ThomasNATION Reviews - Kenji on the Rails Again
July 04, 2020
Hey all, JF here, and let me tell ya, this is a good one.
If you recall my Marvelous Machinery review, I stated how Kenji was given very little screen time or purpose other than being a getaway vehicle at the end. But this episode is the one that gives him the starring role! But is Kenji capable of carrying a whole episode on his own? Let’s begin.
The episode begins with Ruth giving Kenji a battery pack, much akin to Stafford’s. After working on the railroad, he learns that he has to travel back to Japan, alone. He feels intimidated by this thought and tries to hide, so it’s up to Thomas to find him.
To begin, I like what they did with Kenji here. He’s portrayed as a kind and humble engine, but also nervous about travelling alone with nobody to keep him company. I also like the little detail of him bowing when he thanks Sir Topham Hatt, that’s a pretty nice detail. But of course, Kenji isn’t the biggest selling point of the episode for most fans. That jurisdiction goes to...
…the grand return of Hiro.
Yes, Hiro makes his grand return in the series and I absolutely commend Beaumont and Larson for verbally acknowledging the fact he’s from Japan, something the series was often pretty vague about. Sure, they technically did so in World of Tomorrow and maybe Hero of the Rails, but here that fact actually plays a role in the story. I also like the resolution they come to, which I won’t give away, but it’s a nice conclusion and it sets up an episode in which Thomas visits Japan, which I’d love to see.
However, there is one major criticism here: the pacing. The start of the episode moves at a very slow pace and can feel rather boring, and the conclusion is ridiculously rushed and feels like it’s over before it even begins. Another problem I have is that the story itself is pretty predictable as you can easily guess the solution to the conflict once it arrives. But that’s just a minor problem compared to the pace.
In short, Kenji on the Rails Again is a good episode. The pacing isn’t all that great, and the story’s a bit weak, but it’s still an enjoyable watch. I recommend checking it out in any way you can. And on that note, this episode earns a 4/5.
Final Score: 4/5
About the Author: JF the LOLZOR
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