My future with Thomas and Friends

Welcome to my first blog post for 2019, everyone! Hope you all had a merry Christmas.

This time, I am going to say how I feel about Thomas the Tank Engine now.

As you all know, I am mixed on Season 22. There were some good episodes, like Hunt the Truck (I was hoping Boco would return in that one, but I guess you can't have it all), An Engine of Many Colours, Outback Thomas, Thomas' Animal Ark, What Rebecca Does, Counting on Nia, and School of Duck. There were some mediocre at best episodes like Banjo and the Bushfire (I was personally hoping that Banjo would be a bear to reference Banjo-Kazooie, but he was actually a bear-like marsupial known as a koala), Numbuh One Engine, Forever and Ever, and Trusty Trunky, and even some atrocious episodes like Thomas Goes to Bollywood, Thomas in the Wild, Thomas and the Monkey Palace (And this is coming from a monkey lover), The Water Wheel, and the ever-so-appalling, putrid, rancid, toxic, anger-inducing atrocity Apology Impossible, which proves that the series has been on for too long!

I have been looking through all the tweets on Twitter, comments on rants about Thomas' revamp, and even comments on the episodes. I have been looking very deep into those comments and realised how many people have been taking the series so seriously. It made me realise I've been taking the series for granted too. Just like how I've been taking The Simpsons for granted (Trust me. I've given up on that series after that Apu controversy).

And here is the announcement I'm going to make. It's going to shock a lot of you.

After reading what Season 23 is going to be like, having an episode in Italy (regardless of how exciting that might be to you guys), and more episodes in China, India, and Australia, I've made the real decision.

I am not going to be watching anymore future episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine ever again. Not for the sake of any of you, but for the sake of not adding so much stress on my life. That's it.

I did plan on reviewing episodes of Season 23, but after I made this realisation and done my research, I decided, stuff it! I'm not reviewing that season.

One of my main problems with the newest series is the Around the World episodes. Most of them are really pointless. Thomas went around the world in Big World! Big Adventures!, so why is he travelling around the world again? And they're focusing too much on animals.

Next problem. Where's the variety? Why is Thomas travelling to Australia, India, and China again? He's seen those parts of the world already!

What does Fat Controller think of Thomas travelling the world again? Wouldn't he think that overkill?

And also, who is doing Thomas' work while he's away in China, India, Australia, wherever else in the world? He can't just leave his work and get back to it once his international adventures are over!

Or better yet, why not make a spinoff just focusing on the international engines?

It's too much for a small 6 wheel tank engine to do all of this! Thomas has already travelled the world! He's seen the world already! So this series shouldn't even exist!

We all know that this series does exist for one reason. Mattel's fake reason being "A kid said "Thomas never goes anywhere"". I'm calling it fake because I doubt that kid even exists. Besides, if Thomas never went anywhere, Thomas would just be stuck in the shed all the time, or stuck in a siding all the time. That would be downright boring to watch.

And another problem with this series. I've been feeling this way since Andrew Brenner took over as head writer. And it sucks that he's left the series, and that Season 23 will be his last season with the show. I've been feeling that many Thomas fans have been taking the series for granted. Overexcited to see characters like Terence, Bulgy, Duck, Oliver, Daisy, Donald, Douglas, etc. return to the series. It's great that they're back in the series, but do we really need to be this crazy about it?

I've been feeling that many fans are forgetting what they really did like about Thomas in the first place. Taking the series far too seriously, even forgetting it's a children's series.

And also, I feel people are overrating this series like Spongebob, Teen Titans Go!, Frozen, etc. Especially those people who are involved in that appalling Thomas Creator Collective! A series which I really hope will get cancelled soon!

What I've heard about Mattel is that we don't know what they'll do with Bob the Builder. And I heard they ended the ugly CGi Fireman Sam reboot (Thank goodness!). Probably because they want to focus more on Hot Wheels, Barbie, and even Big World! Big Adventures!. 

Also, I've been realising this for the last couple of years. A lot of people overrate certain things like this. Just about everything that gets made nowadays is all quantity over quality. Especially when it comes to Nickelodeon (Especially Spongebob and The Loud House (I still refuse to get into that series)), Cartoon Network (Especially Go!), The Simpsons, Family Guy, and even shows targeted towards small children. This is why I don't plan on having kids of my own, or if I do have kids of my own, I'll just expose them to what I grew up with and pretend they're from the present.

Speaking of TV, I'm only going to be using it to play video games from now on. There's mostly reality shows, talk shows, news reports, soap operas, and dimwitted commercials on TV nowadays. That's why I don't watch TV anymore. When it comes to entertaining myself by shows, I just watch whatever I want online nowadays.

So there you have it, folks. I am not going to be sticking around for future Thomas episodes, especially with the lack of variety in their international episodes and overuse of fantasy sequences (regardless of how funny they can be). But if you are going to be sticking around for future Thomas, that's fine by me, but don't expect me to.  Besides, I've had it up to here with Mattel's dimwitted marketing ideas (being the reason their sales are going down,  and the Trackmaster Push Alongs replacing Adventures may just as well be the final nail in the coffin for them). As a company, Mattel has lost my respect as a Thomas fan.

I'm just going to go back to Seasons 1-7, maybe a bit of Seasons 8-12, and Seasons 17-21. I am also going to be sticking with fanmade projects, like fanfictions and made up episodes. Plus, I have more interests apart from Thomas!

So there. I'm done. And this time, I mean it! I really do mean it this time.

Plans for 2019

As far as my blog has gone, I have done heaps of reviews and countdowns and thoughts blogs. I've been reviewing blogs related to Thomas the Tank Engine. I've been reviewing most of the specials, and all The Railway Series books. I even talked about the outdated argument about Thomas and the Magic Railroad. (Really! It's been 18 years! Get over it!)

Alright. Here are my plans for 2019:

- I'll be doing more reviews on Thomas the Tank Engine. I sure won't be doing anymore Season 22 reviews, that's for sure. After that atrocity, Apology Impossible.

- This is a possibility, but depending on how Season 23 of Thomas turns out, I don't know whether to review any aspect of it or not.

- I'll be continuing my reviews on TUGS. 

- On my Deviantart,  I'm planning to write more Codename Kids Next Door fan fictions in novel style. On my Deviantart and my Fanfiction. And I've been considering doing another Kids Next Door/Pokémon Crossover.  But it won't be a repeat of the one I did last year, but more or less like the one I did a few years ago. I'm baking up new ideas.

- I'm planning to do some parody chapter fan fictions. Of maybe Robotboy.

- I'll be writing more Thomas the Tank Engine fan fictions in novel style, after not writing any this year.

- On this blog, remember when I announced that I'd deleted my reviews on Codename Kids Next Door? Well, I'll be rereviewing the series.

Alright. Those are the plans I have so far for 2019. So until next year, farewell, Blogger!

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.

MSB S6E13: Making Magic + Season 6 overall + New series overall/so far

I'm here at last! I'm making magic with the sun at last! Mr. Ruhle is appearing in this series at last! I am going to wrap up my Magic School Bus Rides Again reviews once and for all! Well.... at least until it does get a 3rd season, or in my case, a 7th season. Does Season 2 (or in my case, Season 6) end on a high note? Blog, do your stuff!

78. Making Magic.
Topic: Sun.
Written by: Suzanne Bolch, John May & Mike McPhaden.
Released: 13 April 2018.

A field trip to the centre of the sun takes a dangerous detour when the school's safety-conscious principal Mr. Ruhle tags along.

Arnold's sneaking into Mr. Ruhle's office to see him on the phone. The trouble is, it's time to inspect The Magic School Bus.

Fiona is in a protection suit instead of swim clothes.

"Oh, Arnold! We know you'd rather stay at home today!"

As it turns out, the class won't be going to have fun in the sun as in go to the beach.

Fiona is going to be taking the class on a field trip to the sun.

Mr. Ruhle is inspecting The Magic School Bus, which is why its headlights are off.

Hopefully, Mr. Ruhle doesn't spot the pizza slice Ralphie left under the seat since October.

Who would've thought The Magic School Bus would have a mess-inator?

Bus doesn't look happy with Mr. Ruhle's final inspection.

But he's eager to go on a field trip. Should be exciting.

Arnold's nervous smile is funny.

But Mr. Ruhle is seeing a simulation now.

Come on! Ride on The Magic Space Station Bus!

But they let Mr. Ruhle into Outer Space!

It's funny that Arnold would cover himself in sunscreen, even though Ralphie pointed out that he's wearing a sun protective suit.

Yet Mr. Ruhle is enjoying himself. Having fun in the sun! Literally!

Arnold being the Mr Ruhle's captain is funny.

"According to my reesearch, it's plasma swirling around, getting sucked down toward the sun and getting pushed back up."

They're trying to grab Mr. Ruhle, but to no avail, due to the swirling plasma.

They managed to grab him.

He sure was having a blast! Literally!

Arnold thinks that Ms. Frizzle is joking about the bus' battery.

Minty gum she has.

Mr. Ruhle still thinks this is a simulation, so he's grading it.

It's funny that Dorothy Ann put on sun-related selections for Mr. Ruhle.

Arnold really admitted he's not Mr. Adventure.

Like the class didn't know before.

Dorothy Ann's worried.

Carlos is also worried.

 

 Wanda thinks Arnold is being so brave. Hmm... this sounds familiar.

The battery is dead!

The Magic School Bus has lost its power!

It is up to Arnold to power up this battery! To get the bus working again!

But Arnold is out of power too.

The battery actually made it!

And The Magic School Bus has regained its power!

 

Arnold made it! A group hug! Sounds a bit familiar in 2 ways.

Take this last chance! To be what they see!

As you can see, the sun helps the Earth in many ways. Power solar panels, evaporate water and make rain, and all kinds of things.

Keesha, Jyoti, Arnold, and Tim look cute when begging.

And Mr. Ruhle decided it's just a simulation.

Now let's find him some ice. He's burning.

"You know what, Arnold? After what you did today, for once, maybe you could stay home tomorrow. You've really earned a break."

But Arnold is fully charged. He is willing to go anywhere now!

The sun also pulls the planets that circle it around it. That's why our Earth does just that.

The sun gives off ultraviolet rays. They can burn you, even when it's cloudy.

"Let's say I'm with you every day. In every test tube, science book, and Petri dish."

 And one last thing! Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!

We finally get to see Mr. Ruhle in this series. And in this series, he's voiced by Martin Roach. I can understand why they got Martin to voice him. Because Paul Winfield, who voiced Mr. Ruhle in the original series, passed on in 2004.

And who would've thought that Mr. Ruhle would enjoy this field trip? Thinking it's a simulation.

And boy did this episode show Arnold's true bravery. Charging the bus's battery back up, and risking himself to do it! He's even braver than he was in The Busasaurus.

Wanda considering Arnold's bravery reminds me of Phoebe fawning over him in said episode.


Well, this was a very epic way to learn about the sun, and how it can power things. And also the damage it can do to you. Blindness if you look at it, and it can burn you, or worse, give you skin cancer. And Arnold really risked himself, and developed completely, and now he's no longer afraid of going on field trips! And one more thing! Wahoo!!!!

My rating: 10/10.

Season 6 final thoughts:

I have to say! Season 2 (or Season 6 by my logic) was awesome! More interesting than Season 1 (or Season 5 by my logic), but the entertainment is on par with it! More interesting lessons, Carlos making more puns than ever, references galore, and even ended on a really high note! Very well done, Magic School Bus Rides Again! 

Season 5 episodes from least favourite to favourite:

8/10.
13. Send in the Clouds.

8.5/10.
12. Claw and Order.

9/10.
11. Ready, Set, Fail!
10. I Spy with my Animal Eyes.
9. Nothin' But Net.
8. Tim and the Talking Trees.
7. Ghost Farm.
6. Janet's Mystery Gene.

9.5/10.
5. Ralphie and the Flying Tennellis.
4. The Land Before Tim.

10/10.
3. The Good, The Bad, and the Gnocchi.
2. Making Magic.
1. Waste Not, Want Not.

Season 6 average score: 9/10.

Final score: 9.1/10.

And that's Season 2 (or in my case, Season 6), and in any case, The Magic School Bus Rides Again so far! It's been a wild ride so far!

Now, this brings me to the million dollar question. Do I want this series to get a 3rd season (or in my case, a 7th season)? Well, yes. Because there are some topics this series nor the original series haven't touched on.

But if it doesn't, I won't have a problem. Making Magic, with all the suspense it contains, really feels like a series finale. But we'll wait and see. So, from now on, I am going to continue to take chances, make mistakes, and get messy! And let Valerie Frizzle end it out for me:

WAHOO!!!!!!!

Well, I hope you enjoyed reading my reviews on these episodes!