TTTE S16E20: The Christmas Tree Express

What's this? Me doing a negative Thomas review? For every bad TV show out there, there are gems, and for every good TV show out there, there are duds.


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


Well, you may be asking me if I've found Toby's worst moment. That's like asking me the worst Narrow Gauge episode as well as an episode that's worse than Up, Up and Away, Wonky Whistle, Fiery Flynn, Race to the Rescue and Sodor Surprise Day. Well, read and find out.

388. The Christmas Tree Express.

Written by: Sharon Miller.

Aired: US: 30 September 2012. UK and AUS: 25 December 2012.

It is Christmas on the Island of Sodor. Thomas, Toby, and Rheneas are shunting in the Blue Mountain Quarry. Thomas says he is going to pick up a Christmas tree that the Logging Locos have brought from Misty Island. Rheneas says they do not have a tree and Toby comments that it would not be Christmas without one. Rheneas wants to go to Misty Island to find a tree for his friends, but Thomas is too busy and Toby says that Misty Island is strange and scary. Thomas says this is nonsense so Toby agrees to take Rheneas.
When they arrive at the Search and Rescue Centre, Toby and Rheneas meet the Logging Locos, who tell them that there will be plenty of trees on Misty Island. When Toby and Rheneas reach Misty Island, Toby says he wants to chuff slowly and carefully, but Rheneas tells him to go fast. Toby chuffs quickly to the Hollow Tree Tunnel. He does not want to chuff forward, but Rheneas tells him to chuff faster and faster. Toby decides that if he closes his eyes, it would not be as scary. He goes fast and they pass some Christmas trees. Rheneas tells Toby to stop, but Toby does not want to; he is too scared.
Next Toby and Rheneas come up to the Shake Shake Bridge. Toby is scared and does not want to cross, so he closes his eyes and races over the Shake Shake Bridge. They race around Misty Island and pass more Christmas trees. Rheneas tells Toby to stop, but he does not; he is too scared. Then the mist comes down. Toby stops because he is scared. Rheneas tells Toby to go fast, but Toby cannot as he is too frightened. Rheneas is worried that his friends will wake up and still not have a tree. Toby explains that he finds going fast scary and would prefer to go slowly. Rheneas agrees and, with the help of the Logging Locos, the engines go slowly and carefully and find a perfect tree. Toby realises that when he is not going fast, Misty Island is not scary after all and he keeps his eyes open the entire time.
Rheneas and Toby return to the Blue Mountain Quarry. The engines there are all amazed and agree it is a wonderful Christmas surprise.


Bottom line, this is the worst episode of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends! Yes, I hate it more than Season 15's biggest failures and Season 16's other big failures. This episode has definitely stooped Toby's wimpy persona to the biggest low possible. Has the brown tram gone deaf or something? Rheneas was right on his wellwagon the whole time, telling him all about the Christmas trees they were passing, yet Toby wouldn't listen to him! Also, this episode marks the last appearance of the logging locomotives. Well, Bash and Dash to be precise. Ferdinand cameoed later in Signals Crossed.


Do you want to know the worst thing about this episode? All of this in the last episode to be narrated by Michael Angelis! I have no hope for this episode whatsoever and it's the biggest shame that Michael Angelis and Michael Brandon left the series on such a low note. Granted, the series was fixed with Season 17, but the damage has still been done.

My rating: 0/10.

(And that's being generous!)

Season 16 scorecard:

20. The Christmas Tree Express: 0/10.

Season 16 rating so far: 0/10.