bert meets Bert from the Arelsdale railway and asks him to go to the quarry to help him to clean up the Ballast mess. While Bert is at the quarry he meets Iron Bert's brother, Iron Arry. He also meets Mavis. Then Iron Bert thanks Bert for his help and takes him back to the Arelsdale Railway. Then he tells his adventure to the rest of the Arelsdale engines.
Characters:
Mike
Rex
Bert
Iron Arry
Iron Bert
Mavis
I thought of one for Rosie.
Rosie is to take Porter's place at Brendam Docks, but Rosie is a bit worried about working with Salty. She tries to do as good a work as Salty, but leads to trouble. It soon comes out that her basis was being replaced by that of salty's on the mainland was what cause Rosie's fear of Salty.
Quote from: Akodenski on February 15, 2016, 12:23:33 PM
I don't know what Bradford will look like. We'll just have to find out. Anyways I think there could be an episode called Bert and Bert where Iron Bert goes to the Aralesdale railway to get ballast for a new line being built at Farquar Quarry. Iron Bert meets Bert from the Arelsdale railway and asks him to go to the quarry to help him to clean up the Ballast mess. While Bert is at the quarry he meets Iron Bert's brother, Iron Arry. He also meets Mavis. Then Iron Bert thanks Bert for his help and takes him back to the Arelsdale Railway. Then he tells his adventure to the rest of the Arelsdale engines.
Characters:
Mike
Rex
Bert
Iron Arry
Iron Bert
Mavis
great! I thought of something similar with the two Olivers in a comical way before SLOTLT.
I also have another episode for the minature railway that I hope will come in season 20
Duck and Rex
Plot:
One day duck meets Rex at Arelsdale.Then a flashback happens about the time Duck first meet Rex. Then Duck saw Rex with some passengers. Then Duck wishes that he knew what Rex's job was like. Then he goes to the Aresburg branchline and tells Donald and Dogulus how much Duck would like to see how it is like to do Rex's job. Dogulus says how silly that is and makes Duck cross. On the way back to The Great Western line Duck didn't pay attention to a red signal and then went off the track and then fell in to a lake just by the minature line. Then Duck finds Rex riding along the line with a passenger train. Duck asks Rex to pull him out of the lake but he said he couldn't until he was done pulling his passenger train. After he
was done pulling his train he got the brake down train and pulled Duck out of the water. Then he pulled Duck back to the minature engines' depot where Donald and Dogulus were waiting to take him to the Steamworks. There Victor tells him that everyone makes mistakes but you need to pay attention so you don't make as many mistakes.
Characters:
Mike
Rex
Bert
Duck
Donald
Dogulus
Victor
Kevin
I heard Trevor is meant to be coming back too in a speaking role. Which will be great. Obviously they can not do all this but i hope we get a couple of narrow gauge stories this season as they were a miss. At least one arsedale episode. A bill, ben and timothy episode as i love them. Perhaps a daisy and Ryan based episode or two. A dinos and discovery style arch and a few surprises thrown in lol. Love the ideas so far guys.
Quote from: Akodenski on February 15, 2016, 02:28:27 PM
Duck and Rex
One day duck meets Rex at Arelsdale.Then a flashback happens about the time Duck first meet Rex. Then Duck saw Rex with some passengers. Then Duck wishes that he knew what Rex's job was like. Then he goes to the Aresburg branchline and tells Donald and Dogulus how much Duck would like to see how it is like to do Rex's job. Dogulus says how silly that is and makes Duck cross. On the way back to The Great Western line Duck didn't pay attention to a red signal and then went off the track and then fell in to a lake just by the minature line. Then Duck finds Rex riding along the line with a passenger train. Duck asks Rex to pull him out of the lake but he said he couldn't until he was done pulling his passenger train. After he was done pulling his train he got the brake down train and pulled Duck out of the water. Then he pulled Duck back to the minature engines' depot where Donald and Dogulus were waiting to take him to the Steamworks. There Victor tells him that everyone makes mistakes but you need to pay attention so you don't make as many mistakes.
Honestly, this one sounds a little too much like The Other Side of the Mountain from last season. Maybe with a few tweaks it could be a bit more unique.
I think it's fair if we get at least one episode per season on these groups:
- The Little Westerners (Duck, Oliver, and Toad) and or Donald and Douglas
- The China Clay Engines (Bill, Ben, Timothy and Marion)
- The Narrow Gauge Engines
- The Arlesdale Railway Engines
- Ryan and Daisy
And we're not even including the episodes that include the Steam Team members, especially Thomas, because we all know Thomas has to have at least 3 or more episodes per season.
Fair point. In this case I will select two episodes with the Aralesdale engines since you said at least one episode. And the two episodes are Bert and Bert and Jock the New engine. Here's the plot for Jock the new engine: One day Dogulus went to the docks to pick up a new minature engine. He's name is Jock and he was built just before he came to the island of sodor. When Jock got to the Aralesdale railway the Small Contoller introduced him to the three other Aralesdale engines. When Rex pulled his passenger train he didn't feel good. Once he reached Aralesdale station he couldn't pull his train anymore. Jock went to pull Rex and his train back to Arelsberg. Once he got back to the depot the small controller was very proud of Jock.
Maybe duck and Emily together in a episode.
They should have another tar tanker wagon episode like Dirty Objects in season 1. This time they should have a different engine crash into the tar wagons by skidding on the rails due to oil leakage. What do you think?
I think that would be a great idea.
Also, when will season 20 air?
Oliver and Duck's recent appearances have been feeling extremely forced. Both Great Western engines desperately need more screen time, and dialogue. Hopefully this season, the Scottish Twins and Daisy will feel like actual characters. So far, the only returning characters that feel like actual characters are Harvey, Toad, Bill, and Ben.
Let's also hope BoCo returns this year, if not, next year. If BoCo does return, they better not butcher him to being shoehorned for fanservice, like the Great Western engines.
You know, it kind of bewilders me that people point out that Duck and Oliver in particular are shoehorned into many an episode, but this has happened many times in the classic era, especially in season 3 and 4, and no one seems to complain about them there.
But that aside, we'll see how season 20 turns out with them. Like I said, with all 4 Little Western core members revived, there's a lot of potential to make stories on Duck's Branch Line.
We'll also see how they're handled in the Great Race, since the trailer shows them (if only for a brief moment).
Since his return, Oliver still has yet to get an episode to himself.
I agree that it's frustrating that Oliver has yet to have a starring role and they give story opportunities to Toad. I like Toad and all, but they really gotta cut his usage to a minimum and instead give Oliver the lead role and have Toad be the minor character in the story as opposed to the other way around. It's not just a disappointment, but it's to a point where it's getting really tiring and Toad getting episodes just isn't that exciting anymore.
Duck on the other hand has had three starring roles since his return in season 17. I don't mind that they gave Duck a break and reduced his usage in season 19, but I would like to see more roles from both of great western engines in season 20. My hopes aren't exactly that high though since they would most likely focus on giving stories to Daisy, and Donald and Douglas first since they only just now returned.
If there is anything else I particularly want this season it's some more narrow gauge episodes. My only preferences for this are that they would not take place in the Blue Mountain Quarry and that they do not give Duncan the starring role. Sir Handel and Rusty in particular I would love to see get starring roles.
It would be nice to see an episode about Duck and Diesel again. We haven't seen that since Season 3.
I would die if they did a Duck and Diesel episode.
Nowadays, the only engine Diesel has a rivalry with is a certain blue tank engine...
Nowadays, the only trait we ever get to see from Duck is his Great Western pride. Great Western this. Great Western that. In the classic series, he was more than that. Duck was honest, wise, and hard-working too. He's really overdoing his "There are two ways of doing things. The Great Western way, and the wrong way!" don't we know it?!
Thomas has been having way too much screen time, even for a main character.
As much as I really like Duck's recent starring episodes and Spencer's VIP, I do agree that an episode about Duck not talking about the Great Western would be a nice break. All at Sea has been my favorite Duck episode of the whole series because it fleshed out Duck as a daydreamer, and I'd really enjoy if they focus on that aspect of his personality again.
And yes, they still need to stop shoehorning Thomas in the new episodes. It's still more irritating for him to be shoehorned than any other character because it has been done to death already in the Barlow era. Season 19 in particular had him in every episode, including ones that didn't need him at all like Salty All at Sea, Toad and the Whale, Rocky Rescue, and No Help At All.
Quote from: TrainFan97 on May 17, 2016, 02:36:49 PM
Nowadays, the only trait we ever get to see from Duck is his Great Western pride. Great Western this. Great Western that. In the classic series, he was more than that. Duck was honest, wise, and hard-working too. He's really overdoing his "There are two ways of doing things. The Great Western way, and the wrong way!" don't we know it?!
"Duck is Great Western
and talks endlessly about it"
I fail to see the problem...
Quote from: Original James on May 17, 2016, 06:08:43 PM
"Duck is Great Western and talks endlessly about it"
I fail to see the problem...
I don't see an issue with it, provided it isn't played up too much, and his other personality characteristics can at least be brought to the table, he's more than just "Great Western and proud of it" after all. That's my two cents though :)
~Alex
In 2013, they brought back Duck, Harvey, Jack, Bill, and Ben.
In 2014, they brought back Oliver, Toad, Duncan, and gave Henrietta a face.
In 2015, they brought back Oliver from the Pack, Alfie, Daisy, Donald, Douglas, and Max and Monty who never spoke.
In 2016, who knows what characters will return? Let's hope BoCo will return. If not, next year. BoCo has a great personality. Nowadays, the only one keeping Bill and Ben in order is Marion. It would be nice to see Edward with the twins again too.
Trevor will speak this season. Christopher Ragland confirmed it on Twitter. It would also be nice if Terence came back. He hasn't spoke since Season 5. BoCo hasn't appeared at all since Season 5.
Last year's returnees were all re-introduced in Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure. Maybe we'll see even more returnees in Season 20. It's possible. The ones I see that have great potential are BoCo, Terence, or even Arthur. Arthur's branch line is in CGI. Why not Arthur himself? I don't know about Stepney.
If BoCo does return, who should voice him?
Can you please see if there are just any more episodes for season 20?
Quote from: JLK2707 on May 18, 2016, 08:36:31 PM
Can you please see if there are just any more episodes for season 20?
I did. There aren't yet.
Another character that needs to return is Derek. He really didn't need to be a one-off character. Derek has a great personality, a jolly diesel who's very helpful, but prone to breaking down, and overheating when going up hills. He did make a music video cameo in Calling All Engines. His name was never explicitly said, and they just called him "the new diesel".
I fail to understand why he never truly came back. It would be nice to see both Derek and BoCo in the CGI series. I don't know who should voice BoCo. I think Tim Whitnall should voice Derek.
Yeah, but can anybody please just see when Season 20 will air?
One thing I would like about S20 is how we could get episodes that would focus on events in the middle of SLOTLT, such as Ryan running Thomas' branch, or perhaps builtup of the Railway Show, maybe give some continuity in the middle of TGR that could focus specifically on the international engines.
Quote from: JLK2707 on May 20, 2016, 06:16:09 PM
Yeah, but can anybody please just see when Season 20 will air?
All at sea just aired on my tv and so did Lost and found
Season 19 did have some problems. Thomas was shoehorned in every episode, Gordon's being a complete jerk, and Henry's being a wimp.
At least kind Edward is back, but, they really need to fix Henry's character. Even Toby's character seems fixed, and he hasn't been acting like a wimp since Signal's Crossed, but Henry, where do I even begin? In Season 19, he was such a coward, especially in Henry Spots Trouble. Henry is supposed to be grouchy; not a sniveling coward...
If BoCo does return, maybe Keith Wickham should voice him. This season better knock my socks off.
To avoid double-posting, I'm modifying this post.
Has anyone noticed that the first five episodes of a new season are getting later every year? We still have yet to hear about the first Season 20 DVD. This is taking forever.
Should they make new characters for cgi? (I.e. Henry's old shape could be used for a different engine. He could have a brother named Jackson.). What are your thoughts? Other rolling stock which deserves to be shaped in cgi would have to be the tar tanker wagon, which would be a black tanker with a white circle of a can with tar coming out of it. There could also be the salt vans and other types of troublesome trucks, I.e. Salt wagons and closed vans. They should also have the season 1 troublesome trucks. I know that all of this would help make older fans feel more at home.
What do you think of this?
I just wanted to say that a new episode of season 20 is recorded on ttte wikia. It is called diesel and the ducklings.
https://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Friends-Tinsel-Teresa-Gallagher/dp/B01J3FDJ9Q/ref=sr_1_3?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1469532707&sr=1-3&keywords=thomas+and+friends#productDescription_secondary_view_div_1469548384955
Discuss.
looks like Glynn does come back.
At last, season 20 releases begin to surface.
I'm elated that Donald and Douglas are getting an episode focused on themselves already, and a Winter themed episode at that makes it doubly promising.
Actually quite surprised Glynn will be reappearing, but it's nice to see that even he hasn't been forgotten.
All the other descriptions sound interesting. Now comes the agonizing wait...
My question is where has Glynn been the whole time? He can't still be in that siding on the branchline as that was the only time he was seen and it was once very early on in the history of sodor. But me being an American I'd rather they bring back Hank or even put Sam in the series than bringing new characters into it (I consider Glynn new seeing as he was seen only for a few seconds at the end of the adventure begins). But I'd definitely like to see a Bachmann Sam. As unlikely as it would be he gets added I'd still like to see him. Aswell as the Flying Scotsman becoming a Bachmann product. Scotsman will supposedly be returning in the series soon and I'd like to see if Bachmann can somehow get his deflectors to slide forward at a certain speed as he is only seen with them out when he's going fast or about to. But people would complain that it's just Bachmann trying to get more money by adding more gimmicks. It'd still be interesting to see though, and it is possible before you say it's not.
For those who don't know, the UK will get the first 5 episodes of season 20 starting today. Sidney Sings is the first and is already online. ;) I'll talk more about them when the week is over.
Unfortunately, at first glance at least, the schedule is going to be all screwy like last year with season 19...
The Donald and Douglas focused episode is all I am interested in but looking at the schedule it won't air for a while probably. Season 20 has started airing on Channel 5 at 7:30 am from yesterday for the UK.
They still haven't sorted out those coupling rods on the locos yet.
I think I hate Philip more than I hate Emily.
Quote from: donaldthescottishtwin on September 06, 2016, 11:55:08 AM
I think I hate Philip more than I hate Emily.
Don't we all? He's just a tiny little engine who won't listen to people and keeps making mistakes while bragging about them. Emily is just kinda bossy. Can't wait to see the episode about Donald and Douglas. Hope to see some more skarloey (kinda working on a little project with his real life counterpart and could use some inspiration) and Glynn's return!
I don't think Philip is that bad, I was never a huge fan of him but I can't say I hate him. I found him to be more tolerable in this episode than both of his season 19 episodes. Emily on the other hand seems to have gotten better from season 17 onwards, I'm glad she's at least getting better roles to work with in this era than previous ones.
Either way, neither of them are nowhere near as bad as Rosie. :P
I agree. Emily is proving to be one of the best females in the franchise. Best Engine Ever was my favorite from last season, and yesterday's episode did give me some faith in Phillip...just as long as they keep it that way.
I think this is spoiling a bit, but today's episode, Henry Gets the Express, exceeded all my expectations. It has classic Awdry written all over it. :D
Yeah it wasn't a bad episode but the problem with it is that Henry has pulled the express before many times already and the episode treats it as his first time.
Well, with the first week of season 20 over (and unfortunately going into hiatus again until who knows when...), here are my condensed thoughts on all 5 of them:
Sidney Sings: This was an episode that was hinted at far before the episode came out, and I was curious to see how it would be handled. Fortunately, it turned out pretty good. After awhile of being kind of a blank slate, I really enjoyed how they wrote Sidney as forgetful, but can still be very helpful and not being another antagonistic diesel. Continuity between this and The Missing Christmas Decorations was very satisfying, and I particularly loved the turn of how Sidney's forgetfulness proved to be useful after all, plus the reintroduction of the red Express coaches. It's got a few pacing issues, Thomas being shoehorned slightly in, and some other things that aren't explained (seriously, who WAS supposed to take those passengers???), but still a very strong season opener. Also, I will not be able to get that jingle out of my head... 8/10
Phillip's New Friend: While I'm still not a fan of Phillip for his behavior, here Brenner executed it a lot better than either his season 19 episodes or the Great Race. First off, he's toned down a tad bit than any of those 3 instances, though I will say he still can get pretty tedious. Having him play off Toby provided much more entertainment than either Gordon or James, and how Toby was handled was very much in character. While some may say Thomas was shoehorned in, here it makes sense because it is his branch line, he's Phillip's closest friend, and was the right one to teach Phillip the lesson which he actually does take to heart. Though it doesn't make sense to me why Phillip and Thomas ended up on the same track. Eh, maybe Phillip was supposed to be trailing behind Toby, I don't know. 7/10
Henry Gets the Express: This is by far my favorite of the first batch of season 20 episodes, and I'm sure many fans will agree. Like Old Reliable Edward and Thomas' Shortcut, this is a modern classic. First off, this is Henry's best written role in awhile in the Arc era. He's snide, crafty and teasing like most older fans remember. All the characters mesh together sublimely that it screams classic Awdry, and nobody feels shoehorned in at all, and neither do any of the callbacks to previous episodes. A thing that some may overlook is Sir Topham Hatt's portrayal, which is equally great and feels exactly how he should be - as the father figure over the other engines and punishing them when they act out of line. Some may criticize Gordon's behavior being too immature, but I disagree. He got pompous over his importance, and was punished until he did what he was supposed to. Plus, I feel after pulling the Kipper, Sir Topham Hatt felt Gordon learned his lesson. 10/10
Diesel and the Ducklings: This episode is quite odd for me. As a whole, it is pretty good. I do like the concept of Diesel showing a soft side here and there rather than having a jarring turn of feelings like in season 14, and I didn't mind him acting all troublesome wherever he found opportunity (though at times it did become a bit confusing). 'Arry and Bert getting a role was a nice chance of pace, and yes, the moral is a very good one delivered extremely nicely. The sticking thing that bugs me is how Thomas' role feels incredibly miscast. Lee Pressman has a bad habit for shoehorning Thomas into episodes that really shouldn't have had him - look at last season's Salty All at Sea. I know some people complain that Duck was too shoehorned in season 18, but if there was any episode that would've benefited from Duck in the starring role it would be this one - it would've called back to season 2, and it would've been even funnier to hear Duck quacking himself. I feel this episode just kind of dropped the ball in that regard, and it bugs me how much better it would've been had they gone that route. 6/10
Bradford the Brake Van: New characters that aren't engines are kind of rare in the Arc era, so I was quite interested to see how Bradford would turn out. Fortunately, he turned out very well! Bradford definitely adds something unique and interesting to the Thomas world. His paint scheme looks much like soldier camouflage, and he delivers the drill sergeant attitude with a lot of entertaining enthusiasm. While some of his instructions, yes, can be extremely nitpicky and as a result kind of annoying (which is my only major issue with the episode), he does have merit to his actions, especially in Thomas' case - safety is more important in the long run, which is an excellent moral for kids. Plus, you gotta admire all those railway specific regulations. The crash was, as expected season 19 onward, great to see, and it was quite nice seeing Samson again after so long. Though Bradford may not be appearing very soon, he sure left a lasting impression, and I can tell he and Samson were made for each other. 9/10
All in all, I think season 20 is off to a pretty bang up start, and feels, at least so far, an improvement over its predecessor. Though, I'm really hoping that the team does have some focus on characters that Lost Treasure introduced or brought back for a change, and most importantly, that they don't put Thomas in EVERY single episode.
Quote from: MeganekkoFury1126 on September 09, 2016, 09:16:57 AM
Well, with the first week of season 20 over (and unfortunately going into hiatus again until who knows when...), here are my condensed thoughts on all 5 of them:
Sidney Sings: This was an episode that was hinted at far before the episode came out, and I was curious to see how it would be handled. Fortunately, it turned out pretty good. After awhile of being kind of a blank slate, I really enjoyed how they wrote Sidney as forgetful, but can still be very helpful and not being another antagonistic diesel. Continuity between this and The Missing Christmas Decorations was very satisfying, and I particularly loved the turn of how Sidney's forgetfulness proved to be useful after all, plus the reintroduction of the red Express coaches. It's got a few pacing issues, Thomas being shoehorned slightly in, and some other things that aren't explained (seriously, who WAS supposed to take those passengers???), but still a very strong season opener. Also, I will not be able to get that jingle out of my head... 8/10
Phillip's New Friend: While I'm still not a fan of Phillip for his behavior, here Brenner executed it a lot better than either his season 19 episodes or the Great Race. First off, he's toned down a tad bit than any of those 3 instances, though I will say he still can get pretty tedious. Having him play off Toby provided much more entertainment than either Gordon or James, and how Toby was handled was very much in character. While some may say Thomas was shoehorned in, here it makes sense because it is his branch line, he's Phillip's closest friend, and was the right one to teach Phillip the lesson which he actually does take to heart. Though it doesn't make sense to me why Phillip and Thomas ended up on the same track. Eh, maybe Phillip was supposed to be trailing behind Toby, I don't know. 7/10
Henry Gets the Express: This is by far my favorite of the first batch of season 20 episodes, and I'm sure many fans will agree. Like Old Reliable Edward and Thomas' Shortcut, this is a modern classic. First off, this is Henry's best written role in awhile in the Arc era. He's snide, crafty and teasing like most older fans remember. All the characters mesh together sublimely that it screams classic Awdry, and nobody feels shoehorned in at all, and neither do any of the callbacks to previous episodes. A thing that some may overlook is Sir Topham Hatt's portrayal, which is equally great and feels exactly how he should be - as the father figure over the other engines and punishing them when they act out of line. Some may criticize Gordon's behavior being too immature, but I disagree. He got pompous over his importance, and was punished until he did what he was supposed to. Plus, I feel after pulling the Kipper, Sir Topham Hatt felt Gordon learned his lesson. 10/10
Diesel and the Ducklings: This episode is quite odd for me. As a whole, it is pretty good. I do like the concept of Diesel showing a soft side here and there rather than having a jarring turn of feelings like in season 14, and I didn't mind him acting all troublesome wherever he found opportunity (though at times it did become a bit confusing). 'Arry and Bert getting a role was a nice chance of pace, and yes, the moral is a very good one delivered extremely nicely. The sticking thing that bugs me is how Thomas' role feels incredibly miscast. Lee Pressman has a bad habit for shoehorning Thomas into episodes that really shouldn't have had him - look at last season's Salty All at Sea. I know some people complain that Duck was too shoehorned in season 18, but if there was any episode that would've benefited from Duck in the starring role it would be this one - it would've called back to season 2, and it would've been even funnier to hear Duck quacking himself. I feel this episode just kind of dropped the ball in that regard, and it bugs me how much better it would've been had they gone that route. 6/10
Bradford the Brake Van: New characters that aren't engines are kind of rare in the Arc era, so I was quite interested to see how Bradford would turn out. Fortunately, he turned out very well! Bradford definitely adds something unique and interesting to the Thomas world. His paint scheme looks much like soldier camouflage, and he delivers the drill sergeant attitude with a lot of entertaining enthusiasm. While some of his instructions, yes, can be extremely nitpicky and as a result kind of annoying (which is my only major issue with the episode), he does have merit to his actions, especially in Thomas' case - safety is more important in the long run, which is an excellent moral for kids. Plus, you gotta admire all those railway specific regulations. The crash was, as expected season 19 onward, great to see, and it was quite nice seeing Samson again after so long. Though Bradford may not be appearing very soon, he sure left a lasting impression, and I can tell he and Samson were made for each other. 9/10
All in all, I think season 20 is off to a pretty bang up start, and feels, at least so far, an improvement over its predecessor. Though, I'm really hoping that the team does have some focus on characters that Lost Treasure introduced or brought back for a change, and most importantly, that they don't put Thomas in EVERY single episode.
Where did you see Bradford the brake van???
What was the point in quoting that whole post? ???
Sorry about that I put my question in the quote on accident.
Bradford is the character we always needed to counter the ridiculous unrealism in the modern series, hopefully he appears again soon.
Quote from: donaldthescottishtwin on September 10, 2016, 09:10:02 AM
Bradford is the character we always needed to counter the ridiculous unrealism in the modern series, hopefully he appears again soon.
Ridiculous unrealism? They are talking trains with faces. How real can they ever get?
So far, this season is good. About time Sidney gets character development. Though, Norman still has yet to get an episode to himself.
The over-usage of Thomas is really starting to get on my nerves. Especially in episodes written by Lee Pressman, Thomas gets shoehorned when the episode REALLY doesn't need him. Diesel and the Ducklings would've worked better if it was Duck, and not Thomas. Talk about wasted opportunity. I thought Thomas' role in Sidney Sings was also forced.
I just wish we can see Duck's other traits than just bragging about the Great Western. Oliver still has yet to get an episode to himself since his return. I just hope soon, they'll stop throwing certain returning characters in for fanservice, and just treat them like actual characters. In Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure, and The Great Race, Duck, Oliver, Donald, Douglas, and Daisy were shoehorned for fanservice. Bill, Ben, Harvey, Toad, and Duncan are the returning characters who are not suffering the fanservice issues, but rather, treated like actual characters with their original personalities.
Even though Duck, Donald, Douglas, and Oliver didn't contribute too much to the story of Lost Treasure on a whole, it does make sense why they're there as the Harwick Branch is right next to the Little Western.
Plus, honestly, I'd like to see those four pop up for an episode rather than Thomas. They've only appeared for the sake of it like ten or so times since their returns, and that's nowhere near as annoying as Thomas appearing in almost every single episode a season - something we were already irritated by in seasons 8-16.
The only reason Thomas was shoehorned in every episode of Season 19 was because of the 70th anniversary.
Quote from: TrainFan97 on September 13, 2016, 08:41:56 PM
The only reason Thomas was shoehorned in every episode of Season 19 was because of the 70th anniversary.
Same can be said for Season 9 & the 60th anniversary.
Has anyone else noticed that lately they've been making engines that won't be returning. Or if they do it will be extremely rare. Almost all the characters added in the Great race, Bradford, Hannah and maybe others we don't know about. Seems kinda odd.
Considering how many characters are going to be in season 20 (old and returning), that's kind of a relief. Don't want to get too crowded after all.
Aside from Bradford, the only other recent one I'd like to see again who's only appeared once would be the Flying Scotsman, because he was in my opinion the best thing about the Great Race, and he may appear again...
Unlike in past seasons, at least the new team does have reasons why certain characters won't appear again.
Well, we now have the 5 Christmas episodes out thanks to Amazon. And boy, were they well worth the wait.
SPOILERS BELOW:
Letters to Santa
First off, I really enjoy that this episode calls back to the Percy vs. Harold rivalry of the classic era, something we really haven't seen since season 6, and that's probably the best aspect of this episode. It's definitely nice to see that cheeky, headstrong side of Percy's personality again since Tale of the Brave. That flashback to Percy Proves a Point was a great touch. The episode doesn't quite have the same sense of tension that season 18's Last Train to Christmas had, yet it feels like Helen Farrell was trying to. Though, I feel the Percy and Harold aspect ended too quickly, whereas the part with Harold getting to Hiro went on a little longer than need be. The ending was very sweet, and felt like a nice callback to A Bad Day for Harold. In all honesty, it's a pretty straightforward episode, but still has some good aspects to make it stand on its own. 8/10
The Railcar and the Coaches
After 16 seasons, Daisy once again takes center stage in an episode, and she really feels true to her original personality. Of all the classic Awdry characters, I feel she got the least amount of attention she deserved, so I'm more than enthusiastic to see the new team use her. I like the voice Tracy Ann Oberman gives her. She really gives that sass and swagger we know of her. To see her play off Annie and Clarabel felt like an expansion of her actions in her debut episode, and in turn it was a great episode to flesh out the two coaches. Though, it also feels a bit ironic that they learn the same lesson from Thomas and the Emergency Cable from season 18. I can happily say that this is an episode Thomas wasn't shoehorned in, but at the same time the ending with Diesel felt a bit forced. I guess one could say it was the best form of catharsis, but I would've been a bit happier seeing Ryan in his place instead. Plus, I kind of felt the apology between the two and Daisy was necessary. Still, it's a very great episode and I look forward to seeing Daisy pop up in a starring role again. 9/10
The Christmas Coffeepot
This one was a bit of a disappointment. I do like that Glynn hasn't been forgotten by the team (at least not anymore), but it does feel a bit too much like Hero of the Rails. Thomas and Percy find him, he thinks he's going to be scrapped, they hide him, and then get him restored. We've seen this already, and made it kinda dull. What did make it unique and alright for me was Marion and Sir Robert Norramby. Those two are some of the best Arc characters they make any scene they're in entertaining. The tree gag though with Marion I feel should've been wrapped up at the end, like with her subplot in Legend of the Lost Treasure. Probably my least favorite episode of the season so far, but still passable. 6/10
Over the Hill
This episode did a lot of good things. First off, having Glynn playing off Stephen benefited both characters to a degree. One of the problems I had with Glynn in the previous episode was that he was kind of bland. Here, while that problem still surfaces, they did make him a bit more like Stephen with his old, wise nature, which could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on perspective. In my opinion, it's like two elderly friends hanging out together like they were young again. Their bit with James and Gordon was probably my favorite scene, though I think the slowing down trains up front gag is wearing out its welcome. For me, it was especially nice to see Stephen show some jealousy as well as his competitive side again. The music referencing Eye of the Tiger was definitely unexpected, but was definitely funny. The humor in general was quite fresh for the episode. Also, more points for Thomas not being more than a cameo when he didn't need to be. Plus, with the Earl mentioning of building a railway museum...I see next year's special on the horizon...8/10
Love Me Tender
And now we come to Donald and Douglas' first episode in the CGI era - the episode everyone was waiting for. I'm not going to say this is my favorite episode of season 20 so far just because Donald and Douglas are in it. I will say it IS my favorite episode of season 20 so far because of how it was written. It definitely takes notes (and dialogue) from Twin Trouble, which is one of my favorite episodes of season 6. The Twins' headstrong personalities butting with each other feel very true to their original characters. This episode works great because it definitely puts the twins in a light that anyone with siblings can relate to, and I, in all honesty, feel they do this aspect better than Bill and Ben: brothers may argue, but they always stick together. The way it was handled as well didn't really make you side with one twin more than the other - they both have pros and cons in their decisions. But in the end, when Donald realizes he was wrong, you're really rooting for him to save Douglas. The dialogue during then is particularly sweet and satisfying. I have to admit, when I heard the title for this episode, I thought the twins were going to swap tenders like in the Missing Coach, and while it didn't really do that, I still feel the episode did that point of Douglas losing his tender quite well. The callbacks to the Deputation and the cocoa bit from the Flying Kipper were nice touches. I guess my only nitpick would be, once again, Thomas appearing. It's not as blatant a shoehorning as some other episodes, but again it's still a nagging thing. Nonetheless, this is definitely a huge highlight of season 20 and definitely worth the hype of seeing Donald and Douglas again in a starring role. 10/10
The US versions are on YouTube. Posted by TTTESeasonsUS. In case you want to watch them before you read the review. Or after to see if you agree. Either way they're there.
That was an amazing episode all those references to the classic series worked well and brought out the nostalgia and the brotherly love was shown really well also I can even look past the Thomas shoehorning because after all the twins saved him after he was buried in snow. Of course I'm going to be biased because it's my favourite characters but it's the best episode of the season for me.
On Wikia, this should go to Trivia:
Love Me Tender marks Donald and Douglas' first starring roles since Season 7, Bad Day at Castle Loch.
The Railcar and the Coaches marks the first time Daisy was seen pulling rolling stock.
Yeah, and I just hope we get a cgi flashback of dirty objects where James crashes into the tar tanker wagons in the future!
Quote from: MeganekkoFury1126 on September 09, 2016, 09:16:57 AM
Well, with the first week of season 20 over (and unfortunately going into hiatus again until who knows when...), here are my condensed thoughts on all 5 of them:
Sidney Sings: This was an episode that was hinted at far before the episode came out, and I was curious to see how it would be handled. Fortunately, it turned out pretty good. After awhile of being kind of a blank slate, I really enjoyed how they wrote Sidney as forgetful, but can still be very helpful and not being another antagonistic diesel. Continuity between this and The Missing Christmas Decorations was very satisfying, and I particularly loved the turn of how Sidney's forgetfulness proved to be useful after all, plus the reintroduction of the red Express coaches. It's got a few pacing issues, Thomas being shoehorned slightly in, and some other things that aren't explained (seriously, who WAS supposed to take those passengers???), but still a very strong season opener. Also, I will not be able to get that jingle out of my head... 8/10
Phillip's New Friend: While I'm still not a fan of Phillip for his behavior, here Brenner executed it a lot better than either his season 19 episodes or the Great Race. First off, he's toned down a tad bit than any of those 3 instances, though I will say he still can get pretty tedious. Having him play off Toby provided much more entertainment than either Gordon or James, and how Toby was handled was very much in character. While some may say Thomas was shoehorned in, here it makes sense because it is his branch line, he's Phillip's closest friend, and was the right one to teach Phillip the lesson which he actually does take to heart. Though it doesn't make sense to me why Phillip and Thomas ended up on the same track. Eh, maybe Phillip was supposed to be trailing behind Toby, I don't know. 7/10
Henry Gets the Express: This is by far my favorite of the first batch of season 20 episodes, and I'm sure many fans will agree. Like Old Reliable Edward and Thomas' Shortcut, this is a modern classic. First off, this is Henry's best written role in awhile in the Arc era. He's snide, crafty and teasing like most older fans remember. All the characters mesh together sublimely that it screams classic Awdry, and nobody feels shoehorned in at all, and neither do any of the callbacks to previous episodes. A thing that some may overlook is Sir Topham Hatt's portrayal, which is equally great and feels exactly how he should be - as the father figure over the other engines and punishing them when they act out of line. Some may criticize Gordon's behavior being too immature, but I disagree. He got pompous over his importance, and was punished until he did what he was supposed to. Plus, I feel after pulling the Kipper, Sir Topham Hatt felt Gordon learned his lesson. 10/10
Diesel and the Ducklings: This episode is quite odd for me. As a whole, it is pretty good. I do like the concept of Diesel showing a soft side here and there rather than having a jarring turn of feelings like in season 14, and I didn't mind him acting all troublesome wherever he found opportunity (though at times it did become a bit confusing). 'Arry and Bert getting a role was a nice chance of pace, and yes, the moral is a very good one delivered extremely nicely. The sticking thing that bugs me is how Thomas' role feels incredibly miscast. Lee Pressman has a bad habit for shoehorning Thomas into episodes that really shouldn't have had him - look at last season's Salty All at Sea. I know some people complain that Duck was too shoehorned in season 18, but if there was any episode that would've benefited from Duck in the starring role it would be this one - it would've called back to season 2, and it would've been even funnier to hear Duck quacking himself. I feel this episode just kind of dropped the ball in that regard, and it bugs me how much better it would've been had they gone that route. 6/10
Bradford the Brake Van: New characters that aren't engines are kind of rare in the Arc era, so I was quite interested to see how Bradford would turn out. Fortunately, he turned out very well! Bradford definitely adds something unique and interesting to the Thomas world. His paint scheme looks much like soldier camouflage, and he delivers the drill sergeant attitude with a lot of entertaining enthusiasm. While some of his instructions, yes, can be extremely nitpicky and as a result kind of annoying (which is my only major issue with the episode), he does have merit to his actions, especially in Thomas' case - safety is more important in the long run, which is an excellent moral for kids. Plus, you gotta admire all those railway specific regulations. The crash was, as expected season 19 onward, great to see, and it was quite nice seeing Samson again after so long. Though Bradford may not be appearing very soon, he sure left a lasting impression, and I can tell he and Samson were made for each other. 9/10
All in all, I think season 20 is off to a pretty bang up start, and feels, at least so far, an improvement over its predecessor. Though, I'm really hoping that the team does have some focus on characters that Lost Treasure introduced or brought back for a change, and most importantly, that they don't put Thomas in EVERY single episode.
i agree with Duck being in Thomas's place in Diesel and the Ducklings, my only nitpick is in Bradford the Brake Van where Bradford didn't get scolded by The Fat Controller about his overzealous sticklers to the rules causing confusion and delay on his railway, which would have made Fergus more tolerable.
Quote from: MeganekkoFury1126 on October 05, 2016, 11:10:32 AM
Well, we now have the 5 Christmas episodes out thanks to Amazon. And boy, were they well worth the wait.
SPOILERS BELOW:
Letters to Santa
First off, I really enjoy that this episode calls back to the Percy vs. Harold rivalry of the classic era, something we really haven't seen since season 6, and that's probably the best aspect of this episode. It's definitely nice to see that cheeky, headstrong side of Percy's personality again since Tale of the Brave. That flashback to Percy Proves a Point was a great touch. The episode doesn't quite have the same sense of tension that season 18's Last Train to Christmas had, yet it feels like Helen Farrell was trying to. Though, I feel the Percy and Harold aspect ended too quickly, whereas the part with Harold getting to Hiro went on a little longer than need be. The ending was very sweet, and felt like a nice callback to A Bad Day for Harold. In all honesty, it's a pretty straightforward episode, but still has some good aspects to make it stand on its own. 8/10
The Railcar and the Coaches
After 16 seasons, Daisy once again takes center stage in an episode, and she really feels true to her original personality. Of all the classic Awdry characters, I feel she got the least amount of attention she deserved, so I'm more than enthusiastic to see the new team use her. I like the voice Tracy Ann Oberman gives her. She really gives that sass and swagger we know of her. To see her play off Annie and Clarabel felt like an expansion of her actions in her debut episode, and in turn it was a great episode to flesh out the two coaches. Though, it also feels a bit ironic that they learn the same lesson from Thomas and the Emergency Cable from season 18. I can happily say that this is an episode Thomas wasn't shoehorned in, but at the same time the ending with Diesel felt a bit forced. I guess one could say it was the best form of catharsis, but I would've been a bit happier seeing Ryan in his place instead. Plus, I kind of felt the apology between the two and Daisy was necessary. Still, it's a very great episode and I look forward to seeing Daisy pop up in a starring role again. 9/10
The Christmas Coffeepot
This one was a bit of a disappointment. I do like that Glynn hasn't been forgotten by the team (at least not anymore), but it does feel a bit too much like Hero of the Rails. Thomas and Percy find him, he thinks he's going to be scrapped, they hide him, and then get him restored. We've seen this already, and made it kinda dull. What did make it unique and alright for me was Marion and Sir Robert Norramby. Those two are some of the best Arc characters they make any scene they're in entertaining. The tree gag though with Marion I feel should've been wrapped up at the end, like with her subplot in Legend of the Lost Treasure. Probably my least favorite episode of the season so far, but still passable. 6/10
Over the Hill
This episode did a lot of good things. First off, having Glynn playing off Stephen benefited both characters to a degree. One of the problems I had with Glynn in the previous episode was that he was kind of bland. Here, while that problem still surfaces, they did make him a bit more like Stephen with his old, wise nature, which could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on perspective. In my opinion, it's like two elderly friends hanging out together like they were young again. Their bit with James and Gordon was probably my favorite scene, though I think the slowing down trains up front gag is wearing out its welcome. For me, it was especially nice to see Stephen show some jealousy as well as his competitive side again. The music referencing Eye of the Tiger was definitely unexpected, but was definitely funny. The humor in general was quite fresh for the episode. Also, more points for Thomas not being more than a cameo when he didn't need to be. Plus, with the Earl mentioning of building a railway museum...I see next year's special on the horizon...8/10
Love Me Tender
And now we come to Donald and Douglas' first episode in the CGI era - the episode everyone was waiting for. I'm not going to say this is my favorite episode of season 20 so far just because Donald and Douglas are in it. I will say it IS my favorite episode of season 20 so far because of how it was written. It definitely takes notes (and dialogue) from Twin Trouble, which is one of my favorite episodes of season 6. The Twins' headstrong personalities butting with each other feel very true to their original characters. This episode works great because it definitely puts the twins in a light that anyone with siblings can relate to, and I, in all honesty, feel they do this aspect better than Bill and Ben: brothers may argue, but they always stick together. The way it was handled as well didn't really make you side with one twin more than the other - they both have pros and cons in their decisions. But in the end, when Donald realizes he was wrong, you're really rooting for him to save Douglas. The dialogue during then is particularly sweet and satisfying. I have to admit, when I heard the title for this episode, I thought the twins were going to swap tenders like in the Missing Coach, and while it didn't really do that, I still feel the episode did that point of Douglas losing his tender quite well. The callbacks to the Deputation and the cocoa bit from the Flying Kipper were nice touches. I guess my only nitpick would be, once again, Thomas appearing. It's not as blatant a shoehorning as some other episodes, but again it's still a nagging thing. Nonetheless, this is definitely a huge highlight of season 20 and definitely worth the hype of seeing Donald and Douglas again in a starring role. 10/10
I disagree about Diesel's role being forced in The Railcar and the Coaches. It was the suitable punishment for Annie and Clarabel and would make them feel lucky to be having a rude diesel railcar pulling them than a rough and tough diesel shunter.
Saving Time episode is on youtube now! I will do a brief review on it. Spoiler alert if you have not yet watch it.
Pros:
Sir Handel having a speaking role.
Duncan also working at the BMQ.
Good Plot.
Great comedy in the signal changing scene.
Cons:
Thomas shoehorned in certain scenes
Missed opportunity for Bradford the Brakevan, would have been nice to see the relationship between Samson and Bradford.
Final Rating:
9/10
Thinking things through, I now feel Oliver might've been better suited for Diesel in the Ducklings than either Thomas or Duck. If there's one combination that I feel the writers haven't done before that could mix well it's Oliver and Diesel.
But back to Saving Time, it's a pretty solid episode. Not the best, but still pretty solid. Again, Thomas doesn't feel like the most needed character for the story. If I had to choose, it would be more interesting to have Paxton in the role. Now, although Paxton does appear for a couple of funny moments, if you took his role out of the episode, it would've ended the exact same way. If Thomas tried to help Samson up the hill by himself and that didn't succeed, Paxton's inclusion would've felt more necessary. I did like that Samson owned up to his mistake, which shows some development and maturity after his previous batch of episodes in season 18. Sure, he's still clueless, but maybe that's what's so endearing about him. I did like seeing Sir Handel and Peter Sam in prominent speaking roles, particularly the former. Sure, Sir Handel's still not the jerkish one we remember from season 4, but one must do with what one has I suppose. Not Brenner's best episode, but still a good one. 7/10
Quote from: MeganekkoFury1126 on October 28, 2016, 12:18:40 PM
Thinking things through, I now feel Oliver might've been better suited for Diesel in the Ducklings than either Thomas or Duck. If there's one combination that I feel the writers haven't done before that could mix well it's Oliver and Diesel.
But back to Saving Time, it's a pretty solid episode. Not the best, but still pretty solid. Again, Thomas doesn't feel like the most needed character for the story. If I had to choose, it would be more interesting to have Paxton in the role. Now, although Paxton does appear for a couple of funny moments, if you took his role out of the episode, it would've ended the exact same way. If Thomas tried to help Samson up the hill by himself and that didn't succeed, Paxton's inclusion would've felt more necessary. I did like that Samson owned up to his mistake, which shows some development and maturity after his previous batch of episodes in season 18. Sure, he's still clueless, but maybe that's what's so endearing about him. I did like seeing Sir Handel and Peter Sam in prominent speaking roles, particularly the former. Sure, Sir Handel's still not the jerkish one we remember from season 4, but one must do with what one has I suppose. Not Brenner's best episode, but still a good one. 7/10
I felt Bradford's appearance was also required. And as for Diesel and the ducklings, I still think Duck was be a better choice than Thomas, and I never gave Oliver a thought. Don't you agree?
Seriously, they need to STOP SHOEHORNING THOMAS IN EVERY DARN EPISODE!!!!!!! I mean, ever since Season 8, they started giving him unnecessary screen time. Season 19 was the first time since Season 15 where Thomas not only appears in every episode, but SPEAKS in every episode. Some episodes didn't need him at all. Lots of his roles could've easily gone to other engines.
They need to realize that Thomas is not an interesting character anymore. He's BORING now. Thomas was NOT the first character, Edward was! Thomas was the FOURTH character created.
For the love of Pete, there hasn't been an episode without Thomas since Season 18 so far. They need to tone it down already.
How's about they stop shoehorning any member of the Steam Team period!
Quote from: ClrwtrMK2 on October 29, 2016, 10:27:14 AM
How's about they stop shoehorning any member of the Steam Team period!
They're the main characters of the show, so naturally they will be used more often than minor characters. Even then, I'd argue that some of the steam team members could benefit from a little more screentime. Edward and Toby in particular.
Chaz is very much correct, in my opinion.
Whilst I do think Thomas shouldn't be shoehorned in every episode, I can understand if they want to do it with members of the "steam team". Even in the past, unless the episode focused almost entirely on the Narrow Gauge Engines, there was almost always a member of the steam team present to at least say a line or two. I can't immediately remember an episode which focused solely on secondary characters without a single member of the steam team present. I'm assuming it's very likely that there's a handful, but the fact that they probably didn't happen too much to begin with, is my point.
Finally, can we please state our opinions without so much hostility? I'm sensing a bit of it around at the moment and I think it's not going to do any good. I believe we should state our opinions in a calm manner, that promotes good discussion. The comments section on a lot of YouTube videos is a great example of why it's mutually beneficial to all parties involved to "keep a cool head" when stating an opinion. As I'm sure you're all well aware. So how about we all try to stay a bit calmer and bring up our opinions in...less overtly hostile ways?
Just my thoughts,
~Alex
Here here.
Quote from: Chaz on October 29, 2016, 05:26:48 PM
Quote from: ClrwtrMK2 on October 29, 2016, 10:27:14 AM
How's about they stop shoehorning any member of the Steam Team period!
They're the main characters of the show, so naturally they will be used more often than minor characters. Even then, I'd argue that some of the steam team members could benefit from a little more screentime. Edward and Toby in particular.
Don't worry, Chaz. Toby will be getting a lot of screen time this season with Philip's New Friend and Hasty Hannah. As for Edward, I thought of a special film idea for him, called the Fast and the Furness, that would introduce Albert, Helena and Victoria to the TV Series, but for now, we'll have to wait what Season 20 will bring for Edward.
Loving season 20 so far still feel the writers have kinda taken a step back from season 18 but rest of the season remains to be seen. Side note noticed that in some other merchindice froms they are releasing Hugo and skiff together and in another Ryan and jerome together wondering could these be season 20 related. Hugo is an air ship and skiff needs wind to move so that could be an episode there. As for Ryan and Jerome feel that could be an episode too. Very unusual to release to characters off too separate specials who never even got screen time in a set.
And like always the Japanese always have it best. Seems we have more S20 coming earlier than UK/US.
http://www6.nhk.or.jp/anime/topics/detail.html?i=4283
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M7soe8GNNXk
New preview up for the next DVD focusing on season 20. Bring on the thoughts, fans!
I couldn't help but notice a bull in that shot of Daisy swerving to avoid it. Bulls Eyes reference, much? ;)
Also, nice to see that Jerome and Judy will be returning, as I honestly thought that they were only made for The Adventure Begins. Anyone else think that there might be a future episode that concerns Jerome and Judy and Rocky?
Thanks to our friends in Canada, we got two more season 20 episodes already.
Ryan and Daisy
I've been a pretty big Ryan fan since his introduction in Lost Treasure as he is a really nice character, so I was pretty eager to see the first episode starring him. I'd say it worked out very well. Not as good as I thought, but still good. The story isn't really anything new or intricate, and it has been done in the series quite a few times already. It's rather straightforward, too, as is the moral, but definitely made quite good with Ryan and Daisy's different personalities playing off each other. I particularly liked how Daisy used her feminine manipulation to trick Ryan to do her jobs. You also have to admire Ryan's noble attitude, even if it's not healthy. I'm still a bit disappointed that Eddie Redmayne no longer voices him, but Steve Kynman still does a good job in the role. All the little nods of Daisy in the classic era from her not taking the milk train and not being able to shoo a bull off the line were nice touches. The moments with Sir Topham Hatt were definitely humorous, plus I did love seeing Arlesburgh West junction expanded, much like Knapford station in season 18. Davey Moore seems to have a good streak with writing the classic and newer characters, and while it's not quite as good or as entertaining as Railcar and the Coaches or Love Me Tender, it's still very solid. And thank goodness Thomas doesn't speak. 8/10
Pouty James
Andrew Brenner has done it again. It's clear that he just plain enjoys writing episodes with James - not that I blame him, since he's my second favorite member of the Steam Team. I'd go so far to say this is the funniest episode of Thomas yet. The animators must've had a field day making so many hilarious faces for the engines, and this episode proves how much Thomas can benefit with CGI. But not just with the faces, but with the quick cut juxtaposition humor. It's all edited perfectly. Not to mention the little bouts of dialogue sprinkled in. I also want to mention the new theme music by Chris Renshaw, which definitely feels like it pays tribute to his classic theme. In general, it definitely feels like a modern classic, and at times feels like a modern improvement over No Joke for James from season 3. Even though I'm not the biggest Stanley fan, I did like he was used with some significant speaking lines. The moral is also a nice fresh one that the series hasn't really touched on until now. Even though Andrew Brenner's writing quality sunk during last season, this one shows he's still got it. 10/10
Can I say that whoever replaced Redmayne did a great job, you can barely tell the difference. I know for a fact Redmayne doesn't voice Ryan anymore as his agent said so himself. It was SIOLT only. And it is nice to see Ryan back. Wish there was an explanation as to why duck is at the yard with the Mike Bert and Rex. That's my two cents into the Ryan and Daisy episode. I still must say Over the Hill, The Christman Coffeepot and Love Me Tender are my favorites so far though. I actually really like them in reality. Hope there's more episodes like these three coming up. Excited for Hugo coming soon, maybe his story will be as good as Glynn's.
I'm well aware of the change in voice. Like I said, it's a minor disappointment.
And to answer, Arlesburgh Junction is the end of Duck's branch line.
We are now halfway through season 20, and so far I am really impressed. Not too many problems I have with this season, and I have found most of the episodes to be enjoyable. I look forward to finding out what the remaining five episodes are, as well as being able to watch the second half of the season from there.
An interesting thing to note, Daisy is being used here more than she ever was in the model era. It's a real treat seeing her utilized so well in the current series. Looking forward to seeing what they do with Trevor too!
Quote from: MeganekkoFury1126 on November 14, 2016, 09:03:20 PM
Thanks to our friends in Canada, we got two more season 20 episodes already.
Ryan and Daisy
I've been a pretty big Ryan fan since his introduction in Lost Treasure as he is a really nice character, so I was pretty eager to see the first episode starring him. I'd say it worked out very well. Not as good as I thought, but still good. The story isn't really anything new or intricate, and it has been done in the series quite a few times already. It's rather straightforward, too, as is the moral, but definitely made quite good with Ryan and Daisy's different personalities playing off each other. I particularly liked how Daisy used her feminine manipulation to trick Ryan to do her jobs. You also have to admire Ryan's noble attitude, even if it's not healthy. I'm still a bit disappointed that Eddie Redmayne no longer voices him, but Steve Kynman still does a good job in the role. All the little nods of Daisy in the classic era from her not taking the milk train and not being able to shoo a bull off the line were nice touches. The moments with Sir Topham Hatt were definitely humorous, plus I did love seeing Arlesburgh West junction expanded, much like Knapford station in season 18. Davey Moore seems to have a good streak with writing the classic and newer characters, and while it's not quite as good or as entertaining as Railcar and the Coaches or Love Me Tender, it's still very solid. And thank goodness Thomas doesn't speak. 8/10
Pouty James
Andrew Brenner has done it again. It's clear that he just plain enjoys writing episodes with James - not that I blame him, since he's my second favorite member of the Steam Team. I'd go so far to say this is the funniest episode of Thomas yet. The animators must've had a field day making so many hilarious faces for the engines, and this episode proves how much Thomas can benefit with CGI. But not just with the faces, but with the quick cut juxtaposition humor. It's all edited perfectly. Not to mention the little bouts of dialogue sprinkled in. I also want to mention the new theme music by Chris Renshaw, which definitely feels like it pays tribute to his classic theme. In general, it definitely feels like a modern classic, and at times feels like a modern improvement over No Joke for James from season 3. Even though I'm not the biggest Stanley fan, I did like he was used with some significant speaking lines. The moral is also a nice fresh one that the series hasn't really touched on until now. Even though Andrew Brenner's writing quality sunk during last season, this one shows he's still got it. 10/10
I also like how Stanley, starting off as a one off character, is getting more roles. Maybe when Great Waterton is rendered in CGI, he might start running the Great Waterton-Vicarstown route. Also, maybe Stanley and Ryan would make a great dynamic with Stanley's cockiness and Ryan's eagerness to be really useful. As for Rosie, I hope they do the same thing.
I have to admit that I really enjoyed Ryan and Daisy. Think enjoyed is more then pouty James which has good morals but could have been so much better. Loved Ryan and Daisy. Mr redmayne is a miss however. There was some really beautiful shots. Lot more to come with ryan and skiff this season. Can not wait to see it. Up coming episode "blown away" is one I am particular looking forward too
Waiting for BoCo to be reintroduced...
And so another week of season 20 comes and goes.
Blown Away
Even though Skiff doesn't appeal to me as much as Ryan in terms of getting episodes, I was still having good hopes for this one. First off, I'm glad we had a CGI episode that takes place primarily on the Little Western and doesn't involve any member of the Steam Team at all. Yeah, that Thomas appearance in the beginning was unnecessary, but fortunately he doesn't speak or appear for long. Some might say that Duck and Oliver felt a little mean to Skiff, but I do think it was a mix of concern and their familiarly proud personalities. I do really like that both sides aren't black and white - Skiff IS scared and easily in trouble as Duck and Oliver said, but can be a hero at the same time. Even though engines screeching to a stop just in time is getting really excessive, here they made it work very well. I wish they could do more episodes at night that involved tension like this. I'm looking forward to the episode that continues on from the ending, where Skiff gets his 'reward.' 9/10
The Way She Does It
Brenner has gotten quite a bit of criticism since season 19 and the Great Race, and I can see why people give it. He does have pacing issues in many of his episodes, and this one does have that in some areas. Nonetheless, I still see that he can make good episodes. This is one of them, and Daisy gets yet another episode to herself. Whilst it's not quite as strong as the past two, there's still a lot to admire. First off, I love Brenner's meticulous attention to detail in the story - every mistake that Daisy makes is given a legitimately good reason to happen, unlike in the Barlow era where every mistake would happen by the the main character even thought he/she would know everything they should from the beginning. I must criticize again Thomas appearing even though there's no reason for it. I'm pretty sure Daisy represents the audience when she doesn't care what important stuff he says he's doing. But I did enjoy seeing Ryan, Duck and Oliver - engines that DO make sense for the story's setting. I love Duck's hilariously awkward moment of him trying to comprehend Daisy's bragging. I'm also guessing that bull is going to be recurring in all of Daisy's episodes now. All in all, a very very funny and smart episode, something we should come to expect from Brenner after Pouty James. 8/10
My Review on Henry in the Dark
Pros
Use of Railway Signs
Endless gags with the green glow paint on Henry, including TFC getting scared.
Henry not being the coward, and standing up for himself for once.
The Sad Story of Henry reference
Cons
Nitpick: Edward's portrayal, being scared and not defending Henry.
Final Episode Rating: 10/10
My review on Three Steam Engines Gruff
Pros
Trevor speaking again, and a new whistle, though I preferred his old one.
Jem Cole being mentioned
Use of the Watermill Set
Reference to the Three Billy Goats Gruff
Cons
Toby being a scared wimp again, should have used Mavis.
Final Rating: 9/10
Now for Mucking About
Great story-line for Max and Monty's reckless behaviour
Moral: no mucking about
Policeman scolding them, wondered what would have happened to Max and Monty if they didn't obey the officer? maybe being wheel--clamped?
Edward's wise persona.
Cons
Nitpick: Where's Miss Jenny? though plot worked well without her, her appearance would have been nice, a real jack and the Pack Episode
Final Rating: 10/10
Now for Cautious Connor
Pros
Dramatic action of Connor breaking down.
'Eye of the Tiger' Score
Stephen mentioning his glory days, and his story of engines surviving self-explosions was a twist to RWS story 'Bad Look Out'
Cons
Nothing of note.
Final Rating: 10/10
In all honesty, Three Steam Engines Gruff is the worst episode of the season in my opinion. Yes, Trevor did get a crucial and speaking role in the episode, but other than that the episode fell flat. I'm not sure why Andrew Brenner is being so wishy washy. Toby's cowardice is one thing, but it feels like a 9 minute rehash of Tale of the Brave, which the latter was done a lot better by the same writer. The ending felt so predictable and Percy went backwards in character as well. I honestly wish we got a Small Railway episode in place of this. 1/10
On the other side of the coin, Mucking About is going to be another definite favorite this season. I loved everything about it - the Pack getting another episode after so long, Max and Monty's antics, the Free inspired rock music, Edward's role, and Thomas' accident. I must commend Davey Moore for being so consistent in his high quality of writing. 10/10
And I probably should talk about the Missing Breakdown Train. Much like the Glynn episodes, the attention to detail on why they've been absent all those years is to be praised, and I liked, again, how the Little Western and the Arlesburgh branch line engines were involved in the story. Those two groups have been crucial to some of the best episodes this season. Plus, I do like how the two cranes were able to interact with each other in an entertaining way. Although, I'm not sure how I feel about 'bird dropping' gags in the show.
This one and Cautious Connor I would give an 8. The latter did really good on expanding Connor's character, and makes me like him even more. I would criticize though that they could've made Connor's accident even worse to make the emotional scarring more impactful, but the way Stephen was handled to interact with him was excellent. The fact they mentioned locomotive explosions was pretty bold on Brenner's part. Of course, once again, I don't like Thomas being here, as it again feels forced, but it's still a far better episode than Three Steam Engines Gruff.
Quote from: MeganekkoFury1126 on December 12, 2016, 09:32:52 PM
In all honesty, Three Steam Engines Gruff is the worst episode of the season in my opinion. Yes, Trevor did get a crucial and speaking role in the episode, but other than that the episode fell flat. I'm not sure why Andrew Brenner is being so wishy washy. Toby's cowardice is one thing, but it feels like a 9 minute rehash of Tale of the Brave, which the latter was done a lot better by the same writer. The ending felt so predictable and Percy went backwards in character as well. I honestly wish we got a Small Railway episode in place of this. 1/10
On the other side of the coin, Mucking About is going to be another definite favorite this season. I loved everything about it - the Pack getting another episode after so long, Max and Monty's antics, the Free inspired rock music, Edward's role, and Thomas' accident. I must commend Davey Moore for being so consistent in his high quality of writing. 10/10
And I probably should talk about the Missing Breakdown Train. Much like the Glynn episodes, the attention to detail on why they've been absent all those years is to be praised, and I liked, again, how the Little Western and the Arlesburgh branch line engines were involved in the story. Those two groups have been crucial to some of the best episodes this season. Plus, I do like how the two cranes were able to interact with each other in an entertaining way. Although, I'm not sure how I feel about 'bird dropping' gags in the show.
This one and Cautious Connor I would give an 8. The latter did really good on expanding Connor's character, and makes me like him even more. I would criticize though that they could've made Connor's accident even worse to make the emotional scarring more impactful, but the way Stephen was handled to interact with him was excellent. The fact they mentioned locomotive explosions was pretty bold on Brenner's part. Of course, once again, I don't like Thomas being here, as it again feels forced, but it's still a far better episode than Three Steam Engines Gruff.
I thought Mavis would be better in Toby's role since so far in Season 20, she only had a cameo in Toby's New Friend.
My reviews for All in Vain
Pros
Edward getting a role instead of the always shoehorned Thomas
Character Development in James
Mention of Sodor's Capital City, Suddery and the fact it is also on Edward's Branch Line
Clever close up of James as his plan to keep clean backfires by the wind off-screen.
Dramatic zoom in to James' face after hearing about his "SCRATCH!"
Cons
N/A
Final Episode Rating: 10/10
And now for Buckled Tracks and Bumpy Trucks
Pros
Tracks buckling on-screen for the first time
Nice animation of Dowager Hatt's Portrait! Totally unexpected, but well animated
The Hat Controller's white hat subplot was well written and a Edward, Gordon and Henry reference with the goat eating his hat was a bonus, in addition to his sweat effect
Nice montage of various seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, at the beginning
Cons
Although Whiff was the main star of the episode, his role was ironically minor, despite the bottle falling from his trucks because of the buckled tracks and causing a fire by reflecting near the sun and hitting the dry grass.
Toby out of character laughing at The Fat Controller's White hat, believing he is going on safari
Thomas was a bit shoehorned
Final Episode Rating: 7/10
And now we get another pair of season 20 episodes, but this time, since 1994, we got episodes based off the Rev. W. Awdry's original Railway Series stories! Let me just say that I am very happy with all the new things season 20 has done, especially to get so deep into the original routes of the series in general. Plus, I've been waiting for decades since my youth to see TV adaptations of the Arlesdale Railway stories. Finally I can die happy!
Tit for Tat
First of all, the human interaction in both of these episodes gets huge points. They show just how crucial they are to completing Thomas' world - it isn't just about the talking machines to appreciate the Island of Sodor environment. I really like the voice they chose for the Reverend. Having watched the 90's interviews of him, his voice sounds like he would when he was younger when these stories were taken place. Now, I for one don't particularly like Bert's voice, unlike the other two's. Not that it's because Keith Wickham is running out of distinctive voices, but I just don't think it suits his character. I would've preferred a deeper, lower voice. Nonetheless, I think Andrew Brenner got his character right - naïve and somewhat petty, but otherwise friendly. I have to point out that the shots along the Arlesdale Railway, especially the woods, look absolutely beautiful. The episode pretty much follows the story to a T, but the opening scene of the visitors I felt would've been better if Thomas wasn't involved. If you took it out, the episode would've ended exactly the same. Otherwise, I would have no complaints about it. It's a fun adaptation with a good moral, and that ending scene was the icing on the delicious cake. 9.5/10
Mike's Whistle
Personally, Mike is probably my favorite of the Arlesdale Railway, so naturally I was really looking forward to this one. Now, yes, Thomas' role does feel shoehorned AGAIN, but I will give a slight pass that the episode actually took place before Oliver was around. Still, given that Donald and Douglas haven't been around much this season, I still would've preferred either of them instead. Plus, I did kind of wish the slip coaches would get some speaking roles again. Those nitpicks aside, what I love is how entertaining Mike constantly getting ticked off and being a complete grouch. I loved it with Duncan in season 18, and I really love it here. Andrew Brenner got his character perfectly, and I absolutely love how he captures the chemistry between the three. Much like Blown Away, Duck's character feels quite strong in this episode and he feels like he truly belongs here like he should. Also, huge points for acknowledging the small controller's actual name - that is the dedication I love that this season is really going for. I also love the comedy that Brenner is amazing at - the old man losing his dentures was hilarious, as was Duck's clogged whistle sound. While the ending is noticeably different from the story, I actually like it better since the episode felt like it came full circle with all the characters involved. Needless to say, I love this episode, and I can't wait for the last of the three adaptations to appear. 10/10
Quote from: MeganekkoFury1126 on January 23, 2017, 09:11:48 PM
And now we get another pair of season 20 episodes, but this time, since 1994, we got episodes based off the Rev. W. Awdry's original Railway Series stories! Let me just say that I am very happy with all the new things season 20 has done, especially to get so deep into the original routes of the series in general. Plus, I've been waiting for decades since my youth to see TV adaptations of the Arlesdale Railway stories. Finally I can die happy!
Tit for Tat
First of all, the human interaction in both of these episodes gets huge points. They show just how crucial they are to completing Thomas' world - it isn't just about the talking machines to appreciate the Island of Sodor environment. I really like the voice they chose for the Reverend. Having watched the 90's interviews of him, his voice sounds like he would when he was younger when these stories were taken place. Now, I for one don't particularly like Bert's voice, unlike the other two's. Not that it's because Keith Wickham is running out of distinctive voices, but I just don't think it suits his character. I would've preferred a deeper, lower voice. Nonetheless, I think Andrew Brenner got his character right - naïve and somewhat petty, but otherwise friendly. I have to point out that the shots along the Arlesdale Railway, especially the woods, look absolutely beautiful. The episode pretty much follows the story to a T, but the opening scene of the visitors I felt would've been better if Thomas wasn't involved. If you took it out, the episode would've ended exactly the same. Otherwise, I would have no complaints about it. It's a fun adaptation with a good moral, and that ending scene was the icing on the delicious cake. 9.5/10
Mike's Whistle
Personally, Mike is probably my favorite of the Arlesdale Railway, so naturally I was really looking forward to this one. Now, yes, Thomas' role does feel shoehorned AGAIN, but I will give a slight pass that the episode actually took place before Oliver was around. Still, given that Donald and Douglas haven't been around much this season, I still would've preferred either of them instead. Plus, I did kind of wish the slip coaches would get some speaking roles again. Those nitpicks aside, what I love is how entertaining Mike constantly getting ticked off and being a complete grouch. I loved it with Duncan in season 18, and I really love it here. Andrew Brenner got his character perfectly, and I absolutely love how he captures the chemistry between the three. Much like Blown Away, Duck's character feels quite strong in this episode and he feels like he truly belongs here like he should. Also, huge points for acknowledging the small controller's actual name - that is the dedication I love that this season is really going for. I also love the comedy that Brenner is amazing at - the old man losing his dentures was hilarious, as was Duck's clogged whistle sound. While the ending is noticeably different from the story, I actually like it better since the episode felt like it came full circle with all the characters involved. Needless to say, I love this episode, and I can't wait for the last of the three adaptations to appear. 10/10
both episodes get a 10/10 from me.
I'm happy to see Railway Series adaptations for the first time in over two decades, but Thomas REALLY didn't need to be there.
I'm going to try to sound calm about this. I have a bad feeling Thomas has been shoehorned in every episode again. Unlike Season 19, he at least doesn't SPEAK in every episode this time, but it's still getting out of hand. Most of the time, his roles could've easily been given to other engines, and his appearances usually feel extremely forced, especially in episodes written by Lee Pressman. Even Brenner is guilty of it.
Like I said, it is starting to get out of hand. I just hope they finally stop shoehorning him in Season 21. It's seriously getting old. Thomas wasn't shoehorned in every episode of Seasons 17 and 18, but now, it's getting worse than ever. When a much more deserving character gets dropped in favor of Thomas, it's so annoying, I can't even describe it.
Engine of the future and Hugo and the Airship are now up on youtube.
Engine of the Future: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQp3uLuN-ak&feature=em-uploademail (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQp3uLuN-ak&feature=em-uploademail)
Hugo and the Airship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2bCox-Epqc&feature=em-uploademail (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2bCox-Epqc&feature=em-uploademail)
First, here's my review of Engine of the Future:
Pros
Stephen mentioning the time of evolution on the railways from horse and rail carts to Steam Locomotives to Diesels and Electrics.
Hugo being different to other DVD released characters like Porter, Samson and Philip being confident, stubborn and energetic respectively in that even the most modern engines have his doubts and in Hugo's propellor.
Great comedic scene with TFC's Hat landing on a cow after Hugo thundered by, along with the Knapford Stationmaster being blown away on the platform.
Sir Handel and Duncan, the two grumpy and stubborn Narrow Gauge Engines being together.
Cons
Edward being rude to Hugo, like he was to Harvey and Rocky in Harvey to the Rescue and the Season 10-episode-whose-title-we-already-know-and-despise-so-much respectively. SERIOUSLY! You should have made Edward be the kind, wise and sympathetic engine he really is, and put him on Percy's wheels sort of speak; in other words, give him Percy's role.
Episode Rating: 8/10
And now for Hugo and the Airship.
Pros
The Railway Inspectors showing concern for Hugo's propellor, but Hugo confidently reassuring them that his propellor is turned off by his driver before entering the platform and and not switched on again until he is clear of the platform.
The airship and Hugo having similar colour schemes makes the 'Hugo the flying zeppelin' story gag very well thought out, as well as the gag of Hugo's propellor blowing Skiff away.
Interaction between Skiff and Hugo. Hopefully, we'll see more of that in the future, and maybe we might see an episode with Hugo and Jeremy and/or Harold.
Cons
Nothing of Note
Episode Rating: 10/10
Useful Railway is out! Take a look! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GUvuzY83Q6w
- SPOILERS -
Rex's crash was amazing. The slow-mo made me laugh out loud. A lovely end to the "Arlesdale Trifecta."
It should've been called the Mat-REX. :P
I think everyone's talked about how great Useful Railway was, especially with that hilariously over the top slow mo crash, and I can whole heartedly agree. Aside from wanting Thomas' role to go to Duck, the episode was pretty much perfect, much like the other two Arlesdale episodes. 10/10
Now for the last of season 20, Skiff and the Mermaid, this one was a rather unexpected treat. The focus of the episode isn't really much the railway at all - it's all coming down to the humans, especially Sir Topham Hatt, and Skiff. It was a particularly hilarious event of Sir Topham Hatt going 'Castaway' on us, and Skiff still manages to be a very entertaining character on his own, which is something I was a bit cautious over since Lost Treasure, but it proved to be very fruitful. Captain Joe feels a bit more distinguished in this episode, though I still think the writers could still do more with him. Even though Thomas does appear, it's only for like 4 seconds, and it was so satisfying seeing Duck, Oliver and Toad being the episode's core of the railway cast. All feel in character, and contribute greatly to the story. I think it might've been a bit more fulfilling to have all the cast at the end of the dock much like All At Sea, but the ending is still pretty clever. It's a great episode, and once again shows high quality consistency from Helen Farall. 9/10
So, how does season 20 fare overall? In my opinion, it gives season 18 a run for its money. I'm still annoyed by Thomas showing up in every episode, but compared to season 19, he doesn't speak in every episode fortunately. Other than that, the direction the team went with this season was particularly outstanding.
They adapted Railway Series stories for the first time in 16 seasons, they made an episode focusing on the Pack since the last of the unsuccessful spin off series, they brought back so many favorites and DIDN'T make them feel shoehorned whatsoever, and they made some great pairings of characters that we never could imagine, worked out beyond our expectations, or we haven't seen in years from Ryan and Daisy to Edward and James. Unlike last season, the older characters definitely dominated most of the episodes, but the newer ones like Sidney and Glynn who were kind of ignored before still got a great chance to shine in episodes of their own. Daisy got more use than she did in the classic era, and we even got the old fashioned breakdown train to be used frequently again.
The season isn't perfect, though. My biggest complaint with the season, other than Thomas appearing when he didn't need to, was Andrew Brenner's rather inconsistent quality in his writing. Don't get me wrong, the Arlesdale Railway adaptations were borderline perfect, but ones like Saving Time and Three Steam Engines Gruff feel like continuingly huge step downs that started last season to his previous season 17 and 18 writing. I do give credit Brenner for taking charge and pretty much saving Thomas from abysmal writing prior to season 17, but he needs to keep the quality consistent if he deserves remaining as head writer.
As for Hugo, he doesn't annoy me as much as Phillip, but I wish that they could've made him more than frequently feeling sorry for himself. It doesn't make him a particularly strong character. His basis does look cool, but he needed a lot more purpose and characterization to feel like a good character. As of now, he's just kind of...alright. I honestly wish they made more episodes with Bradford, because he was a much stronger and enjoyable new season character. Why they didn't sort of bewilders me.
If they smooth out these problems in season 21, it could make it even better than season 20. As it stands, despite its faults, I honestly think season 20 is the best Thomas CGI season to date, making it just a smidge better than 18, and that's really saying something.
Top 5 Favorites (some have changed overtime):
1) Love Me Tender
2) All of the Arlesdale Railway Episodes (Yeah, cheating... :P)
3) Mucking About
4) Ryan and Daisy
5) Henry Gets the Express
Top 5 Least Favorites:
5) Diesel and the Ducklings
4) Hugo and the Airship
3) Engine of the Future
2) Saving Time
1) Three Steam Engines Gruff
Guys, what are your opinions on season 20 now that it's over? What are you excited or expecting come season 21? :D
Love how they give us a bit about TFCs grandchildren, Stephen and Bridget. Maybe will get a story about them.
Firstly, Useful Railway was amazing. The slow mo crash did it for me, I was laughing out loud. All of the Arlesdale episodes were flawless, and I'm excited to see more.
Now Skiff and the Mermaid was probably the best episode of S20, easily. It wasn't because of a crash or a complex plot, but instead of the use of humor and how everyone was perfectly in character and how everything about it just worked. Sir Topham Hatt's descent into madness absolutely killed me, and I don't know if anyone noticed but behind the rocks on the island he and Skiff were "stranded" on were railway tracks. Topham literally just had to walk to 50 feet and been fine, which makes the scene that much better. Skiff is adorable and soft-spoken, which I really like about him. Of course, I loved seeing Oliver and Toad, but Oliver more than deserves his own episode after 3 years of waiting. Man, Oliver really just can't catch a break! His Bachmann model still isn't out, he's playing second-fiddle to Toad, Duck, and just about everyone else...but I can't complain. He'll get his chance...I hope! :P Helen Farall once again champions Andrew Brenner for the title of best writer on the show. 9.5/10
There was obviously a distinction between this season and last. There was obviously a lot more creative control on the part of the writers shown here, which had a huge impact. Like MeganekkoFury1126 said, this season really challenges S!8 for the best CGI series of the show. There's just so much I love here. The team adapted Railway Series stories and we got to see all the miniature engines shine (Mike's Whistle is the best episode though!). Another positive was that this felt largely a SLOTLT follow-up season. Daisy, Arlesburgh Harbor, and Ryan all starred numerous times, which I really loved.
James having two episodes this season made me really happy. He's my favorite character so seeing him so much was awesome. I just wish we could see some character development and see him learn from his mistakes... :/
Also, I might be in the minority here, but I LOVED Hugo. His awesome basis, his awkward disposition because of his design, and his self-esteem problems are all easily-identified and make him into a character that I want to see way, way more of!
I want to say more, but I'm too lazy. So here are my ratings for the episodes.
Sidney Sings 8/10
Toby's New Friend 8/10
Henry Gets the Express 9/10
Diesel and the Ducklings 8.5/10
Bradford the Brake Van 8.5/10
Saving Time 8.5/10
Ryan and Daisy 8/10
Pouty James 9/10
Blown Away 9.5/10
The Way She Does It 8/10
Letters to Santa 8/10
Love Me Tender 9/10
The Railcar and the Coaches 9/10
The Christmas Coffeepot 8/10
Over the Hill 9/10
Henry in the Dark 9.5/10
The Missing Breakdown Train 9/10
Three Steam Engines Gruff 8/10
Mucking About 8/10
Cautious Connor 8/10
All in Vain 9/10
Buckled Tracks and Bumpy Trucks 8.5/10
Hugo and the Airship 9.5/10
Engine of the Future 9.5/10
Skiff and the Mermaid 9.5/10
Mike's Whistle 10/10
Tit for Tat 9.9/10
Useful Railway 9.9/10
Thoughts?
9/10 it was the first thomas show i could watch again with my child without cringing so hard my wrinkles turn into a political cartoon - IGN
Everyone laughing at the end is cliché.
I find Hugo to be a boring character, tbh. However I do find his design and engineering to be very impressive and I also applaud the team for doing their research, especially with the utilization of his "dangerous" propeller, but both of his episodes kinda fall flat.