Old Reliable Edward
So the first episode came, and everyone is waiting with baited breath. Will this episode see Edward back in character? The synopsis holds some hope, but doesn't reveal enough to confirm. I was hoping it would be better than last year's series opener, Kevin's Cranky Friend.
(Defend it if you will, but I can't see the appeal - Cranky denies he needs help three times before something goes wrong, which is when he concedes and accepts he was wrong.)
And boy oh boy, it was most definitely better. Edward still has a little reforming to do before he's perfect once again - he came across as a little whiny at the start - but given the circumstances, I think I can allow that. After all, if everyone has been making fun of you time and time again, I think you'd earn the right to moan a little.
On first viewing, when Thomas seemingly hijacks the episode, I was a little infuriated that the lead had been snatched from Edward. However, I can see why the story was written as such, and it definitely worked to its advantage. Gordon gets stuck and Edward comes up, not to help, but to remind Gordon, in that subtlest of ways, of his treatment to the blue banker. I rather enjoyed how this scene played. Some are criticising it for being somewhat anti-climatic, but I don't think you need something 'big' and 'wow'-ish to get the message across. I loved the simplicity of it, which is why it is so strong and stands out.
Stray Observations
- It's great to see human characters being involved more nowadays. Though the stationmaster doesn't need to blow the whistle to allow Edward to go. Note: Station-masters CAN blow whistles from the platforms; this notifies the guard that all the passengers are on-board (and if not, no more will be allowed on,) and all doors are shut and secured.
- I love the camera movement from Gordon's perspective when he follows Thomas up the hill. Arc are really going to town with their selection of angles and movements to keep things interesting.
- Clarabel's face. End of.
Rating: 8/10
Not So Slow Coaches
There was nothing old, or slow, about Coach...
The first episode broadcast which had previously been "previewed" on the US DVD Walmart exclusive. We knew what we were in for when this came on.
I don't overwhelmingly dislike this episode.
Don't love it, but I don't hate it.
It's great to see Thomas doing what he should do - working on his branch line, but being his cheeky little self. He loves his coaches, but he enjoys winding them up. However, this is without consequence, as he realises his mischievousness has caused him to start running late. I'm delighted to see that time-keeping is becoming important to the routines again. It seemed that everything and everyone was rather lackadaisical previously.
The shunting yards have been subject of a lot of comment. I tend to agree with those that see it as a dumping ground. There never seems to be much shunting going on here, nor many (or any!) sidings for stock to actually sit in. This feels more like it should be a junction to the main and branch lines from an industrial estate. We need sidings and loose trucks to give it a shunting-yard-presence to it.
Detest him if you will, it's good to see Charlie has found a dedicated job at these yards. Hopefully some of the other characters (Stafford, Stanley etc) will join him - I get the impression it is a big yard, and thus would surely require several engines to carry out the work, especially at busier times. I still don't like his jokes, but they're not as cheesy as they were. I'm prepared to accept that this part of his persona will not change, which is fair enough - there's always the 'class clown' that overdoes the jokes, and Charlie, it would seem, is just that.
This episode did feel like an anti-climax. Caitlin somehow makes off with Annie & Clarabel at the tail of her train (well, if Thomas just dumps them in the middle of the line, that's his fault.) Thomas then goes chasing after her to get them back.
It would seem that Hiro, like Connor and Caitlin, comes from 'the Mainland' now, given how many times we've seen him cross that bridge I'm sure. Here, this actually makes sense - he has seen these coaches disappear with an train they should not be part of, and has brought them back to save any trouble later on.
It feels chaotic. There's no proper structure or story here really. It's a filler episode I think, designed to have a bit of fun at the time but not properly sit in the rest of the series.
Stray Observations
- I liked how exhausted Thomas was at the quarry. Little side-scenes like this show how the rest of the day can be affected by being silly at the start.
- How DOES Thomas keep even closely-up to Caitlin?
Rating: 5/10
Flatbeds Of Fear
Oh dear. I don't think I even want to review this one.
We seem to get a bad episode each series; last year was the opener. This year, it's the attempted 'spooky' story. Ok, you may say things when nervous to reassure yourself, but nothing so cheesy as 'I will not fear the flatbeds of fear.'
Imagine - you're afraid of heights. "Try as I might, I will not fear the height; try as I might, I will not fear the height." It doesn't work does it?
I will make a point of saying this. The voice acting in this for Thomas and Henry was poor. They did not sound scared whatsoever. It was embarrassing as to how poor it was. Henry's character still needs a lot of work. Percy is the timid engine; Henry is the big, grumpy engine, who, underneath it all, is kind-hearted and cares about the world around him.
On a positive note - the fog is fantastic. Another reviewer made a point of saying that it didn't feel right that the fog lasted so many days. However, there is nothing to say that the fog did last the whole of these days. It could have rolled in thick in the early hours of the day, faded by afternoon, then drifted in again the following morning or that evening - it does have a habit of coming and going like this, and there have been many consecutive mornings where I have drawn the curtains only to be greeted by a wall of white.
There's not much else I can say about this one really. I can't see myself re-watching it time after time unlike some of the other stories, but it is by far much better than some stories we've had in the CGI era. A valiant effort I suppose.
Stray Observations
- Good to see Stanley being used as the engine in the story. Anyone else would have probably been really recognisable, but he's just plaion enough in colour to be overlooked in these sorts of roles. Hopefully he can be utilised properly in the future.
- We've since found out that brake van on the train in the story, is none other than a narrow-gauge design. It has no buffers, and a chopper coupling if you look closely! A slight modification, and it could be an LSWR Road Van.
- Did anyone else start singing the 'Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons' theme when they heard the wailing in the UK version? No? Just me then...
Rating: 3/10
Disappearing Diesels
Paxton has grown on me.
From a merchandising tool in 'Day Of The Diesels', he has become a core member of the regulars. A well-meaning, if dim, engine, who doesn't see any difference between the steam and diesel engines on the island. He is friends with all - or at least wants to be.
However, it feels like his dim-wittiness is being focused on too much. This episode feels very much like 'The Lost Puff', albeit without Stephen's prize-winning expression. A lot of racing about done by Paxton believing that something is wrong; something which we all know is very silly to be fair.
It does play beautifully on the caring side to Paxton's persona. He doesn't see fault in Diesel for playing tricks, nor take offence to them being played on him. Diesel is just another engine in his wide collection of friends (or perhaps even family?) He treats him with no prejudice, nor punish him for being so cruel. When Diesel does run out of... *ahem*... 'diesel' fuel, he takes him to get more - because that is who Paxton is.
It's good to see Dart is still around; I do like it when pairs are split up (Bill without Ben, Donald without Douglas etc), but it is always comforting to return to normal. I would like to see more of these two - indeed, all the diesels - in future. There's potential for some good storylines with them, being underused as they presently are.
One important point I have to make about the episodes so far, is the day. It doesn't feel like 'another sunny day' any more. You get scenes, like at the start of this episode, that show the sunrise hours, with others that show the sunset. We've had rain, fog, sun - snow will come in due course.as we all know. Sodor feels like it is in the world again, and not in some perfect parallel universe.
Stray Observations
- The diesel crews included. Good to see they have the same treatment as the steam crews.
- Diesel's voice seems to have improved, or is that just me?
- Little touches like 'Who asked you to stick your hook in?' add comedic moments that don't detract from the story, but add a natural speaking pattern to the story.
Rating: 7/10
Signals Crossed
Rating: 7/10
Summary So Far
Not a weak week for episodes, but not the strongest of starts we had hoped for. There's a lot of room for improvement; hopefully the second week will knock our sock's off, given what we have coming.
Episode Of The Week:
Old Reliable Edward
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