Thomas The Tank Engine Review Seasons 1-21

Season 8

The eighth series of Thomas & Friends was the first series produced entirely after HiT Entertainment's acquisition of Gullane Entertainment had completed. It was narrated by Michael Angelis in the UK. It first premiered on VHS and DVD in May 2004 before airing on television in August 2004 in the UK. This was the fresh start to the new brand of Thomas, the episodes would run for 7 minutes (not counting the opening and engine roll call), the main cast was reduced to the main eight engines and some side characters, the plots were simplified for younger audiences and the overall score was changed to fit this new style. Stephen Asquith took over David Mitton as director, Robert Hartshorne took over Micheal O' Donald and Junior Campbell as composer as well as song writer Ed Welch, Jan Page was replaced by Paul Larson and Abi Grant as story editors, while Sam Barlow was appointed as a script executive. With that all out of the way, let's review all 26 episodes of season 8.

Thomas and the Tuba

It is Lady Hatt's birthday, and a big party is being held at Maithwaite Station. A brass band is going to be playing and The Fat Controller asks Thomas to collect them. When Thomas arrives at Knapford with Annie and Clarabel, he is very excited that he accidently leaves the tuba player behind, and it is only when he arrives at Maithwaite that the band leader realises this. Embarrassed about what happened, Thomas goes to find him, unaware that the tuba player is at the bus stop under the railway bridge. Bertie takes the tuba player as far as he can. Thomas makes it back to Knapford, only to discover that the tuba player is not there. So, he looks for him around the island. Bertie drops him off at another bus stop, and then Elizabeth gives him a lift. Thomas, in such a rush looking for the tuba player, does not see Elizabeth with the tuba player, or hears the tuba player playing his tuba. Elizabeth takes the tuba player to the Windmill, where Trevor gives him a ride. Once again, Thomas is rushing about looking between trucks and coaches, and does not see or hear the tuba player aboard Trevor when he passes them. Thomas is looking around when he sees Percy shunting trucks of bunting. He applies his brakes, but it is too late. He crashes into Percy and sends bunting in the air. After Harvey arrives and Thomas tells him what happened, Harvey advises him to look and listen. So, taking Harvey's advice, Thomas searches more carefully and finally finds the tuba player aboard Trevor and then takes him to Lady Hatt's birthday party just in time.

Few points I would like to make.

- How is it that when Thomas reaches Maithwaite that the Band Leader realizes that one of their members is missing. Like weren't you paying attention when you all got on board at Knapford Station.

- What was the point of the Tuba player going to the bus stop when he could've waited for Thomas to return. Why did you have to travel on Bertie, Elizabeth and Trevor if they weren't going to take you to your destination.

- Thomas, why the fuck are you searching the whole island, the tuba player only wants to go to Maithwaite and even better, why the fuck are you searching near trucks and random coaches.

- Why is everyone so blind this episode. Thomas was rounding that bend and should've seen Elizabeth with the tuba player

This episode gets a 5/10

Percy's new Whistle

Whilst delivering trucks to the Quarry, Percy whistles to 'Arry and Bert, who laugh at Percy's whistle and claim that Diesels can do everything better than steam engines. Percy is determined to show the diesels that his whistle is better than their horns. As Percy puffs through the Countryside, he practices whistling loudly. Later, he goes back to the Quarry and sneaks up behind 'Arry and Bert. He blows his whistle, which startles the two diesels. Percy being cheeky, sets off again. Now that he has a super-loud whistle, Percy cannot wait to use it again. When he sees Thomas shunting trucks in a siding, he blows his whistle again. Thomas jumps forwards and biffs into his trucks, but Percy is too busy having fun to notice. Later, when he sees Bertie, Percy lets off another loud whistle, startling Bertie as he swerves across the road and into a snowy ditch, but Percy does not realise this either.