ThomasNATION Classic Reviews - Emily and the Special Coaches
January 18, 2025
Every story, like a railway, has its heroes. And the railways on Sodor have many. Some heroes are hard working and strong like Henry. Some are young and sweet like Percy. Some are wise and kind like Edward. And some are undoubtedly loyal like Thomas. Yes, Sodor has many heroes...but what is a hero without a villain? Enter the devious fella himself, Diesel. Diesel is...well, a diesel. A diesel shunter, to be exact. Proudly the first diesel to run on Sodor rails. Once he was brought to Sodor to be trialed in the big yard, Diesel caused trouble and was sent away...and then brought back...and sent away again...and then again...and then brought back and...wait, no, he's a Sodor resident now. He is rather proud of what he is and sees himself above the clapped-out steam engines. He believes he is revolutionary and when others don't agree with him or he believes that they have wronged him in some way, he pulls strings in the shadows, manipulates others and schemes to pay them out. Yes, he's truly earned his nickname "Devious Diesel". But if we close at this seemingly bad guy, is there really a heart of gold under all that gruff and grime? Well, let's find out on the day that Gordon was to receive a reward for setting a new record for pulling the express that our friendly emerald Stirling Single herself Emily is collecting with Diesel hot on her tender as we recount the hidden gem tale of "Emily and the Special Coaches"!
EMILY AND THE SPECIAL COACHES: Diesel sets a brand new record, and so does Gordon. However, his record does not even get noticed, so Diesel takes away two special passenger carriages, which Emily was supposed to collect.
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But speaking of those few good stories that play with the usual tropes, I really like the continuity between some of the episodes this season. Considering that the HiT Era is mostly episodic and shied away from serialized storytelling like the earlier seasons did, it's pretty cool that there is some continuity across episodes this time. For example, Gordon tries to beat his speed record in "It's Good to be Gordon", but he gives it up to help Henry and loses his chance. In my opinion, this would've been an absolute perfect episode had they not retconned Henry needing "special coal" as we all know that his Kipper crash cured that once and for all. Is that retconned by the blooper where Henry's tender explodes? But that's a story for another day. However, in the same season, we get the episode "Emily and the Special Coaches" where we find out that Gordon did eventually break his record off screen and is being rewarded with coaches for it. If you ask me, if they really wanted to square off the continuity with a neat bow, they could have showed Gordon pulling these for the rest of the season. But I digress.
Now, you might be wondering - where does Diesel come into the picture here? Well, let me explain. Emily and the Special Coaches is the episode where Gordon does officially break his speed record and is going to be rewarded with his own rake of coaches painted in his own colors of which Emily is to go collect. She runs into Diesel who upon hearing of Gordon getting a reward for his record tries to tell her of his own news, but she doesn't want to hear it. Diesel, being Diesel, gets vengeful and gets back at her by taking the coaches before Emily can get to them thus sending her on a wild goose chase across Sodor to get them back which makes for a fun little montage. At the end of the second act, once Emily finally catches up after all the rushing around has worn out Diesel's old engine, Emily questions what's going on with him and that's when Diesel finally reveals to her that he only took the coaches because, like Gordon, he also broke a record. A shunting record. He says he's shunted more trucks in one day than any other diesel. But because he's a diesel and not a shiny steam engine that is celebrated, no one cares or notices.
There was definitely a bit of Flanderisation with Diesel in the Model Era, but "Emily and the Special Coaches" was a nice change-up in Diesel's portrayal as we were seeing a more sympathetic side of him; that being his side of the story that we never really get focus on. Again, this is a story that had all the potential to be another run-of-the-mill type but was made all the better for subverting a trope and that is why "Emily And The Special Coaches" is not only my second favorite episode of the "drawn out" Season 10, but one that I can proudly give a rating of a perfect 5/5. I guess what they say about Diesel later in "The Great Race" is true. He really is full of surprises.
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