TTTE S5E04: Lady Hatt's Birthday Party

I've just planned on reviewing this episode. And why did I decide on reviewing this? Well it's about the main human character.

Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the image.

108. Lady Hatt's Birthday Party.
Written by: Britt Allcroft, David Mitton and David Maidment.
Aired: UK: 17 September 1998. AUS: 26 November 1998. CAN: 14 January 1999.

One Summer's Day, Bertie asks Thomas and Percy if they have noticed something different about the Fat Controller. Percy tells Bertie that he saw the Fat Controller staring into the clouds this morning and he wonders why. It is Lady Hatt's birthday and the Fat Controller has a new outfit to wear especially for the birthday party. Lady Hatt tells him not to be late and her husband tells her that he will be spic and span and right on time.

The Fat Controller is leaving work early to attend the party at Kirk Ronan. He tells the stationmaster that he will be taking the car when the engines are busy. He thinks it is reliable, but it is not. His mood soon changes when his car becomes stuck in a pothole with a flat tyre. He decides not to risk changing it because it will dirty his suit and it will never do for his wife's party.

The Fat Controller then sees Caroline and explains the situation and hitches a lift in her, but Caroline does not like going fast and she breaks down. George the Steamroller then arrives and insults Caroline, but his driver is more polite to the Fat Controller and offers him a ride to Thomas, who is just down the line, and he agrees, promising Caroline that he will send for help. George enjoys rolling along the road, but not the Fat Controller, who quickly becomes covered in oil. Worse is to follow; George cries for help, slips out of control due to a malfunction, and ends up into a muddy ditch close to where Thomas is taking on water and the Fat Controller catapults and ends up waist-deep in the mud.


Thomas had never seen the Fat Controller in such a mess and he asks Thomas' driver for a ride, but Thomas' fireman had taken ill, so the Fat Controller offers to be Thomas' relief fireman. He works hard and coal dust and soot fly everywhere and at last, Thomas arrives at Kirk Ronan, just in time. The Fat Controller quickly buys a bunch of flowers for the party and as the clock strikes three, the Fat Controller arrives, tired but triumphant. He gives his wife the flowers and she is most grateful and she knew it was her special birthday party, but she did not know it was 'fancy dress'. Everyone laughs and then the party begins.


This is a breath of fresh air. An episode focused on one of the human characters rather than the transport.

Although I'll have to question why there weren't warning signs around the hole in the road. Surely Fat Controller wasn't the only one who noticed the large hole in the road.

Sadly, this was Caroline's last speaking role, and it emphasises on her dislike of going fast.

George's mishap was funny, especially when oil splashed on Fat Controller, and when George landed in the ditch, causing Fat Controller to fall in too.

Overall, this episode was a fascinating one, especially since it barely focuses on the engines, but more on Fat Controller. Something we've been having some of recently, especially considering The Beast of Sodor and Dowager Hatt's Busy Day. And Fat Controller's fancy dress was funny too.

This further proves while shows aimed at young children like this one have child characters in them, the child characters don't need more than half the focus.

My rating: 10/10.

Season 5 scorecard:

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

4. Lady Hatt's Birthday Party: 10/10.

7. Bye George!: 9/10.

10. Toby and the Flood: 5.5/10.

12. Double Teething Troubles: 9.5/10.

17. Thomas and the Rumours: 9/10.

25. Snow: 3.5/10.

26. Rusty and the Boulder: 7.5/10.

Season 5 so far: 8.7/10.