I tellya, the entire Isle of Sodor appears to be utterly uninsurable.
The show always bugged me as a Yank. Every time things go wrong (and things go wrong in every episode), it’s a direct result of some engine or another showing a bit of independent thinking, pluck, ambition, or otherwise trying to rise above its station. The entire series seems aimed at keeping every cog in the great machine of society oiled and in its place. Maintain the status quo, perform your duty, don’t make any waves, and for the love of God don’t start getting any funny ideas that you might be slightly better than anyone else.
Successful as it is in the States, it’s very obviously not aimed at an American audience. U.S.-bred children’s programming is full of specialness, uniqueness, social mobility, and the triumph of the underdog. Thomas and his pals exhibit only socialist virtues such as teamwork, humility, cooperation, and serving the common good. I like all that stuff as much as the next lefty, but I wish Sir Toppam Hat didn’t try so hard to hammer every shred of individuality and ambition out of the engines. He’s a regular brick in the wall, he is. I pity those trains that work for him.
Except Gordon, of course. That arrogant, self-satisfied show pony deserves every gallon of mud that ever clogged his boiler.
