The Lies and Myths of Thomas the Tank Engine - A Documentary

[@mangawriter]

I just wanna say that I do really like Tomska lol I just didn't like this one take that's all

[@gigasnail_]

Same here

[@Goldie267]

Just finished watching, a very well researched video! Not many people go too in-depth into RWA so I loved the first half. Now, I don't know about the other articles reporting on the dark side of Thomas, but I feel like I can say with confidence that Ttomska was not being serious in both his Thomas and Tugs video. It's pretty common on the internet to talk or make creepypastas about childrens media on the internet, due to the juxtaposition of something supposed to be light hearted and family friendly suddenly having darker tones in it. So, at least in my opinion, it wasn't really a serious 'take' he was making, just poking fun at some of the darker implications.

[@whoasked9500]

Thank you for saying this, I feel like people seem to forget that just because you like or look up to someone does not mean you have to agree with them on everything.

[@worthybutter2004]

Personally, i think his video on Thomas is still better than most other videos made by those outside the fandom. At least, he did a LOT more research on the topic than most. But yeah, that one take of his was...questionable tbh.

[@Pal_D1R35T4]

Same man, athouthg I´ve only seen his videos related on this topic, In my opinion his video is the least offensive of the lot

[@LeScarletSinger2]

Something else to bring up is while it wasn't brought up because of its era in the show, in the episode, "Goodbye, Fat Controller", the Engines actually go on strike because they don't want Sir Topham Hatt to leave the Railway; they respect him so much that they're willing to stop all their work to make sure that their father figure doesn't go anywhere. While it is cleared up as just a simple misconception, it shows how much the engines actually care about him.

[@gigasnail_]

When was this episode?

[@Go0read256k2]

​@@gigasnail_ Season 19

[@jalyntate7965]

Yeah.

[@mlgodzilla4206]

A good test to see if people actually watched the show is to tell them if Henry got out of the tunnel

[@Sudriantank743]

The person being asked: no, he is seen in every episode after being dead in the tunnel

[@NotMattyDYT]

or ask them if they think Smudger was actually real or just a story Duke made up to scare Stuart and Falcon

[@allys744]

Gordon was pulling a train and he just so happen to burst a safety valve outside of Henry’s tunnel. So everyone forgave Henry and let him out of the tunnel. Then he and Edward took on Gordon’s train

[@gunmunz]

Yup cause outside of youtube clips there's never been a case where the sad story of henry wasn't paired with the one where he gets out of the tunnel

[@Soundwave3591]

A good response to people bemoaning Henry in the tunnel would be "If your train driver just decided to stop in the middle of nowhere because they didn't want to work anymore, stranding you far from home or making you late for work, can you honestly tell me you don't think they should be punished in some fashion?" not to mention "punishment" on Sodor, 9/10 times, is simply demotion off of prestige services to mundane work like shunting in the yard or pulling freight trains. Not exactly unreasonable. I mean, that's literally what happened to Gordon after he _deliberately crashed himself_ to avoid pulling a special goods train! the problem a lot of people seem to have comprehending the engines (not helped by the newer seasons of the TV series) is that they think the engines of Sodor are like the characters in Cars or Chuggington, IE self-controlling with free will to do as they please. These engines are just like normal trains. they need a driver to move them, and coal and water to fuel them. they just happen to be able to talk. without these things, if "left to their free will" you know what'd happen? they'd rust and die, never moving again. just like every cold, dead steam engine left in a siding somewhere waiting to be hauled off to the scrapyard.

[@arhopkins2000]

Yes! Totally agree! The personification of the engines in the series is not the same as other anthropomorphic vehicles in children’s media

[@engineerskalinera]

Slight correction about the Thomas and Tradition section - the framing makes it imply that Sodor is the only place on Earth where steam engines *exist* at all, whereas its just one of the very few places that uses steam in revelue service, and nor just in museum, or excursions. The Other Railway in the books, is British Rail, and histroy happens as it does in reality, with many many locomotives being preserved. Scottsman isnt the last *tender engine,* just the last Gresley A3 Pacific. Same as Gordon.

[@willh2690]

Gordon is a A1. Flying Scotsman was built as an A1 but was converted to the A3 standard.

[@cardiv5zuikaku944]

@@willh2690 Gordon is A0, the prototype of the A1

[@willh2690]

@cardiv5zuikaku944 I know he is the prototype for the A1 but I can't find any sources that refer to him as an A0.

[@engineerskalinera]

@willh2690 I think the Island of Sodor book does but don't quote me on that

[@korance2808]

When I was a child, I sometimes wished that the Island of Sodor was a real place.

[@StickGuy2554]

Your not alone

[@achingforstrength]

I'm almost 28 and I STILL wish it was real and that I could go there

[@catdude7113]

The fact that you disproved the "dark truths" about the show, but also did it with the proper research makes me happy! You are doing an entire community justice my friend Cheers, and keep up the good work!

[@anthonycobrakai]

but trains are literally machines built for work so how could they be slaves if that is literally their purpose plus being called really useful is a compliment to them because it makes them feel like they are doing a good job for their boss

[@NotMattyDYT]

that's like saying the minions from Despicable Me are slaves when its said in the movies that they want to serve a boss

[@anthonycobrakai]

@@NotMattyDYT fr

[@williamtacey7770]

Happy 40th anniversary since mid 1980’s when Thomas the Tank Engine started came out

[@vladthelazyslowpoke7222]

I really love the Unlucky Tug's comparing engines to dogs. they have feelings too, just not the developed wish of independency

[@MachRacer4]

@@NotMattyDYTor a House Elf from Harry Potter.

[@SparklingJam]

They either see it as a dumb kids show that adults shouldn’t watch or a dark show that kids shouldn’t watch No one wins here

[@armorpro573]

Well they're not true fans like us. So it's really surprising

[@karenfan010]

what’s funny is that most critics who try to paint thomas is a dark image are people who probably didn’t even actually watch the show, if they had they would know the show isn’t as cruel as they paint it out to be.

[@Nightmare_52]

its so weird that so many people think machines should stop working so much and "free" themselves from control if your machine stopped working you would replace it for a new one, sir topham is keeping his old machines running far longer than anyone else has bothered to do

[@MrNoUsername]

People demonizing Thomas is just ridiculous. You're doing the fandom a huge favour by making this video

[@levidarling5107]

😊👍

[@MichaelEarnedIt-19]

You want to know why I think they’re doing it? Because THOMAS and Friends was created by a man of God. Wilbert Audrey. They hate that it was created by a straight white man of faith with “horrors”a normal family. They hate it was a story meant for children and adults to enjoy. They hate purity and innocent’s stories period. Thomas has Christian philosophy in its roots. They hate anything that gives people strong morals to live by because then tyrants and the demonic influencers of the world can’t stand against us. They hate truth hate innocent and hate people without agendas. Thomas had no agenda. It was just a story. Again this is just my 2 cents. Hope you all have a blessed day.

[@Trainman-fx9oe]

HeNRy DiEd In thE TUnnEL bEcAUse Of HIs CruEL faT mAsTER Oooooo

[@arvinrufo7061]

Truer words were never spoken.

[@bennewbury2572]

With you on this one buddy

[@DragonStar524]

Unlucky Tug put it best: The trains are like dogs, just with a higher level of intelligence. Hatt takes good care of his engines as a loving father figure, goves them what they need, provides them fuel, teaches them lessons when the mess up so they can grow. The engines want to be used and useful. If they aren't, they are devoid of purpose.

[@WeegeeMaro]

As someone who watched the original series on DVD all the time as a kid and still loves this show going into adulthood, I can confidently say this is one of the coverages of Thomas the Tank Engine I’ve ever seen. Thank you so much for disproving these tired arguments that anyone who has actually seen more than a few clips and pieces of the show will immediately understand are false. Yes, sometimes this show could get “dark”, but it was never with any underlying tones or themes. It was dark because it showed the reality of the world they lived in (or just wanted to tell a spooky story), and that’s one of the biggest things that sets Thomas apart from other children’s media. The world they lived in felt very real, not just in set design, but story telling as well. And because it’s different from other kids shows that don’t normally tackle subjects similar to it, the show is villainized for standing out. I knew all this stuff as a kid, engines being scrapped, Smudger and his fate, the dieselization occurring on the Mainland, etc. But that didn’t stop me from binging all the DVDs I had or reading the stories over and over again. My mom and I both watched them together and she never said anything about it, not even now, and enjoyed them just as much as me. In fact she straight up disagrees with the arguments presented by the critics, because guess what? She has actually seen most of the show with me and understands how Sodor is supposed to function on a fundamental level. Critics trying to claim innocent series are much more sinister than they seen is nothing new, but Thomas by far has some of the worst I’ve ever seen and read. You did a great service making this video, and I’m sure other fandom members will appreciate you for it.

[@stastudios730]

Luigiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

[@WeegeeMaro]

@@stastudios730 yes

[@matthewchen3678]

the idea that thomas is called out and essentially cancelled for standing out, reminds me how governments often will try to silence and monitor critics that don't agree with them, especially inthe modern day :/

[@worthybutter2004]

@@matthewchen3678 Yeah, it's disgusting how all they (Thomas' creators) were trying to do was to make a kid's show (or kid's book) that stood out from the rest, and yet THIS is the thanks they get?! And the fact that the series eventually began to dumb down on its storytelling and take less and less risks, especially in the Hit era, the Nitrogen era, the BWBA era and the new reboot AEG, does not help. It's just...sad tbh.

[@matthewchen3678]

@@worthybutter2004 thank god brenner came in clutch, and gave us 5 of the best seasons of thomas, and 3 of the best films of the franchise 😉, and a ton of excellent characters, lore references etc Besides Awdry didn't write those books just to piss other people off. He did it to entertain a kid, and the TV show entertain kid with plural. He wasn't doing it for money or to spread a message, he was doing it for the sake of entertainment and to give lvove and passion to something he loved.

[@christianbalba5292]

I actually like how greatly researched this video is, to also prove people the wrong things they researched and made up to make it a dark-like franchise, that they're wrong for not even doing a correct deep research about thomas, cause they just use those things they believe from other people rather than watching/reading the franchise

[@CarlosPCastaneda]

A quick correction, Rev Awdry wasn’t Catholic, he was a reverend of the Church of England which is a different and Protestant denomination commonly known as Anglicanism today :).

[@Thomperfan]

Dude, I think I speak for every Thomas fan when I say thank you for making this video. You explained everything perfectly. The people who complain about how supposedly dark Thomas is come off as Darwin did in that one episode of Gumball where he was upset that inanimate objects were being used as they were built to be used as.

[@sericsmith5770]

I agree. For a women who’s last name is Tolentino, she is talentless when it comes to actual research.

[@sericsmith5770]

Who deleted my reply?

[@wiggleninja]

Never thought I’d be watching a Thomas the tank engine video but here I am 😭🙏

[@Henryweaponsdude]

I mean I’ve watched many strange videos Thomas is the least strangest

[@Sudriantank743]

Welcome to the Thomas The Tank Engine fandom! My name is Jinty, I'll be your guide. So, in the vip room, reside the biggest creators in this fandom, [the unlucky tug, enterprising engines 93, etc], in the cringe room reside the people who recolor Thomas and say it's an oc, then we have the deviantart room, don't enter ever, PLEASE DON'T ENTER!!! Anyway, here we have the roblox room. This is where the highest-rated roblox thomas developers live. And that's the start of the tour, I'll be happy to give the rest of it later, for now, I'd recommend you stay in the visitors room.

[@Henryweaponsdude]

@@Sudriantank743 I know about unlucky tug that guys videos are great

[@skandto]

welcome to the fandom. we're huge, we're out there, we're everywhere... but nobody ever talks about it

[@Henryweaponsdude]

@@skandto nice good to see a fanbase based on my childhood show

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

Thomas fans reading articles of people claiming that the engines are slaves and that the Fat Controller is a cruel maniac: That's a nice argument, why don't you back it up with a source? The writers of said articles: My source is that I made it the *bleep* up!

[@Sudriantank743]

Then these articles pull shit out their ass like "there is so much evidence that all the trains are strippers that it's embarrassing" or something

[@JessicaKasumi1990]

Ooh, H, who knew you could be so savage!

[@joshuaW5621]

And yet some of them also choose to hate on Topham in Sodor’s Legend of the Lost Treasure just because he was mad at Thomas for not owning up to accidents he caused.

[@2acidic4u]

That's yellow journalism for ya. Exaggerate and take things out of proportions until it's unrecognizable or outright false

[@TrainGuy-ev9tu]

Honestly I think that what a lot of people misunderstand, is the fact that TTTE and Especially the Railway Series is a story of work colleges. The Fat Controller is honestly the kind of manager most people would get along with. Making sure things get done and not taking anyones sh**, but clearly caring for those who work for him as if they were his own kids. The engines can be quite harsh to each other? I mean yeah, that’s how coworkers can sometimes be. Not everyone gets along, and even those you do get along with aren’t above some banter and competition. The RWS Toby, Thomas, and Percy dynamic in particular like three coworkers that have spent years together at the same job. The characters are a family, but in a way not unlike the core staff of a business. (Hell sometimes in the show there are even temps)

[@gunmunz]

Journalists not understanding how blue collar (especially turn of the century blue collar) people act? Color me shocked.

[@thetechnocrat4979]

​@@gunmunz Exactly. These ' Journalists ' themselves work in a very mollycoddled environment with all the dirty office politics simmering and festering beneath a shiny, sterile surface. Their ' work environments' are most of the times, nothing more than adult day cares. They are never going to understand what working blue collar means.

[@skookiecat_29]

I loved this show when I was little, i still adore it. You always seem to upload exactly what I’m looking for lol

[@Lennon6412]

Woah woah woah, harsh on Ringo. He was great!

[@BuggleskellyStation]

Interesting video, thanks. However, I don't think the critics necessarily hate Thomas though as you've said, it's a mixture of things, but not usually outright hate. Newspaper columnists are paid to generate clickbait articles, and nothing inflames more than criticising our childhood favourites. Just look at the 'Thomas is woke' nonesense from earlier this year. Those articles are stupid but it's not people hating Thomas, it's journalists seeing a quick way to write an article that will get people angry. KZbinrs like TomSka also love Thomas, he's parodied him plenty of times, his video was again to get views and debate going. I'd say it comes from a place of love, not hate. Don't forget, British humour means we take the piss out of the things we love.

[@anoxylitol]

such an astonishing and deeply appreciative analysis of the writer and his writings. your understanding of the series is certainly well beyond most fans' comprehension of it, and thus, your input is dearly valued. this was a great watch.

[@t221000]

The engines are supposed to embody the personality of children. The human characters such as the drivers and Hatt represent the parental authority figures. Hard to believe this is difficult for adults to understand. Every generation has adults who don't understand what young people. Thomas is literally the best part of my childhood.

[@thetechnocrat4979]

Unfortunately, there are many ' adults ' in this world who need everything to be spelt out/spoon-fed to them in explicit detail. No scope of using their imagination and no sense of intuition.

[@heathertiplady]

I agree with some of the commenters here; some people need to stop twisting Thomas and Friends into something that should be demonised, especially the Classic era. This is because characters like Thomas, Percy, and Mavis are shown to grow up and mature over time, with most of the pranks being nothing more than a bit of harmless fun. For example, Thomas and Percy occasionally spook each other and themselves, albeit unintentionally and while they are scared in the moment (and for a short while afterwards), they eventually get over it and find that they can laugh about it later. Not to mention the fact that even close friends and siblings occasionally bicker. Additionally, if Annie and Clarabel were mere prizes to Thomas, would he feel as protective of them and confide in them as much as he does? No, he wouldn't. Also, are the likes of Sir Topham Hatt and Mr Percival angry with their engines when they are late due to the occurrence of rockslides, mudslides, and issues with snow/ ice or animals straying on to the line? No, because they know that those situations are beyond the engines' control and accidents that occur due to those circumstances are not to be blamed on anyone except Mother Nature. So, to those claiming that Classic Thomas is as "dark" as it is, get lost because you really don't understand that sometimes having rules and working hard is good thing, and that while some jokes and pranks (e.g., putting salt instead of sugar in someone's tea or coffee) can be annoying, they don't cause any long- term harm.

[@allys744]

I agree, although I will say that STH can be very unreasonable with the engines at times. It’s a lick of the draw: will STH get mad at the engines for things out of their control or not?

[@heathertiplady]

@@allys744 I understand your concerns, though it's also important to consider the fact that he is still human. This means that it's understandable that he occasionally loses his temper, as we all do from time to time. However, once he's had a chance to calm down and reflect on the situation, he acknowledges his mistake and apologises. An example of this is the episode Cranky Bugs, in which he scolds Thomas and Percy when they did nothing wrong. But, when Cranky is knocked over and admits to being rude, Sir Topham Hatt clearly states that he owes Thomas and Percy an apology. So, yes, I agree; he's not perfect. However, running a railway is a stressful job and even the most experienced individuals can still make mistakes.

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

Absolutely perfect. This puts into words many things ive wanted to say about Thomas. I love the inclusion of the quote at the end.

[@ryanlee5512]

I like to view Thomas’ time progression of “standing still” more as evolutionary than revolutionary. All new engines and vehicles should be given a chance to integrate this tradition with the old, however the tradition itself should (and has) flexibility to fit these new machines in. (Edward, to Gordon, to deltics, to pip and Emma) that doesn’t mean the older engines have no use, it just means they now co-exist and still play an important role. The tradition is still there, but it’s not complete time capsule.

[@Silvercubestudios]

The old and the new coexist in balance with one another, without any conflict nor hate, just syncrony all throughout. A balance that shall always be respected.

[@PCMan8922]

You just saved me from a brain mess, this franchise is my childhood and I can't imagine a better show.

[@TWTE2001]

54:49-57:12 - this whole New Yorker article becomes even more invalid once you find out that its author's parents did human trafficking for a living, and she went on a full defence rant for it.

[@arhopkins2000]

When you look at the series through the lens of other children’s media, where things are very anthropomorphic, the slave argument makes sense. However, people fail to realize that this is not the case for the Railway Series. The engines having faces and personalities is not anthropomorphic, but personification. The engines in the Reverends stories have personalities reflective of how they operate. Think of it this way: when you drive a car, it has a distinct feeling as it’s operated. The gas may be more touchy, the brakes a little stiffer, etc. These mechanical quirks make up the engines feelings, thoughts, and actions. Their mechanical personalities are literally given a face. They’re not living trains who are forced to do whatever they’re told, they are machines who literally cannot be operated without engineers. (At least in the Reverend’s stories, the later TV seasons make that more complicated). All these people who claim that Thomas is the secret dark story 1. Have likely not read the books 2. Are mistaking maturity for darkness.

[@MrJoeyWheeler]

Yeah. In much the same way, you go shopping and people often complain about trolleys having "a mind of their own".

[@arhopkins2000]

@@MrJoeyWheeler yes! That’s a great way to put it!

[@worthybutter2004]

Well, of course they haven't read the books! They're nowhere near as popular or as famous as their televised adaptation is.

[@Rexeljet]

As a big fan of the original Thomas stories, I'm left feeling a bit conflicted regarding this video. A lot of good points were made, don't get me wrong, but I feel that a lot of the time the video feels less like it's pushing back against the claims that Thomas is authoritarian, and more like it's saying "Okay, so maybe Thomas is authoritarian, but is that a bad thing?". Aside from the fact that this argument is unlikely to win over the opinions of people who subscribe to the false narrative, I think it does a great disservice to the original stories. I think the video puts a bit too much emphasis on traditional values and aversion to change. You mention that revolutionary ideas are punished and use the Duck/Diesel trilogy as an example, but Diesel wasn't kicked off of Sodor for having revolutionary ideas, he was kicked off of Sodor for insulting the other engines behind their backs and blaming Duck for it. All because Diesel didn't want to admit that he'd made a mistake! Being revolutionary was never part of the equation. There's also the point about the engines striking only hurting themselves, using the Troublesome Engines saga as an example. Aside from the fact that dieselisation hadn't begun in the UK at the time the book was published, The Fat Controller does not actually punish the engines for striking. He addresses their complaints by bringing Edward to help out at the Big Station, thus ending the strike. He only shuts the big engines up after they act like complete jerks to Edward, and then to Percy when he arrives. I think it's also important to remember a part of British railway history that contextualises a lot of Awdry's later stories- The 1955 modernisation plan. This is the big reason for Awdry and other British railway buffs' dislike towards diesels. It wasn't just the prospect of change- the railways had been gradually modernising and evolving over the past 150-odd years prior, and it was natural to assume that they would continue to do so- but the Modernisation plan was different. It was an initiative put forward by the Conservative Party to replace locomotives which were good for another 30-40 years' work with engines running on an unperfected and often faulty technology because they were easier to drive and cheaper to maintain than steam, whilst also being cheaper to build and accommodate than electric engines. Thus, Sodor is not just a place that upholds traditionalism and refuses to move with the times, it's a safe haven for engines whose old railway is at the mercy of an uncaring government that will exterminate perfectly healthy engines for the sake of saving money. On Sodor they will be cared for, and lead happy lives. Also I wasn't keen on the wording of the section about kids wanting to enter the workforce. I'm not saying it's wrong for kids to want to work when they're older, of course- they still need to eat- but in a world where corporations are at their greediest, the cost of living is extremely high, and people have to work multiple jobs with no free time just to make ends meet, anti-work sentiment is understandably on the rise. A good argument to make is that in a world like this, Thomas still has a place. And I think he does. As a bit of an addendum (which I can only apologise for as this comment is already way too long!), is that while I understand why you didn't bring up the later instalments of the show post-S7, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the yellow journalism surrounding Thomas was informed largely by the show's later seasons, particularly seasons 8-16. The narrative of Topham scrapping engines if they act out of line doesn't seem relevant for the classic series, but in the HiT seasons there are often stories about the engines fearing that they will be scrapped or withdrawn from service. The New Yorker article mentions that Diesel struggles to prove that he's as useful as the steamies. This doesn't fit his original character description, but describes him pretty well in the Nitrogen Era. S8-16 simplified the steam vs diesel conflict into a basic racism allegory with the implication that the diesels are the oppressed group, a reading which is fundamentally incompatible with the original stories. One thing to mention is that whilst Roald Dahl is arguably more problematic than Awdry, and his books contain plenty of off-colour moments, you don't tend to get trashy thinkpieces slating his work (or if you do, they don't inform the public perception of these books) because they're beloved and (mostly) haven't been run into the ground by later instalments. Meanwhile, I wouldn't be at all surprised if most of the Thomas thinkpieces are the work of disgruntled parents subjected to the lazy, mind-numbing writing of the HiT era and deciding to vent about it online.

[@Barracudo11109]

Wait are you saying that the New Yorker isn’t wrong or uhh?

[@Rexeljet]

@@Barracudo11109 No I'm not defending the NY article or its author. If you're referring to what the NY article said about Diesel, then I'm saying that if your main exposure to Thomas was the HiT seasons, then you may come away thinking that Diesel is just an underdog trying to prove his usefulness and not a scheming trickster.

[@Barracudo11109]

@@Rexeljet ohh my bad. I thought you where talking about the “authoritarian” claim….

[@clangaman2810]

If I had a nickel for every time Thomas characters and Count Dankula were in the same video, I’d have two nickels. It’s not a lot, but as we know, it’s strange it happened twice

[@EternityKingdomsHeadHoncho]

That “Thomas is antisemitic” article is honestly funny because I personally read Topham as a stand-in for the Judeo-Christian God

[@allys744]

Is that a real article, Thomas is antisemitic?? Man, the things people write for clicks. It’s a generic children’s show with no mention of race at all.

[@EternityKingdomsHeadHoncho]

@@allys744 Yes. It was talked about in this video during the section discussing the engines being misinterpreted as slaves by those critical of Thomas

[@thetechnocrat4979]

It's really so stupid how these people can find ' hidden anti-semitism ' in the most innocent and unrelated of things but they are the same people who usually fail to see the blatant anti-semitism in a Palestinian protest where phrases like ' Globalize the Intifada ' , ' From the River to the sea ', etc. are used by so called Protesters.

[@thetechnocrat4979]

It's really so stupid how these people can find ' hidden anti-semitism ' in the most innocent and unrelated of things but they are the same people who usually fail to see the blatant anti-semitism in a Palestinian protest where phrases like ' Globalize the Intifada ' , ' From the River to the sea ', etc. are used by so called Protesters.

[@deltaace6426]

As a Thomas fan, thank you for really doing your research on this one

[@blackraptorex2469]

One thing that I don’t see a lot of people talk about in Thomas & Friends is the fundamental themes of Found Family, Sodor has not only become a safe heaven for Steam engines in a time where they are very VERY scarce but you have characters who completely different each other in terms of looks, types, and origin treat each other more than just work colleges but incredibly close friends or familial like relation, not just with the Fat Controller being a father figure to the engines but also like Edward being a father/mentor figure to Thomas or Annie and Clarabel being aunties to Thomas and the rest goes on. Thomas & Friends fully embraces found family to a cup of tea. What pisses me off about these idiots and their stupid criticisms is that they are so obsessed of “RuInInG YoUr ChIlDhOoD” bullcrap that they don’t give a sh** about the show itself nor understand why people especially kids liked to begin and this is literally just an excuse to get all this attention. This reason why TTTE was so successful implies to modern kid shows like Bluey which also got universal acclaim because like Thomas it never talked down to kid and teaches kids life lessons and it’s something kids and adults would enjoy. A good kids show is not just the themes and morals, a good kids show is having engaging stories, memorable characters, and the many accomplishments and failures the characters face that kids would relate too and that is what made me so engaged in Thomas when I got to know the show more about in May of 2023.

[@arthurfine4284]

The best part of Found Family as well is that many people who seek those kinds of relationships with others tend to be people who have been ostracized and shunned by mainstream society. In the case of The Railway Series, you find some pretty sad backstories for many of the characters. Edward, Thomas, and Percy were not wanted by their respective company. Henry was built wrong and sold to the NWR as a scam. Gordon was a prototype that should've stayed locked away, but was given a chance by the NWR to pull express trains. Even being a diesel wasn't a guarantee. BoCo and Bear were unusual BR designs that either broke down frequently or parts were expensive or difficult to find. BR was hemorrhaging money and BoCo and Bear could've faced scrapping had they not been given a home by the NWR.

[@blackraptorex2469]

@@arthurfine4284 That’s what I freaking love about this series so damn much man; the characters either a steam engine or a diesel have a lot of story to them that makes you relate or feel for them. The Unlucky Tug said it best when he said in one of his videos that the Island of Sodor is an island full of misfits because they are just unwanted folks abandoned by their owners who won’t give a crap about them and were eventually accepted by the Fat Controller who embraced their full potential.

[@heathertiplady]

I agree. Many of the stories in the books and the TV series show that the characters interact with each other in ways which highlight the fact that, despite being apprehensive of each other initially, they form bonds with each other over time and eventually adopt each other as family. An excellent example of this is Thomas and Edward since Edward is stern when he needs to be, but isn't afraid to indulge in a little harmless mischief occasionally. Meanwhile, Thomas respects Edward deeply and willingly does his utmost to help him if he can and make amends with him (& everyone else) when he realises that he's taken his teasing and/ or boasting too far. As such, I would recommend watching the video Cinders & Ashes UK created about these 2; it is really well- executed and informative.

[@gumundureyorarnfinnsson4212]

THINK YOU FINALLY PEPOLE WHO GET IT

[@blackraptorex2469]

@@heathertiplady I actually have seen that video from Cinders and Ashes UK about Thomas and Edward when it came out was really anticipating it before its release and made me really appreciate their dynamic a lot more. Edward was basically Thomas’s first friend and I deeply adore how the CGI series and even fan made content mainly Trampy handled their relationship. Truly like a father-son dynamic if you ask me. Even Wilbert Awdry himself when he was asked in an interview about who his favorite character was in the books, he said he had non because to him, the engines were basically a family to each other and in a real family, there is no such thing as the “favorite”.

[@SuperTrainStationH]

44:46 - Its worth pointing out that Rev. Awdry was a pacifist before that word had necessarily positive connotations.

[@Steamytheme419]

This is the most tasteful thomas related video on the internet, goodness gracious

[@BushMermaid1394]

THEY ARE LITERAL TRAINS, WHAT ELSE CAN THEY DO?

[@armorpro573]

LOL exactly. Not like they have any other choice

[@ashleydemoss4609]

I doubt they are slaves. The engines enjoy working.

[@ScorchZaneTrains]

Yeah that’s what they are built for and still love doing

[@gwrgamer3606]

You made quite an interesting point about how Sodor is an accepting place, if you think of the steam engines as a repressed society then Sodor actually becomes quite a liberal welcoming place. To add to that, consider how both the steam as well as diesel engines/road vehicles come to accept each other and learn neither is superior or inferior. I know you didn't touch on the HIT era but Calling all Engines shows that when all is said and done. the steam & diesel engines aren't that different from each other at all, which I think is a great message to teach people how to respect people who are different from you. So in actuality, there's actually quite an inclusive, progressive message in this franchise

[@spinballpac-man]

Fun Fact: I actually live in Ampfield where Wilbert Awdry used to live

[@BestTheIsDualusional]

A documentry about my favorite childhood show??? Seems like my kinda thing...

[@WesternEchidna]

Seriously, thank you for making this video. The way people try to demonize the series just pissed me off. Especially TomSka's video.

[@NotMattyDYT]

If the engines were slaves then why are they willingly working for Sir Topham Hatt? It is stated in many episodes that "The engines are proud to work on The Fat Controller's Railway" and they are made to work so they aren't slaves if they are willingly working for him and if it's literally their job to work and pull trains. I always hated how people especially that one Top 10 Scary Thomas The Tank Engine Theories video make the show out to be dark and that a cruel dictator runs the railway and enslaves the engines and punishes them unfairly when that's not the case. Thomas was always about the reality of railways and how they work or have changed and its good to teach kids and adults those themes of respecting authority and the true ongoings of things like engines being scrapped bc it never talked down to kids or tried to traumatize and act as if they were stupid, it always showed or told and people took away the lesson that they were trying to teach rather than it being flat out stated.

[@R.M.CProductions]

Absolutely phenomenal video, sick and tired of people spreading this false "Thomas is darker than you think" bs. Thank for making such an informative documentary, definitely deserves more attention.

[@MednaTheFox]

"Okay, aside from Welsh Coal, Water, Tenders, New Paint Jobs, Special Coaches, Sheds and Fixing our Railways; WHAT has The Fat Controller ever done for us?!" "He numbers us." "He numbers us? Oh, shut up!"

[@thetechnocrat4979]

He gives them names and always calls them by their names. If they already have a name, then he respects that name and calls them by that only.. Honestly, poor Sir Toppham Hatt. If he was real, I would have suggested him to sue all these journalists for defamation (cause he would have won easily).

[@joshuaW5621]

Thank you so much for making this video disproving these allegations about Thomas and handling it maturely and respectfully.

[@margogoralski6294]

Agreed.

[@Temporaryusername-i4h]

If it wasn't for thomas. All of rail preservation wouldn't exist

[@bananaboco6804]

Fun fact: The author of the new yorker article actually defend her family members who are convicted human traffickers

[@thesillyfilmrewiewer]

fake

[@joshuaW5621]

If that is true it wouldn’t surprise me.

[@bananaboco6804]

@@joshuaW5621 it's true look it up

[@bananaboco6804]

@@thesillyfilmrewiewer dude I'm telling the truth

[@worthybutter2004]

Oh my god, that's disgusting!

[@vincentmorris8431]

Very well said. Of the various good representations of Awdry's work in the show, one thing that I feel unfortunately leaned a little in favor of the journalists claims, would be involve the depictions of the scrap yards. One main thing that outsiders try to use as evidence of Hatt scrapping engines is the various scrap engines seen in the scrap yards in the show, mostly being whole bodies that perceived as 'prior victims' despite them intended as simple set dressing. Another factor would probably the smelters. In books, the most we got of a scrapyard on Sodor was Trevor's introduction, with a steelworks mentioned, presumably the aluminum works at Peel Godred. While the smelters does very well capture the engines fear, having such a foreboding depiction on Sodor probably doesn't help it's image as a sanctuary of preserving steam. And the sadistic 'Arry & Bert have the island's name on them. Most this here I saw on a discussion on these twins called "Ironworks Diesel Twins Really Don't Work" by CrovanWorks who has done many a great discussions akin to the one you did, including one on how the journalists affected Hatt. Along with the Other Railway being "a faraway *part of the island* where only the diesels work", there are of course other things towards Britt such as copyright on the Talyllyn or Stepney, that most fans agreeably take issue with, though I do praise Rusty to the Rescue for it maybe being the sole instance of a diesel saving a steamer from scrap done by the official show.

[@ShukakuTheCrazy1]

I can understand where some of these people are coming from. Sometimes, if you squint, you might see some out of context parallels to whatever, even if they were never intentional from the original author. For example, i very easily see the movies A Bugs Life and Chicken Run having a marxist undertone that i honestly cannot unsee. I don't think the producers intended that, but its an angle i cant help but see. But yeah these people making these articles forgetting that, while sentient, these are still machines. Machines designed to do work, and one would think a sentient machine would have a psychological drive to work hard at what they were made to do, just like the toys of toy story want to play with kids, just like they were produced to do

[@greateasternj69]

As an anthropomorphic machine fan who doesn't take part in the ttte fandom because of it's more toxic traits and certain fans not upholding the lessons and values that the books and TV series teach to them and the franchises main audience. Yet I still like the show and books as a causal fan. I can see that you did a very good job at debunking the many myths surrounding the show by those who hate on the series and overly preach for "excessive individualism" as way to say that conformity and hard work is entirely bad, when they certainly aren't at least not in an authoritarian way. While I' am a supporter of individualism as I do believe that everyone should be able to express themselves the way they want to, but I fully understand that it shouldn't be done in an excessive idealistic way to where it leads to utter misguidance and ignorance. Wanting to be yourself as an individual and have your own identity isn't inherently a bad thing and it's important for you to become and independent and self-sufficient. However, there some who will take the idea of individualism to the extreme to where they place themselves above everyone else and to where they only care about themselves to where in their minds, "if you conform to what society expects of you then your letting them suppress your own individuality and it's bad!" That too me goes way too far, and goes against what the idea of individualism is meant to be all about, and is the reason why too many people who are so anti-work nowadays and want to blame others who followed the rules and conformed to what society expected of them, along with entities and governments for all their problems, when they are making those problems and their own life worse for themselves, all because they think the other side owes them something. When they don't. While the engines on Sodor are their own individuals in their own right because of them being alive and Sentient. They are still at the end of the day machines built to serve a purpose of operating on a full working railway, and the railway just like any other workplace in any industry (including those involving machinery and technology) you might have worked in during your life. Expect you to adhere to the companies standards and values as they require someone with a collectivist mindset so that the workplace and everyone including those in charge working within it can function properly and they work together as a team with each member of that team knowing their role in the company work together to make sure that the business runs efficiently and everyone is following all of the rules and procedures, including the healthy and safety ones to make sure the business is a safe place to work, and stays on track to keep the company ahead of it's competitors. And I can tell you, none of them have time for individualistic individuals who try to brake the rules and attempt put themselves above those in charge, as doing so (unless for a reasonable reason such as union strike action over an action from up top they disagree with) would result in the entire business going down with them as it's being prevented from functioning properly by that one individual. And this all appeals to every known industry you've worked in, unless of course you work in the arts in which individualism is encouraged in some form to come up with creative ideas to turn into every film, show and game you've brought, watched and played in your life.

[@greninjazac4577]

You can really tell someone’s political beliefs by how negative they talk about a kids show about goddamn talking steam locomotives.

[@armorpro573]

And also how people criticize the "tyrannies" of Sodor when they're fricken machines. It's like someone trying to set their toaster free into the wild. Well what's it going to do, start mating with the wildlife?

[@VictorTanzig1]

Marvellous video. So nice to see someone properly dismantle the more ridiculous criticisms against this series. I can remember reading some of those articles when they first came out. Got a good laugh out of me, that's for sure. Never knew the anti-Semitism one, though. Projecting much? Once again, brilliant work. Keep it up!

[@WobblesandBean]

Well, I didn't expect this on my bingo card for 2024.

[@Daniel_Huffman]

We all have our different ways of debunking these misconceptions, and the two that I tend to use are rooted not in facts, but in logic. The first is something that you briefly touched on: The engines are just that-engines! Living machines do not think in the same way that humans do, and have different values. Unlike humans, the meaning of life to a machine is simply to work. It's the reason why they were built, and to fulfill that reason gives them satisfaction. The second method I use is to point out when the books were published. Most of Wilbert's books were published during the Cold War, and _The Three Railway Engines_ was published barely a week after the fall of Nazi Germany. Given how paranoid the British and especially the Americans were of pro-fascist/communist attitudes, if Awdry really was writing his stories in such a manner, it would not have taken until the 2010s for people to notice this "support." If an English clergyman really was encouraging children to embrace fascist/communist attitudes, the British government would not have allowed the series to continue.

[@zedlewis_hobbies]

"Yeah but the animals in Animal Farm were just animals, with different values to people. So, the book can't be used as an allegory for the Russian Revolution because it's actually about a farm and not explicitly about Russia." "They're just trains!1!" doesn't hold up, and hasn't across any media that's used animals, machines, whatever else to represent a society. The books can be about trains, and we can still derive tidbits of the author's moral inclinations / belief system and unevaulated biases from it. Not to say any of it is *intentional*, but it's almost more worthy of discussion the thigns which are unintentional, because they tell us something about the author's baseline assumptions and worldview.

[@justsomeguy5628]

While it certainly is a possibility, I don't know that there is intended to be much of a nativist theme to the series, but there is definitely much deeper themes. The railway is a workplace, and one that needs to run smoothly. People will travel around and particularly in Europe, between countries. Hardwork and doing what is expected as expected, is what should matter most, not squeezing out profit. The troublesome trucks very specifically and explicitly meant to represent privately owned trucks by individuals and companies, a huge problem on British Rail, especially after its privatization under Thatcher, as they were rarely taken care of and maintained properly. The engines, unlike there portrayal in later seasons of the show, also are pretty much just machines. They don't move themselves, and they only exist to be used. While the characters of the engines will occasionally result in drivers doing things that have no purpose or human explanation, the stories very much are meant to be ones that could just happen with people. I think part of the reason that this idea of the show being dark comes not only to the sensationalization of the story(though that is a huge part), but because these engines exhibit a face, which makes what happens to then visceral, and speech, which is distinctly and innately human. As he wrote them, Wilbert(and likely his son Christopher as well) realized that there was some pretty macabre elements steming from the fact they made the engines alive, and while sort of acknowledged it, I don't believe they had much to say to rebuke it. In fact, it was kind of real, as engines in the real world were and in places still are cared for like people. They can't be given unlimited leeway, unless and admittedly even if they were nationalized, but they had names for a reason. This was especially true back when railway crews consisted of many people. The name of the engine isn't just referring to the piece of metal, it was almost like a family. That is a big reason that, even as adults and even in a time where it is far less like this, the concept still understandable by adults, despite the literal locomotives both in real like and in the world of Thomas the Tank Engine/The Railway Series not having any freewill or actual ability to do control anything beyond talking.

[@Barracudo11109]

I kinda think the later cgi season had the perfect balance of treating the engines as both human and vehicles if that makes sense. But that just might be me being biased since I grew up watching that era a bit more lol It’s also kinda worth mentioning that while they are sentient,their intelligence isn’t one to one with humans. Small railway engines kinda proves that

[@thetechnocrat4979]

Thanks for this incredibly well argued video. It was a joy listening to it. Plus, it gave me some more insights into the Railway series that I had previously missed. The only thing that I would disagree with Rev. Wilbert Awdry is his notion of Electrics and Diesels not being that ' alive ' or deprived of personality. (Although, I do agree with him that tube trains and some EMUs do look like worms with no sentience. And I like how he argued for the diesels being ' self centred ' due to their purring. XD) I am an Indian who has grown up with the Indian Railways since childhood; and maybe it is due to the design of those diesel and electric locomotives (some look like rugged old experienced gentlemen, some look like the new kid eager to learn and impress, some look grand and some look downright smug), or their constant sounds, but I always saw tons of personality in them despite them not being steam powered. So, that would probably be my only point of contention with Awdry. I wish he was alive so I could have had a chat about it with him.

[@seanalailima5929]

TomSka also voiced and was the inspiration of Tom from Eddsworld.

[@abbeyroadfan94-J.P]

Great work on the video, I like how Terence (a tractor) is the odd 1 out as the rest are diesel engines Derek in series 5 although appearing once is a friendly diesel compared to arry and bert who were also introduced in that series

[@vibezonegaming]

Before I watch the video to any serious extent, I would like to mention that people’s perception may have been impacted by how some stories were adapted. A lot of those articles use the railway series as a source when the tv series only mirrors it. The Railway series has a full story on Donald and Douglas getting to the Island of Sodor meanwhile the TV series lacked the context behind why Sir Topham would send them away. The TV series dropping a lot of these plot line’s darker aspects is a detriment in that it now only shows Sir Topham’s authoritative personality while minimizing his acts of kindness.

[@HyperSonicSquall]

not really, actually. the show's narration quickly mentions that the order was originally put in for only one new engine but two were sent instead, and the main conflict was still trying to choose only one

[@vibezonegaming]

@@HyperSonicSquall Yeah, but the TV series lost why one being sent away would be terrible. Like they get separated, sad but whatever. Choosing to keep both isn't as impactful in the TV series since the audience doesn't know it meant Donald or Douglas would get scrapped if they both couldn't stay. Sir Topham Hatt's act of kindness is minimized because they lost the book's plotline. His reputation doesn't exactly get better in the classic series.

[@ChrisTomson]

“There’s also the case of Daisy and Mavis being on Sodor” one being flamboyantly arrogant and the other being “full of her own ideas”… Oh, and both of them (THE ONLY TWO) were diesel engines. Which, by this video’s own admission, Awdry hated. Oh, and he had to have one of his books edited because he used the racist N word, so… I do think that there are discussions to be had about the problematic aspects of Awdry’s work and, by extension, the show. The problem is that too many Dunning Kruger a-holes (apart from Tomska, I genuinely think his video wasn’t meant to be taken as seriously as the “journalist” hit pieces) have made fans so defensive about it that it’s almost impossible to do so, even within the fanbase itself. Well, that and the fact that they send abuse and death threats to anyone who has a differing opinion *looking at All Engines Go haters dogpiling on the fans of it for no reason*

[@fairlyoddenginecreations]

It's unfortunate, really. I love Awdry's creation as much as everyone else does but that doesn't mean it's perfect.

[@MrJoeyWheeler]

The "racist N word" as you put it was only considered offensive in the USA. Calling it offensive is a cultural export of the USA. You can see as much even in one of Agatha Christie's books.

[@ChrisTomson]

@@MrJoeyWheeler it’s offensive EVERYWHERE. The edit happened after the first publication of the book, long before the US had even heard of the books. Stop trying to find excuses for being a racist twat

[@ChrisTomson]

@@fairlyoddenginecreations exactly. Being a fan of something doesn’t mean you ignore its flaws. It gives you a better understanding of what those flaws are

[@toyotaprius79]

@@MrJoeyWheeler jfc

[@adrianmorrison4678]

Can you please try to review the history of the timeline and massive bashing of barney using the peacock documentary "I love you, You hate me", the fact it seems to reflect the negative reputation that kids shows often get, and most importantly, the fact to seems to reflect a negative thing thats been spreading throughout our new culture?

[@rezlevin6424]

oh boy i found my snoozing vid for the night

[@pinstripecool34]

Same!😁☺️😴😴

[@jjplaytv8750]

This is genuinely one of the best if not the best analytical video about ttte i have ever watched

[@martinsto8190]

43:33 Woah!woahWOAH!! What the heck Mister, do you not know what a Union/Syndicate even is? basically how collective bargaining should be every workers right to perserve finacial stability or keep up to date with safety.

[@specialcoaluser7371]

I wonder what the Fat controller himself would think of these articles 😮‍💨 28:24

[@nostall123productions]

He’d probably sue for slander.

[@Zomque_MILK]

"I say these articles from the states are completely preposterous! " - Sir Topham Hatt

[@Adam_The_Claas21_Tank_Engine22]

IT mybe a kids show but thomas the tank engine is also a adult franchize as well its also kinda a good thing that thomas was dark bc with out the darkness of thomas the show would just be a normal train show, well with talking faces. thats why the show got its charme its dark end sweet and with out those axpects then thomas and friends just wont be thomas thomas and friends.

[@AlexSerrano-id1lm]

The darkness is the original rawness that makes Awdry's work so great. Magic is what Britt put in the show. It was ok but stupid. The books are way better straight from the authors head. All books are always better than the movie.

[@mathuasher9184]

This was great!!

[@spe-notapopularytbersus1237]

the tomska video made me despise people who didnt bother to watch the show

[@emersoninfinitystone5785]

25:52 That pretty much sums up the state of this world right now, especially in the United Kingdom. I'm sorry, but it's true.

[@wuba5456]

the quack clip got me so bad

[@enjr3]

I don't get people who say that Topham is a dictator of some sort. Victor Tanzig in his Stories of Sodor videos even said that first of all, the engines in TTTE are just that. Engines. Machines. Their purpose, their goal is to be useful. They LIKE to work. And Topham is the controller of a railway. Of course, he's going to give jobs to the engines because that's his job. They need money to run a railway, and without engines that's pretty much inpossible.

[@Lilcutiepie95]

“Or else Sodor is fucked” I love this channel lol

[@MoAudios]

YES MANGA! 🎉 im proud of ya!

[@trickstercj4366]

I think the existence of the no free will or control could be debunked by the existence of salty a diesel that was sent to work somewhere where while he did a good job clearly loved working near the sea and was sent to work in the harbor where he preferred.

[@MDPToaster]

Now THIS is a video essay.

[@lbno7725]

It’s funny that I searched for a video essay about Thomas and this video came up, but I had also watched part of it already. Shut up I smoke.

[@ThePrehistoricRailway]

This video deserves billions of views, amazing work

[@tiger-ym7ln]

Well, i would like to thank you for this. You told thomas values and morals better than i could ever do.

[@hydrofalls8154]

I am going to admit I kind of understand both sides. I mean, yeah, they are machines. But like they can think, talk, and fear. Also, I think a lot of people like me have some bad memories of parents demanding that you just shut up and listen. Also, we shouldn't forget that not everyone that makes thomas darker. Aren't always doing this out of anything malicious. It has a lot of people who just love making childhood shows darker. Especially when you think it with a more critical mind. A rabbit hole is so fun to fall into. Edit: Also the lesson might not work for every child. I mean I am autistic, conforming to society isn't really easy. It's more like having to act like your skin doesn't itches constantly. Over all great points except for that last part. I just genuinely do not see the good in conforming. Learning the good and the bad of the society you inhabit is important. Following rules that are there for your protection and the one of others is also important. But bending to it's values, is just something I never cared for. Though it would be neat to be able to compromise about it all. I do really believe progressions and tradition could help eachother.

[@arthurfine4284]

The claim that engines need to conform in order to live on Sodor bothers me slightly. Because none of the standard gauge engines on Sodor have lived pleasant lives before coming to the island. Edward was ignored to the point that the Furness Railway didn't put up a fuss over the NWR purchasing him. Thomas got lost and was essentially given to the NWR for free. Gordon was a prototype never intended to run on rails. Henry...The Fat Controller not only gave Henry a chance to work even in his poor condition, but purchased coal for him to use and later called in all stops to make Henry into a properly working engine. Any other railway would've tossed Henry into a furnace and melted him for scrap metal. And that's not even getting to how the modern railway has declined significantly since Awdry's childhood. If there was a question I'd love to ask, it would be about Awdry's thoughts about reading news stories about how BR was hemorrhaging money, how Beeching was axing "useless" and "redundant" stations, how service on the railways have declined to where trains were just expected to be delayed or cancelled or BR staff being awful to customers or railfans. I get why it isn't heavily focused on, the stories are about the engines not the railway, but the NWR for the most part maintains tracks, maintains their engine, their staff are paid decent wages, and they don't seem to be in any financial trouble. It's the antithesis to how other railways work. Profit is not the main concern of NWR. It's making sure the people on the island can live and the trains benefit by being taken care of and worked.

[@t221000]

Don't think of it as conforming. Think of it as working as a collective unit instead of just one person.

[@hydrofalls8154]

@@t221000 I would agree with you if MangaWriter didn't explicitly chose the word Conforming.

[@hydrofalls8154]

@@arthurfine4284 Yeah I kind of get it. Though to be honest I never trully understood how a train worked. I mean I never even been in one. So maybe that's why I see their identity and sentience before the engine.

[@ultra6671]

Thomas the Tank Engine 🤝 Pokemon | V People assuming that the characters are slaves.

[@agreenwelltank21]

We needed this thx

[@thekidfromcleveland3944]

People be so damn miserable these days man.

[@TheKaidynB]

I love and highly respect Reverend Awdry so much. He has changed my life for the better. I so wish I could write to him but unfortunately there is no address to the hereafter wherever he may be. In my wholely unhumble opinion (I am NOT a humble person at all) I believe he should be considered for sainthood!

[@spyfan62591]

Yo respect for making this vid. As a Thomas fan. Thank you.

[@crazyjedi5994]

Just a slight nitpick, Anglicanism is a Protestant denomination.

[@benjaminholmertz4827]

Great job! Truth about this show!

[@wildadventurer10]

If Wilbert Awdry is in heaven and If I make there after I expire I wanna personally give him a warm welcoming thank you

[@UKElectionsBrev]

I am NO right-winger at all but its kind of mad that the conservative National Review defends Thomas, 50:15. But the left-wing Guardian, 33:00 criticizes Thomas as British colonialism. 🤣🤣🤣

[@MrJoeyWheeler]

Dislikes people lying about Thomas. Calls out Journalists being scum. Dankula clip with great comedic timing? That's it, I'm subscribing.

[@CoalChrome]

I mean, the books are way darker than the show. Both world wars canonically happen

[@armorpro573]

And also scrapped engines exist

[@wuba5456]

dang it i'll watch tomorrow

[@savvadance7006]

You mean this is the Docomentry of the Classic Original Series 1984 to 2003 Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Series 1 to 7.

[@christiandevey3898]

One thing that is funny to me about the criticisms is the idea that it is a "capitalist hell-scape" and the idea of being "really useful" is exclusively capitalist. These critics will suggest that the trains rise up in a worker's revolution, likely referring to ideas of communism. However, the system in place on the Island of Sodor is, to me, quite similar to the idea of "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", a quote from Karl Marx. Many capitalist will argue that to incentivize someone to do a difficult or unfavorable job, they must be payed more. On the other hand, many communists would say that the idea of bettering society and providing for the system that provides for you, would be incentive enough to work hard, and do unpleasant tasks, or in other words be "really useful". While I highly value the ideas of capitalism and liberalism/individualism, I feel that one weakness is that they undervalue the power and importance of community. I, however laugh when someone has some issue or complaint about a society and assume that is is the fault of capitalism, even when it just as bad or worse in any other economic system.

[@whoasked9500]

I swear that article claiming Thomas and Friends is antisemitic has to be one of the worst articles I've ever seen. There is obvious clickbait, and then there is just plain shamelessness. I genuinely cannot understand how anyone can come to such a conclusion over most if not any kids show at all, let alone Thomas the fucking Tank Engine.

[@toyotaprius79]

Likewise have you ever seen the level of rage and fear people get when they think there's "queer coding/insemination" or "wokeness" in books and other media ?

[@whoasked9500]

​@@toyotaprius79 trust me I do These people would be furious if they found out that Rusty is gender fluid in this show

[@toyotaprius79]

​@@whoasked9500 I thought it was the fandom who made rusty gender fluid/nb not the actual production?

[@whoasked9500]

@@toyotaprius79 the britt allcroft era baxically never referred to rusty as a male or female either that or they used both pronouns I can't remember

[@cardiv5zuikaku944]

@@whoasked9500 No, afaik on season 4, Rusty is either called by the name, or simply "Little diesel"

[@KiwiConductor]

I thought this video was nice in some parts, but to be honest there are some minor parts I disagree with and wanted to comment on. Full disclaimer, I’m writing this a bit after waking up so my wording may be a little off or muddy but here goes anyway. First thing I wanted to say, that bit about the female engines, Mavis and Daisy. You argue they make the point about the show and books being sexist completely invalid. I disagree, they are incredibly sexist. This may get knives pointed at me but I feel a point some don’t see is both characters are huge products of their time. Mavis’ story when boiled down can be read as a woman being told to stay where she belongs and listen to the old man, and Daisy is the first lazy engine in the books, the first to completely refuse to do anything at all. Sir Handel, James and Gordon all hated trucks (sir Handel even hated his coaches) but they still pulled them. Daisy when introduced doesn’t even pull one milk van. For the first female character, it’s not the greatest introduction. Obviously these weren’t the original intentions, at least I hope not, but morals and meanings move on. Thomas Terence and the Snow is about not being stupid and listening to safety but in 2020 it incidentally became the perfect analogy for masks (“Big Horrid Awkward Thing!”) and how they may be uncomfortable, but we need them. Awdry didn’t intend this, but time moved on and gave the story new meaning. And Mavis and Daisy have newer meanings nowadays, albeit they are not as pleasant as the snowploughs evolution. Sorry this comments already getting really long but I feel it’s unfair to brush off criticisms like the show being sexist as “Nuh uh, Mavis and Daisy exist”, when it should instead be “Yes, so we can learn from that and improve.” The books were written during a time when communication was at a low. Awdrys critics were his children and some men in the UK. Fact is, Thomas is lacking in representation, Stanley is i believe the only American in any of the books and the original show and that’s ok. It was made when other cultures couldn’t easily reach out or give an input, because frankly sometimes they just weren’t given a platform. We live in the age where everyone/a lot more people can have their say, something you can’t say about the early 70s or before. So I think when someone says “hey uh maybe the engines being mostly boys is a lil weird”, we shouldn’t rush to hold knives to their throats, we should listen to them. When someone points out one of Awdry’s flaws, misogyny, stereotyping or just being from a different time, we should instead say “Yes, so here’s what we can learn from it.” We shouldn’t keep writing the exact same things a man born in 1911 did, it should evolve, keep the good and toss the bad, and allow other to find certain parts bad and accept opinions. Tradition is important to respect, but it can evolve. Edward is a traditionally built engine. So is Gordon, and BoCo, and Pip and Emma. All these engines are built to tradition, if we kept doing things the exact same way forever we’d only have engines like Stephenson’s Rocket. It’s all about balance, the old and the new. And maybe we shouldn’t be so defensive about what people say about our train show, when they can spark new conversations. To wrap up, again no hate to you, I thought your video was very well made, just some things I disagreed with, like how you disagreed with those criticising Thomas. Sorry this comment is so long

[@fairlyoddenginecreations]

It's actually crazy that despite how weirdly questionable Mavis and Daisy were introduced in the series, they would still go on to be fan favorites within our fandom

[@sarat6488]

30:49 i subscribed immediately after this "breaking character" bit