TTTE S5E12: Double Teething Troubles

Now that I'm done with reviewing Robotboy, I can just take it easy and review whatever the 'eck I want! Today, I am doing another Thomas the Tank Engine review.

116. Double Teething Troubles.

Written by: Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and David Maidment.

Aired: UK: 29 September 1998. AUS: 8 December 1998. US: 26 January 1999.

Bill and Ben argue over who has rights to some trucks nearby, and despite BoCo's warnings, derail each other at the points. The Fat Controller decides to send a diesel to help them, but the diesel, Derek, is new and has problems with his cooling system, as seen after he breaks down on Gordon's Hill, prompting BoCo to rescue him. The news soon spreads, and Percy, who misunderstands Thomas when he mentions Derek has teething troubles, tells the horrified twins the diesel has a toothache. Duck tells the twins that "teething troubles" means that Derek is new and breaks down often, making the twins even more nervous. The next day, Derek arrives at the Clay Pits and helps the twins with a long train of China Clay trucks. However, Derek's engine overheats, and he stops. Bill and Ben pull him and the trucks and Derek is sent to the works. Bill and Ben apologise to BoCo for being rude and they and Duck talk about teething troubles all night long.


This was quite an interesting episode. Bill and Ben's antics never cease to amuse me, especially their argument "T's mine! "T's not!" "T's mine!" "T's not!" and how concerned Boco was about their quarrelling and how they had a minor accident. And here, we're introduced to Derek, a diesel who has teething troubles.

I am going to observe that Derek's basis, the BR Class 17 diesel suffered teething troubles too. I guess David Maidment got inspiration for this from that.

Too bad that this was Derek's sole appearance in the series. (With the exception of a cameo later in Calling all Engines!) Hopefully, Jam-Filled can give him a decent CGi render instead of say, shoehorning Thomas the Tank Engine every single time! When will those soccermums ever take a chill pill?

Minor flaw is that Derek was never referred to by name except for merchandising. Yep, Season 5's newcomers were only made to sell toys to the target audience unlike Seasons 9-12's newcomers who were made to have their personas dug out.


And the saddest thing about this one is this. Yep, this was Boco's last appearance to date. I just hope that Jam-Filled can come to their senses and give him a brill CGi render considering he's the only character introduced in Season 2 who's yet to be rendered. I'm not counting the Spiteful Brakevan because he's dead.


Well, this episode was a nice ride, and the end music set the right tone to understand how friendly Derek was.

My rating: 9.5/10.



Season 5 scorecard:
12. Double Teething Troubles: 9.5/10.

25. Snow: 3.5/10.

Season 5 so far: 6.5/10.