The Repressive, Authoritarian Soul of “Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends”
Thomas & Friends is gold.The show is dignified and wholesome. It is always about respect, diligence, and humility.It isn't there for stupid antics and wacky laughs. It doesn't blast color explosions and ADHD-fueled off-the-charts mind-numbing exuburance to capture kids attention. And it's been doing that for decades (pretty much eternity, as far as kids TV goes).Not since Mr. Rogers has there been a better kids TV show.> Fat ControllerBetter known as Sir Topham Hatt since the 1950s.> Henry must be punished—for lifeEven in the old non-US version (modern one makes it explicit), it was still evident that he wasn't left in their forever, as he showed up again next time.Blue Mountain Mystery [1] A little green engine hides in the blue hills. Thomas learns that long ago, the engine accidentally caused another engine to roll overboard into the sea. He has been hiding ever since, in guilt and fear and shame. Thomas convinces him to return, and the story shows how silly the little engine's worries were. It's a moral of forgiveness and redemption. (Also, there's a great surprise about who that overboard engine actually is.)This crap makes me mad. I have to stop reading stuff on the internet. Go back to watching Sponge Bob or Family Guy or whatever crap you watch with your kids.[1] http://ttte.wikia.com/wiki/Blue_Mountain_Mystery