Feature: Recap on Episode Sixteen of Season Sixteen

The final run of Thomas & Friends' Sixteenth Series started this Monday for another four episodes on Channel 5 milkshake!, Britain.

Breaking away again from The Steam Team core format was Whiff in his own story entitled, Whiff's Wish.

It involved the aforementioned engine to collect rubbish trucks that are blocking the rail lines. However Whiff is teased beforehand at the Docks by Spencer, making Whiff wishing to be more grander than him.

With them two joining in, other characters provided speaking parts to the piece. The Fat Controller, The Mayor of Sodor, Percy, Emily, Edward and Farmer McColl all contributed.

A number of cameos occured at the first half minute showing Rosie, Charlie, Salty and Henry working. Gordon, Toby, Mavis, James and Thomas were also presented.

A very brief shot saw James, Emily and Edward passing by on the Sodor Supension Bridge which made its return in the animation fold. Wellsworth Yards behind the latter location's station reprised itself in the last scene.

The episode attracted mixed to negative reviews with the main concern having Whiff falling to the personality disorder. Fans thought that the story would have best suited another engine like Rosie or Percy.

Another set of complaints mentioned that the whole episode was a part rehashing of Dream On from the Eleventh Series. The tale also fell victim to the three strikes formula from Andy Bernhardt's script.

The idea of rubbish trucks ready to have been collected from the lines instead of sidings broke the major rules of Health of Safety on the railway which did not go down too well in responses.
 
Scenes of Emily and Percy stopping on the main lines were again affected by railway realism not turning up. The end of Sir Topham and The Mayor standing in the guards compartment of an express coach proved a poor reaction.
 
Despite this, delights were in order especially during the show's start and major highlight mentioning Henry pulling The Flying Kipper which hadn't been seen or heard since the Fifth Series' Something in the Air story.

A message of what the Sodor engines' jobs were created a lukewarm reception, leading to praise of Nitrogen Studios' reveal of their Sodor Suspension Bridge. The CGI company won more pointers for The Fishing Village recurring.

TheTopHatts gives Whiff's Wish...

4/10

Season Sixteen of Thomas & Friends will return for one more day in Australia on ABC2 during Christmas 2012 with the episode, The Christmas Express. 

 

Channel 5 in the UK airs the next episode on their milkshake! slot on Tuesday March 13th 2012 at 7:35am with Welcome Stafford. The Christmas Express will also air in Britain in Christmas 2012.

For a full list of the scheduling, visit the Dieselworks Turntable Roundhouse on the right hand sidebar for more details.

WATCH 'WHIFF'S WISH' ON YOUTUBE

 

Thanks to Thomas & Friends Wikia for information and images.

What did you think of this episode? Send your reaction in the comments section just under this post for your verdict.