TUGS E01: Sunshine

Thought I'd have a go at reviewing TUGS. For those of you who don't know what TUGS was, TUGS was a British children's TV show about 2 rival tugboat companies. There is the Star Fleet, (a.k.a. the Star Tugs) tugboats with yellow structures and red smokestacks with a star. There is also the 0 Fleet, (a.k.a. the Z-Stacks), tugboats with maroon structures and black smokestacks with a circle. One interesting fact about this show is that it was made by Robert Cardona and the late David Mitton, 2 of the people who brought Thomas the Tank Engine to TV. So, how does TUGS stack up? (no pun intended) Let's start by reviewing......

1. Sunshine.

Written by: Gloria Tors.

Aired: UK: 4 April 1989. AUS: 10 June 1991.

The series starts with the narrator giving an introduction to the Star Fleet. During the briefing, Captain Star informs the tugs that a small harbour switcher called Sunshine from up river is coming to help the Star Fleet. He also announces that they are to tow in the Duchess, the grand ocean liner. Captain Zero and his Z-Stacks soon find out about this and they make a plan to snag the contract. Hercules, the largest and strongest tug, is suddenly called away for a job up the coast, which will take him all day. The Z-Stacks take this to their advantage, as Zorran orders Zip and Zug to put Big Mac, the second strongest tug, out of action by pushing him onto a mud-bank. Meanwhile Ten Cents and Sunshine do small duties including delivering fuel to Sally Seaplane, until they are ordered by O.J. to search for Big Mac. They find him stranded and are told to take his place to dock the liner. When the Stars tow in the Duchess, the Z-Stacks watch carefully. Zorran sees his chance and bumps Sunshine hard, sending him flying into the Duchess' rudder. The Star Fleet doesn't see this, and only with the help of Zorran are they able to get the liner back into control. Sunshine feels bad, and he runs away from the port.
The Z-Stacks are pleased with their plan, and they think they will get the contract. The Star Fleet are cross with Sunshine, but Ten Cents sticks up for him and decides to look for him. On his search, he meets Izzy Gomez the tramp steamer. Izzy tells him that it was Zorran who hit Sunshine. Ten Cents then returns to the Star Dock, informs the rest of the Star Fleet and they all go looking for him. They find him in danger of sinking upon a mud-bank. They persuade him to go back home with them, so Sunshine agrees. Warrior suddenly remembers he was supposed to give Izzy Gomez a tow and rushes off to find him.
When the truth is out, Captain Zero yells at his fellow Z-Stacks (excluding Zebedee and Zug) at the Zero Dock. Captain Star tells the Star Fleet that they have learned that they shouldn't jump to conclusions before knowing the truth, and he also tells them that he has decided to make Sunshine a member of the Star Fleet.


Now, before I give away my fully fledged thoughts on this episode, let me observe the characters, and how much like certain Thomas characters they are.


10 Cents - Thomas the Tank Engine. Both serve as the main characters of their respective franchises and are number 1.


Big Mac - Gordon. Both are big and strong.


O.J. - Toby. Both are old, wise and careful as can be.


Top Hat - James. Both are big-headed and upper-class and don't like dirty work.


Warrior - Henry. Both are big, strong and can be somewhat accident prone.


Hercules - Edward. Both are kind and helpful.


Sunshine - Percy. Both are small and perky.


Zorran - Diesel. Both serve as the main bad guys, considering how devious they are.


Zebedee - Arry. Both, even though devious, can accept help from their rivals sometimes.


Zak - Bert. Same as Zebedee and Arry respectively.


Zug: Splatter, Dodge, Bash, Dash, Bill and Ben. All 7 are mischievious.


Zip: Same as Zug.


Sally - Daisy. Both are highly sprung and quite up-to-date.


Capt'n Star - Fat Controller. Both are in charge of their tug boat fleet and railway respectively.


Well, this was most certainly a grand way to start a grand series. When Zorran bumped into Sunshine, he started to think he earned the contract, thinking nobody had seen him, and unbeknownst to him, Izzy was watching the whole thing. Great moral of this story. Don't jump to conclusions. And I like the quote that Capt'n Zero gave to his Zero Fleet. "Sorry! Sorry! I don't want to hear! Get out of my sight, all of you!"


Anyway, David and Robert did wonders in creating this series.

My rating: 10/10.

TUGS scorecard:

1. Sunshine: 10/10.

Series so far: 10/10.