Henry Spots Trouble (Thomas & Friends)
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| "Henry Spots Trouble" | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 This episode is more trouble than it's worth.
| ||||||||||||||||
|
Henry Spots Trouble is the fourth episode of the nineteenth series.
Plot
After seeing Sir Topham Hatt's children get chickenpox, Henry worries he'll get chickenpox too.
Why It Spots More Trouble
- As usual for Seasons 12-19, Henry is depicted as overly timid and fearful, particularly of contracting chickenpox, despite the fact that he, as an engine, should be aware that he is immune to such illnesses. However, this characterization feels repetitive and unnecessary here, in contrast to Seasons 17-19, where it was presented in a more empathetic and reasonable light, similar to the redundancy seen in Seasons 12-16.
- Not bad as the S12-16, It has the 3 strikes formula, showing 3 engines getting covered in spots and getting Henry scared.
- The notorious scene involves Henry reversing with a full passenger train, risking the passengers' safety and narrowly avoiding a collision with James coming from the opposite direction.
- The scene where Sir Topham Hatt tears his pants, revealing his underwear, seems quite misplaced and unsuitable for Thomas & Friends.
- Such slapstick humor may be fitting and funny for shows like SpongeBob SquarePants or The Fairly OddParents, which are rated TV-Y7, but for Thomas & Friends, which carries a TV-Y rating, it is unexpectedly jarring.
- It's completely illogical for Henry to assume that Thomas and Paxton have chickenpox, given that their spots aren't red; Thomas is covered in mud, and Paxton in soot.
- Plot hole: When Diesel blasts Paxton in the face with fumes, how does his face just get spots, and why isn't his entire face covered in soot?
- When Henry screams upon seeing Gordon covered in paint spots, it comes across as grating and not humorous, particularly in the US dub where Kerry Shale's higher-pitched voice contrasts with Keith Wickham's.
- This episode treats Chickenpox as if it's not a big deal and that only children can get it when people could still get it if they are older which resulted in this episode getting banned in Australia, thus making it the only Thomas episode to date to ever get banned.
- Even though Henry gets over his fear of Chickenpox in the end he becomes afraid of measles after Paxton makes a joke about it, thus Davey Moore undoing Henry's development.
- Characters such as Thomas, Paxton, and Gordon serve solely as narrative mechanisms to activate Henry's fears.
- Henry does not face consequences for jeopardizing his passenger train, and Diesel does not receive retribution for smearing Paxton with soot.
Redeeming Qualities
- Despite being out of place, Sir Topham Hatt ripping his pants is a clever reference to the SpongeBob episode "Ripped Pants"
- All the characters (Except for Henry and Diesel, though the latter is meant to be unlikeable) are still likable in the episode and think more logically than Henry does.
- Even though it's completely ridiculous, it is a little bit understandable why Henry is afraid of chickenpox since he's never seen it before.
- The Remix of Henry's sad theme that plays sounds good.
- Despite Henry sounding annoying when he screams the voice acting is still well done.
- Some funny moments like the painter accidently spilling paint on the tracks which is what gets Gordon covered in paint.
Reception
This is one of the most poorly received episodes of the Brenner era, scoring a 5.1/10 on IMDb for its portrayal of Henry and Unlucky Tug in particular also pointing it out for portraying Henry as a coward.
Trivia
This episode was banned in Australia due to it making it seem as if it conveys an anti-vaccination message, though it can still be watched on DVD. This is the only Thomas episode to ever get banned.
Videos
Comments
Loading comments...