Thomas and Gordon: The Perfect Introduction

Thanks for watching! There are so many people to credit for this video, check all these guys out!
Intro music by EJRox: / ejrox
Intro colour grading by RandomMelon: / channel
Music by Urthworm: / urthwormonyoutube
Music by Sudrian Ash Naxg: / @sudrianashnazg7879
Thanks so much to everyone who allowed me to use their work for this, it's much appreciated!

[@NorthWestern1919]

"Thomas and Gordon" really does work well as an introduction to the series as a whole. It definitely serves its purpose as the pilot episode. And in my opinion, it serves as a better introduction to Thomas and the world of Sodor than "Down the Mine" would have. This is one episode that I rewatch again and again, because it's always nice to see where the show got its start.

[@erical6338]

I can read it because I got Thomas books as a kid and they're still with me. Random House Picturebacks

[@NorthWestern1919]

@@erical6338 Okay? What does that have to do with anything?

[@erical6338]

@@NorthWestern1919 The first episode script is more or less the first story of my Thomas Gets Tricked book, the name of the first episode in my country.

[@Ryder-a-Blaze]

Gordon is such an awesome character

[@amitysluzara2022]

I see quite a few people not give Thomas and Gordon the love it deserves simply because its the pilot but honestly even though it is the pilot it did a damn good job and is a criminally underrated episode

[@thejammycollector8512]

"Thomas & Gordon" may be overlooked, but it's so clever. Gordon is set up for the next 3 stories and Thomas' apperance in "The Sad Story of Henry" works too, as Thomas would've worked on Sodor around that time and area in the Railway Series. I love this episode. It's definetely one of my top 5 favourites from the first series.

[@LegendaryCaptain]

It honestly sets up the rest of season 1 unlucky tug brought up a great point how season 1 gave a lot of Thomas Gordon and Henry focus

[@inkywright]

When I was younger, Thomas and Gordon wasn't a particular standout to me. However, I always came back to it for one particular reason. There's the scene where Gordon intentionally sets off with the Express while Thomas is still coupled to the back. Not only is it hilarious to see Thomas get what was coming to him, but Gordon's speed and grand theme that starts to come in is just so satisfying. It really establishes how these are not only humanized characters, but REAL STEAM ENGINES. Gordon is one of my favorite characters in the show. I really enjoy the concept of him being a grand engine, and thus, he has a grand opinion about himself. That's why episodes like A Better View for Gordon are some of my all-time favorites. I enjoyed your explanation on this episode, it really pleased me to hear someone actually explain how this episode was more than average.

[@9975praj]

I find ' Thomas and Gordon' extremely fun to revisit. It's such a nice yet clever beginning to kick off an amazing show. Also, Gordon's theme is absolutely sick

[@jmpf813]

Always love seeing praise for early Thomas seasons. I will die on this hill: Season 1 is just so beautiful and gritty, even with the harsh lighting. "Thomas and Gordon" has so many nostalgic moments, from "Thomas is a tank engine" to the "Now you know what hard work means, don't you?" Everything about this episode (and the introductory season as a whole) just got it all right for what Thomas should be on t.v.

[@TheThomasCynic]

Season 1 goes up in my estimation every day, I really do enjoy it. There are a few stories that I don't think should have been adapted at all - Thomas and the Guard in particular, and Thomas' Christmas Party always felt like a bad retconned finale to me. But on the whole, the way the season flows is great, particularly the way it incorporates Henry's arc and spreads it evenly across the season.

[@fanofeverything30465]

What does 'I will die on this hill' mean

[@jmpf813]

@@fanofeverything30465 It's a saying that basically means "I will stand by this statement no matter what."

[@fanofeverything30465]

@@jmpf813 Thank you 😊

[@ciarangleeson2880]

What was wrong with those episodes?

[@Ollimus]

I honestly have to agree, I remember watching the entirety of first season on DVD several times as a youngling, and it always started with Thomas and Gordon. What a great episode.

[@TonsOfTrackmasters]

lets go!

[@tanjoy0205]

Love your vids !

[@usualblokeluke]

Upon a recent binge of Series 1 I did with some friends recently, I could conclude that Series 1 definitely had more eventful stories in the second half compared to the first half. I realise that why they did that was to remain as faithful to the book's story order as possible and as you said in this video, to create a simple but effective introduction to the show to let the audience know what kind of show they're in for. For that, this series is great. When trying to binge it however, that's a different story haha

[@masterpeter1913]

This episode is a great example why is the Dynamic beteen Thomas and Gordon wonderful.

[@e-122psi3]

Thomas and Gordon is convenient in story, characters, and placement in that it doesn't have strict continuity with the later stories in Thomas the Tank Engine (though still meshes with them as an upcoming arc) but also how it establishes that the focus is on 'Thomas and FRIENDS', giving sense to the next three stories being spotlight episodes for the other characters. It made sense for Thomas to be the star since almost half of Season One is focused on him and even some other stories like the Troublesome Engines arc have him as an impetus, but they make apparent right off the bat that there's a big world other than him that will be focused on too. Also it's a more conventional 'talk shit, get hit' story than Edward's Day Out. It's also fitting given Gordon is the second most focused character in Season One after Thomas and how the penultimate episode ends up a truce episode between them (I still think Paint Pots and Queens would have been a better finale for Season One for this reason, though at least they caught themselves on that eventually).

[@brandellsarver9365]

I’ve always held this episode close to my heart, while I don’t remember my first Thomas episode I ever watched I think it was this episode. This episode gives you a great start to a very turbulent series by showing two personalities but it just fits so well. I think what you said about how every modern day kids show how they makes every character friends is just so true, I think that is my main reason I consider Thomas to be one of the best forms of media for younger children it doesn’t play down to kids (depending on which era).This episode is one of the best ways to start your new series and I can’t wait to see more.

[@tanjoy0205]

Gordon ->Best character Fight me !

[@rmsteutonic3686]

That one puddle from busy going backwards had the best arc

[@trainlover16]

I can’t, Gordon’s my favourite Thomas character.

[@AJsBusVideos]

Toby is better.

[@alexis_ian]

I have vague memory of Thomas & Gordon. But it was certainly the perfect first episode of the series Of the 4 seasons I personally think S1 is the most faithful and well polished season also used Gordon very well!

[@masterpeter1913]

I think ,,Down the Mine" is also a great episode .

[@Illustrator2]

Amazing episode Cinic, I look forward to more of these videos

[@joshproductions07]

This episode is the perfect first episode. As if Edward and Gordon was the first episode, it would make no sense, as the show is about Thomas, so the first episode should be about Thomas.

[@JamezP]

reason 4: thomas is a small engines kids can relate to because he is still learning about everything. He's just a station pilot so he doesn't know a lot about the railway even adult people who watch it can relate because they're gonna learn about the island and tvs railway along with thomas in this season and seasons onward

[@PsiTerrorPrime]

Frankly this was extremely safe on his part with Thomas as the caboose

[@DodotheWishFanboy]

This episode is so good.

[@DodotheWishFanboy]

It’s a good pilot episode.

[@callumhaigh8233]

I’d like to see you review Thomas, Percy and the Dragon. That’s one of my favourites

[@USER-LlewisTLDB]

I have love Thomas and friends ever since I was a little baby it's my 14th birthday And that's the 1st episode of Thomas and friends Thomas and Gordon this is a perfect birthday gift

[@alexanderrobertson9297]

I like how this makes perfect scene as to why they started the TVs series with Thomas and Gordon, but I can't help but feel that the one and only reason was because you can't have a show called Thomas the tank engine and not have Thomas appear until the 5th story.

[@joshproductions07]

Exactly. Why would the first episode be about Edward?

[@TheThomasCynic]

I did mention that, and I do think that was the main reason. Even so, I think the other factor I discussed contributed, and explains why they didn't continue with the stories from the second book after the introductory episode.

[@sudrianrailwaystudios676]

I remember watching Thomas and Gordon back when I was younger and I consider it an excellent episode of Series 1.

[@joshuaW5621]

This was perhaps the perfect way to start the show.

[@TomsRetroGames]

Love the new intro and the this video! I am very nostalgic for this episode because of the best of Thomas dvd.

[@TheThomasCynic]

Thank you! Was wondering what the response to the intro would be, I'm still fond of my previous one but it was far too long. This one will be staying permanently now :)

[@TomsRetroGames]

Np! I think it’s great and is better for it’s length. Also Season 11 looks beautiful so it looks nice for that too.

[@urthvox]

The world was at its best at this specific time…

[@chrisdavies3913]

Thomas and Gordon is a great introduction to the series. Any series should start with a simple story that sets the foundations in place. The only way is up from an introduction like this thus you get an iconic series.

[@gothnerd887]

I once read a fanfiction which was basically this episode but Thomas was switched with Ruby Rose and Gordon with Weis Schnee.

[@GREATRJ1]

i get why they didnt start with edwards day out i see some kids not really going to enjoy a episode like that i do understand that but that combined with the next story makes it work so in place of it they used thomas and gordon and thats another good thing about thomas and gordon it takes place of 1 story so what should be the 1st story is made more intresting for some kids in the next as its used to set up the charater later in the ep instead of using 1 hole ep to set up edward for the next story another reason why thomas and gordon is good as it brings hope into the show that probally wouldnt be there in edwards day out for the show as books it works fine as theres the rest of the collection in it to know what happens next right after reading the 1st story unlike tv where thomas and friends could of cancelled while in the making of the next story

[@MarvelMTs]

It’s story suggestion time!: S5’s Oliver’s Find. When it comes to S5, episodes like Toby and the Flood, Rusty and the Boulder, Cranky Bugs and Stepney Gets Lost are considered great, and while I agree, I also feel that Oliver’s find deserves more looks than it gets. Oliver has a problem which he doesn’t talk about, bottling up his emotions until he snaps, makes a mistake and gets reprimanded for it. Then a typical S5 misunderstanding/crash combo and then an old part of Sodor (Toby’s old line and shed) getting rediscovered, all in one single episode. Normally that would feel like 3 different stories with no connection between them, a la Gordon and the Gremlin but this one works fantastically,

[@TheThomasCynic]

That is an episode I really enjoy, it's not currently on the list since there are ones I'm more keen to do, but Oliver's Find is very underrated too. Particularly the music, best music of any Thomas episode.

[@MarvelMTs]

@@TheThomasCynic Well, if you’d at least consider it for when you get to S5, I’d appreciate that. I’m just glad you even considered my suggestion

[@TheThomasCynic]

@@MarvelMTs I'm not going to be doing the Cynical Spotlights in order by season by the way, I just started with this one because it was the first one I thought of. Slight sneak peek, next one is going to be of an S7 episode (although that won't be coming next week). Thanks for watching!

[@michaelsoulz8447]

I may not be the biggest season 1 guy but Thomas and Gordon are without a doubt my favorite pairing this season. I also like how they grew respect for each other as time goes on from Gordon's tumble and Thomas and the mine.

[@AllieThePrettyGator]

my favorite part is when Thomas says "wake up lazybones"

[@nesswednesday2976]

One of the best examples of why the third time's always the charm

[@Ryder-a-Blaze]

That comment you made about “plastic toys” made me laugh

[@bluediamonddirector]

"Thomas is a tank engine who lives at the big station on the island of Sodor. He's a cheeky little engine. With six small wheels, a short stumpy boiler, and short stumpy dome." *Thomas rolls his eyes over and over* And we were off, a long great journey had begun....

[@sglenny001]

Algough not what I would call the best plot in media history this episode when I was younger felt more like a season 2 episode but when I first warch it on KZbin when I was getting back into Thomas in 2015 I realise this the plot episode and made me enjoy it more and have to say this poblay say this is one of the best peace of media the britsh have made made

[@rmsteutonic3686]

Couldn’t have had a better beginning episode.

[@SrMechaGojira93]

Never saw this episode until 1999 when it aired on Nick Jr. (here in the US)

[@brycelandon6387]

That's odd, because it aired on PBS for the first time in 1989 as part of "Shining Time Station".

[@SrMechaGojira93]

@@brycelandon6387 I know, but I wasn’t born then.

[@SuperDavidBrothers]

Interesting man I like this type of video please do more videos like this man this is pretty cool if you ask me!!

[@Jesse-mh6hv]

You just got a Subscriber :)

[@harrisonallen651]

I really wonder why they didn’t use this story alone for the test pilot episode…?

[@Kidsmtvslvback]

This is why we prefer TTTE and not AEG because the show might be a fantasy but it sticks to reality which is what the Reverend Wilbert Awdry showed when writing his books.

[@CocoCoast]

I’d say the day that the TVS first appeared to channel 103 (ITV) (I- I think it was 103 in 1984) in the uk on October 9th 1984. I’d say this wasn’t a mistake, I do think the TVS was destroyed from season 8-16 then 17-21 was good-great but then, it’s was just another brain dead baby show (BWBA) and AEG isn’t true to the og series (but I do think it is a good show for ages 6 and below.) Britt Allcroft did make a mistake in TATMR which made seasons 6-16 a permit mark on the show. I do prefer the RWS in some bits, but other than that, Season 1-5 showed what a kids show that teaches morals can actually be smart and clever.

[@snowyfolfskyroo2739]

I feel like the only reason I dislike this episode is that I have seen it so many times rewatching the show over and over and not rewatching the entire series

[@sebastianstudios7609]

The year is 1984 and the clocks strike thirteen

[@flyingScotsmanProductions]

Great Video! Would recommend a background that is more soothing to the eye!

[@TheThomasCynic]

Interesting idea... some people have commented before saying they really like the background, so I'll keep it for now (but I also totally see what you mean). If I get more comments like this I'll consider swapping it. Thanks for the feedback!

[@flyingScotsmanProductions]

@@TheThomasCynic No problem!

[@tre-engines]

Thomas gets tricked is an ok episode but like most of season 1 it’s too simple for me

[@isuckatthesegames7119]

First

[@matthewjones9259]

2:49 you used a scene from the real shed 17

[@kylethedestroyer1117]

Dang its been awhile