59. Thomas, Percy and the Dragon.
Based on "Percy's Night Out" and "Percy and the Dragon" by Andrew Brenner.
Adapted by: Britt Allcroft and David Mitton.
Aired: US: 18 November 1991. UK: 7 April 1992. AUS: 23 February 1993.
Percy is still ribbing Thomas about the time he thought Percy was a ghost. Thomas pays no attention knowing it was him all the time, and next morning is asked to collect a special load from Knapford Harbour. Thomas is horrified to find it's a dragon, but his driver tells him it's made of paper and is needed for a carnival.
Meanwhile, Percy is stuck in a siding while shunting and has to stay there for the night because of jammed points while waiting for Henry to pass. His driver went home for tea & Percy watched the other engine going back to Tidmouth. Thomas was at the harbor & was shocked to see a dragon, but his driver informs him that it was paper dragon for the carnival tomorrow. Thomas continues his night time journey. Percy was asleep until Thomas passes by with the dragon and Percy is so terrified that he won't open his eyes until his driver comes.
The next day Percy tries to tell Gordon, but Gordon thinks he's joking, which soon leads to the other engines teasing Percy about it. Later, he sees the dragon again, but is indignant when he sees Thomas pushing it. Thomas explained what happened and the two make up for their teasing.
If this is supposed to be a sequel to Ghost Train, then it's a grand one at it. How Percy is still ribbing on Thomas the Tank Engine for thinking the small engine was a ghost one night. It sure was pretty funny of Percy to get his comeuppance when Thomas passes with the dragon.
This story, like Thomas Gets Bumped, is based on 2 magazine stories by Andrew Brenner, the current headwriter for Thomas and Friends. This story also doesn't look out of place as a Railway Series story. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Andrew Brenner should write new Railway Series books.
Although, the only problem with this episode is the dragon being said to be covered in lights when it's lit up from underneath. But then again, if it was covered in lights, it would have caused a fire with a burst bulb that could have happened.
But then again, this episode is brilliant and it's a nice way to bring a little culture to the Thomas universe.
My rating: 9.5/10.
Season 3 scorecard:
4. Gordon and the Famous Visitor: 9.5/10.
6. Thomas Gets Bumped: 10/10.
7. Thomas, Percy and the Dragon: 9.5/10.
8. Diesel Does it Again: 7/10.
9. Henry's Forest: 9.5/10.
10. The Trouble with Mud: 6/10.
13. Trust Thomas: 10/10.
14. Mavis: 9/10.
15. Toby's Tightrope: 9/10.
16. Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party: 8.5/10.
17. Buzz, Buzz: 9/10.
20. Tender Engines: 6/10.
21. Escape: 10/10.
26. Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure: 8.5/10*
Season 3 rating so far: 9.1/10.
This episode is obviously the first production to feature foreign culture. And I have to say it was clever to use a unanthropomorphized character, not an engine or a truck.
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