Following a year after the seventh season, the eighth season of Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends premiered in the autumn of 2004. This marked the 20th anniversary of the show but things have changed from the end of the classic era. Steve Asquith replaced David Mitton as the director of the show and Robert Hartshorne replaced Mike O'Donnell as a composer for the episodes. Replacing Junior Campbell for songwriting was Ed Welch. In terms of narration, Michael Angelis stayed on board for the UK and while Michael Brandon continued in the US. Even after 10 years, was season 8 another success? If you wanna hear my opinion, read and find out...
1. Thomas And The Tuba
Hmm…for a start of the new series era, it was alright but could have gone off better with a bit faster pacing. The narration is okay, even if Michael Angelis is becoming to sound a little bit bored, and I like how they use road vehicles on a more regular basis. The tuba player was funny and looked a lot like The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt but the title was a bit misleading. I would have called it Thomas And The Tuba Player. What do you guys think of that? Anyway, it's a 5.8/10 for me.
2. Percy's New Whistle
A good improvement. Everybody was in character by Percy should have thought more about his actions and definitely should have known better than to whistle so loud to cause accidents for his friends. Overall, I'll give this a 7.3/10.
3. Thomas To The Rescue
Another good step up. Again, everybody's in character, especially Thomas and Diesel and this was the first episode I've seen with Michael Brandon narrating since I'm a US fan and started watching season 8 DVDs with Steamies VS Diesels. I found Michael Brandon to be at a bit of a slow start but I do like his voice for Diesel and how he carried on to season 13-16. The episode had good writing to it, despite the steamie term which I would've kept as steam engines. Despite its flaws, I'm giving this episode a 7.4/10.
4. Henry And The Wishing Tree
Ugh…what a step down this is. HIT doesn't seem to give Henry very good episodes in the spotlight, do they? Please, tell me if I'm right or wrong about that. It was boring and not very well written, but I do like the character development of The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt at the end and it's also nice how the realism in this season meant that Gordon would stay at the repair yard for more than a day. Overall, it's a very average watch and my least favorite episode of the season by far. I know you guys would agree with on that and so I give this episode a 5.1/10. It was still bearable as compared to S9-16.
5. James Gets A New Coat
Here we go. A good episode that is my favorite of the season so far. James is totally in character and Thomas reminding him to be at work is good characterization. I would've rather had it out of Emily taken from how she is handled later on in the season. James is one of those engines who gets good episodes in the HIT series, isn't he? A very good watch and that's why I give it an 8.5/10.
6. Thomas Saves The Day
Another great step up. I really liked this one. Thomas is actually communicating with Annie and Clarabel which is something you rarely see until season 17. Kellsthorpe Station is a great location, especially since it was named after Kellsthorpe Road from the Railway Series. On the whole, it's an 8.9/10 for me.
7. Percy's Big Mistake
Hmm…this one was okay. A little underrated in my opinion. Percy gets okay episodes in the HIT series but his personality in this episode is a little off. Why would he think that The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt would want to scrap him? The crash could have also been better but the episode reminded me a bit of Percy Runs Away. You guys may think I'm weird for liking this episode but despite its flaws, it's a 6.9/10 for me. Yes, could have been much better.
8. Thomas, Emily And The Snowplough
Hmm, I've been looking forward to reviewing this episode. I was quite disappointed by how HIT handled Emily. In season 7, she was kind and helpful but here, she is just bossy and crabby. Despite the flaws of characterization, it was nice to see Thomas return to his hatred of his snowplow and it shows a great moral of listening to advice. Overall, it's a 7.4/10 for me.
9. Don't Tell Thomas
Best episode of the season yet. I don't think the winter holiday term was used at all here but you can tell me whether it was or not. Both narrators do a good job and the characterization is quite good but I do feel sorry for Thomas and he should've known that the only reason why his friends were ignoring him was because of the surprise. It's a very good watch and a good Christmas episode that you would rarely find in the HIT series until Andrew Brenner came along. On the whole, it's a 9/10 for me.
10. Emily's New Route
Another good watch. Certainly better than Bad Day At Castle Loch and at least it's not about Emily learning patience or trying to boss the other engines about but her character still needs a little tweaking to return her to the way she was in her debut. The shots were nice, especially at Black Loch and the seals. I think I'll give this episode an 8.3/10 for me.
11. Thomas And The Firework Display
Wow, three very good episodes in a row. This one was quite enjoyable and Thomas and James are both in character. They have that kind of rivalry that you rarely see from S9-16. One little characterization nitpick though: I know Thomas is a cheeky engine but his reaction to James upon breaking down was a little too far, don't you think? I also didn't like how the fireworks were transported and there was no explanation to why James broke down. Maybe he popped a piston or something. And surely the signalman would have heard Thomas and James while they were waiting at the signal. At least signals have a reasonable use in this season. Despite the flaws, I believe that this episode deserves an 8.5/10.
12. Gordon Takes Charge
Best episode of the season yet! Great plot, great character development, pretty good narration and some very good writing. I don't think I saw any visual errors in this episode and Gordon and Percy are both in perfect character. Gordon gets good episode in the HIT series, no doubt about it. It's an exciting watch and a season 8 favorite for me. That's why I'm giving it a 9.3/10.
13. Spic And Span
Good episode with a good plot idea about a Railway Inspector. The characterization is good. Thomas and Percy both fit the lead roles perfectly and Gordon and James work good as rivals towards them for the cleanest engines on Sodor. However, I feel that Henry would've gone off in Emily's place. She is becoming too much like the other big engines and a bit of a bad role model for young female audiences, don't you think? The Railway Inspector, on the other hand, doesn't have a very good reason to come to Sodor. He should be there to see if the Island is operating well, not see how clean the engines are. Despite the flaws, it's an 8/10 for me.
14. Edward The Great
What a great episode. Spencer makes a great return as an antagonist towards the Sodor engines and I love how the episode is loosely adapted from The Tortoise And The Heir. The character development is good except for one little nitpick: Gordon and James still look down on Edward despite the fact that they have learnt their lessons about him in season 2 and season 6. Maybe they didn't mean it and were just cross that they weren't to take the furniture instead of Edward. It's my favorite Edward episode of the HIT series, maybe until the premiere of season 18 came along, but you'll see what I thought about that soon enough. Too bad that Donald and Douglas didn't appear like they did in a deleted scene. Overall, I'm giving this episode a 9.4/10.
15. Squeak, Rattle And Roll
Another good watch despite being a bit of a step down. Gordon and Diesel are both in character but why would Gordon worry about being sent to the scrapyard. I guess I have an answer to that. Diesel can manipulate any steam engine in the thought of being scrapped. This episode shows how Gordon is another one of those who gets good episode in the HIT series. On the whole, it's an 8.8/10 for me.
16. Thomas And The Circus
Another bit of a step down from the previous episode. Thomas isn't strong enough to pull the whole circus train by himself but he was a good choice of character. This episode has a good moral of asking for help when the work's too much for you. On the whole, it's an 7.8/10 for me.
17. Thomas Gets It Right
A good step up from the previous episode. It has a good moral about taking your time and it's nice to see Farmer McColl in a major role. The ending was funny with The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt explaining what had happened to the broken and so I give this episode an 8.5/10.
18. As Good As Gordon
Good episode here. It was quite well written but as much as Emily was a good choice, I still don't like her character is handled. However, it has a great moral of being patient so it's an 8.8/10 for me.
19. Fish
Another nice episode, despite the fact that it could've had a better title like maybe A Fishy Situation or something like that. I like how Arthur is put in a major role, something we have rarely seen after this episode. On the whole, I think this episode deserves an 8.4/10.
20. Emily's Adventure
Another good episode and as much as Emily is still a bossy and impatient character, it shows how she is finally learning patience and Elizabeth is in good character too. Thomas' characterization is a good reference to how he had a fallout with Emily in Thomas, Emily And The Snowplough, although I don't think that reference is very direct. Overall, I give this episode an 8/10.
21. Halloween
Favorite episode of the series, hands down. Thomas and Emily are in perfect character, definitely the best two engines for the lead role. Emily has finally settled down and reverted slowly back to her season 7 persona and the episode is a dark and spooky watch for kids and adults alike. Both the narrators do the job with much enthusiasm and The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt's characterization at the end was a lot like himself in season 17 and 18 if you think about how his firm attitude from S9-16. Overall, I give this episode a 9.6/10.
22. You Can Do It, Toby!
Hmm, this one was alright and little underrated. After being underused throughout the entire season, Toby finally gets a lead role, even if it would've suited Percy better. Think about it, you guys, here Toby actually shows plenty of courage and is not really scared much of anything. He's in character as compared to later on in the HIT series. Overall, I've this episode a 7.3/10.
23. James Goes Too Far
A large improvement. One of my favorite episodes of the season and James was perfect for the lead role. It just comes to show how HIT gives James good episodes and it has a great moral about the importance of jobs. A really delightful watch and that's why I give it a 9.4/10.
24. Chickens To School
Another good episode but it's kind of a rewrite of Thomas And The Circus, isn't it? Other than that, everyone's in character, especially Emily, who has reverted back to her season 7 persona after all. It has a great moral about asking for help and so I give it a 7.5/10.
25. Too Hot For Thomas
Hmm, another pretty good one for a Thomas episode, but Thomas should be more focused on getting his work done then taking the children to the beach. It's pretty underrated and has a good moral of working hard and not always getting what you want. It's a 6.6/10 for me.
26. Percy And The Magic Carpet
Hmm…this is a bit average but definitely underrated for a closer and overall, acceptable. Gordon's in character but Percy seems to have gone a bit too far with being clueless. I mean, why wasn't the carpet tied down in the first place? Why couldn't Murdoch have a speaking role, maybe show a bit of curiosity about the carpet? It was obviously the wind that made the carpet fly, even if this episode is a little untidily written. Despite the flaws, I give this an episode a 6.5/10.
Overall Views:
Overall, like many other fans who aren't too fond of S9-16, I find this season to be quite underrated and a small step up to season 7. The stories and their moralistic values are a great watch for kids, especially for me in my childhood years. For the first season not to feature the narrow gauge engines, I liked it that way since HIT was able to focus more primarily on the Steam Team. The writers did an okay job, there were some very well written episodes like Edward The Great and Halloween but needed tweaking on a few other episodes likeHenry And The Wishing Tree for example. The show started to show signs of the infamous three-strikes method after this season, that wouldn't be fixed until about 9 or 10 years later. The narration was okay, both narrators did their best, even though Michael Angelis showing a sign of old age and that he is getting ready to retire from the series. Michael Brandon, on the other hand, sounds very enthusiastic for some of the best episodes, but overall needs more work on his narration.
For the only season not to feature new characters, I quite liked it that way and it gave the Steam Team more time in the spotlight. Duck was originally going to be in Emily's place but parent activists, of course, who think they know it all and unintentionally made Britt Allcroft ruin a good movie and the show in general, complained about the series not having enough female characters and so Emily joined the seven engines from the first season. None of the other characters were replaced, but they weren't as important either. The sets for this season are also a little underrated. They look a bit like they did in the first season and that's good enough for me. There are some visual errors, like crashes that wouldn't work in reality, but the visuals were overall acceptable. The music was good with Robert Hartshorne but the Engine Roll Call by Ed Welch got a little repetitive after a while, don't you think? Overall, I think this season deserves an accurate rating of 8/10.
Top 10 Episodes:
1. Halloween
2. Edward The Great
3. James Goes Too Far
4. Gordon Takes Charge
5. Don't Tell Thomas
6. Thomas Saves The Day
7. Squeak, Rattle And Roll
8. As Good As Gordon
9. James Gets A New Coat
10. Thomas And The Firework Display
Top 5 Least Favorites:
1. Henry And The Wishing Tree
2. Thomas And The Tuba
3. Percy And The Magic Carpet
4. Too Hot For Thomas
5. Percy's Big Mistake
WHAT ARE YOURS?
