TTTE S16E11: Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor

Another episode of Thomas being reviewed. This is another episode that holds up as a wondrous episode!

379. Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor.

Written by: Gerard Foster.
Aired: AUS: 26 February 2012. UK: 5 March 2012. US: 14 April 2012.

The Fat Controller arrives at Tidmouth Sheds to give Thomas a special job. Thomas is to collect the Great Composer from Knapford and take him on a tour of the Island so that he can hear the sounds of Sodor. Thomas is pleased and steams off straight away. On the way to Knapford, Thomas stops to ponder what exactly are "the sounds of Sodor". As he is wondering, he hears birds, animals, and the sea. He decides that these peaceful sounds must be the sounds that the Fat Controller was talking about. Then Percy and Emily clatter down the line, pulling troublesome trucks. As they rattle past, Thomas notices that he cannot hear the peaceful sounds any more. Thomas worries that the Great Composer will not be able to hear the sounds of Sodor with his noisy engine friends clattering along the lines. He decides he will take the composer to places where there are no other engines.
Thomas soon arrives at Knapford where he introduces himself to the Great Composer, who says that he will write his tune as they puff along. First, Thomas takes the Great Composer into the Whistling Woods to hear the woodland waterfall. Then Gordon thunders up with the express. Thomas is annoyed as Gordon has ruined the peace so he races off to the Whispering Woods. The Great Composer listens to the rustling leaves and birdsong. Then Mavis clatters up pulling flatbeds of logs. The Great Composer is pleased, but Thomas is not; he thinks Mavis has disturbed the sounds of Sodor. Mavis explains that she is hauling logs because the quarry is closed, but Thomas is not interested and puffs off.
As Thomas rolls along, he wonders where he can take the Great Composer. Then he remembers that Mavis said the quarry is closed and decides to head there. At the quarry, James is sitting in a siding and watches Thomas enter. The Great Composer is confused, there are no sounds at all; the quarry is silent. James rolls up to Thomas, but Thomas ignores him and puffs away. James follows and Thomas explains that they must be quiet so that the composer can hear the sounds of Sodor. Thomas is too busy talking to James to notice a barrier ahead on the tracks. Thomas screeches to a sudden stop just in time, and the Great Composer's tune flies out of Annie's window and blows away. Thomas feels terrible, but is a little puzzled as to how the composer managed to write a tune despite the noise. The Great Composer tells Thomas that his engine friends sounded wonderful and Thomas realises that his friends are the sounds of Sodor. The composer is still worried; the concert starts soon, but he has no tune. Thomas has an idea and asks for James' help. Next Thomas and James race to the Whispering Woods where they get Mavis' help. The three engines race to Knapford where they enlist the help of Gordon, Percy, and Emily before heading to the Town Square.
At the Town Square, the Fat Controller is becoming concerned. The Great Composer assures Sir Topham Hatt that the special concert will be worth the wait. Thomas announces the concert which features the sounds of Sodor. The Great Composer conducts as Thomas, Percy, Gordon, Emily, James and Mavis roll back and forth blowing their whistles and honking their horns and bumping trucks. Accompanied by the Sodor Brass Band, the concert is a big success. Afterwards, the Great Composer says that he could not have done it without Thomas' help. Thomas, in turn, says that he could not have done it if it were not for his noisy friends.


Well, this episode was a nice one overall! The engines made the nicest sounds known to mankind! Well done, Thomas, running away from those engines and not listening to that composer! And good on you for not listening to Mavis when she said the quarry was closed! I know James was there despite that, but who cares? This episode was wonderful!

My rating: 100/10.

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These are my real views. This episode was completely dreadful! Thomas the Tank Engine should've just asked the composer what sounds he was listening to instead of just going around looking for a quiet place! Gee! And James the Red Engine was at the quarry because....reasons, despite Mavis saying it's closed. And surely the composer would've, oh I don't know, had his window closed if he wanted peace and quiet. It turns out he didn't want peace and quiet. Just wanted to listen to sounds for ideas of a composition.

So overall, this episode was a very bad one!

My real rating: 1/10.

Season 16 scorecard:

11. Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor: 1/10.

13. Sodor Surprise Day: 0/10.

20. The Christmas Tree Express: 0/10.

Season 16 rating so far: 0.3/10.

TTTE S15E06: James to the Rescue

Today, I am going to be reviewing what is considered by many to be the best episode of Thomas and Friends ever.

354. James to the Rescue.
Written by: Sharon Miller.
Aired: UK: 8 March 2011. US: 16 April 2011. AUS: 26 November 2011.

It is James' turn to be Sodor's rescue engine. At the Search and Rescue Centre, he eagerly awaits his "call to action." Then Toby trundles in. He is also the rescue engine for the day, which annoys James. He does not think that Toby qualifies as a rescue engine as he is merely a steam tram. Just then, the Search and Rescue Centre manager approaches with news that Gordon has derailed whilst crossing the Fenland. Toby and James race off to the rescue.
Soon they arrive at the Fenland Track and see that Gordon's bogey wheels are off the rails. James wants to pull Gordon back onto the track, but Toby does not think it is a good idea and suggests they fetch Rocky. James ignores the old steam tram and is coupled up to Gordon. He pulls with all his might, but he only succeeds in pulling Gordon's driving wheels off the rails. Toby suggests again that they should fetch Rocky, but James decides he will try pushing Gordon from the back. When they had travelled around Gordon, Toby suggests that they fetch Rocky once again, but James insists that he knows what to do. So James pushes Gordon, but only succeeds in cracking the bridge beneath Gordon. Now Toby is sure it is time to fetch Rocky, but James ignores him once again - he has a plan. He reverses and charges towards Gordon, but when they collide, James is sent flying into the muddy marsh too.

James now realises that it is time to fetch Rocky. Toby is happy to help and soon he and Thomas are racing back to the Fenland with Rocky. Soon James and Gordon are back on track and the red engine finally admits that he would like Toby's help. Together, the rescue engines rescue Charlie, bring Mavis and Diesel oil, and shunt Percy to the Steamworks. Later, James thanks the Fat Controller for sending Toby to help him and admits that he is the best rescue tram on Sodor.


What can I say? This episode was....brilliant! James attempting to rescue Gordon and ignoring Toby's advice about Rocky show the target audience just how to rescue anyone who is stuck like Gordon was. And might I say, the crash was awesome! There were loads of deaths, but who cares? This episode rocks and is up there with Fiery Flynn, Sodor Surprise Day and Wonky Whistle as among the best episodes ever!

My rating: 1,000,000/10.

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This is my real opinion. THIS EPISODE WAS ATROCIOUS! James was such an idiot not to listen to Toby the Tram Engine's advice! And he was so discriminative to him, just because "he's a steam tram!" And as for that crash in the image I chose for this review, look how dangerous it was! James' crew could've died by drowning in the fenlands!

This episode is on par with Fiery Flynn as the worst of Season 15!

My real rating: 0.5/10.

Season 15 scorecard:

6. James to the Rescue: 0.5/10.

8. Up, Up and Away: 0.5/10.

17. Wonky Whistle: 0.5/10.
20. Fiery Flynn: 0.5/10.

Season 15 so far: 0.5/10.