TTTE S5E03: A Better View for Gordon.

Another Season 5 Thomas review coming your way.

107. A Better View for Gordon.
Written by: Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and David Maidment.
Aired: UK: 16 September 1998. AUS: 25 November 1998. US: 2 February 1999.

One morning, Gordon is complaining, which makes James cross. James asks why Gordon complains all the time, and Gordon tells him that he is a big engine, and that he shall complain whenever he wants, and he then tells James that he is just a small red engine with ideas above his station, and that one day he will show them just what a big engine can really do.

Later, Gordon is ordered by the Fat Controller to pull an empty express train to Kirk Ronan to test the new station building. At first he doesn't want to do it since Henry usually likes doing it, but the Fat Controller doesn't care, so tells him to do as he is told. Along the way, he begins to feel sick. His driver tells him that he must go to the works when his pipes are clogged. Gordon soon arrives at the station. He is impressed, but his mood soon changes when in front of him is a blank wall and a set of buffers. Gordon is bored by the blank plaster wall in front of his buffers, and says that important engines should have a panoramic view so that people could see him.

On the return journey, Gordon tries to build up speed, but he then breaks down and comes to a complete stop in a siding. Gordon's driver tells him that something inside of him is broken, and that he will have to go to the works. When James arrives to collect his coaches, he tells Gordon that he was too puffed up in his smokebox and it serves him right.

Gordon is repaired in time for the opening of the new station, but still acts puffed up. When he approaches Kirk Ronan, neither the driver and fireman can apply his brakes. Something is jammed and Gordon loses control and crashes through the wall. His crew and the Fat Controller suffer minor injuries. The Fat Controller tells him that he knew Gordon wanted a panoramic view, but this is not the way to achieve it.

Upon his second return from the Works, Gordon arrives back at the station for its second official opening, and this time he arrives safely. Gordon is delighted to discover the broken wall has been turned into a panoramic window. The Fat Controller tells him that it is here to stay, and he trusts that he will always see through it from the safety of his own rails.


This episode was, to say the least, interesting. The main problem with it is that Gordon's crew told him "Something's broken inside you, Gordon.", but they didn't say exactly what.

I tell you, the crash Gordon had was epic! It was inspired by a real even that occurred in Montparnasse, Paris, France in 1895, when a French tender engine was pulling a train of 3 luggage vans, a mail coach and 6 passenger coaches crashed through the station wall, causing the masonry to kill a woman. Sad event that. All because the driver was going too fast, just to make up for lost time. He was fined 50 francs for that, and the guard was fined 25 francs for failing to apply the brakes on time.

It was a brilliant episode this. Gordon finally got what he wanted after all, and all because he crashed through it. It was funny when Gordon the Big Engine was all "Help me, please!"

My rating: 10/10.

Season 5 scorecard:

3. A Better View for Gordon: 10/10.

10. Toby and the Flood: 5.5/10.

12. Double Teething Troubles: 9.5/10.

25. Snow: 3.5/10.

Season 5 so far: 8.6/10.