TTTE S6E10: Twin Trouble

Let's see everyone's favourite twins argue with each other, all due to an accident that caused Donald to derail.

Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the image

140. Twin Trouble.
Written by: Brian Trueman.
Aired: UK: 27 September 2002. AUS: 1 November 2002. CAN: 24 January 2003.

Donald and Douglas are Scottish twins. They are practical, peppery, and proud and are mostly seen working together.

One day, Donald and Douglas are chuffing down the line with a goods train. Trevor struggles with a cart of hay, which gets stuck on a crossing after one of the wheels of the cart falls off. Donald sees the cart, but they cannot stop, and Donald hits the cart. No one is hurt, but Donald and Douglas blamed each other for the accident. The twins refuse to speak to each other, and when the Fat Controller needs an engine to help Duck at the shunting yards, Donald jumps at the opportunity.

At first, Donald enjoys working with Duck, but eventually, things start to go wrong, as Duck does not understand Donald and Douglas' way of working. Meanwhile, Douglas is doing work on his own, and is beginning to miss Donald. That night, Douglas' driver takes him to visit Donald. Donald snootily asks if he came to say he's sorry, which brings Douglas' bad mood back.

The next day, Donald is also in a bad mood and was not looking where he is going while reversing, and despite a warning from Duck, breaks through some buffers and into a ditch. His driver is cross and claims that this would not have happened if he was working with Douglas. Donald admits defeat and Duck, knowing he is not strong enough to pull Donald back onto the rails, hurries to get help from Douglas. Soon, Douglas pulls Donald back onto the rails. Donald thanked Douglas and tries to make up for their trouble, but Douglas claimed he is sorry. Then Donald talks back, claiming he is actually sorry. Duck chuckles and tells them to not have a row on who is to blame for their troubles and to just be happy they are back together. The twins properly make up in the end and, as Duck predicted, are glad to be together again.


One interesting thing about this episode is that it was written by Brian Trueman, who wrote episodes of Budgie the Little Helicopter, a children's show that many Thomas fans fail to mention.

But enough of that. Let's go over this episode as a whole. It was nice to see Donald and Douglas get the main focus since Season 3, and we get to see them argue and banter about who was to blame for Donald crashing into the cart.

"Did nae!"

"Did!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

There was also a funny quote from Donald. He was giving Duck's advice.

"Did you shunt those trucks onto the other line?"

"I thought you wanted them on the other line."

"Not that other line! The other other line!"

This is another reason I always go for the UK narrations. Alec Baldwin didn't even try to give Donald and Douglas a Scottish accent. Maybe Alec was so upset with the fact that Thomas and the Magic Railway did so poorly in the box office, he wasn't enthusiastic with the series anymore.

But still, this was a good episode, showing that no matter who you argue with for a long time, sometimes, you can eventually make up in the end, though it doesn't work for everyone.

My rating: 10/10.

Season 6 scorecard:

9. It's Only Snow: 9/10.

10. Twin Trouble: 10/10.

14. Middle Engine: 3/10.

17. Gordon Takes a Tumble: 9.5/10.

22. Thomas the Jet Engine: 10/10.

23. Edward the Very Useful Engine: 8.5/10.

25. Rusty Saves the Day: 3.5/10.

Season 6 rating so far: 8.6/10.