I had no idea ryan was named after an actual fan. That is so dang cool. I'm still not sure if I'm gonna get him yet though

I sure frickin' hope so. The only main classic series characters we're missing in HO Scale are Stepney, BoCo, Duke, Arthur, Murdoch and Fergus, who all happen to be exclusive to this era as well. I likely wouldn't buy Fergus because I hate his character or Duke because I don't collect the SR ones, but I would jump on the three others ASAP.

Nia doesn't have a very "normal" design in my opinion

That's one of the worst ideas I've ever heard pertaining to model trains. Sales would decline like never before, and the value of the non-CGI face characters would spike. There's no way in heck they would do that though, thank gosh. Nia and Rebecca would sell terribly as almost no one likes them. At least you like Edward. Old Shape Henry would be awesome and it would be even better if they made him in his old shape. I'd rather see the normal Breakdown Train than Judy and Jerome, but since they haven't released it yet, I doubt they're ever going to because of those complicated cranes.

Ryan - One of my favorite CGI-exclusive characters, but I'm not into the CGI series too much, and I would much rather have Stepney, but I'm happy for the people that wanted him
Toby's Museum Coaches - I don't like the New series very much either, but they're some of the most recent rolling stock in the show that isn't obviously meant to sell toys, so I like them even if I don't plan to get them
Yellow Rheneas - Even if I collected the Skarloey Railway stuff, I wouldn't get him. It's too early and gimmicky for a narrow gauge recolor
Narrow Gauge Box Vans - I couldn't care less either way
N scale
Toby - I don't collect N gauge but he was probably the best option for the fourth engine in the line
Scruffey - Very expected, but still cool I guess
Large Scale
Paxton - One of my favorite CGI-exclusive characters along with Ryan, but I don't collect G scale and I personally think it's a bit too early to release him, but it's fine, I don't care
HO scale wagon recolors from a few years back - I don't care

Edward - Mattel practically deleted him and would never approve
Gordon - Far too big
Henry - Same reasons as Edward and Gordon
Duck - Would sell well, but may be too long
Donald and Douglas - same as Duck, but if they made Duck they could reuse his chassis for these guys
Oliver - He is short enough to be considered IMO, but you can't just make Oliver without Duck
Bill and Ben - Very likely. Small, fan favorites and you can't have one without the other
Spencer - Same as Gordon
Rosie - I would expect her in the next year or two, but I'm not sure if they would do her normal paint job or red one
Ryan - Same as Duck
Salty - Is discontinued in HO, so Bachmann isn't likely to make him
Arry and Bert - Same as Salty
Mavis - Easy to make, using the same chassis as Toby, but I have this feeling that her HO model will be discontinued soon and they likely wouldn't make her without her HO version being available
Daisy - Same as Gordon

I agree. I actually have Salty, but he is breaking down and I want another for spare parts or even just a replacement. I'd love a reintroduction, but not if B-man craps him up by giving him a CGI face.

Imagine if the new series flopped and Bachmann just bought all the rights to T&F

So I was about to order something at trainworld.com, but it didn't make it clear how much shipping and taxes were. Then I found out that it says that shipping and taxes will be determined and added at order processing. What is your experience with this? Do they overprice their shipping and then take your money?

Well, that stream was incredibly disappointing

But wasn't season 5 released before TATMRR? Maybe I'm remembering wrong, because I wasn't alive back then.

Do you guys think that Bachmann will recolor Skarleoy, Rheneas, Rusty, and Sir Handel, Peter Sam and Duncan when they come out, to Tallylyn, Dolgoch, Sir Haydn, Edward Thomas, Midlander and Douglas and release those under Bachmann Branchline? I'm honestly somewhat surprised they haven't at least done it with Tallylyn and Dolgoch, especially since they sell most of the NG items at the Tallylyn Railway Museum.

Seriously though, does anyone know if there will be anything Thomas-related revealed in their livestream at the end of January? I was really hoping so. I'll watch it regardless, but I'll be a bit disappointed if there isn't any Thomas stuff.

I totally forgot about BoCo. He is probably about as likely as Stepney IMO, which isn't very much. Each character Bachmann has made has appeared in the TV show at least 4 years before their model was released, but Stepney hasn't been featured in an episode since 2009 and BoCo hasn't appeared since season 5. I wouldn't expect them soon, but it's possible because it would be extremely pleasing to fans.

I totally forgot about Sidney. He's a possibility, but not likely, as Arry and Bert were discontinued quite early and I'm betting on Paxton getting discontinued in the next 3 years or so.

Mattel just wants to delete the model series. I don't know why, however.

As for your question, I will likely watch the first episode and decide if I want to watch the rest, just like I did with BWBA.