I had a bit of a break from Thomas and Friends when Oliver turned two and decided that the locomotive characters were “scary.” We never did solve the mystery of how Thomas became frightening, but I assumed it had something to do with their freaky, human faces and rapid mood swings. One minute they’re happy – the next minute they’re crashing into mountains. It makes for very stressful viewing if you ask me…
Just recently, Oliver has gotten over his engine-related phobia, and Thomas has made a comeback in the Hood family DVD player. Chris and I are once again subjected to their little railroad dramas.
Not surprisingly, we’ve found ourselves enjoying some of the old Thomas-related jokes that made us laugh two years ago (this is a well known parental defense mechanism when it comes to annoying children’s programming: we learn to like it, as in, “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em“).
My favorite of these involves the only female train, Emily:
According to Wikipedia, Emily is a Stirling 4-2-2 engine used for high speed express. She is painted dark green, and has large “driving wheels” that I assume have something to do with making her a fast train.
In one particularly gripping episode, Thomas and his friends hear that the Railway Inspector will be coming to see all of the engines and award a prize for the finest one.
Sweet little Thomas and Percy, both steam engines (or “steamies” as they are often called), exclaim over how wonderful it would be to win.
Thomas
Percy
Gordon says that “of course” an Express Engine will win.
Emily is quite confident that an engine with “big wheels” is the obvious choice.
And that upstart James thinks that his red paint gives him an edge.
And what kind of message does this send to our tiny home viewers? That girls need to rely on their “assets” to get what they want? Thomas and Percy plan to just clean up well because “a really useful engine can look as grand as any engine.” Big he-man Gordon claims superiority based on his status as the strongest of the trains. And James…well, James also relies on his looks… But then again, I always suspected that James might be gay, so he doesn’t count.
Right. So with the exception of gay James, all of the male engines plan to win based on their overall merit. While the one female engine thinks that her larger than normal wheels will mesmerize the Railway Inspector enough to win her a blue ribbon.
It’s sad. And typical. And ultimately, just another case of a fast girl relying on her big wheels to get ahead.
so, umm…who wins? lol..I have to know! I used to babysit a little boy who was OBSESSED with Thomas so I’ve watched the movie repeatedly!
This cracks me up. And that last line? Priceless.
I am with Shawna; I need to know who wins!
I wonder if the typical viewer can discern between “overall merit” and “physical attributes.”
Regardless, this is way less offensive than the new and improved Dora that Nick is developing: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/parenting/2009/03/dora.html.
We stopped watching before Emily came around so that whole pernicious subplot eluded me. Personally, I like Donald and Douglas with their rockin’ Scottish accents. (I hear Emily really likes them, too.)
I knew there was something I liked about Emily!
I am guilty of using my *big wheels* to get what I want. Just the other day I flashed them at my hubby to get him to go on an ice cream run.
Too funny. I managed to avoid that one with my girls. Then again, I’d prefer trains to Dora any day. I guess I’ll get to learn all about them in a few years. Dude, how can a train be gay?
Thankfully we’ve missed out on Thomas too.
I’m assuming Emily won because the male inspector would appreciate a fast girl with big wheels.
I’m having Thomas flashbacks. Great post! And Lady and the pot of gold.
Wow. I NEVER would’ve caught that, and yet, now it seems so obvious!
Hi Kate, sorry to hijack your comment box like this but I don’t know all the answers to the questions my computer asks me when trying to use the blogger email function. I am kind of lame that way. Anyway, I really appreciate your comment on my post today. However, I do think there is a third pond out there that you might not have considered. Sure, there is the high school pond for whom it is all about popularity. And then there is the small pond of people you speak of containing people who just blog for that group of friends they have gathered around them which is totally cool. Consider, though, that people who blog are writers, photographers, scrapbookers, designers, and comedians, professional or otherwise. They are all putting their art form into their blog. Art is meant to be consumed. Hits are evidence of consumption, comments are feedback on your art form. If you are just out there to be “popluar’, well then. . . however, if you are out there to connect with other people through your art form, the lack of reception (hits and comments) can be very disheartening. Having published both a book and been blogging for a year, I can say that from my perspective, the instant feedback on my artform is great fun and highly addictive. Why does one want to publish a book? To be validated, to get the message that what they have written is worthy. That’s what blogging does for me, as well. So, I don’t care about the hits or the comments from the perspective of being popular nor do I want to be a “big blogger” for that reason. However, I can’t tell you how many people have bought my book because of what they have read on my blog–now THAT is a great reason to want to reach as many people as a bloggist possibly can.
Oh my gosh, Kate!! I laughed out loud at this!
You tell a story so well. I hate those Thomas the train cartoons and you sucked me in. Well done!
Hilarity. Things I had never thought about…now I won’t be able to stop when the boys are watching! ;)
YOU ARE CRAZY!!! And totally funny for coming up with this post.
With two boys, I’ve read dozens of the Thomas books (several million times) and watched the kids play with the Thomas friends several hundred hours…and I can’t say I’ve ever thought of it that way!
I’m going to tell my husband to read your post immediately. He will LOVE it.
I wonder if I’m your only reader who has never even seen one episode of this show! Regardless, very funny post!
Kate – I just went back and read your comment on Heidi Ashworth’s post and her response.
I think you have a great perspective on the blogging process, community and addiction. I understand what Heidi is saying but I think there is another perspective.
There are writers that just write for the beauty of the words (corny as that may seem) and bloggers that write for the same reason. To them, the volume of comments may not be as meaningful as the substance of the feedback.
Connecting to another person is amazing, whether it be through blogging or a book BUT it’s the work itself that matters and how you feel about it, not the number of people that react to it or buy it.
I hear you sister! And, yes, James is soooo gay.
J turned 10 YEARS OLD today, and some of our fondest memories are of being immersed in Thomas this and Thomas that.
Thanks for the memories today.
I am so deep in Thomas that I must tell you Emily is no longer the only female engine on the beautiful island of sodor. There are molly, mavis, rosie, and lady per my four year old.
Typical. But true and extremely funny!
I’m the odd mother whose kiddos didn’t watch this as a child. But, I think you must be completely correct in your assessment. We need to do something about this sexism immediately!
My son never watched this show—he was more of a Teletubbie kid—so how warped is that?
I’m guessing the lack of irony thing, although I don’t have firsthand Thomas experience. Its funny that this idea even occurred to you though! Wanna take on those Bratz dolls?!!
James is totally gay. Thomas and his buddies provide all kinds of fodder for bored parents.
So who won anyway??
So funny. I detest the Thomas shows, but maybe I just need to watch more closely!
OMG….I never could sit through the movie. We had probably 10 copies of it. Everyone kept giving them to my oldest grandson for Christmas and birthdays. Every relative he visited had their own copy. We kept giving them away. He had all the trains, which are not cheap.
Now it is all about robots, which cost a lot more.
Someone in Feminist Studies could do a dissertation on this subject – Covert Sexism in Childrens’ Entertainment Media.
You are so funny and so insightful.
Beautifully written too.
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Haha, LOVE your commentary. What is it with cartoon shows with only having one female character?
I have small wheels and clearly they have done me no good. and yes, these men knew exactly what they were writing. the average writer here in Hollywood is the guy who was the nerd way back when.
James is definitely gay. I think that Annie and Clarabelle are totally underappreciated.
I always attributed the trains’ insensitivity toward on another to Sir Topham Hat being so distant and verbally abusive.
I’ll show you confusion and delays! Ever hear of a railroad strike?
I love your logic! The fast, big-wheeled girls always seemed more popular to me…
Hi I’m Shay stopping by from SITS.
This is so funny and stereotypical! I’m sure it is ALL male writers who just thought it would be funny.
I’m about to have my first baby (a boy) on Wed. March 25th so I’m sure I’ll be watching Thomas and friends soon enough wondering these same things lol
It’s like reading one of my own posts. I always point out sexist messages in my kids’ movies and literature to my husband and he thinks I’m crazy.
At least we’re crazy together.
That’s definitely sexist. I’ve never seen that show but their faces remind of a show that used to be on that featured a bunch of animated airplanes. I can’t remember the name of it but I think the airport was Tarrytown. The airplanes had the same faces as those trains do and every now and then they would burst into song.
i too am disturbed by talking trains!
good point…
i never caught on to that!
it’s pathetic huh?
how’s life? i can barely keep up on my own lately so to read my fave’s has not been happening :(
just wanted to say hi!
xoxo
You are too funny. I woujld ahve never thought of that
Oh, I LOVED Thomas when I was little! I’m sorry to see they’ve gone slumming a little ;-)
And why is she the “bossy” one?
They might as well have named her Nag and gotten it over with.
This made me laugh, especially since I had a kids’ TV moment myself this week…