Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
Thomas the Tank Engine Wikia
Thomas the Tank Engine Wiki
15,285
pages
in: Episodes, Series 23 episodes
English

Changes: Free the Roads

Back to page
View source
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Tab|tab1=Main Page|tab2=Gallery}}
  
{{Tab|tab1=Main Page|tab2=Gallery}}
 
{{Infobox Episode
  
{{Infobox Episode
−
|title1 = ''Free The Roads''
 +
|title1 = ''Free the Roads''
 
|image1 = FreetheRoadspromo.png
  
|image1 = FreetheRoadspromo.png
 
|writer = [[Michael White]]
  
|writer = [[Michael White]]
Line 18: Line 18:
 
}}
  
}}
 
{{Quote|This is much more like it! No more railways! The buses have finally won!|Bulgy}}
  
{{Quote|This is much more like it! No more railways! The buses have finally won!|Bulgy}}
−
'''''Free The Roads''''' is the first episode of the [[Series 23|twenty-third series]].
 +
'''''Free the Roads''''' is the first episode of the [[Series 23|twenty-third series]].
   
 
==Plot==
  
==Plot==
−
Bulgy is annoyed at the engines always taking the passengers. He attempts to take some that are waiting for Percy to arrive, but they decline his offer to ride on him. Bulgy attempts to block off Percy at the level crossing while trying to express his "Free the roads" policy, but moves after Bertie tells him to. While fantasying about him and Bertie saving passengers from being taken by Percy by taking them instead, he accidently knocks into some steel drums that have some tyres on them. One of the tyres rolls off the drums and onto a plank of wood that launches a bag of soil into a water tower.
 +
Bulgy is annoyed at the engines always taking the passengers. He attempts to take some that are waiting for Percy to arrive, but they decline his offer to ride on him. Bulgy attempts to block off Percy at the level crossing while trying to express his "free the roads" policy, but moves after Bertie tells him to. While fantasying about him and Bertie saving passengers from being taken by Percy by taking them instead, he accidently knocks into some steel drums that have some tyres on them. One of the tyres rolls off the drums and onto a plank of wood that launches a bag of soil into a water tower.
   
 
Thomas fills up with water from the water tower Bulgy got soil into, and breaks down some time later while taking Annie and Clarabel. Bulgy is then asked by Sir Topham Hatt to take Thomas' passengers instead. Some of the other engines also take on water from the same water tower and break down as well, leaving Bertie and Bulgy very busy.
  
Thomas fills up with water from the water tower Bulgy got soil into, and breaks down some time later while taking Annie and Clarabel. Bulgy is then asked by Sir Topham Hatt to take Thomas' passengers instead. Some of the other engines also take on water from the same water tower and break down as well, leaving Bertie and Bulgy very busy.
Line 79: Line 79:
 
==Trivia==
  
==Trivia==
 
* This episode marks the first of a few things:
  
* This episode marks the first of a few things:
−
** The first time since the [[Series 7|seventh series]] episode, ''[[Bulgy Rides Again]]'' that Bulgy has had a leading role in an episode.
 +
** The first time since the [[Series 7|seventh series]] episode, [[Bulgy Rides Again]] that Bulgy has had a leading role in an episode.
−
** The first episode since the [[Series 20|twentieth series]] finale, ''[[Over the Hill]]'' to be produced by [[Ian McCue]].
 +
** The first episode since the [[Series 20|twentieth series]] finale, [[Over the Hill]] to be produced by [[Ian McCue]].
−
** Max and Monty's first speaking roles since the [[Series 20|twentieth series ]] episode, ''[[Mucking About]]''.
 +
** Max and Monty's first speaking roles since the [[Series 20|twentieth series ]] episode, [[Mucking About]] and their first appearance without any of the other Pack members.
−
*** This is also the first appearance of them without any of the other Pack members.
  
 
** The first episode where Thomas, Gordon, Percy, Bertie and Bulgy gain more realistic looks.
  
** The first episode where Thomas, Gordon, Percy, Bertie and Bulgy gain more realistic looks.
 
* Bulgy and Bertie in the fantasy sequence were potrayed as Batman and Robin from the 1960s TV series Batman. Theme music renditions were played throughout the episode.
  
* Bulgy and Bertie in the fantasy sequence were potrayed as Batman and Robin from the 1960s TV series Batman. Theme music renditions were played throughout the episode.
 
* This episode marks Bertie and Bulgy’s only appearances and Butch’s only non-cameo appearance in the twenty-third series.
  
* This episode marks Bertie and Bulgy’s only appearances and Butch’s only non-cameo appearance in the twenty-third series.
−
* Bertie mentions the events of the [[Series 21|twenty-first series]] episode, ''[[Unscheduled Stops]]''.
 +
* Bertie mentions the events of the [[Series 21|twenty-first series]] episode, [[Unscheduled Stops]].
 
* This episode is named after a quote on Bulgy's original signboards.
  
* This episode is named after a quote on Bulgy's original signboards.
   

Revision as of 00:23, 26 June 2020

Main Page
Gallery

“This is much more like it! No more railways! The buses have finally won!”
― Bulgy

Free the Roads is the first episode of the twenty-third series.

Plot

Bulgy is annoyed at the engines always taking the passengers. He attempts to take some that are waiting for Percy to arrive, but they decline his offer to ride on him. Bulgy attempts to block off Percy at the level crossing while trying to express his "free the roads" policy, but moves after Bertie tells him to. While fantasying about him and Bertie saving passengers from being taken by Percy by taking them instead, he accidently knocks into some steel drums that have some tyres on them. One of the tyres rolls off the drums and onto a plank of wood that launches a bag of soil into a water tower.

Thomas fills up with water from the water tower Bulgy got soil into, and breaks down some time later while taking Annie and Clarabel. Bulgy is then asked by Sir Topham Hatt to take Thomas' passengers instead. Some of the other engines also take on water from the same water tower and break down as well, leaving Bertie and Bulgy very busy.

Bulgy initially likes taking passengers, but he soon gets more than he bargained for; Bertie ends up breaking down due to an overload of passengers to take, leading them to ride in Bulgy and causing him to break down as well. When his passengers complain about this, Bulgy states his regrets in getting the soil in the water tower. Unfortunately, The Fat Controller hears this and chastises Bulgy for what he did. Bulgy is then left broken down while the passengers are picked up by the engines. He is then left further dismayed when he is taken back to the garage by Thomas, but is still sticking to his beliefs.

Characters

Locations

Cast

UK

US

  • Joseph May as Thomas
  • Christopher Ragland as Percy and a Passenger
  • Teresa Gallagher as Annie, Clarabel, the Teacher and Albert's Wife
  • Keith Wickham as Bertie and Sir Topham Hatt
  • Colin McFarlane as Bulgy
  • Kerry Shale as Max
  • Rob Rackstraw as Monty, the Knapford Stationmaster and a Passenger

Trivia

  • This episode marks the first of a few things:
  • Bulgy and Bertie in the fantasy sequence were potrayed as Batman and Robin from the 1960s TV series Batman. Theme music renditions were played throughout the episode.
  • This episode marks Bertie and Bulgy’s only appearances and Butch’s only non-cameo appearance in the twenty-third series.
  • Bertie mentions the events of the twenty-first series episode, Unscheduled Stops.
  • This episode is named after a quote on Bulgy's original signboards.

Goofs

  • Max and Monty have their US voices in the UK dub.
  • Kerry Shale is not credited in either the US or UK end credits despite voicing Max.
  • Rob Rackstraw is not credited in the UK end credits for voicing Monty. However, Rasmus Hardiker is credited despite not voicing him.
  • Max and Monty have Sidney and Paxton's horn sounds.
  • As Percy starts leaving Maithwaite, his last two coaches are not rendered properly as they are merged together.

In Other Languages

Language Title
Brazilian Portuguese Liberem as Estradas
Dutch Maak de Weg Vrij!
Finnish Vapauta Tiet
German Straße frei für die Busse
Japanese バルジーだいさくせん！
Polish Więcej Dróg
Russian Свободные дороги
Spanish Liberen los Caminos

Home Media Releases

UK/AUS

References

<< Series 22

Series 23

Series 24 >>

#01 Free the Roads #09 Diesel Do Right #17 Lorenzo's Solo
#02 Crowning Around #10 Grudge Match #18 Deep Trouble
#03 Chucklesome Trucks #11 Panicky Percy #19 Too Loud, Thomas!
#04 The Other Big Engine #12 Laid Back Shane #20 Diesel Glows Away
#05 Heart of Gold #13 Rangers of the Rails Special #01 Steam Team to the Rescue
#06 Batucada #14 Wish You Were Here Special #02 All Tracks Lead to Rome
#07 Gordon Gets the Giggles #15 Out of Site Special #03 Mines of Mystery
#08 Thomas Makes a Mistake #16 First Day on Sodor!
Deutsch Español Polski Русский
*Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, Fandom will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
More Fandoms