TTTE S7E26: 3 Cheers for Thomas

Alright, I've been wanting to review this for a while. It's the final episode to have music by Mike O' Donnell and Junior Campbell, the final episode to have the original theme song, and the final episode to have Britt Allcroft and David Mitton involved. It's also the final episode of the classic series and the final episode with the 4 1/2 minute format. Now, here's the big question. Did the classic series end on a high note?

Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the image

182. 3 Cheers for Thomas/Hooray for Thomas.
Written by: Jan Page.
Aired: UK: 10 November 2003. AUS: 16 November 2003. US: 21 November 2004.

Thomas has to take some children to their annual sports day. When they arrive, a boy tells Thomas that he hopes he is number one and wins a medal. Thomas agrees it is magnificent to win a medal and later imagines himself with a medal around his boiler.

Later, Thomas and Bertie are at the sheds, when Percy arrives. He tells the two he is taking Sir Topham Hatt to the venue. Thomas tells him he can see the egg and spoon race there, where children race with eggs on spoons. The winner of the race gets a medal. Thomas tells Percy and Bertie he wishes he could have a medal and Percy tells him he would have to win a race. Bertie challenges Thomas to a race to the next station. Thomas accepts the challenge and the race begins.

Bertie edges in front at first, but manages to get stuck behind a slowing Trevor and Thomas takes the lead. However, he does not keep the lead for long, as he has to stop to pick up passengers. Bertie regains the lead as he rumbles over the bridge. Then, Bertie has to stop at a level crossing and Thomas takes the lead once more.

Thomas is almost at the station when he spots a signalman with a red flag in his hand and Sir Topham Hatt. Sir Topham explains that the medals were left in his office and asks Thomas to retrieve them. Thomas, no longer caring about the race, puffs away to retrieve the medals.

Down the line, Bertie arrives at the station having won the race. Bertie waits keenly for Thomas, but he never comes. Thomas is steaming back for the medals. He arrives at Knapford, where the stationmaster gives Thomas' driver the medals. Thomas arrives at the venue, with the medals, just in time for the medals to be handed out.

The next day, Thomas is at Maithwaite station when Sir Topham Hatt and Bertie arrive with a surprise for Thomas. A boy gives Thomas his own medal and wraps it around his funnel. Sir Topham Hatt and the boy express their gratitude for Thomas' hard work during sports day and they thought Thomas deserved a medal all for himself. Thomas thanks them for the medal and all the children give him three cheers.

So did the classic series of Thomas the Tank Engine go out on a high note? Absolutely! It's so nice to have Thomas and Bertie racing again, only this time, Bertie won the race due to Thomas having to pick up medals. Sure it may be a bad thing for Thomas and Bertie to race again, but it was the right timing.

I also liked Percy mistaking Egg and Spoon races for "Eggs and spoons having races." That was funny.

So overall, this was a fine way to put the classic series to rest, and Thomas wearing a medal proves it. 

My rating: 10/10.

Season 7 scorecard:

2. Percy Gets it Right: 9.5/10.

9. The Spotless Record: 10/10.

12. Rheneas and the Roller Coaster: 5/10.

16. The Runaway Elephant: 9.5/10.

22. Best Dressed Engine: 9/10.

26. 3 Cheers for Thomas: 10/10.

Season 7 rating so far: 9.1/10.