TTTE S2E26: Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree

Now I'm going to be doing another Thomas Christmas review. This time, the last 80s episode and the last to be narrated by a member of The Beatles.

Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the image

52. Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree.
Written by: Christopher Awdry.
Aired: UK: 17 December 1986. AUS: 26 December 1988. US: 27 October 1992. 

It is the twenty-third of December and the final preparations are being made for a carol party to be held at Tidmouth. All the engines are working hard setting up the decorations. This year, the Fat Controller wants this carol party to be extra special.

The Fat Controller is waiting very impatiently when Thomas arrives. The Fat Controller tells Thomas that their Christmas tree has come and Thomas has to fetch it while Duck watches over Annie and Clarabel. Thomas is very excited and rushes off, collecting the tree safely, but on the way home, runs into a snow drift and gets stuck. Thomas knows that he must get back in time, and whistles, but cannot get out of the heavy snow. Suddenly, an avalanche erupts and buries Thomas and the tree.

Back at the yards, the engines are waiting for Thomas. His delay begins to make them cross. The Fat Controller quiets them down to tell them that snow has knocked the telephone lines down, and they must assume that he is stranded. Everyone now feels sorry, and Donald and Douglas puff away to save him. They soon reach a snow drift much deeper than the rest. A cry for help is heard, but Douglas thinks it is the wind. Hearing the cry again, they realise that they are at the drift where Thomas is buried.

Time passes as the workmen decide to free him. Thomas' driver and fireman, who had taken shelter in a nearby cottage, join the rescue, and Thomas is freed from the snow. Thomas follows the twins home, and arrive just as night falls. The Fat Controller rewards the engines by granting permission to sing carols. The engines happily chuff away to the station. Lights come on, and the Fat Controller declares three cheers for Thomas and his friends.

Harold soon joins the party and drops off Father Christmas, much to everyone's joy. As the carols begin, Thomas tells Percy that it was no fun getting stuck in snow, but it was all worth it for the celebration. Thomas then wishes everyone a Happy Christmas.


So did Season 2 go out on a high note? Without a doubt, yes! But even if this was a fine Christmas episode, I think it would've worked better as a 10 minute Christmas special, just to be more faithful to the book it's based on.

Donald and Douglas were very heroic to save Thomas the Tank Engine from that large snowdrift, though James and Edward could've helped too.

For reasons unknown, Daisy and Henrietta weren't at the Christmas party, yet Diesel was, despite being sent packing.

But overall, this was a very good Christmas episode, Santa appeared, and it's such pride that Ringo Starr went out on such a high note.

My rating: 9.5/10.

Season 2 scorecard:

1. Thomas, Percy and the Coal: 6.5/10.

6. Thomas and Trevor: 9/10.

7. Percy and the Signal: 9.5/10.

8. Duck Takes Charge: 9/10.

9. Percy and Harold: 10/10.

10. The Runaway: 9/10.

12. Pop Goes the Diesel: 9/10.

13. Dirty Work: 8.5/10.

14. A Close Shave: 9.5/10.

15. Better Late Than Never: 9/10.

18. Thomas Comes to Breakfast: 10/10.

19. Daisy: 9.5/10.

20. Percy's Predicament: 8.5/10.

21. The Diseasel: 10/10.

22. Wrong Road: 9/10.

23. Edward's Exploit: 10/10.

24. Ghost Train: 10/10.

25. Woolly Bear: 9.5/10.

26. Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree: 9.5/10.

Season 2 Rating so far: 9.3/10.