ThomasNATION Classic Reviews - A Surprise for Percy

February 21, 2026

I think it goes without saying that Season 5 of Thomas & Friends is a very Percy-centric season.  There are eight whole episodes where he takes the lead or plays a big part in, and that's not to mention all his appearances in other episodes.  I mean, the guy just kept getting more lead roles than his best friend Thomas did. But as for Percy himself, this fifth season showed the little green engine at his angriest with such angst and at his boiling point.  For seasons, he's been pushed around as the little guy of the railway, and he's finally had enough and claps back.  Most of Percy's stories this time all feature him as upset or unhappy with some facet of his life only to find himself at some crazy big obstacle that he has to overcome; most notably, getting stuck at a collapsing mine, chasing down a runaway train and heroically rescuing Toby from going over the falls.  He really takes command of that "littlest engines have the biggest adventures" trope that the series loves.  But at the same time, we also get sweet stories with Percy too like when he had to find a "good luck package" for Mrs. Kyndley's daughter's wedding or joining Thomas in saving Old Slow Coach from being scrapped or helping Maithwaite win the Best Dressed Station award.  Percy has such a big range this season alone and definitely had the most adventures of anyone on the cast to the point where I was so close to saying he was the character that truly defined Season 5 had I not gone with Sir Topham Hatt instead.  But speaking of those episodes where Percy was upset with something in his life, that's exactly what we'll be talking about today as we're in for "A Surprise For Percy"!


A SURPRISE FOR PERCY: Percy moans about his work in the coal mines and wants something exciting to happen. His wish comes unexpectedly true when a line of trucks breaks away from him on the hill, so he and Bertie must stop them.

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Over the years growing up on Thomas via tapes or the toys, I can say that I have had some pretty fun memories with this one especially when it came to re-enacting this episode's climax with the Wooden Railway or TOMY trains.  I mean, it's Season 5, so you know it's going to look and sound great.  But now, looking back on it as an adult fan, it seems like this episode really isn't that exciting to be perfectly honest.  It may just be one of the most mid episodes I've ever seen in the original series.  And while the plot is very simple, it can also be too simple for its own good.  While I do understand Percy's logic when it comes to doing the same thing over and over again which can become quite boring when it comes to him working in the coal mines feeling more like working in a factory than anything else, I do not understand Percy's logic when he says to Bertie that nothing exciting ever happens on Sodor.  Percy, what do you think happens in the previous or next story depending on what order you as a fan are watching this episode or season in?  What happens episodes from now?  Hell, what happens throughout a majority of this season alone?  And you're really just going to sit there and complain that absolutely nothing ever happens on Sodor? Come on, man.

As if Percy's confusing logic didn't make this episode already feel mid enough, I also don't get the climax.  What is the purpose of Sir Topham Hatt and Bertie being there during the runaway?  First of all, Sir Topham Hatt doesn't even do anything when they reach where they need to be.  Also, how much time would it have taken for him to get in his car and drive down to the hill where the trucks were?  And what, did Bertie just so happen to have the workmen and their wooden blocks with him?  Because they never mentioned that since they just show up out of nowhere.  And what world do we live in where a bus or a car is faster than an engine?  I mean, Bertie is a bus and buses are not really known for moving quickly. 

So yeah, I think it goes without saying, "A Surprise for Percy" is not the best Percy centered story I've seen in any era.  But you know, it's also certainly not the worst one either.  I'm personally just not a huge fan of this one anymore with how by-the-numbers and truly forgettable it is.  If you watch the rest of the season and left this episode out, you wouldn't be missing anything and that's why I'm going to be ranking this one in the middle with a 2.5/5.

Final Rating: 2.5/5

About the Author: True Blue

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