Thomas and Gordon (Thomas & Friends)

"Thomas is a tank engine who lives at a big station on the Island of Sodor! He's a cheeky little engine with six small wheels, a short stumpy funnel, a short stumpy boiler and a short stumpy dome!"

- Ringo Starr's opening narration in the original UK version

Thomas and Gordon (retitled Thomas Gets Tricked in American releases) is the very first episode of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book, Thomas the Tank Engine.

Plot
Thomas the Tank Engine is being cheeky and boasts to Gordon the Big Engine about how hard he works, but the strong, powerful and self-important Gordon decides to put Thomas in his place and takes him on a ride he'll never forget.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) This is an amazing start for the Thomas and Friends TV show, with a spectacular setting in the live-action model series of the show with Thomas and the other engines as well.
 * 2) In addition, each set of locations throughout the Island of Sodor were spectacularly made for the live-action model series.
 * 3) The scene where Gordon couples with his coaches and takes off before Thomas's driver and fireman can uncouple him from the back is very fun to watch.
 * 4) The opening cleverly shows Thomas, giving a friendly smile to the camera, with the narrator showing off his wheels, funnel, dome and boiler.
 * 5) Amazing soundtrack by Mike and Junior, especially with Gordon's theme song.
 * 6) We're introduced to the model engines of Thomas, Gordon, Henry and James.
 * 7) The whole episode stays faithful to the source material.
 * 8) The trains, cars, express coaches and trucks were well-made.
 * 9) The clay faces are really impressive.
 * 10) The voice acting in the Japanese version is amazing.
 * 11) Wonderful narration from both Ringo Starr and George Carlin.