Thomas The Tank Engine Review Seasons 1-21

Season 5

The fifth series of Thomas & Friends first aired on television in September 1998 in the UK. Everyone returned for another season. This time, With Series 5, the decision was made to write a full series of original, staff-written stories, instead of adapting anymore Railway Series books. One reason for this was producer Britt Allcroft's desire to create a theatrical Thomas the Tank Engine film and requested that director David Mitton show off his modelling skills. Series 5 also took on edgier and darker plot lines and included much more intense action and crashes. Some of these stories were based on real life events. With that all out of the way, let's review all 26 episodes of season 5.

Cranky bugs

Thomas and Percy enjoyed working in the docks. They like the sea air and the sound of the gulls. But one day, the friends were feeling hot and bothered. A crane was causing trouble. His name was Cranky and this was his first day at the docks. he didn't like the little engines telling him what to do, and to prove a point, Cranky banged his load down on the dockside. Later, the two engines met Gordon and James and told them about Cranky. the two engines tell Thomas and Percy that they should respect the crane since he is putting up with wind, rain and the baking sun. When Cranky heard that the big engines agreed with him, he grew bossier still. Percy was too upset to concentrate and pushed the trucks too far. Poor Percy! Then, Cranky played a trick on Thomas. He pushed the trucks on the outside line. But Cranky left the loads beside the trucks, not in them. This mix-up caused confusion and delay. The Fat Controller was most upset. he tells Thomas and Percy that they will go to their sheds and think how they can improve tomorrow. That evening, a big storm raged across the island. Cranky and the engines were trapped at the docks. Duck thinks they are going to be safe in the sheds. But he was wrong, the engines had no idea they were about to be put in great danger by an old tramp steamer. It was out of control and running a ground straight into the sheds. It crashes into the sheds leaving the engines trapped and Cranky stuck on the ground. When the storm was over, The Fat Controller rushed to the scene of the destruction. Cranky tells The Fat Controller that he is sorry for being rude to Percy and Thomas. The Fat Controller admits that he owns Thomas and Percy an apology. Thomas and Percy soon came to the rescue. And it wasn't too long before Cranky was upright again and clearing the wreckage. At last, all the engines were free. The engines thank Cranky, Cranky nearly calls Percy and Thomas bugs and Percy being cross, moves too far back and Cranky falls onto the ground again. Cranky still looks down at the two little engines. But ever since that stormy night, he never calls them "bugs" or "mites", because he knows they may might bite back.

Few points I would like to make

-Cranky- was a new character that was done right. Later seasons, they don't develop characters very well. Cranky is known to be rude, boastful and arrogant but when he falls down, he admits the truth and apologies in the end

-The ship crashing into the sheds was amazing

-Really good start for non Awdry/Christopher stories. That is how an episode should be

This episode gets an 9/10

Horrid lorry

It was a busy time at the docks. All the engines were working hard, pushing and pulling trucks about. One morning, Percy was late. Cranky the Crane was quick to criticize. Percy tells Cranky that there is too much work. Cranky suggests a lorry should help which makes Percy speechless. He told the other engines what Cranky had said. The engines don't believe Percy which makes him worried. What if a lorry does arrive. I'm afraid it did. Along with 2 more. Cranky was delighted and tells Percy that the lorries are taking over his jobs. The lorries were very rude to Percy. A little later, Percy met Thomas and James. Another lorry was being rude to them. Then he saw Percy and decides to be rude to him before driving away. Thomas and James agree that the lorries are horrid. The next engine to meet a lorry was Toby. The lorry claims that Toby should be in a museum and he should just Toodle off which makes Toby cross. Toby and his driver agree they should try and find work at the flour mill, but when they arrived at the flour mill, Toby was shocked to see yet another lorry. the lorry claims that he is taking over because he is too slow. Toby's driver tells Toby they will try the farms instead. Toby trundled sadly away. His railway ran through a narrow gorge. But vehicles had to tackle a steep and dangerous road. When Toby arrived, he saw the lorry from the quarry again. It was loaded with rock. The lorry falls off a cliff and crashes. The wrecked lorry was taken to the docks. Percy looked at the lorry and laughed. Then Butch the Breakdown Vehicle arrived. He was towing the lorry from the flour mill. He was overloaded and he broke down. Then James whistled excitedly and sees the 3rd lorry on a barge. Turns out he was reversing and he went straight into the sea. Later Thomas arrived. He looked at the 3 lorries and laughed. The lorries didn't return, and the engines now worked even harder to make sure they never will.