Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the image
469. Henry Gets the Express.
Written by: Helen Farrall.
Aired: UK: 7 September 2016. CAN: 24 October 2016. AUS: 4 April 2017.
One morning, Gordon is not ready to leave the sheds, as his firebox had not been cleaned out the previous night. Thomas tells Gordon not to be surprised if another engine replaces him for the express and suggests that Henry could do it based on his own experience. However, Gordon doubts that Henry would be capable of doing it, claiming that things have changed since the last time he pulled the express. When Henry becomes nervous, Thomas cheers him up, and the two engines leave the sheds.
Thomas brings the coaches to Knapford, where the Fat Controller is waiting for Gordon. Thomas tells him that Gordon is not ready yet and suggests that Henry fill in for him, to which the Fat Controller agrees, believing it will teach Gordon a lesson.
Later, Henry sets off with the express. At first, he is a little nervous but soon starts to enjoy himself. Meanwhile, Gordon finally has had his firebox cleaned out and arrives at the station to fetch his train, but finds the Fat Controller there instead. The Fat Controller explains that Henry had to take it and Gordon now has to pull Henry's goods for the rest of the day, much to Gordon's horror.
Meanwhile, Henry is making a good time with the express. His passengers and the railway staff are impressed by his affability. Gordon, on the other hand, is not enjoying his work, and grumpily arrives at Brendam Docks with his goods train, only to be given a train of coal as soon as he arrives. As Gordon is taking the coal train, he stops at a junction where Henry passes by with the express and becomes annoyed when Henry mimics him.
When Gordon returns to Knapford, he asks the Fat Controller if he can go back in pulling the express, but the Fat Controller says that he has to go to the Blue Mountain Quarry. Rheneas greets Gordon when he arrives at the quarry, but Gordon is still in a bad mood. As Gordon begins to leave, the trucks put on their brakes, and then release them, causing Gordon to jump the points and hit a buffer stop. Gordon is finally fed up with his work, and orders to be uncoupled at once so he can get back to his shed.
That night, Henry returns to the sheds and tells Gordon that he will be more than happy to let him pull the express again. Gordon begins to grumble about the work he had to do. The Fat Controller arrives at the sheds and scolds Gordon for not doing all of his jobs earlier that day. He then orders Gordon to pull the Flying Kipper as punishment and threatens to make Henry the permanent express engine if he refuses to do it. Henry and Thomas outsmart Gordon by claiming that the Flying Kipper is not an easy job, referencing the time when James had an accident with the flying kipper twice, but Gordon is determined to prove them wrong and leaves the sheds.
When Gordon returns to the sheds the next morning, the Fat Controller praises him for successfully delivering the Kipper on time and tells him that he can now go back to being the express engine again. Gordon is delighted, but when the other engines notice how smelly he is, he quickly leaves to go for a wash-down. Henry jokes that Gordon is, "the stinky express", and all the other engines laugh.
This episode is downright hilarious! One of the best if not the best of Season 20! Sure Gordon was the jerk he was, but here, his pompousness gets the better of him! And I love how it gave Henry the Green Engine some proper development, wanting him to take the express.
I also love the references to Percy's Predicament (We'll give him nonsense!), Edward and Gordon (A Goods train! A goods train! The shame of it! Oh, the shame of it!) and Thomas the Jet Engine. (Hi, Gordon! Bye Gordon!) There was even a remixed version of Gordon's Season 3 silly theme here.
Gotta say, this was overall a funny episode.
My rating: 10/10.
Season 20 scorecard:
3. Henry Gets the Express: 10/10.
8. Pouty James: 3/10.
12. Love Me Tender: 10/10.
13. The Railcar and the Coaches: 8.5/10.
18. 3 Steam Engines Gruff: 1.5/10.
24. Buckled Tracks & Bumpy Trucks: 8.5/10.
25: Tit for Tat: 10/10.
26. Mike's Whistle: 9.5/10.
27. Useful Railway: 9.5/10.
Season 20 rating so far: 8.6/10.
No comments:
Post a Comment