Editor's note: The secret end text was meant to say 25.12.24 but I didn't realise the type until too late and by then I was tired and didn't want to export the whole video again just for that lol
It's okay Luke everyone makes mistakes and it's okay I wish you amazing luck with the great discovery and your amazing content love the entire video keep up the content
Its fine Luke. Btw The Great Discovery is hoing to turn into a fun review but dont forget that us fans had to deal with the sad fact both George Carlin and David Mityon passed away that same year. So perhaps have a section sharing your thoughts on the special dedicated to them and how it ended the full model run now without 2 of its past crew members?
22:58 Well you're not wrong, the troublesome trucks stories did teach good lessons about standing up to bullies, but Hector the Horrid is about why do rude people act the way they do.
Top Gear clips spliced with Thomas is a surprisingly good combination! Now we finally get to hear your thoughts on Hector, looking forward to this retrospective
The intro where the jet engine speeds past Gordon while the Unlucky Tug says “Thank you all to my loyal patrons” had me dying laughing 😂 This was an amazing upload, even if we technically knew what most of the video would be like from the content from Tug’s retrospective- However, you still brought a ton of new things to the table and overall made it much more unique compared to other fan commentaries. You outdid yourself here! 👏👏👏
Ya know I never thought you would call season 11 good, but here we are, season 11 is very nostalgic to me and a lot of favourites from this era are from this season, really good video!
The beginning joke was funny about Unlucky Tugs retrospective. So series 11 had some interesting episodes and scenes I have memories. My favorite episodes are Dream On, Dirty Work, Emily’s Rubbish, Thomas and the runaway car, and the fans personal favorite Gordon and the engineer. These 5 are my favorite. I ofc wasn’t born with the classic series (mostly series 6 and 7) and some from the Hit ERA. The great discovery was my first Thomas movie to ever see before Hero of the rails and many more. Keep making these videos, they really are awesome to watch.
I’ll be completely honest, Season 11 is my second favourite HiT season behind 9. I agree with a lot of the things said here. And best of all, we get more Rosie. My obsession with her knows absolutely no boundaries.
7:03 - 7:56 Since Thomas and Friends exists within itself, you could say that that's the in-universe version of one of their writers. Also, your "PTSD-Induced Panic Attack" looked serious, I legit thought it wasn't acting.
@@usualblokeluke yup XD Also, 27:40 , I think Billy’s super Orange saturated color is made worse when watching the color corrected version of this episode. You’re practically looking at the sun when he’s on screen XD
41:32, if you disregard Peter Sam, and replace Mr Percival with Sir Handel Lloyd Brown, you can make the argument that this takes place when Skarloey and Rheneas were still young engines.
It’s not about competing for who reviews which series first. It’s about sharing perspectives of a series that officially marked the end of full time model work before making the slow transition to CGI.
Amazing work as always. So surprising how some of S11's episodes use the three strikes formula the right way. (BTW, The Engines and Escapades intro, specifically the animated intro, is actually from the Fun Times with the Narrow Gauge Engines segment when it aired on TV)
13:39 🎶Wait The earth began to cool, the autotrophs began to drool Neanderthals developed tools We built a wall (we built the pyramids) Math, science, history, unraveling the mysteries That all started with the big bang (bang)🎶
Unlucky tug: routine Usual bloke Luke: underrated gem I was expecting that your opinion is going to be the similar as the unlucky tug I wonder how you're going to handle season 12
I do agree that the unluckytug and James A Williams is kind of harsh on season 11 is not a great season there's some bad episodes like Thomas and sticky cheese and Henry's lucky trucks but it is improvement 2 season 10 which season 10 is so bad I think I think season 10 is the first downfall Thomas even more so than magic railroad and season 6 to quote on the unlucky tug season 10 almost all the episodes are exactly the same
Great Review!, I don’t like this Season but it does have some gems especially in the first half. Top 5 Worst 5. Ding A Ling 4. Thomas & the Lighthouse/Smoke & Mirrors/Thomas & the Stinky Cheese 3. Edward & the Mail 2. Sir Handel In Charge 1. Don’t Be Silly, Billy Top 5 Favorites 5. Dirty Work 4. Emily’s Rubbish 3. Gordon & the Engineer 2. Cool Truckings 1. Hector the Horrid
At 13:09 it’s the Nitrogen Era of Thomas & Friends and I can definitely see what happens in full blossoms there. Also at 29:31 it’s Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails, which I’m interesting to see what your review of that film and see how the movie plays with Thomas & Spencer there
How you described Series 10 and 11 also perfectly sums up DreamWorks Animation in terms of quality. Also, the three strikes formula in 'Thomas and the Storyteller' foreshadowed one of Nitrogen's diamonds in the rough, 'Edward the Great', if you check out the Unlucky Tug's recaps on Series 14 and 15. Another thing I'm learning from your Thomas videos is to never use the "magic" word. As for your upcoming review of 'The Great Discovery', you're saving that until next Christmas? It will be worth the wait as you plan to put your all into that. Best of luck with your other passions as I celebrate my 24th birthday in Hawaii!
@@usualblokeluke That's quite alright. I can't wait for you and the Unlucky Tug to release your Thomas-related content on Christmas. But, the big one will be Tine Sensahthe's long-awaited 'Tobias and the Arcane Merchant'! Hope you stay tuned for that, Luke.
boi do I love the FHD camera quality used in the season. what I find interesting is that season 11 is the only season to have 1080p with the 50 or 60fps. S8-10 had the 50/60 fps, but they were filmed in standard definition. S12 is also filmed in full hd but they downgraded it to 25fps, which sucks to me at least.
Like w/ S11, I first saw the series on YT after I first discovered them. It was strange that only they were released on TV and not all of them straight to DVD, apart from occasional compilation or HiT Favorites. I actually do like Wash Behind Your Buffers for at least Skarloey and Rheneas are not portrayed child-ish and helped Madge in return. My favorite episode is Gordon & the Engineer and my bottom one is Ding-a-Ling! Kinda wish James Works It Out is a part of that season instead of being in S12 cause this would've given more spotlight on Hector's arc to try and close off James' prejudice towards trucks in the same series. And I agree that S11 is an underrated gem and some of those production qualities you just mentioned really helped it. Also, the lighting (whether it's the yellow tint or the color-corrected one) really feels like a breath of fresh air whereas S8, 9 and 10 are the same w/ no changes.
Welcome back Luke! I love this video as much as all the others on your channel! Season 11 really is a weird season, filled with some weird choices, but some fun episodes.
Hector saying Keep Away but I really wanna see the video. This season is kinda underrated it’s definitely the 2nd best hit era season behind season 12. Can’t believe we’ve made it to the last season with fully model trains and sets. Hot take I actually like the yellow tint on the camera it gives it a different look from the rest of the seasons
My first exposure to Thomas and definitely the best out of the Hit Era for me. Back then, I had to wait till 11.30pm to 12am to watch them as the only timeslot I am available for to watch them at that time. The Lightning used in this made me forget the bad ones which I like all the stories. We are almost to the end with a bang.
Another great review! 👌 I really look forward to hear your opinions on The Great Discovery. I've started to enjoy series 11 a lot more recently. The great episodes speaks for themselves but there is plenty of good stuff to find in the mediocre or even bad episodes as well (some of which you mentioned in 'Toby's Triumph'), including the nice set designs combined with the crisp HD camera and vibrant colours. These aspects make them a lot more watchable or even enjoyable comparing to most of the stinkers from 8-10.
Your Season 11 review is so awesome. I love the jokes about you and The Unlucky Tug as well as the one with Thomas And The Magic Railroad. Hector is certainly my favorite character from this season. Trainboy 54 made his own version of the episode but with Rosie bumping Hector instead of Thomas doing it just like in the original. Trainboy 54’s version of Hector The Horrid is a big part of my childhood. I always love the ending with the added Emily song instrumental. The song itself made the ending so perfect. Billy’s an okay character in my opinion. Madge is a great character because like Mavis, she’s a motherly figure. Whiff is great too, I like how he doesn’t let others irritate him. I can see that because he loves his job so much. Speaking of Whiff, Emily And The Garbage aka Emily’s Rubbish is also my favorite episode. Of course I made my own version of that episode but as a crossover. Dream On is an awesome episode because the blue star billing bastard himself tried to be fast shiny and strong. But I do feel sorry for him because he’s struggling hard to do all those three things. Donn’e and Dougie made a big return which I’m happy for them. Of course I know that Saved You is their last episode. But do I hate that episode? Actually, no. Because despite the three strikes and Thomas being out of character, I love how Duck and the Scots made some side rolls before the Nitrogen Era began. My favorite pannier makes a return in Season 17 which is my last childhood season. And as a kid, I was surprised and to see him return unexpectedly. And my favorite twins make a big return in Sodor’s Legend Of The Lost Treasure, just for fan service, like Yami Tay said in her best episodes list. I’d say Season 11 is definitely a great season. The colors look great as well, because of the warm summer feel. At the same time, I would sometimes color correct the screen shots myself. And if you’re wondering, what are my favorite Thomas & Friends Seasons? My favorites are Seasons 8, 19, and 20. Season 5 is great, but randomly not my favorite.
I enjoyed the review! I especially loves the jokes in this one, especially when you talked about the troublesome trucks. Its crazy to think this season was an improvement in the HiT area, but then the next 5 seasons went to total crap!
Tbh, I really like this seasons, and to me at least, the episodes are really enjoyable, and your thoughts on Edward and the Mail made me wanna rewatch the episode since it does have a solid message. Great review Luke, and can't wait until you review The Great Discovery which is a special I have a lot of memories towards, but still is my favorite special along with HOTR
If you look closely, you'll see that the original versions of the episodes from this season that were released have darker lighting compared to the reshoots. Something tells me the crew saw how much better The Great Discovery looked and realized they wanted to reshoot the episodes.
I feel like you should have included the quote “he fell over with worry” from the Top Gear Vietnam episode where they flatten Hammond’s bike helmet under a lorry as a prank. It would have made the worried Toby explanation part a whole lot more hilarious as he was Sooo Worried that he fell over with worry.
Ooooh, at the end of the video, I hear “WELCOME, STANLEY!”. I wonder if you will be working on The Great Discovery (the Grand Finale of Model Series of Thomas & Friends). To me, that was kind of foreshadowing.
Hector feels like the only HiT newbie who actually had a character arc- he first appears to be a terrifying bully but becomes a very sensible guy after Thomas helps him overcome his fear and in his other appearance, James Works It Out, he is the voice of reason and tries to give James some reasonable advice.
@@ScottMalkinsonisWFreddie is one of the highlights of the Hit model series because he didnt just have 1 story and they committed to filming at least 2 more post debut despite The Party Surprise collapsing on itself.
I’m glad someone else thinks season 11 is actually good. I feel like it’s underappreciated. I know a lot of people hate the yellow texture. It could be a little nasty at times especially in the snow but if you fix the texture a little bit like you did or unlucky tug did Something about the visuals kinda give it like a sunset vibe. I don’t know if I’m the only one that thinks that, but it’s kinda like the sun setting is like a little sign saying goodbye to the model series. (this is just my opinion but I don’t count season 12 as a model season whatsoever. I consider it a Sharon Miller season. It is just as bad as season 13-16) But don’t get me started on the great discovery it is definitely my favorite Thomas movie. I’m really looking forward to the review on that season 11 is actually pretty good. I think it deserves a lot more love although it’s not a fantastic season. It’s nowhere we’re good as the first five seasons, but I would give it a B+. It was honestly the last good season until season 17 onwards.
35:46 At least the Brenner version of Rolll Call is a banger. And also, as much as I hate to bring up BWBA's existence, it didn't have the Roll Call in the intro.
when I first saw Henry's lucky trucks when I was little, I was very confused with the story and the moral, once seeing Henry destroyed his "lucky" trucks I thought the end when Henry pulls the christmas presents I thought he was pulling his lucky trucks, mostly making me confused, now ik why I didn't like that episode much when I was little
Also, nice to see someone else who defends Edward and the Mail. That does feel like a genuine situation that Edward would be put through. I think more people need to recognise the context behind it instead of just jumping to immediately criticise it and say “Edward isn’t wise and kind in this episode! Burn it to a crisp!” That statement is basically my reaction to Edward Strikes Out but still.
Agreed, it’s a really good premise, though I feel like they kinda went in the wrong direction with it. It’s a little hard to believe Edward doesn’t know how to deliver the mail, but I’d fully believe that Edward doesn’t know the BEST way to do it. Percy probably has an idealized route, and given that he’s basically the only one who does the job, Edward would definitely need to ask him what it is in order to deliver the mail in an efficient way. Not sure how you get three strikes from that (maybe Edward does it for 3 days before taking the time to check with Percy), but it’s doable. It’s honestly not bad; definitely a more inspired take on the ‘Edward makes a mistake’ concept pretty much every other episode drops the ball on.
Probably my favorite review of S11 I’ve seen yet. You’re helped me gain a new appreciation for this season, even if it’s still on the lower end of the HiT Era imo. Also the joke about Thomas being a 2016 prank RUclipsr made me laugh for some reason. Which engine do you think would be a 2016 prank RUclipsr lol
Great review, as always, season 11, in very nostalgia to me as it was the first I saw in full as it aired as kid, definitely not the best season, but it's special to me. Also, I'm sure the guy who color corrected the season was thomashdclassics
I was surprised to hear you speak so fondly of this series. Going in, I was expecting you to tear Series 11 apart in a heartbeat. I mean, after all, Unlucky Tug described Series 11 as "routine" and James A Williams literally gave up when he wasn't even halfway through the series.
Don't be Silly, Billy is actually my favourite episode of the entire franchise because Billy himself is such a hilarious character. Fight me. But regardless, I give this a Season a 10/10. My Second Favourite of the Hit Era.
I don't know if any of you guys may know but there were actually some series 11 episodes shown in theatres although it's unknown when they were released in theatres and what episodes were shown in the theatre but I bet it was probably the engines and escapades.
38:53 I could be wrong, but I believe ThomasHDClassics was the one who did the color corrections, albeit the videos were reuploaded since he got terminated back in May 2021.
My theory for the reason the reshoots happened is that they accidentally over-wrote the footage with footage from The Great Discovery and so needed to do last minute reshoots so they would be able to do DVD releases
11:15 What are you talking about? Wash Behind Your Buffers isn’t a bad episode. In fact it’s one of the few episodes where Skarloey and Rheneas are in character, and the main focus is a new character. What is so mediocre about it?
Hey mate, just to say, great video. Unfortunately, RUclips were completely stupid for removing a comment I had put, about what I would do to improve the episode, Don‘t Be Silly Billy, so, screw them.
@, it was basically the same as the original, but more expanded upon, with Rosie given more to her personality. In addition, Thomas getting increasingly furious, is also based on Percy and the Oil Painting, only he does regret his decision, and tries to put things right, eventually, managing to help Billy out, who does change for the better, as he appreciates Thomas for being understanding, but also knowing that both are still cheeky engines, but have good hearts in the end. As cliche as it is, it can work, also if the writing was done better.
@@fanofeverything30465, No. It was there, but then, it was gone. If they said it was too long, they could have archived it, and split it into two parts.
14:17 so much so that he gains Rheneas' face. Also when did Sodor stop using Brake Vans? I know the reason why a lot of goods were in open top trucks was cause Steve Asquith said kids are stupid and could better understand if goods were out in the open but why are the engines pulling so many van-less trains? Where is the guard suppose to be?
Although Season 11 isn’t as good as Seasons 8 and 9, this season is a lot better than Seasons 10 and 12. I really can’t wait for your review on The Great Discovery.
Sure can’t wait to wait another 3 months or 5 months for Season 12 (even tho that The Great Discovery one will be in December from that one community post from what I remembered)
13:36 As a massive TBBT fan, I approve of any reference made to it when it comes to this atrocity of an episode. The only thing I like about this episode is the references to TBBT.
Other than the lighting, season eleven is really no different to the previous seasons with a mixture of both good and bad episodes. Also liked the intro you gave as well!
Yeah, as I probably mentioned during the premiere stream of this, I pretty much have a good idea for what a story involving Gordon pulling the post train could be called; "Gordon goes postal". Also, I thought Michael did an Italian voice for Alessia, during her debut episode.
As Tug put it, this is basically the same levels of bad as Season 10 (for the most part [Hector the Horrid!, Cool Truckings, & Gordon and the Engineer come to mind]). Thankfully, though, the Great Discovery fixed the experience to let all-model Thomas go out with a bang.
So, I know what I'm about to say is a bit head canon wan fankery, but in terms of Edward and the Mail, I view it, Edward the Great, James the Second Best, and Steady Eddie as episodes that happen after Edward's Exploit, where the engines of Sodor view him as the best engine in the world, and thus it would bring Edward's ego to about the same level as James, but when it gets to Mail, that's when it starts to crash and he realises that the spotlight is too much for him. And so, I would like to dub, in order, Edward the Great, James the Second Best, Steady Eddie, and Edward and the Mail as "Edward The Famous Engine". Is it dumb? Absolutely yes, but does it give Hit Era Edward some better characterisation? Sort of, but yes.
That’s not a bad way to put it, it shows that even a good character is flawed, but it actually works, because it’s building onto it slowly, not just thrusting it on without any reason. It gives Edward a chance to be even wiser than he already was.
It's unfortunate how a season with so much promise can fall flat but it is decent. There is a lot to enjoy about this season especially the characters (except him). Your gags never fail to make me chuckle, can't wait for TGD.
Season 11 is actually my second favorite of the Hit Era, I love how they went through High Definition! Though to me it was hard watching when I was younger, as of course Thomas aired on TV PBS Kids and here in America they didn’t put out a lot of Season 11 episodes on DVD; still to this day (not counting Engines and Escapades as well as a few select DVDs that contain one episode from Season 11). This is the last season of Thomas to be fully modeled, but I wouldn’t say its truly the last and you’ll know what I mean when we get to the next film that we all love. I don’t really mind on the yellow tint, but I certainly can’t deny that these correct colored tint are actually much better and improved. My Top 5 favorite episodes for Season 11 are: 5. Dirty Work (not to be confused with the UK title from Season 2) One of the best James episodes; in this one he shines on by helping his friends with their jobs even if it means…well getting filthy! 4. Dream On I totally agree, Thomas has some great episodes this season and this one. He determines to be great as Spencer (which by the way; Spencer’s sliver glitter paint looks great this season), but by the end learns to be himself. 3. Gordon and the Mechanic One of the best Gordon episodes; it teaches excellent railway practice, seeing that little continuity of the relationship between Thomas & Gordon is wholesome and of course the Scottish Twins (Donald and Douglas) are back again who play awesome roles. 2. Thomas and the Stinky Cheese I don’t really get why people hate this episode, I think its neat and I’m a near huge sucker for cheese. Also call me crazy, but I would lick that gooey stuff off of Thomas until its all gone 😅! 1. Hector the Horrid Thomas having to face this new Hopper Truck who looks and sounds menacing, stands up to himself when Hector scares away Rosie and then soon realizes that Hector is not so bad after all. ALSO THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THE US DUB OF THAT EPISODE; MICHAEL BRANDON REALLY NAILS IT IN HERE WOOO 😃!!! Honorable Mentions (few guilty pleasure ones): Emily and the Garbage Thomas in Trouble Thomas and the Storyteller Cool Trucklings Wash Behind Your Buffers Thomas and the Spaceship Thomas and the Runaway Car Thomas Sets Sail Henry’s Lucky Day Ding a Ling I’m glad you ranked this season as you’re favorite in the Hit Era and I thought you were gonna tear it up like with Season 10; but thankfully no you enjoyed it, that’s terrific! See you on The Great Discovery; I’m so hyped for that one!👍🏾😉
This review is amazing! So far, your reviews are fantastic Will you be planning to do a review of Thomas’s live show: All Aboard Live Tour and the Engine Driver’s Common Room segments? That would be great! And I don’t even know why but every time I watch Season 11, I always listen to the soundtrack of Shaun The Sheep: Movie 🤣
Well, that's a great review on Series 11. I can see why you think it's the best HIT season in your opinion. Surprised that you like Edward and the Mail despite others not very fond of it. You really need to calm down every time the word magic pops up or Magic Railroad was mentioned. No big deal to overreact. Looking forward to see The Great Discovery later on during Christmas. Best of luck.
Editor's note: The secret end text was meant to say 25.12.24 but I didn't realise the type until too late and by then I was tired and didn't want to export the whole video again just for that lol
It's okay Luke everyone makes mistakes and it's okay I wish you amazing luck with the great discovery and your amazing content love the entire video keep up the content
Gasped! Christmas… The Great Discovery… or S12? 😮🥹
@@TheMagicHistoryLifeProductionwe don't know only time will tell magic
Its fine Luke.
Btw The Great Discovery is hoing to turn into a fun review but dont forget that us fans had to deal with the sad fact both George Carlin and David Mityon passed away that same year.
So perhaps have a section sharing your thoughts on the special dedicated to them and how it ended the full model run now without 2 of its past crew members?
@@alanoquendo5823 Dude… he’s just give us a hint and along with hypothesis.
I love the joke about Unlucky Tug making it farther than you in his Thomas retrospective.
Prior, with Seasons 8 to 10, it was Luke beating Nic.
7:30
Dude, you scared me. I thought my computer froze.
I did chuckle at that joke.
13:41 Hearing Thomas be described as a 2016 prank RUclipsr in Thomas and the Big Bang is the best thing I've heard all day.
Lol he is a less edgy version of that
22:58 Well you're not wrong, the troublesome trucks stories did teach good lessons about standing up to bullies, but Hector the Horrid is about why do rude people act the way they do.
Top Gear clips spliced with Thomas is a surprisingly good combination!
Now we finally get to hear your thoughts on Hector, looking forward to this retrospective
29:58 “Oh No!” Cried Rosie! This is the line that makes me chuckle and laugh
The intro where the jet engine speeds past Gordon while the Unlucky Tug says “Thank you all to my loyal patrons” had me dying laughing 😂 This was an amazing upload, even if we technically knew what most of the video would be like from the content from Tug’s retrospective- However, you still brought a ton of new things to the table and overall made it much more unique compared to other fan commentaries. You outdid yourself here! 👏👏👏
Ya know I never thought you would call season 11 good, but here we are, season 11 is very nostalgic to me and a lot of favourites from this era are from this season, really good video!
The beginning joke was funny about Unlucky Tugs retrospective. So series 11 had some interesting episodes and scenes I have memories. My favorite episodes are Dream On, Dirty Work, Emily’s Rubbish, Thomas and the runaway car, and the fans personal favorite Gordon and the engineer. These 5 are my favorite. I ofc wasn’t born with the classic series (mostly series 6 and 7) and some from the Hit ERA. The great discovery was my first Thomas movie to ever see before Hero of the rails and many more. Keep making these videos, they really are awesome to watch.
6:10: Water’s nothing to an engine with determination.
23:42 what’s funny is that in that episode both neville and molly laugh at emily and whiff.
@@karenfan010 Molly is definitely laughing at Emily while saying "Karma's a bitch right Emily?"
@@usualblokelukeyes but this does make them both out as hypocrites doesn’t it?
hmm maybe that’s why we never see them again. lol
@@usualblokelukeThat could be true of Neville
@@usualblokelukealso I find it so funny that Molly, Neville and Murdoch are all conveniently lined up on the sidings to make fun of the newest engine.
Does anyone else realize that they pared the 2 singles together
35:54 At least until the BWBA theme song came along. And hey, at least the Roll Call was upgraded to a more catchier rap like remix in Season 19.
Although the new theme song did still play in the opening.
12:52 Im luaghing my ass off here, bloody hell mate, you have yourself another subscriber 😂
I’ll be completely honest, Season 11 is my second favourite HiT season behind 9. I agree with a lot of the things said here. And best of all, we get more Rosie. My obsession with her knows absolutely no boundaries.
7:03 - 7:56 Since Thomas and Friends exists within itself, you could say that that's the in-universe version of one of their writers.
Also, your "PTSD-Induced Panic Attack" looked serious, I legit thought it wasn't acting.
29:10, this and the voice crack from the Calling All Engines review are some of your best moments XD
Remind me, when did my voice crack in the calling all engines video? lol
@ “There was gonna bE *more?!”*
It was during your rant on the learning segments.
@@jmredguppy2799 Ohhhhh yeah 😂
@@usualblokeluke yup XD
Also, 27:40 , I think Billy’s super Orange saturated color is made worse when watching the color corrected version of this episode. You’re practically looking at the sun when he’s on screen XD
15:19 HEY I MADE THAT JOKE ONCE! Glad to see I'm not the only one who made that joke now!
6:58 HIFL is not something I expected to see in a Thomas-related video, but here we are.
Oooooh WE GET SOME TEASING of the great Discovery
13:38 I was expecting you would probably play ''The Big Bang Theory'' song here since you started talking about ''Thomas and the Big Bang''.
39:26 I laughed so hard, I loved that.
41:32, if you disregard Peter Sam, and replace Mr Percival with Sir Handel Lloyd Brown, you can make the argument that this takes place when Skarloey and Rheneas were still young engines.
It’s not about competing for who reviews which series first. It’s about sharing perspectives of a series that officially marked the end of full time model work before making the slow transition to CGI.
43:13 That delivery had me WHEEZING with laughter.
Amazing work as always. So surprising how some of S11's episodes use the three strikes formula the right way. (BTW, The Engines and Escapades intro, specifically the animated intro, is actually from the Fun Times with the Narrow Gauge Engines segment when it aired on TV)
What great timing!
Literally been watching (rewatching) your reviews on the other seasons today.
13:39 🎶Wait
The earth began to cool, the autotrophs began to drool
Neanderthals developed tools
We built a wall (we built the pyramids)
Math, science, history, unraveling the mysteries
That all started with the big bang (bang)🎶
Unlucky tug: routine
Usual bloke Luke: underrated gem
I was expecting that your opinion is going to be the similar as the unlucky tug
I wonder how you're going to handle season 12
honestly unlucky tug was too harsh on season 11.
@@karenfan010wait until you see how James A. Williams treated it.
I do agree that the unluckytug and James A Williams is kind of harsh on season 11 is not a great season there's some bad episodes like Thomas and sticky cheese and Henry's lucky trucks but it is improvement 2 season 10 which season 10 is so bad I think I think season 10 is the first downfall Thomas even more so than magic railroad and season 6 to quote on the unlucky tug season 10 almost all the episodes are exactly the same
Great Review!, I don’t like this Season but it does have some gems especially in the first half.
Top 5 Worst
5. Ding A Ling
4. Thomas & the Lighthouse/Smoke & Mirrors/Thomas & the Stinky Cheese
3. Edward & the Mail
2. Sir Handel In Charge
1. Don’t Be Silly, Billy
Top 5 Favorites
5. Dirty Work
4. Emily’s Rubbish
3. Gordon & the Engineer
2. Cool Truckings
1. Hector the Horrid
At 13:09 it’s the Nitrogen Era of Thomas & Friends and I can definitely see what happens in full blossoms there. Also at 29:31 it’s Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails, which I’m interesting to see what your review of that film and see how the movie plays with Thomas & Spencer there
How you described Series 10 and 11 also perfectly sums up DreamWorks Animation in terms of quality. Also, the three strikes formula in 'Thomas and the Storyteller' foreshadowed one of Nitrogen's diamonds in the rough, 'Edward the Great', if you check out the Unlucky Tug's recaps on Series 14 and 15. Another thing I'm learning from your Thomas videos is to never use the "magic" word. As for your upcoming review of 'The Great Discovery', you're saving that until next Christmas? It will be worth the wait as you plan to put your all into that. Best of luck with your other passions as I celebrate my 24th birthday in Hawaii!
It will be this Christmas
I just typed it wrong and didn't notice until after the video was already rendered 😂
@@usualblokeluke That's quite alright. I can't wait for you and the Unlucky Tug to release your Thomas-related content on Christmas. But, the big one will be Tine Sensahthe's long-awaited 'Tobias and the Arcane Merchant'! Hope you stay tuned for that, Luke.
Edward the hero technically as Edward the great is the good season 8 episode
boi do I love the FHD camera quality used in the season. what I find interesting is that season 11 is the only season to have 1080p with the 50 or 60fps. S8-10 had the 50/60 fps, but they were filmed in standard definition. S12 is also filmed in full hd but they downgraded it to 25fps, which sucks to me at least.
Like w/ S11, I first saw the series on YT after I first discovered them. It was strange that only they were released on TV and not all of them straight to DVD, apart from occasional compilation or HiT Favorites. I actually do like Wash Behind Your Buffers for at least Skarloey and Rheneas are not portrayed child-ish and helped Madge in return. My favorite episode is Gordon & the Engineer and my bottom one is Ding-a-Ling!
Kinda wish James Works It Out is a part of that season instead of being in S12 cause this would've given more spotlight on Hector's arc to try and close off James' prejudice towards trucks in the same series.
And I agree that S11 is an underrated gem and some of those production qualities you just mentioned really helped it. Also, the lighting (whether it's the yellow tint or the color-corrected one) really feels like a breath of fresh air whereas S8, 9 and 10 are the same w/ no changes.
I agree about Wash Behind Your Buffers
4:22 pure comedy
7:30 what a great reference
Welcome back Luke! I love this video as much as all the others on your channel! Season 11 really is a weird season, filled with some weird choices, but some fun episodes.
I’m happy to know that you enjoy Season 11 too, Luke. You have helped me to appreciate this season just as much as Seasons 8 and 9.
I'm glad I did
4:22 The missing character from Better Call Saul
I really like your review on Series 11, Luke! I really like how Series 11 is good and is the King of HiT Era Thomas!
Hector saying Keep Away but I really wanna see the video. This season is kinda underrated it’s definitely the 2nd best hit era season behind season 12. Can’t believe we’ve made it to the last season with fully model trains and sets. Hot take I actually like the yellow tint on the camera it gives it a different look from the rest of the seasons
My first exposure to Thomas and definitely the best out of the Hit Era for me. Back then, I had to wait till 11.30pm to 12am to watch them as the only timeslot I am available for to watch them at that time. The Lightning used in this made me forget the bad ones which I like all the stories. We are almost to the end with a bang.
ThomasHDClassics was the one to color-correct the episodes prior to his channel being taken down all those years ago
Another great review! 👌 I really look forward to hear your opinions on The Great Discovery.
I've started to enjoy series 11 a lot more recently. The great episodes speaks for themselves but there is plenty of good stuff to find in the mediocre or even bad episodes as well (some of which you mentioned in 'Toby's Triumph'), including the nice set designs combined with the crisp HD camera and vibrant colours. These aspects make them a lot more watchable or even enjoyable comparing to most of the stinkers from 8-10.
Your Season 11 review is so awesome. I love the jokes about you and The Unlucky Tug as well as the one with Thomas And The Magic Railroad. Hector is certainly my favorite character from this season. Trainboy 54 made his own version of the episode but with Rosie bumping Hector instead of Thomas doing it just like in the original. Trainboy 54’s version of Hector The Horrid is a big part of my childhood. I always love the ending with the added Emily song instrumental. The song itself made the ending so perfect. Billy’s an okay character in my opinion. Madge is a great character because like Mavis, she’s a motherly figure. Whiff is great too, I like how he doesn’t let others irritate him. I can see that because he loves his job so much. Speaking of Whiff, Emily And The Garbage aka Emily’s Rubbish is also my favorite episode. Of course I made my own version of that episode but as a crossover. Dream On is an awesome episode because the blue star billing bastard himself tried to be fast shiny and strong. But I do feel sorry for him because he’s struggling hard to do all those three things. Donn’e and Dougie made a big return which I’m happy for them. Of course I know that Saved You is their last episode. But do I hate that episode? Actually, no. Because despite the three strikes and Thomas being out of character, I love how Duck and the Scots made some side rolls before the Nitrogen Era began. My favorite pannier makes a return in Season 17 which is my last childhood season. And as a kid, I was surprised and to see him return unexpectedly. And my favorite twins make a big return in Sodor’s Legend Of The Lost Treasure, just for fan service, like Yami Tay said in her best episodes list.
I’d say Season 11 is definitely a great season. The colors look great as well, because of the warm summer feel. At the same time, I would sometimes color correct the screen shots myself. And if you’re wondering, what are my favorite Thomas & Friends Seasons? My favorites are Seasons 8, 19, and 20. Season 5 is great, but randomly not my favorite.
I enjoyed the review! I especially loves the jokes in this one, especially when you talked about the troublesome trucks. Its crazy to think this season was an improvement in the HiT area, but then the next 5 seasons went to total crap!
12:42 Now that was a pleasant Doctor Who surprise 😁
The editing & jokes here are 👌 Perfect! Probably your funniest video essay!
My favorite part of Thomas and the Big Bang was when he tooted "BAZINGA" and everyone in the audience laughed.
"Thomas and the Big Bang was filmed in front of a live studio audience"
@@usualblokeluke"Peep peep peep"
*Percy*
"Peep peep peep"
*Percy*
"Peep peep peep"
*Percy*
45:10 The Town that time forgot will shine like new on Christmas day
Tbh, I really like this seasons, and to me at least, the episodes are really enjoyable, and your thoughts on Edward and the Mail made me wanna rewatch the episode since it does have a solid message. Great review Luke, and can't wait until you review The Great Discovery which is a special I have a lot of memories towards, but still is my favorite special along with HOTR
Well this is certainly a nice way to end the month. Always a good watch from you my good sir!
If you look closely, you'll see that the original versions of the episodes from this season that were released have darker lighting compared to the reshoots. Something tells me the crew saw how much better The Great Discovery looked and realized they wanted to reshoot the episodes.
I feel like you should have included the quote “he fell over with worry” from the Top Gear Vietnam episode where they flatten Hammond’s bike helmet under a lorry as a prank. It would have made the worried Toby explanation part a whole lot more hilarious as he was Sooo Worried that he fell over with worry.
Ooooh, at the end of the video, I hear “WELCOME, STANLEY!”. I wonder if you will be working on The Great Discovery (the Grand Finale of Model Series of Thomas & Friends).
To me, that was kind of foreshadowing.
Hector feels like the only HiT newbie who actually had a character arc- he first appears to be a terrifying bully but becomes a very sensible guy after Thomas helps him overcome his fear and in his other appearance, James Works It Out, he is the voice of reason and tries to give James some reasonable advice.
Freddie I'd say had one to some degree but only really because he actually got focused on in his lead roles.
@@ScottMalkinsonisWFreddie is one of the highlights of the Hit model series because he didnt just have 1 story and they committed to filming at least 2 more post debut despite The Party Surprise collapsing on itself.
@@Thomasmemoryscentral I wasn’t really a fan of Ding-a-Ling either.
I love Hector so much!!!!!!!
@@Thomasmemoryscentral I think it’s okay since it has two morals.
As someone doing an Emerald replay, I appreciated your reference
Thats unexpected and awesome!
Mid 2000s Thomas and gen 3 pokemon really loved their horns!
I’m glad someone else thinks season 11 is actually good. I feel like it’s underappreciated. I know a lot of people hate the yellow texture. It could be a little nasty at times especially in the snow but if you fix the texture a little bit like you did or unlucky tug did Something about the visuals kinda give it like a sunset vibe. I don’t know if I’m the only one that thinks that, but it’s kinda like the sun setting is like a little sign saying goodbye to the model series. (this is just my opinion but I don’t count season 12 as a model season whatsoever. I consider it a Sharon Miller season. It is just as bad as season 13-16)
But don’t get me started on the great discovery it is definitely my favorite Thomas movie. I’m really looking forward to the review on that season 11 is actually pretty good. I think it deserves a lot more love although it’s not a fantastic season. It’s nowhere we’re good as the first five seasons, but I would give it a B+. It was honestly the last good season until season 17 onwards.
38:19 They're trying to cleanse themselves after seeing the Billy episode
35:46
At least the Brenner version of Rolll Call is a banger.
And also, as much as I hate to bring up BWBA's existence, it didn't have the Roll Call in the intro.
when I first saw Henry's lucky trucks when I was little, I was very confused with the story and the moral, once seeing Henry destroyed his "lucky" trucks I thought the end when Henry pulls the christmas presents I thought he was pulling his lucky trucks, mostly making me confused, now ik why I didn't like that episode much when I was little
The man has returned. Great to see a second perspective on a season with the funny victor tranzig train in it
Also, nice to see someone else who defends Edward and the Mail. That does feel like a genuine situation that Edward would be put through. I think more people need to recognise the context behind it instead of just jumping to immediately criticise it and say “Edward isn’t wise and kind in this episode! Burn it to a crisp!”
That statement is basically my reaction to Edward Strikes Out but still.
Agreed, it’s a really good premise, though I feel like they kinda went in the wrong direction with it. It’s a little hard to believe Edward doesn’t know how to deliver the mail, but I’d fully believe that Edward doesn’t know the BEST way to do it. Percy probably has an idealized route, and given that he’s basically the only one who does the job, Edward would definitely need to ask him what it is in order to deliver the mail in an efficient way. Not sure how you get three strikes from that (maybe Edward does it for 3 days before taking the time to check with Percy), but it’s doable. It’s honestly not bad; definitely a more inspired take on the ‘Edward makes a mistake’ concept pretty much every other episode drops the ball on.
Probably my favorite review of S11 I’ve seen yet. You’re helped me gain a new appreciation for this season, even if it’s still on the lower end of the HiT Era imo. Also the joke about Thomas being a 2016 prank RUclipsr made me laugh for some reason. Which engine do you think would be a 2016 prank RUclipsr lol
13:52 - 13:59: Love your Mr. Bean joke.
Master of lemons and HiroTheJapaneseTrain actually did a pretty decent video on analysing Magde as a character and coming up with lore for her
your snappy sense of humor is in top form as always for this one
Great review, as always, season 11, in very nostalgia to me as it was the first I saw in full as it aired as kid, definitely not the best season, but it's special to me. Also, I'm sure the guy who color corrected the season was thomashdclassics
I was surprised to hear you speak so fondly of this series. Going in, I was expecting you to tear Series 11 apart in a heartbeat.
I mean, after all, Unlucky Tug described Series 11 as "routine" and James A Williams literally gave up when he wasn't even halfway through the series.
Imagine how much sanity could have been saved if the narrow gage engines just stopped appearing after Rusty to the Rescue
Seasons 5-7 were fine. Good thing they return in the CGI series back to their old characters again.
Think they could have used the Narrow Gauge models as spare parts if they stopped appearing?
Don't be Silly, Billy is actually my favourite episode of the entire franchise because Billy himself is such a hilarious character. Fight me. But regardless, I give this a Season a 10/10. My Second Favourite of the Hit Era.
I don't know if any of you guys may know but there were actually some series 11 episodes shown in theatres although it's unknown when they were released in theatres and what episodes were shown in the theatre but I bet it was probably the engines and escapades.
27:47-27:52 Best description of Billy ever
At least Soup is good , Billy is not
38:53 I could be wrong, but I believe ThomasHDClassics was the one who did the color corrections, albeit the videos were reuploaded since he got terminated back in May 2021.
My theory for the reason the reshoots happened is that they accidentally over-wrote the footage with footage from The Great Discovery and so needed to do last minute reshoots so they would be able to do DVD releases
I still remember getting Engines and Escapades for my fourth birthday along with the diecast Mater and the Wooden Railway carry bag.
11:15 What are you talking about? Wash Behind Your Buffers isn’t a bad episode.
In fact it’s one of the few episodes where Skarloey and Rheneas are in character, and the main focus is a new character.
What is so mediocre about it?
Hey mate, just to say, great video.
Unfortunately, RUclips were completely stupid for removing a comment I had put, about what I would do to improve the episode, Don‘t Be Silly Billy, so, screw them.
What was your idea for improving the episode?
@, it was basically the same as the original, but more expanded upon, with Rosie given more to her personality.
In addition, Thomas getting increasingly furious, is also based on Percy and the Oil Painting, only he does regret his decision, and tries to put things right, eventually, managing to help Billy out, who does change for the better, as he appreciates Thomas for being understanding, but also knowing that both are still cheeky engines, but have good hearts in the end.
As cliche as it is, it can work, also if the writing was done better.
Did they say why they removed it
@@fanofeverything30465, No.
It was there, but then, it was gone.
If they said it was too long, they could have archived it, and split it into two parts.
28:43 cool paper beard, luke
Thoroughly excellent vid my dude!! I never watched much of series 11 either but I just might go watch that top 5 🤔
Hell yeah go for it!
And thank you Jack! 😁
I would've loved to see Elizabeth and Madge Interacted with each other
14:17 so much so that he gains Rheneas' face.
Also when did Sodor stop using Brake Vans? I know the reason why a lot of goods were in open top trucks was cause Steve Asquith said kids are stupid and could better understand if goods were out in the open but why are the engines pulling so many van-less trains? Where is the guard suppose to be?
36:54 I find it weirder he didn't do the accent for alicia botti (which was actually itallian), but he did for the magician.
Plus, unless you don’t do Bwuhba, I think Tug is going to beat you anyway. He’ll also have a big finale video to rank all the seasons.
Although Season 11 isn’t as good as Seasons 8 and 9, this season is a lot better than Seasons 10 and 12. I really can’t wait for your review on The Great Discovery.
I think "A Colonoscopy" would be an appropriate alternate title for "Misty Island Rescue" but even that might be overselling it!
The guy who fixed the Color correction might be Classic Thomas HD remix guy He was purged off the site due to copyright.
Congratulations on getting this one done mate!
Sure can’t wait to wait another 3 months or 5 months for Season 12 (even tho that The Great Discovery one will be in December from that one community post from what I remembered)
13:36 As a massive TBBT fan, I approve of any reference made to it when it comes to this atrocity of an episode. The only thing I like about this episode is the references to TBBT.
Other than the lighting, season eleven is really no different to the previous seasons with a mixture of both good and bad episodes. Also liked the intro you gave as well!
Yeah, as I probably mentioned during the premiere stream of this, I pretty much have a good idea for what a story involving Gordon pulling the post train could be called; "Gordon goes postal".
Also, I thought Michael did an Italian voice for Alessia, during her debut episode.
As Tug put it, this is basically the same levels of bad as Season 10 (for the most part [Hector the Horrid!, Cool Truckings, & Gordon and the Engineer come to mind]). Thankfully, though, the Great Discovery fixed the experience to let all-model Thomas go out with a bang.
2:45 Bazinga
So, I know what I'm about to say is a bit head canon wan fankery, but in terms of Edward and the Mail, I view it, Edward the Great, James the Second Best, and Steady Eddie as episodes that happen after Edward's Exploit, where the engines of Sodor view him as the best engine in the world, and thus it would bring Edward's ego to about the same level as James, but when it gets to Mail, that's when it starts to crash and he realises that the spotlight is too much for him. And so, I would like to dub, in order, Edward the Great, James the Second Best, Steady Eddie, and Edward and the Mail as "Edward The Famous Engine". Is it dumb? Absolutely yes, but does it give Hit Era Edward some better characterisation? Sort of, but yes.
That’s not a bad way to put it, it shows that even a good character is flawed, but it actually works, because it’s building onto it slowly, not just thrusting it on without any reason.
It gives Edward a chance to be even wiser than he already was.
Ok when you were talking about billy i was not expecting the old man and beard part
It's unfortunate how a season with so much promise can fall flat but it is decent. There is a lot to enjoy about this season especially the characters (except him). Your gags never fail to make me chuckle, can't wait for TGD.
Season 11 is actually my second favorite of the Hit Era, I love how they went through High Definition! Though to me it was hard watching when I was younger, as of course Thomas aired on TV PBS Kids and here in America they didn’t put out a lot of Season 11 episodes on DVD; still to this day (not counting Engines and Escapades as well as a few select DVDs that contain one episode from Season 11). This is the last season of Thomas to be fully modeled, but I wouldn’t say its truly the last and you’ll know what I mean when we get to the next film that we all love. I don’t really mind on the yellow tint, but I certainly can’t deny that these correct colored tint are actually much better and improved.
My Top 5 favorite episodes for Season 11 are:
5. Dirty Work (not to be confused with the UK title from Season 2)
One of the best James episodes; in this one he shines on by helping his friends with their jobs even if it means…well getting filthy!
4. Dream On
I totally agree, Thomas has some great episodes this season and this one. He determines to be great as Spencer (which by the way; Spencer’s sliver glitter paint looks great this season), but by the end learns to be himself.
3. Gordon and the Mechanic
One of the best Gordon episodes; it teaches excellent railway practice, seeing that little continuity of the relationship between Thomas & Gordon is wholesome and of course the Scottish Twins (Donald and Douglas) are back again who play awesome roles.
2. Thomas and the Stinky Cheese
I don’t really get why people hate this episode, I think its neat and I’m a near huge sucker for cheese. Also call me crazy, but I would lick that gooey stuff off of Thomas until its all gone 😅!
1. Hector the Horrid
Thomas having to face this new Hopper Truck who looks and sounds menacing, stands up to himself when Hector scares away Rosie and then soon realizes that Hector is not so bad after all. ALSO THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THE US DUB OF THAT EPISODE; MICHAEL BRANDON REALLY NAILS IT IN HERE WOOO 😃!!!
Honorable Mentions (few guilty pleasure ones):
Emily and the Garbage
Thomas in Trouble
Thomas and the Storyteller
Cool Trucklings
Wash Behind Your Buffers
Thomas and the Spaceship
Thomas and the Runaway Car
Thomas Sets Sail
Henry’s Lucky Day
Ding a Ling
I’m glad you ranked this season as you’re favorite in the Hit Era and I thought you were gonna tear it up like with Season 10; but thankfully no you enjoyed it, that’s terrific! See you on The Great Discovery; I’m so hyped for that one!👍🏾😉
This review is amazing!
So far, your reviews are fantastic
Will you be planning to do a review of Thomas’s live show: All Aboard Live Tour and the Engine Driver’s Common Room segments? That would be great!
And I don’t even know why but every time I watch Season 11, I always listen to the soundtrack of Shaun The Sheep: Movie 🤣
Thank you very much
Are those the segments with Driver Perkins? If so then yes
Ah yes, usual bloke Luke bringing the fine wine with this review.
Well, that's a great review on Series 11. I can see why you think it's the best HIT season in your opinion. Surprised that you like Edward and the Mail despite others not very fond of it. You really need to calm down every time the word magic pops up or Magic Railroad was mentioned. No big deal to overreact. Looking forward to see The Great Discovery later on during Christmas. Best of luck.