Top Ten Thomas and Friends Episodes.
Hi there.
Today I'm going to be ranking my top ten Thomas and Friends episodes of all time. Now, bear in mind that this is all opinion based and I haven't seen any of the CGI episodes onwards as I don't enjoy that era. These are based on the episodes that I saw as a child and that I hold dear in my heart.
Please don't hate. Here we go.
10: Oliver Owns Up.
This episode is a fantastic continuation of Oliver's character from his first appearance. It shows Oliver as a rather arrogant character who lets all of his fame and hard work go to his head, which soon costs him dear. It seems a logical step in Oliver's character development and it shows that escaping from scrap doesn't put him above the rest. Even better, rather than have the other engines laugh at his predicament, they feel sorry for putting all of those ideas of fame into his head. Oliver is one of my favourite characters, so this is a brilliant episode.
9: Thomas and the Breakdown Train.
When the series started, Thomas was perhaps the first character to get some development. The previous episodes established him as a troublemaker who suffered for his mischief, so with this episode, we see the culmination of our hero learning from his mistakes and making up for it. This is the pinnacle of Thomas' arc; he can be really cheeky, but when it comes down to it, he'll always do the right thing in the end, thus showing a flawed hero. James is also introduced in this episode, and seeing Thomas rescue him at the end is really amazing. Another memorable episode from the first series.
8: Duncan Gets Spooked.
Series 5 is perhaps the darkest and grittiest when it comes to scary episodes, and this episode trumps them all. This is exactly everything that I expect from a horror movie, a lot of twists and spooky atmosphere. The atmosphere and music when Duncan crosses the old iron bridge is truly intense and the mystery behind the ghost engine is perhaps the darkest thing to ever happen in the show, with the audience unaware of whether the tale is true or not. Did the engine really fall or was it just a made-up tale to scare Duncan? That is what makes a fantastic horror story, and this episode personifies it all.
7: Edward's Exploit.
Edward is one of my favourite characters, and this episode from Series 2 is where his character truly shines. Throughout the second series, Edward gets a lot of shit thrown at him for how old he feels, yet despite that, he still carries on. Even in this episode, with one of his side-rods braking, he still manages to get the passengers back and earns a lot of respect for it. The music and Ringo's narration adds so much emotion and depth to Edward's character, and even the audience can't help but cheer as he pulls the coaches onwards in spite of the weather. Much like Thomas and the Breakdown Train, this is the culmination of Edward's character arc, from an engine mocked for his age to a badass who won't give up.
6: Percy's Promise.
Percy is another favourite character of mine, mostly known for his cheekiness and bravery in the face of danger. In this episode, in spite of rainy weather, he prevails in taking some children to safety. Much like Edward's Exploit, the music and atmosphere is epic and we feel for Percy as he struggles to make it through the weather. The only downside is this episode's placement in the original Railway Series books and the fact of it occurring before Percy Takes the Plunge in the previous series. That being said, it's still a favourite of mine and it works brilliant in the third season.
5: Henry's Forest.
I don't understand the hate that Wilbert Awrdy had for this story. Sure, it might not be realistic, but it's an emotionally brilliant episode. Henry is my favourite character of all time, and this episode truly shows it. From the heart-warming opening of the forest, to the tear-jerking scene of Henry surveying its destruction and the emotional ending, this episode is both emotional and excellent. The music and narration brings a tear to my eye every time, helping to humanise an engine and add more to his character. It's so emotional and understanding and deserves so much credit for it.
4: Ghost Train.
As the first scary episode of the series, this is a masterpiece. From the intense and mysterious opening shots to the classic scene of Percy scaring Thomas to death, this episode conveys a lot of fear in its music, atmosphere, and narration. Much like Duncan Gets Spooked, this episode is truly terrifying and the build-up to Percy's trick is done to perfection, to the point where you don't feel like you're watching a kid's show and instead just watching a horror film. What else is there to say, other than it's a terrifying and dark episode that sets the bar for future scary episodes?
3: Thomas, Percy and the Dragon.
This episode scared me a lot more than the previous episode, mainly because it was one of the first I saw as a child. The opening with Thomas and Percy's face in the shed kind of creeped me out and still does to this day, and even the scene with the Chinese Dragon is horrifying. As a sequel to Ghost Train, it's a little lighter, but it still scares me to this day. The build-up to Thomas scaring Percy is done brilliant, with the music and atmosphere telling you that something dark is about to happen, and holy hell, it becomes scarier. I remember feeling absolutely scared of this episode on my Time for Trouble VHS (Which had the early narration by the late Michael Angelis), but it still remains one of my favourites for its nostalgia.
2: Escape.
Series 3 is my favourite series of all time, and this episode explains why. Much like Thomas, Percy and the Dragon, this episode is truly dark and scared me as a child. The moment where Douglas finds Oliver is scary, particularly with Oliver's face, the music and Michael Angelis' narration. Based on the dark undertones of this story, the audience knows that they're dealing with something deep and intense for a kid's show. It's also epic when Douglas saves Oliver, with the music blaring out loud in an epic fashion, to the point where I cheer every time I hear it. Dark, intense, and daring like the third series itself, this episode is a fan-favourite and it's hard to not see why.
Before I reveal my number one choice, here are a few honourable mentions:
Duck and Diesel Trilogy: I find this slightly overrated at times, particularly with the third episode which simply writes Diesel off without any consequences. With all that said, it's a nice introduction to a recurring villain and has a dark undertone much like the second series.
Heroes: As much as I enjoyed this episode, the characterisation of Bill and Ben is a bit odd, since they work with trucks and should know how despicable they can be. The landslide at the end is really epic though, almost scaring me as a child.
Old Iron: This episode is a brilliant one, with the runaway theme showing how intense the show could be at times. I truly wanted to put this one on the list but couldn't find anywhere to put it.
And my number one story is:
1: Henry's Trilogy (Coal/The Flying Kipper/Whistles and Sneezes).
This might seem like cheating putting three episodes as my number one, but when you look at them all together, they all fit as one epic story that features my favourite character. Henry is one that I can identify with, as I have struggled with self-doubt and fears over my autism. Seeing Henry in such misery and depression is a tear-jerker, particularly his sad theme which makes me cry every time I listen to it.
But this is also a trilogy of triumph against all odds. Henry struggles at first and is able to find a solution to his issues, but when tragedy strikes, he is given a second chance at life again. It hints that any engine is almost disposable, yet Henry is able to defeat that price, by facing his demons and being given another chance to live once more.
The Flying Kipper is easily the best of the trilogy, with its music, atmosphere and horrific crash sequence that is built-up in a magnificent manner. Coal is an emotionally excellent prelude to Henry's struggles, and whilst Whistles and Sneezes is a bit lacklustre, it does wrap up the trilogy perfectly. But what makes it work is Henry's character itself; from an engine that had no hopes to a much more refined character, this is an arc that I feel resonates with a lot of people, including my own struggles to live in society.
And that is my top ten Thomas and Friends stories of all time. Let me know what you think in the comments below.