TUGS E05: Munitions

Well, I'm going to have a blast with this review! Literally! An episode of TUGS focusing on a naval twit.

Special thanks to TUGS Wikia for the image

5. Munitions.

Written by: David Mitton.

Aired: UK: 25 April 1989. AUS: 24 June 1991.

The towing and replenishing of naval munitions vessels is a very important and risky job. One such vessel, a tramper named Kraka-Toa, is being towed by Hercules. All is going well until Sergeant Bluenose, the officious naval tug, comes along. Uppity, Bluenose insists that Hercules may not continue on until he has made an inspection. Hercules steams off, finished with the run, ignoring him.

Hercules speaks to O.J., complaining about Bluenose. O.J. tells him he has been having the same problem, over some buoys. He tells him about the danger of loading munitions and fuel aboard the same ship. Hercules goes to have a rest at the coal depot. Bluenose comes by, still being overbearingly bossy before moving on to bother the Fire Chief too.

At the Star Pier, Captain Star informs the tugs they will be carrying munitions for the Navy; the Z-Stacks having the explosives. Warrior is given garbage detail, Top Hat is to transport car floats, Ten Cents is sent to Lucky's Yard to pickup oil to take to the Naval yard, and Sunshine is to take Mighty Mo home. Captain Star thanks Big Mac for winning the steel contract, and tells him to collect the last girder barge.

The Z-Stacks, meanwhile, are picking up the explosives, which are to be delivered to the Naval tramper, Kraka-Toa.

Ten Cents, now with the oil barge, is ordered about by Bluenose, who tells him to move out of the way. Bluenose purposely scraps the barge, which shocks Ten Cents and makes him very cross.

Night falls. Big Mickey the crane is transferring the munitions to Kraka-Toa when Bluenose arrives and starts issuing orders just as Zorran is unloading his barge, which cannot be moved at this time. Bluenose does not listen to anyone's warnings about the danger of munitions and pushes in, bumping the barge hard, resulting in a fire starting. The tugs present back away from the flames, but Bluenose is unable to because his engine has failed, so Ten Cents bravely tows him out of danger. The fire expands with continuous explosions. Big Mickey's dock catches fire and he tips over and falls into the water while Kraka-Toa begins to burn.

Meanwhile, further away, Top Hat is towing Frank and Eddie, the rail floats. They see the lights in the sky. Eddie thinks there is “a dockside celebration,” but Top Hat corrects him, “If there was a party, I would have been invited." Suddenly, Sunshine and the Fire Chief rush by, on the way to the fire.

Puffa, the tank engine, is very close to the flames. The tugs shout and whistle to warn him and he makes it out just in the nick of time. To make matters worse, the Star line oil barge catches fire, so Ten Cents jumps in to move it despite the risk of an explosion.

Nearby, Warrior and Lord Stinker, the garbage barge, see the lights in the sky too. Warrior leaves Lord Stinker at the dock and rushes to the scene.

The Fire Chief has now finally arrived, ordering everyone to stay back. O.J. informs how it was Bluenose’s fault. The Fire Chief tells Sunshine to douse the flames with the fire barge. Ten Cents continues with the oil barge, intending to push it out to sea. Warrior arrives, and is told by the Fire Chief to use his fire hose. Sunshine bravely fights the fire; Warrior is hit square in the face by a bit of debris. Eventually, the Fire Chief orders him to move out, but Warrior refuses to abandon Puffa, who has been badly stung. He then tells Zorran to help him with the other fire barge in an attempt to save Kraka-Toa. Zorran cannot see the barge doing much good, but he agrees to help the Fire Chief.

Out at sea, Ten Cents is still pushing the burning oil barge. Suddenly, he notices it is starting to smoke. Realising it will explode, Ten Cents reverses immediately, but it's a bit too late as a large explosion occurs. Sunshine sees it and is worried Ten Cents is in the blast, but it is too dangerous so he is not allowed to go and help his friend. The Fire Chief relieves Zorran and warns everyone that Kraka-Toa is about to capsize. She sinks into the water with one final blast out of her smokestack. However, thanks to Sunshine and Warrior, the fire was unable to spread towards the city. Top Hat arrives, rather too late, for which the Z-Stacks make fun of him.

The next morning, the tugs think Ten Cents did not survive the explosion. Before they can salute the brave tug, a familiar whistle is heard in the near distance and Ten Cents appears out of the fog. He is covered from stem to stern in soot. He explains how he was immobilised due to the explosion flooding his engine, but thankfully, Grampus rescued him before he sank. With that, Grampus, laughing heartily, tows a disgraced and still stunned Bluenose away. Captain Star concludes with a lesson for the viewers on the dangers of fire as Grampus hauls Bluenose out to sea.


Well, Bluenose sure proved himself to be a naval twit in this episode, but those explosions made by him were worth watching. Proves how passionate David Mitton was when he and Robert made this series. I mean, those explosions.... just beautiful!

While Bluenose was a naval twit as 10 Cents called him, he was funny in some ways;

Bluenose told Fire Tug that those orders he was waiting for were cancelled.

Bluenose told 10 Cents "If I order you to jump you jump."

Certainly proves that Bluenose may have inspired Spencer the Silver Streamlined Engine.

And also, this episode has a moral about taking care with fire. It can destroy you, your surroundings, your family, and your friends. Just as Grampus took Bluenose out.

My rating: 10/10.

TUGS scorecard:

1. Sunshine: 10/10.

2. Pirates: 9/10.

3. Trapped: 9.5/10.
5. Munitions: 10/10.

9. Ghosts: 10/10.

Series so far: 9.7/10.

TUGS E03: Trapped

Been such a long time since my last TUGS review, hasn't it? Well, I'm going back to Bigg City Port to review this episode.

Special thanks to TUGS Wikia for the image

3. Trapped.

Written by: Chris Tulloch.

Aired: UK: 18 April 1989. AUS: 12 June 1991.

There is a time when the Star Tugs and Z-Stacks take on a big job together. One of these times is when timber and tanning bark have to be brought from the sawmills Up River. This year everyone must all work together.

On this day, Zug is pulling a large, rusty, old tramper hull to the breaker's yard. Captain Zero said to take it on his way and deliver it before working with Zorran on the timber and bark job. But this extra task has now made him very late.

An alligator tug, called Billy Shoepack, works up river. He transports dangerous loads, notably dynamite, from Mittsville to the logging camp. Billy sees O.J. and Big Mac, who just want him to get away with his load.

Zug sees Zorran waiting – impatiently. Zorran says how they are all supposed to be on log detail. Zug tells Zorran how Captain Zero told him to take the old rust bucket to the breaker’s yard on his way. Zorran jumps in to “help” Zug get it to the breaker’s yard faster. But Zorran pushes too hard, which causes the vessel to go out of line and jam right across the river with Zug trapped on the other side along with some of the Stars. Now no one can get past it either way. Zorran steams off and leaves Zug there. He is pleased, thinking that all the Stars are trapped Up-River, leaving the harbour entirely to the Z-Stacks.

Top Hat and Sunshine then find Zug and the jammed tramper on their way down. Zug explains the situation and confesses that it wasn't his fault. Sunshine goes back-up-river for help. Meanwhile downriver at Mittsville, Zorran is surprised to see Ten Cents. Ten Cents is pulled off log detail to deliver timber-cutting machinery to Mittsville. Zorran tells Ten Cents about the “accident”. Ten Cents goes to head up there, and he tells Zorran to inform Captain Star, Captain Zero and the salvage team. Unknown to him, Zorran intended to keep the Star Tugs trapped Up-River.

Sunshine meets Billy Shoepack and talks to him about the accident. Billy then offers to blast the tramper open with dynamite, much to Sunshine's dismay. At the scene of the accident, Ten Cents has arrived on the lower side. He calls out, and Top Hat raises his wheelhouse to talk to him. Ten Cents says he will fetch help. Big Mac and O.J., also on the other side, come up with a bright plan: To make a battering ram, using three or four barges.

Back at Mittsville, Ten Cents finds Little Ditcher, of whom Ten Cents asks if he can help with the tramper.

At the site, all the tugs have the barge ram ready. They charge forward but only manage to buckle the tramper. Zug gets trapped between the barges and the tramper. Sunshine arrives with Billy Shoepack, all ready with his dynamite.

Zorran passes Ten Cents, and comments the tramper will crush Little Ditcher. Ten Cents suspects Zorran has not fetched any help and realized his intentions to keep the Star Tugs trapped.

Sunshine pulls Zug clear, leaving Billy Shoepack ready to rig the dynamite and blast the tramper apart. After a tense countdown – nothing happens. Billy finds the fuse has become wet. Meanwhile, Zorran approaches the tramper and scoffs that Little Ditcher will not be able to shift it. Billy has fixed the problem, and the countdown begins once more, just as Zorran arrives on the lower side. The dynamite breaks open the tramper; the sudden flow of water sends Zorran downstream, and the trapped tugs escape down fast. After their ride down the rapids, the tugs find Zorran stuck on top of some rocks. Everyone finds it a great joke, even Zug (although he does not want to admit it). The tugs thank Billy, and soon Ten Cents arrives with Little Ditcher and jokes about Zorran's predicament.


Well, this was a very good episode, involving an explosion, and the introduction of Billy Shoepack. It showed that Zorran the Mean Tug forgot about Zug, and not knowing about the tramp steamer being trapped. That explosion really was something! And all I can say about Billy Shoepack is that he's better than that orange abomination with the same name.

And not to mention, Zorran's moment at the end was pretty funny, as well as Ten Cents arriving with Little Ditcher to help the other tugs. But those other tugs were already helped by Billy.

My rating: 9.5/10.

TUGS scorecard:

1. Sunshine: 10/10.

2. Pirates: 9/10.
3. Trapped: 9.5/10.

9. Ghosts: 10/10.

Series so far: 9.6/10.

TUGS E09: Ghosts

I'm finally doing another review on TUGS. Boy, it's been such a long time since my last TUGS review. This one is perfect for Halloween.

Special thanks to TUGS Wikia for the image

9. Ghosts.
Written by: David Mitton.
Aured: UK: 30 May1989. AUS: 20 June 1991.

Winter arrives early in Bigg City Port, and so does the big fog that comes with it. It was much more difficult to navigate through fog in these years, due to the tugs having neither a radio nor radar.

One night, Big Mac is travelling back home to the Star Dock, after working with Scuttlebutt Pete, who has been telling him ghost stories. The fog makes everything seem very spooky. Just then, Big Mac sees some tugs – silent, white tugs that appear to be ghosts. Big Mac thinks it’s the ghost tugs Scuttlebutt Pete told him about while working. Big Mac rushes home, and while reluctant at first, tells the others. The tugs make great fun of Big Mac.

The next morning, the tugs still make fun of Big Mac. He wishes he hadn’t told them now.

That night, on Warrior’s way back to port, some shrimpers are using him a guide. Suddenly, Warrior sees a mud-bank, and swerves just in time. But the shrimpers can’t react in time and end right upon the mud-bank. Then, Warrior sees the Ghost Fleet too.

Further away, Izzy Gomez is about to attempt to get into port free, using the fog as cover. Zorran comes across Izzy and taunts him about it. He then leaves Izzy. Up ahead, Zorran sees two lights in the mist that he thinks is another tramper needing a tow – but it turns out to be the Ghost Fleet. Meanwhile, Izzy Gomez has started away on his own. Before long, he too sees the ghosts. A frightened Zorran has traveled right round in a circle, and ends running straight into Izzy’s side. A desperate Izzy, wanting to get into port away from the ghosts, offers Zorran to tow him for any price. Zorran though, also scared, says he will tow him in free as he needs some company on the way back to the port.

O.J. is also on the way back to port, after escorting two trampers out to sea. He takes a shortcut through the inlet where old cranes are kept. The fog makes everything look very creepy. Suddenly, Scuttlebutt Pete raises his dredger out of the water, startled by O.J., while O.J. is startled by Scuttlebutt Pete. O.J. soon continues on – and sees the Ghost Fleet pass right on by.

Top Hat is now travelling home after a long day. He is suddenly startled – but merely by a steam train crossing the rail bridge. The fog and all, it would seem, is getting to Top Hat’s nerves as well. Upon steering between two idle trampers, Top Hat sees the Ghost Fleet, and docks behind a tramper to hide, thinking he is miles from home.

Ten Cents and Sunshine are taking fuel to Lillie Lightship, but it’s hard-going. Just then, they hear a strange cracking noise. To add to that, the Ghost Fleet arrives. And further still, an old galleon slowly rises from the water. Lightning strikes it allover, several times, and a freakish face appears in the sky, of which Sunshine observes looks like King Neptune. The two tugs clear the scene in terror.

Next morning, Grampus finds Top Hat. As Grampus spits out some water, it happens to go onto Top Hat’s face, waking him up with a start. Top Hat shouts for the ghosts to go away, and then sees Grampus, telling him he must have been dreaming. Grampus makes great fun of Top Hat for mooring there, as he is only “500 yards from the Star Tugs Pier.”

Top Hat heads over to the pier, and tells the others all about what he saw. O.J. mentions how Ten Cents and Sunshine encountered the rotten galleon as well as the ghosts. Top Hat continues to go on and on about his own incident. Hercules, just arriving back, hears the commotion, and calmly asks what the problem is. The tugs tell Hercules all about the Ghost Fleet. Hercules, smiling widely, explains. “They’re the White Fleet, down here from Northern waters, on the trail of an iceberg. These tugs sail at times with engines off, listening for cracking ice. There was a wooden galleon frozen in this iceberg, which must have melted in our warmer water. That’s why you saw the old vessel bob up to the surface.” However, Hercules shrugs off Sunshine’s belief that he might have seen Neptune’s face.

And just then, Burke and Blair tow the old galleon by. The Star Tugs can only laugh at their mistakes. But they never forgot the fog that nearly sent them crazy.

I've got to say, this episode was very scary and hilarious. Thinking that the White Fleet were ghosts, considering they were white. 'eck, even Top Hat the Railway Tug was scared of them. To the point of Grampus spitting water on him the next morning!

Also, Zorran being scared was quite hilarious too, even if he's the Diesel of TUGS.  Izzy Gomez trying to get into port for free and getting scared was funny.

And that mist form of King Neptune was epic! And 10 Cents' expression was hilarious.

Luckily, it was Hercules who told the truth about the "Ghost Fleet". Proves he is the Edward of TUGS.

My rating: 10/10.

TUGS scorecard:

1. Sunshine: 10/10.

2. Pirates: 9/10.

9. Ghosts: 10/10.

Series so far: 9.7/10.

TUGS E02: Pirate

Time I did another review on Thomas the Tank Engine's sister series, TUGS. This time, the second episode.

(Special thanks to the TUGS Wikia for the image)

2. Pirate.

Written by: Tarquin Cardona.
Aired: UK: 11 April 1989. AUS: 11 June 1991.

Engineering parts need to be taken to Scuttlebutt Pete, the dredger, so he can start work early. Ten Cents is ordered to take on the job, as he is the first tug to return to the Star Dock. He delivers the barge loaded with goods, and after encountering Zip and Zug, moors the barge – noticing a mysterious figure moving in an old warehouse.
That foggy night, a stranger to the port steals Ten Cents' barge.
Zip and Zug discover it is missing the next morning, and are sure that Ten Cents has stolen it. They head out to tell Captain Star, who tells them how he has already received a complaint from the client. He then speaks sternly to Ten Cents about the matter. Ten Cents tried to explain that he had delivered the parts, but Captain Star sends him to do dredger detail as punishment.
As Ten Cents is working with Scuttlebutt Pete, Grampus, the midget submarine, pops up. He says how he has heard the whole story, which Ten Cents certainly does not find amusing. Zak and Zebedee happen to come by and taunt Ten Cents. Sunshine, who has just arrived, informs Ten Cents he has to do more work for the Z-Stacks, which is part of the punishment. Ten Cents must tow an oil barge. After more taunting from Zak and Zebedee, he heads off, annoyed.
That night, Grampus can not sleep due to the loud music coming from the Bridge Café Band, and goes out for a nosey round the harbour. He encounters an unknown tug, who stole the barge the previous night, which Ten Cents was blamed for. Grampus sees he is stealing Ten Cents' oil barge, and worries who it could be. Through the night, even more barges disappear.
The next morning, a big meeting is held between the Star Fleet and the Z-Stacks at The Star Dock, on how to try and catch the “Pirate”. Captain Star and Captain Zero have come up with a plan, which will see all the tugs going out in pairs, to camp out in designated areas, and try and spot and nick the Pirate.
Meanwhile, Grampus is searching where he lost the Pirate the night before. He sees an old warehouse that hasn't been used for years and goes inside. The “Pirate” tug is being ordered by two sinister, green-eyed tugs to steal another barge. He must do so to keep his uncle from being scuttled. Grampus sees everything, luckily not being spotted.
That night, Captain Star and Captain Zero’s big plan is put into action. Top Hat is paired with Warrior, which he is not in the least satisfied.
Ten Cents and Sunshine are paired together also. Sunshine is comforting Ten Cents' feelings. Suddenly, Grampus emerges and warns them of what he had seen. Their so called “Pirate” is a tugboat called Sea Rogue, who is forced into stealing the barges. Ten Cents and Sunshine are very surprised.
Also paired are Zip and Zug, who see Ten Cents and Sunshine leaving their posts with Grampus, out to find Sea Rogue, but think they are out to steal barges. Zip and Zug then follow.
The green-eyed tugs then plan their escape, putting out lightships, lighthouses, and covering up bell buoys to remain undetected.
Meanwhile, Sea Rogue is found by Ten Cents and Sunshine. He explains about his uncle. They come up with a big plan to capture the villains.
Zip and Zug find the old warehouse and are chased out by the green-eyed tugs. Grampus goes to save Sea Rogue’s uncle. Ten Cents, Sunshine and Sea Rogue take the chance to charge the villains, and put their green lights out once and for all. Warrior sees that something is going on. Not paying attention, he bumps into the flare barge, causing it to go off. 

The next morning, a slightly singed Warrior and Top Hat take the villains away, Grampus goes off for a nice rest, and Sea Rogue and his uncle head for home. Hercules tells Ten Cents and Sunshine that they did a good job and that Captain Star is sorry for not believing Ten Cents about the missing barges. Zip and Zug are nearby, and they boast to Ten Cents and Sunshine that nothing scares them. Zug then clumsily bumps into a flare barge behind him, and both he and Zip runs away in fright, which Ten Cents and Sunshine find a great joke.

Well, a nice way to continue the series with a funny belief that Sea Rogue was a pirate, but only to be revealed he was doing things for pirate tugs with glowing green eyes so they'd free his uncle, an old looking tug. And it was cool to show underwater scenery too, especially from Grampus' point of view.

My rating: 9/10.

TUGS scorecard:

1. Sunshine: 10/10.

2. Pirates: 9/10.

Series so far: 9.5/10.



TUGS E01: Sunshine

Thought I'd have a go at reviewing TUGS. For those of you who don't know what TUGS was, TUGS was a British children's TV show about 2 rival tugboat companies. There is the Star Fleet, (a.k.a. the Star Tugs) tugboats with yellow structures and red smokestacks with a star. There is also the 0 Fleet, (a.k.a. the Z-Stacks), tugboats with maroon structures and black smokestacks with a circle. One interesting fact about this show is that it was made by Robert Cardona and the late David Mitton, 2 of the people who brought Thomas the Tank Engine to TV. So, how does TUGS stack up? (no pun intended) Let's start by reviewing......

1. Sunshine.

Written by: Gloria Tors.

Aired: UK: 4 April 1989. AUS: 10 June 1991.

The series starts with the narrator giving an introduction to the Star Fleet. During the briefing, Captain Star informs the tugs that a small harbour switcher called Sunshine from up river is coming to help the Star Fleet. He also announces that they are to tow in the Duchess, the grand ocean liner. Captain Zero and his Z-Stacks soon find out about this and they make a plan to snag the contract. Hercules, the largest and strongest tug, is suddenly called away for a job up the coast, which will take him all day. The Z-Stacks take this to their advantage, as Zorran orders Zip and Zug to put Big Mac, the second strongest tug, out of action by pushing him onto a mud-bank. Meanwhile Ten Cents and Sunshine do small duties including delivering fuel to Sally Seaplane, until they are ordered by O.J. to search for Big Mac. They find him stranded and are told to take his place to dock the liner. When the Stars tow in the Duchess, the Z-Stacks watch carefully. Zorran sees his chance and bumps Sunshine hard, sending him flying into the Duchess' rudder. The Star Fleet doesn't see this, and only with the help of Zorran are they able to get the liner back into control. Sunshine feels bad, and he runs away from the port.
The Z-Stacks are pleased with their plan, and they think they will get the contract. The Star Fleet are cross with Sunshine, but Ten Cents sticks up for him and decides to look for him. On his search, he meets Izzy Gomez the tramp steamer. Izzy tells him that it was Zorran who hit Sunshine. Ten Cents then returns to the Star Dock, informs the rest of the Star Fleet and they all go looking for him. They find him in danger of sinking upon a mud-bank. They persuade him to go back home with them, so Sunshine agrees. Warrior suddenly remembers he was supposed to give Izzy Gomez a tow and rushes off to find him.
When the truth is out, Captain Zero yells at his fellow Z-Stacks (excluding Zebedee and Zug) at the Zero Dock. Captain Star tells the Star Fleet that they have learned that they shouldn't jump to conclusions before knowing the truth, and he also tells them that he has decided to make Sunshine a member of the Star Fleet.


Now, before I give away my fully fledged thoughts on this episode, let me observe the characters, and how much like certain Thomas characters they are.


10 Cents - Thomas the Tank Engine. Both serve as the main characters of their respective franchises and are number 1.


Big Mac - Gordon. Both are big and strong.


O.J. - Toby. Both are old, wise and careful as can be.


Top Hat - James. Both are big-headed and upper-class and don't like dirty work.


Warrior - Henry. Both are big, strong and can be somewhat accident prone.


Hercules - Edward. Both are kind and helpful.


Sunshine - Percy. Both are small and perky.


Zorran - Diesel. Both serve as the main bad guys, considering how devious they are.


Zebedee - Arry. Both, even though devious, can accept help from their rivals sometimes.


Zak - Bert. Same as Zebedee and Arry respectively.


Zug: Splatter, Dodge, Bash, Dash, Bill and Ben. All 7 are mischievious.


Zip: Same as Zug.


Sally - Daisy. Both are highly sprung and quite up-to-date.


Capt'n Star - Fat Controller. Both are in charge of their tug boat fleet and railway respectively.


Well, this was most certainly a grand way to start a grand series. When Zorran bumped into Sunshine, he started to think he earned the contract, thinking nobody had seen him, and unbeknownst to him, Izzy was watching the whole thing. Great moral of this story. Don't jump to conclusions. And I like the quote that Capt'n Zero gave to his Zero Fleet. "Sorry! Sorry! I don't want to hear! Get out of my sight, all of you!"


Anyway, David and Robert did wonders in creating this series.

My rating: 10/10.

TUGS scorecard:

1. Sunshine: 10/10.

Series so far: 10/10.