Thomas and the Big Bang (Thomas & Friends)

Thomas and the Big Bang is the tenth episode of the eleventh series

"Thomas and the Big Bang"
"Skarloey and Rheneas think this very funny, Skarloey and Rheneas? Where? Oh, it's the childish imposters.
Series: Thomas & Friends Part of Season: 11 Episode Number: 14 Air Date: 9 September 2007 (UK) 21 October 2007 (US) Writer: Abi Grant Director: Steve Asquith Previous episode: "Thomas and the Lighthouse" Next episode: Smoke and Mirrors

Why It's not a Big Bang

1. For starters, this episode portrays Thomas and the narrow-gauge engines causing accidents as fun and games when playing practical jokes on one another, which could send the wrong message to young viewers, suggesting that accidents are harmless and entertaining.
2. Skarloey and Rheneas, who were usually depicted as wise and mature engines in seasons 4-7 of the classic series, have their characters butchered like usual in these seasons by acting like children, finding the damage they cause amusing. This is another example of the poor characterization in Seasons 9-12, where established characters behave inconsistently with their previous depictions.
   • Even though Thomas wasn't officially flanderized yet, he is also extremely unlikable in this episode because he actively participates in and encourages the reckless behavior, not to mention he was technically the one who started it.
   • Sir Handel and Rusty weren't doing anything to try and stop the others from causing chaos.
3. The episode follows the infamous "three-strikes, you're out" formula, but poorly executes it. Instead of learning from their mistakes after three incidents, the engines repeatedly engage in dangerous behavior without realizing their errors until after causing significant damage. The incidents are as follows:
   • Thomas blows his new whistle loudly, scaring Rheneas, who then knocks his trucks off the pilings.
   • Thomas whistles loudly again, this time scaring Rusty, who is pulling trucks full of bricks, leading to another accident.
   • The engines decide to scare Sir Handel, who is pushing flour trucks. They hide and peep at him, causing him to bash his trucks and get covered in flour.
   • Thomas then targets Peter Sam, who is shunting flatbeds of timber. After the engines whistle at him, Peter Sam pushes his flatbeds so hard that the timber crashes through some oil drums and splashes into the canal. This final incident shows just how irresponsible and reckless their behavior has become.
4. Plot hole: How did the numerous workmen not see any of this nonsense happening?
5. The episode rehashes elements from "Percy's New Whistle" from Series 8, but in a much worse way. Instead of one character being involved, multiple engines are in on the joke, and the episode ends up teaching even more bad morals than the one it copies, making it a lazy rehash.
6. Multiple goofs:

• The narrator says that Rusty puffed into the wharf and also steamed around it, but Rusty is a diesel. He also says that the little engines blew their whistles, but Rusty has a horn.
• When Peter Sam derails, he bursts through the buffers and comes off the track, but in the next scene, the rails continue to the edge of the wharf.
• In the scene where the little engines play a trick on Peter Sam, Skarloey has Rheneas' whistle sound.
• Peter Sam is wearing Duncan's happy face mask near the end.
• In the US dub, Michael Brandon's voice cracks when he says "PEEP!" when Thomas blows his whistle at Rusty.

Redeeming Qualities

1. Thomas and the Narrow Gauge Engines did get their repercussions for all the damage they caused.
2. Mr Percival is likable in this episode, and Peter Sam is also okay.

Trivia

• Going by production order, this is the nineteenth episode of the eleventh series.
• This is the third occasion in which James has spun on a turntable. The first was in first series episode, Tenders and Turntables and the second was in the third series episode, Buzz, Buzz.
• The US dub of the episode was never released on home media.
• When Rusty says, "You look like a ghost!" the footage is sped up.
• The title is a reference to "The Big Bang," a phenomenon that occurred billions of years ago that is believed to have created the universe, even the show "The Big Bang Theory."
• This marks the only appearance with a few things:
  • The only eleventh series episode featuring the narrow gauge engines not to be featured on Engines and Escapades.
  • The only appearance of Rheneas' smirking face mask on his large scale model.
• From this episode and onwards, because he is now permanently given a new whistle, Thomas' whistle is lowered thus placing it closer to his boiler.
• Starting from this episode until The Great Discovery, Rheneas' chuckling face has its teeth removed.
• The story's plot is quite similar to the eighth series episode, Percy's New Whistle.

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