TTTE S5E19: Happy Ever After

We're in for an episode centred around a wedding. Let's see what the good luck package is.



Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the image

123. Happy Ever After.
Written by: Britt Allcroft and David Mitton.
Aired: UK: 8 October 1998. AUS: 17 December 1998. US: 8 September 1999.

One day, Percy is taking some trucks to Brendam Docks when Terence, working in a field next to the line, tells him "it's a nice day for it." Percy is confused as to what "it" is, to which Terence reminds him Mrs. Kyndley's daughter is getting married today which he remembers and continues on his way. Further up the line, Mrs. Kyndley waves him down: when Percy's driver asks her what is wrong, Mrs. Kyndley has forgotten the good luck package for her. Percy, confused, asks what it is: Mrs. Kyndley says it contains "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue." She then asks if they can help, his driver states they will see what they can do.

At Wellsworth, Percy stops to take on water and asks Edward about the good luck package and how to find it. He says they may be closer than he thinks and leaves to pick up the guests for the wedding.

Arriving at the docks, Percy looks around and finds a new set of buffers on a flatbed, saying it fits as "something new." His driver speaks with the Foreman, who lets them use it as well as borrow the flatbed, satisfying the criteria in "something new" and "something borrowed" for the package. Percy takes them and his trucks to Tidmouth Hault, where while shunting his train into a siding, he finds Old Slowcoach, who he and Thomas saved from being scrapped, and uses her for the "something old" object. Now only needing "something blue," Percy questions where he can find it and finally meets a ribbon-adorned Thomas as the "something blue" in the Fishing Village, where the wedding will take place. With the package complete, Percy's driver reveals to Percy that Mrs. Kyndley has chosen him to be her special guest, much to his delight.

At the church, the bride and groom leave the church for the reception just as the engines arrive. The Fat Controller announces the Good Luck Package, all found by Percy and his crew. The delighted bride thanks the engines and gives kisses Percy, much to Thomas' mirth as Percy blushes. Later that night, Percy declares he loves weddings while Thomas cheekily asks if he enjoyed his kiss. Embarrassed, Percy closes his eyes and pretends he is asleep.

We're here with the last episode to have Terence the Tractor speak until the Season 21 episode Terence Breaks the Ice. It's also the last appearance of Old Slow Coach. And it's the last time we hear Wellsworth referred to as "Edward's Station".

Some people like to nitpick Missus Kyndley's daughter kissing Percy being a possibility that she'd burn her lips upon doing so. I would like to counter that flaw by saying that Percy wasn't in steam during the wedding.

I think Percy could've come up with a better good luck package than simply New Buffers (Something new), flatbed (Something borrowed), Old Slow Coach (Something old), and Thomas the Tank Engine (Something blue). Percy the Small Engine could've identified Edward as 2 things. Something old, and something blue.

But even so, this was kind of a sweet episode, and Percy's embarrassment at the end was funny.

My rating: 8/10.

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.

19. Happy Ever After: 8/10.

25. Snow: 3.5/10.

26. Rusty and the Boulder: 7.5/10.

Season 5 so far: 8.7/10.