Toby's Discovery is a Vastly Underrated Episode

[@ironhorse3826]

I like it’s just the ending is way too rushed , if it was a minute longer and Bertram had dialogue I would love it

[@Thomas1Edward2Henry3]

Yeah I agree with that. I think maybe they should have scrapped the castle part and had it be just the mine

[@ironhorse3826]

@@Thomas1Edward2Henry3 agreed . I’m currently watching the character gallery on Bertram and let me tell you it is a gold mine of ideas

[@Micstro.Iink-official]

Back then Thomas episodes were only 4 1/2 minutes. But yeah, he could have been given dialogue

[@ironhorse3826]

@@Micstro.Iink-official I am aware

[@Joey15811]

I agree with this or atleast if he had another episode following on. I do like this story

[@eagarmp]

I love how they combined Toby and Oliver's themes together in this episode

[@cannibalfan333]

This episode seriously doesn't get the love it deserves. And Bertram I really wish could be seen again

[@SplendillaVanilla-4289]

Yeah!

[@Mel-rf4jv]

Yep

[@BriceInkling138]

No it didn't and I find the flack on the episode pretty stupid.

[@cannibalfan333]

@@BriceInkling138 I remember watching it for the first time and when Toby was alone at the mine. It was so eerie that it made me feel like I was there with him.

[@darkseid1341]

Well if the crew did had the budget to make Bertram’s tank engine form then he would’ve had more appearances.

[@stopreadingmyusernamebroth9090]

This scared me as a kid. Spills and Chills in general did. (This should come as no surprise)

[@motorwayt-s628]

It’s kinda funny that they decided to put all of season 5’s spooky episodes on one tape and then just added Sir Topham hat’s holiday to the end

[@TheBrickGuy7939]

Season 5 is just godly and has such interesting one-off characters.

[@dadocta5168]

6:10 that also makes characters Duke & BoCo fascinating as well how they seemingly disappeared for no reason.

[@evanclarke5561]

Who's in the mood for a conspiracy theory? What if Duke was scrapped recently to provide spare parts to keep the other Skarloey Railway steam engines operating? After all he is one of the line's oldest engines.

[@angrego9224]

BoCo’s model like the other models from S1-5 had a S6 model but was never used on screen, maybe they just didn’t have space to fit him in, considering Oliver never spoke, this was the start of when characters like Duck etc. began to get less screen time

[@motorwayt-s628]

One interesting thing about BoCo is that he never was the sole focus of an episode, even his debut was more of a bill and Ben story

[@leftyjr3194]

Apparently Boco got sent back to London where he was before

[@TankEngine97]

This episode doesn't get talked about much. Personally I wasn't creeped out by it but I do find interesting how it starts out happy and cheerful then transitions to haunting and mysterious.

[@ink_blot25]

"CGI can never capture the realism and magic of the models" Well it *could* but they chose not to

[@vicviper2005]

It did for a while during the brenner era

[@saadahmad913]

@@vicviper2005 THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

[@fanofeverything30465]

I disagree. The models look much more realistic than the CGI engines

[@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967]

@@fanofeverything30465 Except for things that CGI has that models don't.

[@fanofeverything30465]

@@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967 They should be acknowledged

[@chillpill5041]

There's a joke in my family when I watch anything Thomas the tank engine they say something about my name because my name is Toby so i try to not laugh at the fact that i have the same name as a fliping tram

[@Muddydoormat]

E

[@Douglas57647]

I definitely agree with you on this episode. The whole abandoned mine area was always a place that fascinated me, and the character of Bertram is definitely really intriguing. In terms of personality, I always imagined Bertram to be sort of like a narrow gauge version of Donald/Douglas - brave and intimidating, but also friendly and jovial. As for where he came from, it's pretty widely accepted that his mine was on the MSR, so he must have been a Mid Sodor engine. He could be Duke's brother who was the original #2 engine before Smudger, or he could be a privately owned mine engine who was built from Duke's blueprints and spare parts. I can definitely see him as a "cool uncle" figure to Sir Handel and Peter Sam! In any case, it's a real shame that Britt and David basically opened the door to a whole new part of Sodor, and then immediately shut it again. I would have loved to see more of Bertram, because his creepy and mysterious vibe gave him so much unexplored story potential. It would have been nice if they brought back both him and Duke in CGI.

[@AlexLopez-xb3yn]

Season 5 of the series felt so cinematic it feels like a full 2 hour movie

[@terryaltherr2481]

Season 5 was the last best Classic Era season. Season 7 was ok while Season 6 (with the exception of episodes where new characters were introduced) was terrible.

[@Wildcatt1999]

@@terryaltherr2481 I wouldn't say Season 6 was terrible. It's still a good season, just not as great as the other classic seasons.

[@TheGoombaFromNowhere]

Season 6 was definitely the worst of the 7 Classic season.

[@TheBrickGuy7939]

Yeah. And fun fact, the mine set is the Boulder Quarry sheds set redressed.

[@DavidBContentExtravaganza3967]

I agree. Pity the CGI seasons of the Brenner era didn't have that aspect in one of them. It would be awesome.

[@JamesIsHere5]

I totally agree, no one really talks about this episode much, this episode is amazing a needs more appraisal.

[@Mel-rf4jv]

Bertram is overall a nice character but so much of a mystery engine and i would love to see more of him

[@thebrearlycrestmf9165]

Bertram is Duke and Smudger's lovechild.

[@rjharmonproductions]

WTF

[@keiththetiger1764]

Why just......WHY

[@thebrearlycrestmf9165]

To torture people

[@rjharmonproductions]

@@thebrearlycrestmf9165 You are a terrible person

[@RWSfan2024]

Don’t give deviant art and Mattel ideas

[@royhay5741]

A scrapped narrow gauge engine can be seen when Toby, the Fat Controller, and his grandchildren visit the mine.

[@ToastTheThe]

Toby Discovers a Duke Repaint And Other Thomas Adventures

[@urtooslow4415]

Yes

[@evanclarke5561]

That'd make some good YTP

[@Tidmouth28]

Lol

[@daniel-san-augh]

T1E2H3 pulling in clutch with the great Thomas content.

[@Koko_Chan]

I’m gonna be real here, I agree with everything you said. Plus after you mentioned the shift in tone, I started to realize the nightmare of elm street vibes it gave off.

[@gallantcavalier3306]

Can you do more “Unpopular Opinion” videos please, I would love to see more of your take on controversial episodes, and just episodes in general.

[@Thomas1Edward2Henry3]

I’m definitely gonna do more commentary videos, and probably another top 10 something soon ;)

[@gallantcavalier3306]

@@Thomas1Edward2Henry3 That is great to hear, keep up the awesome work, you’re a credit to the fandom.

[@evanclarke5561]

@@Thomas1Edward2Henry3 Could you review Special Attraction, please? I think it's a right dog of an episode. How did Percy and Toby's stories fit together? Likewise, perhaps Bulstrode did get what he deserved, but he's not as accident-prone as Percy. The accident was alright, yet the stone hoppers could've fallen into the sea rather than onto Bulstrode. The barge wouldn't have taken damage but might've received a stern warning from the workmen [or the Fat Controller]. The trucks went unpunished too when that's what could've happened because they were eager to get back at Bulstrode for annoying them.

[@tymaddux2644]

@@Thomas1Edward2Henry3 Unlucky Tug and now you, the Thomas community is roaring despite the mutalated show itself

[@whyiamafs]

(I'm the 100th like 👍 on your comment!)

[@exempligratia101]

What I like about this episode is that it exemplifies the travelogue look, especially the shots of Toby traveling to the different locations in the first half. Many shots throughout the series is perfect for a travelogue. And you’ve got the perfect advertisement for Sodor.

[@richardhibbard1066]

1:05, that's what I was going to say in this comment, and I totally think the same way! Toby and the Flood is also underrated too, because of Toby being scared, and Toby also had every right to be scared in that episode too, because he could've died from falling into that raging waterfall!

[@ZstackZip]

I like to think that Bertram is kind of the big brother of the narrow gauge engines

[@22Tesla]

This was a great little video essay. Agreed that the ending of this episode feels a little rushed. And when you said diagetic sound, I guess you are meaning that ghostly moan that occurs when the fade from night to day happens. I don't think it's diagetic since we actually hear that moan in the background when Toby says "what ghost?" It's just under Baldwin's narration and sometimes not easy to hear, I picked it up though and I know what to listen for. Season 5 does have some great night scenes, they have the BEST spooky scenes overall.

[@streamlinedstudios1670]

I did love this episode but Bertram should definitely had more dialog, it really bugs me that we didn't get to know Bertram more

[@kingzaiah3868]

Yesssss this was one of my favorites when I was little

[@Fiftyfourthengine]

Your voice sounds like Toby in the US dub in the CGI series.

[@swindonproductions4428]

As a childhood fan of this episode I really enjoyed what you said about it

[@edwardjenkins5421]

I still can't believe that people say this episode was what started the "Scardy Toby" Toby that we don't like much. I beg to differ, IT'S A HAUNTED MINE WITH A BUNCH OF OLD SCRAPPED ENGINES AROUND IT. Toby has every right to be scared. Same with the rickety bridge in "Toby had a little lamb."

[@Thomasmemoryscentral]

Yeah, looking at you Zack from Sodorama. He brought that up

[@thecaledonian4]

I absolutely adore this episode - not just for its writing, but the sets too. As a railway modeller, the show has always inspired me.

[@evanclarke5561]

My favourite 20 Thomas episodes: 1. Granpuff [due to all the crashes] 2. Trucks 3. Percy, James and the Fruitful Day 4. Percy's Predicament 5. Pop Goes the Diesel 6. A Close Shave 7. Diesel Does It Again 8. A Scarf for Percy 9. Percy's Chocolate Crunch 10. Oliver Owns Up 11. Heroes 12. Haunted Henry 13. Dunkin' Duncan 14. Duncan Gets Spooked 15. Fish (season 4) 16. Stepney Gets Lost 17. Break Van 18. James and the Express 19. James and the Coaches 20. Rusty and the Boulder

[@Cybusmaster92]

I find it weird that Duke hasn't been seen outside of cameos sincd Steam Roller in Season 4. We had new Narrow Gauge Engines like Freddie, Mighty Mac, Victor & Luke. But no explanation as to where Granpuff went. Did he get scrapped & they didn't tell us?

[@maxnash8450]

I found the mid sodor full of potential, and I love this episode because I love how it portrays the abandoned mid sodor yard.

[@charliemoran0865]

I’d watch you analyze classic series episodes any day. Keep em coming man

[@CartoonBoi13]

My dad likes how the abandoned station looks in this episode

[@belugawale9822]

I had the spills and chills dvd and this along with Duncan gets spooked and haunted Henry terrifies me but in a good way. I loved spills and chills and wish I still had it. My favorite vhs or dvd ever. I still wish the old warrior was duke or sonething

[@ryanstephenkristoferkearns1319]

I remember watching it on the Spooks and Surprises VHS when I was a kid and it was the same vhs that Duncan Gets Spooked and Haunted Henry etc I really enjoyed watching it but some of the stories was really spooky.

[@streamlinedengine]

SMUDGER IS BERTRAM AND BERTRAM IS SMUDGER!!! (Joking XD, great video!)

[@sabertooth3studioshq838]

this is episode was my favorite as a kid, I found it quite scary and I loved it . anyone else or just me ?

[@YoutubeChannel-dh7tb]

I love this episode. Definitely my favorite i grow up with watching this episode way too much on the TV. Im glad you posted today your rock man!

[@MiketheLMS2000]

Plot twist, bertram is smudger

[@Station_Master_13]

It is tho fun fact i used to run out of the room and hide untill the scary wheesing sounds stopped playing. One of the reasons im writting a spooky story on Sif that takes place in a secret quarry near the mine

[@alexis_ian]

I remember watching these episode as a kid. Its among my favorite episode in S5 and possibly included in my top 20 episodes from the show or the honorable mentioned.

[@steelworksryan3285]

Well done! You pointed out some facts that I never even thought of. Now I have a lot more respect for Toby’s discovery.

[@rhyscarter3939]

I loved this episode. My favourites are always the ones with a darker tone.

[@whisperingwaterfall01]

Same

[@Wildcatt1999]

Same here.

[@WoodenRailwayEdward]

Great video! While I don't agree with your opinion on this episode, I totally understand why you'd love it. I hope you make more of these!

[@wildwind413]

Please make more videos like this. I’d love to here your thoughts on these often forgotten or controversial episodes

[@Gothenburg32]

2:32 Speaking of colour, I would have preferred Season 5 a lot more if the models and sets didn’t look so dirty and the lighting didn’t look too orange in most of the day time shots.

[@derekdelgado]

Great video and great points! I’m sorry to say that this episode just never stood out to me. In terms of scenery and music, it’s wonderful but it definitely becomes forgettable due to the fact that a lot of Season 5 episodes had more memorable sets, scores and spooky stories. Bertram was an interesting character for them to introduce this season but he falls flat due to not having any dialogue. However, this episode fits perfectly with the rest of Season 5 and it was a great way to kickoff the Spills and Chills dvd.

[@evanclarke5561]

Unpopular opinion: Special Attraction really sucked. I know Bulstrode was a pig of a barge and did get what he deserved, but how come the workmen did not blame either Percy, his driver or the trucks? Percy, who's so accident-prone, got off lightly [if I had a dollar for every time Percy came to grief, then perhaps I could own the bank. Falling into the sea, ruining a brake van, crashing through unstable buffers, destroying a chocolate factory, cracking a lime cart, getting covered by a breaking crate of treacle, becoming covered in jam and trousers, derailing four trucks of fruit too]. Bulstrode got towed to a beach after annoying Percy and the trucks besides getting damaged instead of either scrapped or rebuilt? The accident could've been similar to what happened in Diesel Does it Again where the trucks fell off the jetty but into the sea. Bulstrode would've been undamaged yet warned to be more careful. I don't understand how Toby and Percy's stories fitted together, too.

[@michaelray4033]

I am a grown man, and "Spills & Chills" still freaks me out; more so than modern horror movies.

[@theamericane2655]

This episode traumatized me when I was little

[@terryaltherr2481]

To be fair, Spills, Thrills, and Chills was terrifying by itself. I don't think I was able to watch Stepney Gets Lost until I was 11 I think.

[@theamericane2655]

@@terryaltherr2481 every time I watched it I hid behind the recliner

[@terryaltherr2481]

@@theamericane2655 same. Frankly, to this day, I think HiT was a massive overcorrection of the thriller episodes of Season 5.

[@theamericane2655]

@@terryaltherr2481 ?

[@terryaltherr2481]

@@theamericane2655 Seasons 8-12 (or through 16 if you want to count the CGI seasons before Andrew Brenner became the head writer).

[@SinisterSmelters]

When I was younger I really liked Toby's discovery, but for a while I didn't like it. The reason was because some people said this was the start of Toby being a wimp and this was the start of that being his only character trait later on in the show. But now that has changed and I really think it's one the best season 5 episodes. Also, I grew up the UK dub and one part always stuck out to me. When Toby says "IT'S THE GHOST" I found that to be creepy and I would have nightmares from that one shot, similarity to what you said about the scene that you found scary from Haunted Henry. It was mainly the way Toby's surprised face looked and the way Michael Angelis said the line made the shot very settling.

[@SinisterSmelters]

Sorry unsettling

[@YukariAkiyamaTanks]

I made the mistake at watching this at midnight and it felt like Bertram's face was right there in the dark

[@NorthWestern1919]

Personally, I just wish we could have seen Bertram again, preferably with a speaking role.

[@thesodorengines]

tbh i Never had a problem with this episode although I do remember being scared of the Night-Time shots( that and this episode was on my Spooks and surprises VHS and essentially tricked me into thinking this was one of that 'daytime' episodes that was on the tape)

[@bentheg9793]

Anyone else hate that the glossy paint went away in Season 6 and never comes back until sometime in the Brenner era?

[@motorwayt-s628]

Yes, the matte paint from magic railroad onward made the engines look like toys

[@Gothenburg32]

Personally, I didn’t mind that the glossy paint went away. I mean, even as a kid, I thought that it made them look way too shiny.

[@fanofeverything30465]

As a kid, the engines seemed brighter to me in Season 6 onwards. Now it really annoies me

[@AxelWedstar411]

Never really expect Bertram to get any foucus. One-off characters were already a thing by this point.

[@pk_arcfire]

It sure is Darn shame that the production team didn't have to budget to make large scale Sir Handel & Duke and Tank Engine Bertram...

[@evanclarke5561]

If I was in charge of making Thomas Season 5 then perhaps there would've been no narrow gauge episodes. Instead there'd have been more of them in season 6. This way Percy and the Haunted Mine, Middle Engine, Percy's Chocolate Crunch and Halloween could've been season 5 episodes

[@fanofeverything30465]

@@evanclarke5561 Why

[@evanclarke5561]

@@fanofeverything30465 Because Season 5 was arguably Thomas and Friends' darkest, scariest season. Toby's Discovery could've been saved for Season 9 when there'd be more money to make new models for Sir Handel, Bertram and Duke as their small models had bugs

[@fanofeverything30465]

@@evanclarke5561 Or they could have tried to find the money to make large scale models for Sir Handel, Duke and Bertram

[@ntheyeti]

I loved Tobys Discovery as kid and wanted to get a WR Bertram but it was discontinued and very expensive on eBay 😭

[@mussolinigaming2095]

This episode scared the shit out of me as a kid as well as other episode and still sticks with me today

[@tobyno7tramengine267]

This Episode is my number one favorite episode of Toby the Tram Engine from the Classic Series this Episode Stuck out to me as a child and I like Bertram you look unique Engine Character that I wish we see more of Bertram Who, When, Where and What Happened to him I’m very Curious The Character of Bertram I really like to know more about him I think he pointless character because I Believe Bertram have so much potential being unique character

[@andrewscolari5724]

I too wish that they did more with Bertram.

[@SodorTrain1225]

I loved Spills and Chills as a kid, and I can agree, that TATMR trailer really sets the mood for that VHS. Personally, I think Mitton made that "digestive" sound.

[@enderwolfjack25]

Watching this like a couple of months later and I have to agree on you the reason why I actually like Toby's Discovery it's just it's so peaceful with the music

[@Terminatorfan1984REAL]

You know I did like your theory of Bertram really being Smudger because it would make some sense

[@leftyjr3194]

He looks like him

[@jaedenlyons]

I love the spooky episodes of Thomas! Like this one!

[@Stackedwithcash]

That spooky sound at 4:03 where can I find it?

[@stardudeproductions2692]

I have spills and chills and boy were the episodes great and I always thought Bertram was cool and hey at least people like ee93 did something with Bertram and gave him a character or personality

[@ZstackZip]

Clicked on subscriptions at the right time

[@EngineerRiff]

And you are a vastly underrated KZbinr

[@MisterDanielTofu]

Toby's Discovery is definitely underrated. I also do believe Bertram has potential and can be great.

[@ronandrewmanimtim4148]

is it a coincidence that im just watching wrath on the rails earlier to day

[@konstantindombi-enescu2913]

I have an Idea for you : how diesel 10 is living i heaven after he sacrificed his life in ,, Wrath On Rails''

[@locomotivefanproductions2090]

Perhaps the could do a forest in CGI before the reboot.

[@saadahmad913]

CGI is already finished

[@locomotivefanproductions2090]

@@saadahmad913 BEFORE it was finished

[@saadahmad913]

@@locomotivefanproductions2090 of course MATTEL was to busy thinking about appealing to Babies to do that

[@locomotivefanproductions2090]

@@saadahmad913 Yep

[@RWSfan2024]

A theory/conceptual backstory I have for him: Bertram was the twin brother of Duke, but never really liked him due to being jealous of the praise Duke receives, so he tries to find something incredible but ultimately fails when he broke down in the abandoned mine that Toby found him in, his crew died when looking for help. Now stuck in the abandoned mine, he was forgotten by most but only was called “the old warrior” by others due to being mixed up for Duke

[@brettshanahan173]

Thomas1edward2henry3, I feel just the same way as you when you reviewed the bad stuff about Thomas and the Magic Railroad.

[@josephgetachew973]

Honestly, the background color for season 5 is a combination of seasons 3 and 4, and the background color for season 6 isn’t really that bad; I quite admire the way the engines & sets were painted and the equal mix of white & blue in the sky.

[@fanofeverything30465]

Unpopular opinion: I like the background colour for Season 6 just as much as the background colour for Seasons 3-5. EDIT: I now prefer the background colour for Seasons 1, 2 and 7 but still consider the background colour a nitpick

[@josephgetachew973]

@Fan of everything , the background color for season 6 is good enough in its own respective season. I wouldn’t replace it with the background colors of seasons 3-5, because those are good enough on their own.

[@fanofeverything30465]

@@josephgetachew973 Indeed. To me, the background colour is just a minor detail

[@AgenoriaModelTrains]

One of the other one-time engines you missed out was the Class 17 diesel from 'Double Teething Troubles', he was a real squandered opportunity, the amount of potential that character could have had in more episodes of the series was huge.

[@MarcusWhitelam]

Imagine if it was *Toby's find* and *Oliver's discovery* 😯

[@evanclarke5561]

Perhaps you could write scripts for both stories. That'd be cool

[@MarcusWhitelam]

@@evanclarke5561 yeh 👍

[@theallies_09]

this cures my depression knowing that thomas will never be the same ever again(WHY MATTEL)

[@justinkessler3092]

For me, I honestly think Bertram is none other......than smudger. He has smudgers face, he was abandoned on the mid sodor railway, and he's literally called "the OLD warrior". And T1E2H3's "the search for smudger" also helped.

[@armorpro573]

That's actually an interesting theory.

[@nohandsdrawing1992]

When I was a toddler. This episode scared me

[@12thmanrailfans26]

2:18 bottom left, that’s Toad with a piece of his roof missing with his Escape appearance

[@TheMrgamer2011]

Hey will you make brand new episodes for a new series if so please include oc engines and other voices

[@mr.repairman3508]

Honestly I thought this episode was okay. I didn’t know this was a controversial episode but I don’t think it’s particularly great episode. I think abandoned sites can be unsettling even during the day, but there’s just something about its appearance here that I don’t find particularly creepy which makes Toby’s response feel exaggerated to me. I also found the evening portion of the episode to be underwhelming- we have Bertram make a sound that scares Toby but that’s pretty much it. I think the another problem (and one brought up here) is Bertram barely having any screen time. I would’ve really liked to have seen more interaction between the two especially since Toby had faced a couple of accidents prior to this episode.

[@MrDuckAndZatara]

I know how Toby's Discovery is what led to the rumors how Bertram and Smudger are the same engine.

[@joeosnato7200]

You know SodorFan2K10, T1E2H3?

[@hamishcameron1082]

Tobys discovery is another one of my favourites the old mine they discovered is overwhelming and amazing if I was in Toby’s discovery I would love to explore in that mine like go everyday🇬🇧

[@joejo956]

And that was the first and last time we saw Bertram

[@ToQ_Ichigo]

I hate that this episode gets hate. It was my favorite episode of the Spills and Chills DVD. (Excluding Duncan gets Spooked and Rusty and the Boulder.) This episode is so memorable for me since when I was little I was TERRIFIED of Bertram. He would never stop smiling. Plus this episode is memorable for me is the MUSIC. It’s on levels of being the Top 10 best episodes of of Seasons 4-5.

[@scifiguy9000]

Maybe Bertrum was called 'the old warrior' was because he helped fight in a war? Like either WWI or WWII...

[@MatheusCHP]

Btw your first vid ever (right now) is the adaptation of Toby discovery lol

[@evanclarke5561]

Duke? Kind? Only sometimes. I read some fan fiction where he was gossiping about Smudger to Stuart and Falcon and admonishing them to be careful. Dukey also used to smile smugly whenever he saw Smudger. Did you think Duke wasn't an anti-hero? Think again. Surely he hated Smudger and stuff. He planned to get back at him by getting manager to sort him out.

[@FlyingScotFilms]

This has always been one of my favourites. Absolutely amazing episode.

[@Bladee33333]

Toby's discovery is the Terminator Salvation of thomas and friends, underated, dark and different.

[@trainkid0481]

Hmm to me I thought Bertram and Smudger were separate characters

[@evanclarke5561]

Indeed. They're Duke's brother and the twin of not only Rheneas but also Jennings [another MSR engine] respectively

[@DieselD7101]

Who knows, maybe that deep noise was Bertram’s whistle.

[@dillanmccants4642]

I really wasn’t paying attention. Cause I didn’t realize they didn’t do anything with Bertram till recently.

[@UsefulEngine11]

I really like this episode the same can be said for Bertram to and I feel like he could have been an engine working on the mid Sodor but however that some people's cannons and I really do like the search for smudger so I really did like that project and I absolutely like this episode.

[@NMCAR2006]

He be spitting facts