TTTE S3E09: Henry's Forest

Time to review a very controversial Thomas the Tank Engine episode. First thing's first:


THE OPINIONS AND RAMBLINGS IN THIS BLOG POST ARE SOLELY MINE AND DON'T REFLECT THOSE OF ANYBODY ELSE


Today, the Thomas episode I will be reviewing, one that Reverend Awdry had a huge distaste for, is.....

61. Henry's Forest.

Based on its namesake magazine story and "Clearing Up" by Andrew Brenner.

Adapted by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton.

Aired: US: 16 December 1991. UK: 14 April 1992. AUS: 25 February 1993.

Henry has lived on the Island of Sodor for many years and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. He likes every part of it, but there is one place that he enjoys visiting more than any other, this place is the forest. Henry remembers the day long ago when he and Toby had brought some new trees to be planted, and Terence and Trevor had helped to haul them into place.
One night, everything changes as a storm rages across the island. All the engines in the sheds are talking about the wind blowing outside the shed, except for Henry, who hoped that the wind would not harm the forest. By morning, the winds had gone, but severe damage had been done to the forest. Henry is sent to help Donald clear the line of trees. Henry feels very devastated by all the damage done in the forest, and now wonders what will happen to all the animals who have lived there.
Henry's trucks are loaded with logs to be taken to the timber mill, where they are to be turned into furniture and other things. Henry takes consolation in the fact the wood will be put to good use, but is still sad to lose part of the place that meant so much to him. Thomas and Toby feel sorry for Henry and wish there was something they could do to make things better again. Toby later meets The Fat Controller at the yards, who notices that the tram engine looks glum. Toby tells him and he and Henry are very sad about the trees, and that the forest was a special place to Henry. The Fat Controller tells Toby that he will soon put things right, and he then sends Toby to collect some trucks, loaded with small trees all ready for planting.
When Henry returns to the forest, he is surprised to see Terence and Trevor, busily helping workmen to plant the trees. Terence tells Henry that they're beginning again, and that the hillside will look better than ever before. Now when Henry stops by the forest, he can see the new trees growing strong and tall, and always, he is happy in his forest.


The problems Reverend Awdry had with this episode are the fact that at the beginning, Henry's crew let him stop in the forest to admire it without telling a signalman, paving the way for an unaware engine to come down the line and cause a crash, therefore breaking this railway rule known as Rule 55, also, he pointed out the number of trees that were too close to the line that, from an engine's sparks, could result in a potential forest fire, even though Britt Allcroft countered the flaw by saying she'd seen other railways run through a forest.


First of all, I would like to counter the first flaw Awdry had with this episode. As you can see in the above shot, Henry was in a siding so, I don't know, Henry's crew might have told the signalman off-screen.

Next, I understand the reverend had a distaste for this episode, but this is such an emotional one. I have a tear in my eyes whenever I see how sad Henry is to lose some of his forest. And thanks to Toby, everything is alright in the end. I think this is a great episode. Not the best, but it could have been better.

My rating: 9.5/10.

Season 3 scorecard:

8. Diesel Does it Again: 7/10.

9. Henry's Forest: 9.5/10.

26. Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure: 8.5/10*

Season 3 rating so far: 8.3/10.