Time to review an episode that was publicly announced last year, and it was thought to be a part of Season 20, but it was actually part of this season. That is....
(Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the Image)
501. Hasty Hannah.
Written by: Lee Pressman.
Aired: 26 September 2017.
It is a special day for Henrietta, as she is getting her seats refurbished. She is very excited, however Toby is worried about what he'll do without her in the meantime.
Twenty minutes later, the Fat Controller is waiting for Toby. He presents the steam tram with an orange vintage carriage named Hannah. Toby is hesitant, but Hannah is delighted to be working with Toby.
Toby and Hannah set out of Knapford Station, but a few miles into the trip, Hannah criticises Toby for being a slowcoach. As they approach a level crossing where Bertie is waiting, Hannah bumps Toby, forcing him to accelerate. They zip through the gates in front of Bertie, much to his frustration.
Toby is relieved as they reach Dryaw Station, but Hannah urges Toby to rush out of the station immediately after the guard blows his whistle, much to the surprise of the passengers. As they approach Gordon's Hill, Hannah forces Toby over it so fast, they nearly derail. Fed up with her, Toby leaves her on a siding and abandons Hannah without a word, despite her calls to him.
Toby arrives at the Steamworks and finds Henrietta there, with her refurbishment not yet complete. He tells her about the new coach (without mentioning her name) and confesses to her he left her on a siding. Henrietta orders her friend to go and collect the coach, otherwise, he'd be in trouble with the Fat Controller.
Toby goes to the siding to find that Hannah is not there. Suddenly, James rockets by with Hannah in tow, much to her excitement. Toby warns her that she is just a little carriage and high speeds are not meant for her, but she does not heed old Toby's warning and laughs as she rockets along with James.
Hannah is having a wonderful time until she realises that she's starting to come apart as the rough riding and aerodynamic stress take their toll. Her sideboards begin to split and her handrails detach from her body. The intense speed causes her to uncouple from James, and he races away into the distance. Toby arrives and blames himself due to abandoning Hannah on the siding, but Hannah blames herself and admits that going too fast is dangerous.
That evening, Toby arrives at the Steamworks with Hannah to find that Henrietta is repaired. Henrietta sees Hannah and tells Toby that she and Hannah are sisters, and that she used to call her "Hasty Hannah". As Toby leaves with Henrietta, Hannah urgers them to work faster, to which they can only laugh.
Who would've known that we'd be getting a new character who happens to be a coach? And surprisingly, this coach is Hannah, the same basis as Henrietta, Toby's coach. How fitting it is that she's Henrietta's sister! Makes perfect sense since they're of the same class.
And Toby missing Henrietta is just like a husband missing his wife. And Henrietta being absent due to needing refurbishment reminds me of whenever Annie and Clarabel are absent and Thomas the Tank Engine has to take different coaches.
But here, Hannah is a hilarious coach, desperate to go fast, bumping Toby the Tram Engine to make him go fast. Reminds me of 4 Little Engines where Sir Handel was bumped by the coaches he was pulling. And an interesting comeuppance Hannah got, and now she got the short end of the stick with James pulling her fast.
Now, I just hope Hannah will get more roles in the future. Maybe she can be Toby's second coach like Victoria from the Railway Series? Or maybe she can be Percy's coach?
Overall, an interesting episode.
My rating: 8/10.
Season 21 scorecard:
1. Springtime for Diesel: 9.5/10.
2. A Most Singular Engine: 9.5/10.
3. Dowager Hatt's Busy Day: 10/10.
4. Stuck in Gear: 9/10.
5. Runaway Engine: 9.5/10.
6. P.A. Problems: 9.5/10.
7. Hasty Hannah: 8/10.
Season 21 so far: 9.1/10.
