As some may well be aware, I am presently running a sequence of polls in conjunction with the TTTE Wikia site, based on gaining some insight into what the fans all would like to see in (or out of!) the series.
I was going to run a much larger set of polls, but another well-known site beat me to a whole set of questions I had planned. (I had been discussing this for a few weeks prior to the launch of the first poll before the other site made the announcement regarding theirs.)
So, the first question went live and it was clear within the first few days that there was only to be one winner. The results are as such:
Thomas - 478
Diesel - 153
Emily - 94
Sir Topham Hatt - 82
The Narrow Gauge Engines - 46
James - 34
Percy - 26
Mavis - 16
Henry and Gordon - 13
Edward - 12
Let me first off apologise. Yes, Toby is missing. No, it was not deliberate. In all the sorting of characters and questions, he completely slipped the net. (Surprisingly, nobody made any comment about this! Or at least, nothing myself of Wikia staff picked up on.) When I spotted this error, it was too late to do anything - to add him in would have completely reset the poll responses.
Nevertheless, we do have results. Now for my thoughts on them...
1. Thomas (478 votes)
I think, when I planned this particular question, I knew deep down that there would be one leader in this. The little blue engine is the frontrunner of the show; so it's only fair that he has a fair chunk of screen time yes? So why do people feel like this particularly?
I have counted the CGI era episodes, which currently stand at a released total of 126 (one hundred and twenty six) (not including those yet to be released on the Dino and Discoveries DVD, obviously.) I could have counted EVERY episode, but I don't have that much time, so I'm working to the current era for the purpose of these polls.
Of the 126 episodes, Thomas has appeared a collective 122 times! That is including all major roles, non-speaking cameos, one-line appearances and supporting/secondary roles. Breaking it down, we get this:
- Lead Roles (The main character): 48 episodes
- Silent Cameo: 5 episodes
- Other minor speaking roles: 69 episodes
To have a mere 4 episodes that do not feature him is mind boggling. He appeared in EVERY episode in Series 13 - Series 16 (80 episodes), 24 out of 26 in Series 17 and so far, 17 out of 20 in Series 18.
The character is renowned for being given single, pointless lines, which make it feel he is being crowbarred in for the sake of an appearance. Take, for example, his recent part in "Duncan The Humbug." Was Thomas absolutely crucial to the story? His role didn't need to be included. Any of the little engines could have said that all the small engines were being treated to a new coat of paint and the story would have continued exactly the same.
The consensus from the fans, it would seem, is that there is too much Thomas. Whilst he is the "star" of the show, he shouldn't be forced into (almost) every episode. His minor roles could, perhaps, be best suited to other minor characters. Make his own appearances more special by spacing them out and having less of them.
Is the show not called "Thomas & FRIENDS"? Let's see more of the friends, and less of Thomas I think.
2. Diesel (153 votes)
The stark contrast between first and second place voting total just shows how strongly people feel about Thomas' overuse at the moment. Second place, however, was taken by someone I was not expecting.
Diesel made a few recurring appearances as a visiting engine up to series 7. From series 8 onwards, he has become a regular appearer as the show's main protagonist and, it seems, absorbed into the list of Sodor residents.
To say his taking second place in this poll was not a surprise would be a complete lie. I was honestly expecting Percy, for example, to take this spot. However, I think I can see why Diesel is here in stead.
Over the recent years - since "Day Of The Diesels" I think - we have been seeing more diesel engines appear on the Island. Whilst Diesel is, and probably always will be, the most recognisable diesel character, his character is used very much the same as Thomas. If a "bad guy" is needed in a storyline, Diesel is the default choice, as witnessed recently with Paxton in "Disappearing Diesels." Whilst Diesel is being used in a way best suited to his character, it is taking opportunities away from some of these new faces. Why is it Diesel is the only "bad" engine? (Diesel 10 may have seemed bad in DOTD and "The Missing Christmas Decorations", but he was acting more out of jealousy that spite towards the steam engines. Diesel, on the other hand, is genuinely out to cause trouble.)
It would seem that, like Thomas, people would prefer to see less of this particular character, paving way for the development of other characters. Perhaps such characters could, in future episodes, work well alongside Diesel, keeping things fresh and vibrant...
3. Emily (94 votes)
Again, the difference in votes between second place and third place shows how strongly the fans feel about certain characters. Taking third place is the resident female representative of the "Steam Team."
I can't help but wonder if she is here solely for the "She replaced Duck" argument? Nevertheless, the fans have voted, and so I must convey my thoughts.
Looking back on the CGI series, none of the characters, in the early days, were really unique. The stories were all the same three-strike formula, so none of the engines were really "unique." Emily has undergone several personality changes in her time on the show though. When introduced, she was a timid yet cheery soul who had the best intentions at heart. After being accepted, she learnt to stand up for herself and those around her she felt were being ridiculed (e.g. Salty, Henry.) She then became very cocky and full of herself, bossing her fellow engines around. Now, she seems to have become the voice of reason - a sensible, level-headed engine who once again sticks up for those she sees being victimised.
It is perhaps just this constant change of character that is putting viewers off of her. Perhaps a little time needs to be taken to fully define her character; decide who she is, what she stands for; what are her strengths, what are her weaknesses? Maybe then, when she is her own character, people will warm to her once more.
Another contributing factor could be that she seems to be the only used female steam engine presently in the series. Rosie is rendered in CGI, yet hasn't said a word since Series 15's "Stuck On You." Whilst there is a divide between those who like Rosie and those who do not, she is a character in her own right. Perhaps more of both of these engines will benefit the show greatly by balancing out the female presence.
I'm not saying Thomas is sexist, but I do feel the female engines - steam particularly - need a bigger presence on the show in some form.
4. Sir Topham Hatt (82 Votes)
The Fat Controller has always been the authority figure, be it dishing out work orders or punishment. In the more recent stories, he's provided a fair few amusing moments (Duck In The Water, Tale Of The Brave.) I haven't counted his appearances in the CGI era, but I know he appears quite a lot, mainly dishing out work orders and attending incidents.
His key phrase, "Confusion and Delay", has been rather overused as of late. Every incident leads to " Confusion and Delay" and I think it's getting a little repetitive. Whilst it's good to see he is taking charge of his railway, it would perhaps be nice to let the engines figure things out on their own, or indeed receive their work orders off-screen. Sir Topham doesn't need to be at the top of every situation, his role perhaps being delegated to someone more key to the area of work, such as the docks manager when at Brendam, or a stationmaster at one of the stations for example. Mr Percival was victim to this, and indeed one praise of the episode "The Switch" from Series 17 was that conversation between the Earl and Percival was only mentioned and not shown.
People are loving the "show don't tell" aspect of the show at the moment, where the narrator lets the action play out on screen without describing every small detail. This could be taken a step further by the reverse; "tell don't show." It works, as we saw in "The Switch," so why doesn't it get used more?
5. The Narrow Gauge Engines (46 votes)
Very few votes in comparison, but nevertheless still baffling. I would have thought people would like to see more of the little engines. Since their return in BMM/Season 16, they have only been the focus/key of 6 episodes (if you include "The Christmas Tree Express".) Unlike other characters, they've hardly been overused. To get a clearer insight on whether this is the little railway as a whole, or just particular characters, there will hopefully be a separate poll later on.
The Rest...
Edward had the least votes, which I'm quite pleased by. I would imagine Toby would be somewhere similar, these two being perhaps two of the least used characters as of late. Toby needs some personality restored to his character. Edward, it would seem, is perfect. He's not overused, but when he does appear, his contribution is meaningful.
Gordon and Henry were tied with just one vote more than Edward, so they too seem to be enjoyed at the moment. The balance is just right for these characters.
Mavis is becoming somewhat of a series regular again, gaining several small cameos or an episode where she features heavily, which takes us back to the classic era of the show where she did much the same. Her persona has been fairly consistent in the years since her début; she's matured and stayed that way, which is nice.
James and Percy filled 6th and 7th position respectively. They're not the most hated of characters, nor the most loved. They could benefit from slightly less focus, but either way, people aren't too fussed.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the TTTE Wikia for their co-operation in hosting and organising these polls.
