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Description
For the third time, I tackle this Thomas meme from 2014. Let's see how much my views have changed in the last year, shall we?

EDIT: (8/24/17) Some thoughts have changed around to reflect the recent release of Journey Beyond Sodor (minor spoilers abound!)

Favorite Character - Emily
Seriously, guys; this "Emily replaced Duck" drama is old news. Yes, Emily may not have had the biggest development in character, but it's her personality (at least in the Brenner era) that really shines through, especially in the likes of Tale of the Brave and Best Engine Ever (which we'll get to). She's the big sister I'm sure we'd all love to have.
Honorable Mentions: Daisy, Ryan, Donald and Douglas, Theo, Edward, Percy, Diesel, Skiff, The Arlesdale Trio, Duncan, etc.

Despised Character - Ashima
Sorry, folks; Ashima's yet another character people love but I don't. Why? For one, she's basically Gator 2.0 but without the natural chemistry with Thomas that Gator had with Percy. Second, her personality is boring. Wise and bubbly, and she had no flaws, making her one-dimensional and bland. Speaking of which, the third reason is that anybody could've taken her role - Emily, Edward, Rosie, maybe even Percy! Fourth, in real life, she would be useless for service on the North Western Railway; Ashima's basis was designed to be a mountain engine, and with a speed barely at 20 miles per hour, she wouldn't do much for a branchline, let alone the mainline. If she was for the Culdee Fell Railway, then maybe I'd give her a pass, but to make a long story short, Ashima is redundant and only served for a stupid character arc that Thomas has been through time and again (and done way better). She's the Princess Luna of Thomas characters. If I wanted Ashima to come back, I'd rather Beresford lift her up and drop her into the sea. At least that'd be fun to watch.
Dishonorable Mentions: Hugo, Billy, Vinnie, Fergus, Smudger, Thomas (depending on the script), The Logging Locos, etc.

Favorite Season - 20
This season was just awesome! Yes, there were some bad episodes (one of which we'll get to) and a terrible character out of Hugo (I just wish he'd be Hu-gone ), but the positives far made up for the negatives, and then some. It also provided us with some of the best themes ever shown in Thomas media, strong character development (well, mostly), and yes, the Arlesdale trilogy. You can't miss them.
Honorable Mentions: 1-3, 6, 17-18

Despised Season - 13
Yep, I hate this more than the infamous fifteenth season. Why? Well, at least with season 15, you feel emotion - mostly anger - but with season 13? You feel nothing. Despite one really strong episode out of the season - Tickled Pink - this season is just tiring to sit through, not helping that Thomas had one lead role too many. Speaking of which...
Dishonorable Mentions: 9, 10, 12, 14-16

Most Overrated Character - Thomas
Where do I start with him? I don't necessarily hate Thomas as a character (especially not in the classic era - barring Scaredy Engines), but what I hate is whenever he shows up in a script and his role could easily be taken by someone else. Cautious Connor is a prime example of this; he could easily have been replaced by Caitlin and nothing would change. But then there was Thomas' role in The Great Race where he was an unlikable brat (not that Ashima was any better, but still)! Seriously, Thomas did not have to learn the same, boring lesson he's learned in the past! Yeah, Journey Beyond Sodor may have given Thomas a role that suited him, but it'll take more than that to have Thomas rank among my top favorites again.
Dishonorable Mentions: Smudger, James (sometimes), Rosie (S10-16), The International Engines (barring Flying Scotsman), etc.

Most Underrated Character - Belle
Poor Belle; she has all the potential to shine and yet she hasn't been given a lead role since Arc/Jam Filled took over. The fact that she's got an interesting basis and backstory to it makes it even sadder when she's rarely pulling trains. And when Belle did star in the last couple of seasons, she was seen as an idiot along with the rest of the team (Rocky Rescue), and hers and Flynn's roles didn't add anything to the story (Buckled Tracks and Bumpy Trucks). I really hope she gets more screentime; Belle's potential is too good to waste!
Honorable Mentions: Dennis, Molly, Oliver, Toby, Porter, etc.

Favorite Song - Really Useful Engine
A brilliant song about the number one tank engine we know and love. All three versions are really good, but the one in The Adventure Begins is probably the best of the three.
Honorable Mentions: Never Overlook a Little Engine, Little Engines, The Island Song, Thomas You're the Leader, The Hottest Place in Town, I'm Full of Surprises, etc.

Favorite Villain - Devious Diesel
Sure, he may not be as "devious" as he was in season two, but I love how they used him in recent years as a comical antagonist with a heart of gold. Sadly, many people disagree on that front, and think he should stick to being an over-the-top villain. Diesel's not a threat if you compare him against D10; Diesel is just cocky and overconfident at times, and in The Great Race, he felt more like Discord than, say, Tirek or Sombra. If you looked more closely at Diesel and the Ducklings, you might see there's more to Diesel than what meets the eye.
Honorable Mentions: Sailor John, Hurricane, Frankie (at least until the ending of JBS), Diesel 10

Despised Villain - Vinnie
Arrogant. Stereotyped. Jerk. That's all you need to you to justify Vinnie's spot here. Seriously, he goes after Philip after the boxcab got in the way, and it sends an implication that North Americans are jerkish in real life. As a North American, I feel insulted!
Dishonorable Mentions: Spencer (only in HOTR)

Favorite Episode - Best Engine Ever (Season 19)
This episode further cemented Emily as my favorite character; I love her dynamic with Caitlin, and I really felt for her when she was depressed about not being as fast or strong as Caitlin. The rescue scene was brilliantly done, and Emily proved she doesn't need streamlining to be really useful. Way to go, Emily!
Honorable Mentions: Love Me Tender, Thomas and Bertie, Slow Stephen, Old Iron, The Arlesdale Trilogy, The Railcar and the Coaches, Edward's Exploit, Ryan and Daisy, etc.

Despised Song - Race with You
Blech! Who thought this was a good idea of a song?
Dishonorable Mentions: Thomas and Percy, Let's Go, Engine Roll Call (S8-18)

Despised Episode - Three Steam Engines Gruff (Season 20)
I seriously have no idea what Brenner was thinking when he wrote this episode. Toby is supposed to be one of his favorites, and yet he's written as the Toby we hated in S8-16! (It says a lot when Davey Moore as shown up Brenner in S19 when it comes to Toby) Not only that, Percy's development from Tale of the Brave to S19 is conveniently forgotten about because of course it is. Same thing with Thomas being a bland, boring, generic kid's show protagonist. And did no one see from a mile away that the outcome of the story was obvious? Seriously, Ghost Train does all the elements a thousand times better.
Dishonorable Mentions: Rocky Rescue, Sodor Surprise Day, James to the Rescue, Fiery Flynn, Middle Engine, Thomas' Frosty Friend, Rheneas and the Roller Coaster, Edward Strikes Out, etc.

Favorite Special - Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure (2015)
It's got it all; catchy songs, a great villain, a wonderfully crafted story, lovable new characters, and brilliant visuals. What more can you ask for?
Honorable Mentions: Tale of the Brave, Blue Mountain Mystery, The Adventure Begins (UK version)

Despised Special - The Great Race (2016)
Too many ideas got shoved into a sixty-minute runtime, and it comes off as style over substance. Long story short, Ashima's redundant, Thomas is a stupid jerk, the subplots are either pointless or go nowhere, the moral is constantly shoved down your throat, and the "story" is cliched, boring, and predictable. It's a very poor rewrite of Dream On, which does the story a hundred times better.
Dishonorable Mentions: Day of the Diesels, Hero of the Rails, Misty Island Rescue

Thomas and Friends (C) Hit Entertainment and Mattel
The Railway Series (C) The Awdry Family
Meme (C) at Thomas and Friends Controversy Meme (Blank)

Description
For the third time, I tackle this Thomas meme from 2014. Let's see how much my views have changed in the last year, shall we?

EDIT: (8/24/17) Some thoughts have changed around to reflect the recent release of Journey Beyond Sodor (minor spoilers abound!)

Favorite Character - Emily
Seriously, guys; this "Emily replaced Duck" drama is old news. Yes, Emily may not have had the biggest development in character, but it's her personality (at least in the Brenner era) that really shines through, especially in the likes of Tale of the Brave and Best Engine Ever (which we'll get to). She's the big sister I'm sure we'd all love to have.
Honorable Mentions: Daisy, Ryan, Donald and Douglas, Theo, Edward, Percy, Diesel, Skiff, The Arlesdale Trio, Duncan, etc.

Despised Character - Ashima
Sorry, folks; Ashima's yet another character people love but I don't. Why? For one, she's basically Gator 2.0 but without the natural chemistry with Thomas that Gator had with Percy. Second, her personality is boring. Wise and bubbly, and she had no flaws, making her one-dimensional and bland. Speaking of which, the third reason is that anybody could've taken her role - Emily, Edward, Rosie, maybe even Percy! Fourth, in real life, she would be useless for service on the North Western Railway; Ashima's basis was designed to be a mountain engine, and with a speed barely at 20 miles per hour, she wouldn't do much for a branchline, let alone the mainline. If she was for the Culdee Fell Railway, then maybe I'd give her a pass, but to make a long story short, Ashima is redundant and only served for a stupid character arc that Thomas has been through time and again (and done way better). She's the Princess Luna of Thomas characters. If I wanted Ashima to come back, I'd rather Beresford lift her up and drop her into the sea. At least that'd be fun to watch.
Dishonorable Mentions: Hugo, Billy, Vinnie, Fergus, Smudger, Thomas (depending on the script), The Logging Locos, etc.

Favorite Season - 20
This season was just awesome! Yes, there were some bad episodes (one of which we'll get to) and a terrible character out of Hugo (I just wish he'd be Hu-gone ), but the positives far made up for the negatives, and then some. It also provided us with some of the best themes ever shown in Thomas media, strong character development (well, mostly), and yes, the Arlesdale trilogy. You can't miss them.
Honorable Mentions: 1-3, 6, 17-18

Despised Season - 13
Yep, I hate this more than the infamous fifteenth season. Why? Well, at least with season 15, you feel emotion - mostly anger - but with season 13? You feel nothing. Despite one really strong episode out of the season - Tickled Pink - this season is just tiring to sit through, not helping that Thomas had one lead role too many. Speaking of which...
Dishonorable Mentions: 9, 10, 12, 14-16

Most Overrated Character - Thomas
Where do I start with him? I don't necessarily hate Thomas as a character (especially not in the classic era - barring Scaredy Engines), but what I hate is whenever he shows up in a script and his role could easily be taken by someone else. Cautious Connor is a prime example of this; he could easily have been replaced by Caitlin and nothing would change. But then there was Thomas' role in The Great Race where he was an unlikable brat (not that Ashima was any better, but still)! Seriously, Thomas did not have to learn the same, boring lesson he's learned in the past! Yeah, Journey Beyond Sodor may have given Thomas a role that suited him, but it'll take more than that to have Thomas rank among my top favorites again.
Dishonorable Mentions: Smudger, James (sometimes), Rosie (S10-16), The International Engines (barring Flying Scotsman), etc.

Most Underrated Character - Belle
Poor Belle; she has all the potential to shine and yet she hasn't been given a lead role since Arc/Jam Filled took over. The fact that she's got an interesting basis and backstory to it makes it even sadder when she's rarely pulling trains. And when Belle did star in the last couple of seasons, she was seen as an idiot along with the rest of the team (Rocky Rescue), and hers and Flynn's roles didn't add anything to the story (Buckled Tracks and Bumpy Trucks). I really hope she gets more screentime; Belle's potential is too good to waste!
Honorable Mentions: Dennis, Molly, Oliver, Toby, Porter, etc.

Favorite Song - Really Useful Engine
A brilliant song about the number one tank engine we know and love. All three versions are really good, but the one in The Adventure Begins is probably the best of the three.
Honorable Mentions: Never Overlook a Little Engine, Little Engines, The Island Song, Thomas You're the Leader, The Hottest Place in Town, I'm Full of Surprises, etc.

Favorite Villain - Devious Diesel
Sure, he may not be as "devious" as he was in season two, but I love how they used him in recent years as a comical antagonist with a heart of gold. Sadly, many people disagree on that front, and think he should stick to being an over-the-top villain. Diesel's not a threat if you compare him against D10; Diesel is just cocky and overconfident at times, and in The Great Race, he felt more like Discord than, say, Tirek or Sombra. If you looked more closely at Diesel and the Ducklings, you might see there's more to Diesel than what meets the eye.
Honorable Mentions: Sailor John, Hurricane, Frankie (at least until the ending of JBS), Diesel 10

Despised Villain - Vinnie
Arrogant. Stereotyped. Jerk. That's all you need to you to justify Vinnie's spot here. Seriously, he goes after Philip after the boxcab got in the way, and it sends an implication that North Americans are jerkish in real life. As a North American, I feel insulted!
Dishonorable Mentions: Spencer (only in HOTR)

Favorite Episode - Best Engine Ever (Season 19)
This episode further cemented Emily as my favorite character; I love her dynamic with Caitlin, and I really felt for her when she was depressed about not being as fast or strong as Caitlin. The rescue scene was brilliantly done, and Emily proved she doesn't need streamlining to be really useful. Way to go, Emily!
Honorable Mentions: Love Me Tender, Thomas and Bertie, Slow Stephen, Old Iron, The Arlesdale Trilogy, The Railcar and the Coaches, Edward's Exploit, Ryan and Daisy, etc.

Despised Song - Race with You
Blech! Who thought this was a good idea of a song?
Dishonorable Mentions: Thomas and Percy, Let's Go, Engine Roll Call (S8-18)

Despised Episode - Three Steam Engines Gruff (Season 20)
I seriously have no idea what Brenner was thinking when he wrote this episode. Toby is supposed to be one of his favorites, and yet he's written as the Toby we hated in S8-16! (It says a lot when Davey Moore as shown up Brenner in S19 when it comes to Toby) Not only that, Percy's development from Tale of the Brave to S19 is conveniently forgotten about because of course it is. Same thing with Thomas being a bland, boring, generic kid's show protagonist. And did no one see from a mile away that the outcome of the story was obvious? Seriously, Ghost Train does all the elements a thousand times better.
Dishonorable Mentions: Rocky Rescue, Sodor Surprise Day, James to the Rescue, Fiery Flynn, Middle Engine, Thomas' Frosty Friend, Rheneas and the Roller Coaster, Edward Strikes Out, etc.

Favorite Special - Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure (2015)
It's got it all; catchy songs, a great villain, a wonderfully crafted story, lovable new characters, and brilliant visuals. What more can you ask for?
Honorable Mentions: Tale of the Brave, Blue Mountain Mystery, The Adventure Begins (UK version)

Despised Special - The Great Race (2016)
Too many ideas got shoved into a sixty-minute runtime, and it comes off as style over substance. Long story short, Ashima's redundant, Thomas is a stupid jerk, the subplots are either pointless or go nowhere, the moral is constantly shoved down your throat, and the "story" is cliched, boring, and predictable. It's a very poor rewrite of Dream On, which does the story a hundred times better.
Dishonorable Mentions: Day of the Diesels, Hero of the Rails, Misty Island Rescue

Thomas and Friends (C) Hit Entertainment and Mattel
The Railway Series (C) The Awdry Family
Meme (C) at Thomas and Friends Controversy Meme (Blank)