ThomasNATION Reviews - Thomas and the Royal Engine
June 26, 2020
Hey all, JF here, and now that we’ve discussed what is so far the worst episode of Season 24, let’s look on the brighter side.
The Royal Engine, or if we’re going by its full name, Thomas and the Royal Engine, is the other Thomas special released this year, following Marvellous Machinery. But you know how I feel towards Marvellous Machinery, it’s hands down the worst of the new specials. But after that mess, how does The Royal Engine hold up? Let’s begin.
The episode is about Sir Topham Hatt being invited to London to accept an award for his service to the railway, and per Prince Charles’ request, he has to be taken by Thomas. However, after a wrong turn, everything seems to be going awry for the pair en route to Buckingham Palace. That is, until, Thomas meets a mysterious engine named Duchess, who is more important than she may seem.
I’m gonna spare no time. I love this episode. One thing that I really have to admire is its use of references to past Thomas works. There’s a ton of references here that really solidifies its position as the 75th anniversary special. There’s even some towards some really obscure Thomas works, such as a direct quote from Thomas and the Magic Railroad, there’s a shoutout to Gordon being built in Doncaster, and even a reference to the cancelled episode Gordon Goes Foreign! There’s a few callbacks as well, such as the mention of Henry’s rebuild in Crewe, that also work well in rewarding hardcore fans for sticking with them for so long.
I also really like the journey itself, since it really feels like a wild ride through England. In a way, the episode feels a lot like Lady Hatt’s Birthday Party from Season 5, right down to Sir Topham taking over as Thomas’ fireman. One of the episode’s funniest moments is the run-in with Beresford, which leads to a nice callback to Journey Beyond Sodor, and unlike that film, at least gives him a purpose to be in the story. There, he only really exists to pad out the running time, whereas here, he points Thomas in the right direction, and the mistake Thomas makes is crucial to the plot.
In fact, one of the most interesting characters to talk about here is Duchess of Loughborough. I absolutely love the way she’s meant to be introduced as a bit of a jerk towards Thomas which in itself is a nice reversal of the typical cliche, but all that was due to a misunderstanding, which is a nice subversion of the old trope of grand engines looking down upon little engines; not to mention how she delivers a great performance from Rosamund Pike. She’s a likable character and I hope to see more of her in the future. Even the appearance from the Queen makes for a satisfying conclusion, and a good voice cameo from (get this) Sharon Miller.
However, there is one spot of criticism I have with this episode, and this is more of a nitpick than anything, and that’s Prince Charles’ line at the end about Thomas going across the world and teaching others to care for the environment. It’s not a terrible line, but it’s pretty evident that it was thrown in by the executives at Mattel and not from Michael White. But again, this is just a small nitpick, and it doesn’t harm the episode in any way.
To conclude, Thomas and the Royal Engine feels like a true celebration of Thomas and Friends as a whole and possibly the best of the new specials. I highly recommend you watch this episode in any way you can. It’s a great anniversary special up there with The Adventure Begins, and that’s why I give it a 4.5/5.
Final Rating: 4.5/5
About the Author: JF the LOLZOR
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