TTTE S7E24: Not So Hasty Puddings

I thought I would do a review to celebrate this year's festive season. With some puddings.

Special thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia for the image

180. Not So Hasty Puddings/Not So Hasty Cakes/Thomas and the Avalanche.
Written by: Robyn Charteris.
Aired: UK: 6 November 2003. US: 17 October 2004. Aus: 12 November 2004.

It is Christmas time on the Island and snow is lying heavy on the ground. When Elizabeth delivers Thomas' snowplough, he refuses to wear it and Elizabeth states that he cannot be reliable without it. Thomas grumbles about how rude Elizabeth was and that his snowplough makes his buffers ache.

When Thomas arrives at Maithwaite, he sees Sir Topham Hatt talking to Elizabeth that the Sodor Pudding Factory is snowed in and that the puddings must get to the Docks before the ship leaves for the Mainland. Thomas volunteers to do it, but Sir Topham Hatt needs Thomas to work on his branch line, and gives the job to Elizabeth because she is very reliable. Thomas states that he is reliable too, but Elizabeth says that he is not reliable enough, making Thomas cross as Elizabeth leaves.


Thomas arrives at every station on time, while Elizabeth is having a hard time driving on the slippery road. Thomas arrives at the Docks to pick up Terence and sees that Elizabeth has not returned. Sir Topham Hatt orders Thomas to find her. Elizabeth is filled with Christmas puddings and is on her way to the docks, but the slippery roads and the weight of the cargo get her stuck in a snowdrift. Thomas and Terence are stopped by her driver and Terence pulls her out. Thomas helps Elizabeth deliver the puddings just in time and Elizabeth understands that Thomas is a reliable engine.


While this episode did show Elizabeth being rude to Thomas the Tank Engine, it was still a nice way to show her doing her job. Delivering the puddings, but she eventually got stuck due to the snowdrift she crashed into. And it was lucky of Terence to save her.

One fact about this episode was that this was Terence the Tractor's last appearance in an episode until Terence Breaks the Ice. 

The only major problem with this episode was the stock footage. Maybe it was because they used some of the time for the season to film the Jack and the Pack spinoff? But oh well. And it was nice to see Thomas' blue snowplough return.

My rating: 8/10.

Season 7 scorecard:

2. Percy Gets it Right: 9.5/10.

3. Bill, Ben and Fergus: 7/10.

9. The Spotless Record: 10/10.

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

15. Something Fishy: 10/10.

16. The Runaway Elephant: 9.5/10.

17. Peace and Quiet: 10/10.

18. Fergus Breaks the Rules: 7/10.

19. Bulgy Rides Again: 9.5/10.

22. Best Dressed Engine: 9/10.

24. Not So Hasty Puddings: 8/10.

26. 3 Cheers for Thomas: 10/10.

Season 7 rating so far: 9.1/10.