View source for Gordon Takes Charge

{{Youmay|the episode|[[Gordon Takes Charge (Hungarian DVD)|the Hungarian DVD]]}}
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{{Infobox Episode
|title1=Gordon Takes Charge
|image1=[[File:GordonTakesCharge30.png|250px]]
|director=[[Stephen Asquith]]
|producer=[[Simon Spencer]]
|writer=[[Paul Larson]]
|narrator=
* [[Michael Angelis]] {{UK}}
* [[Michael Brandon]] {{US}}
|series=[[Series 8|8]]
|series_no=
* 8.12 {{Broadcast order}}
* 8.19 {{Production order}}
|number=194
|released=
{{Scroll|width=250px|height=180px|
* 5 September 2004 {{Note|UK/IRL, [[Nick Jr.]]}}
* 21 September 2004 {{Note|US/CAN, VHS/DVD}}
* 25 September 2004 {{Note|CAN, TV}}
* 16 October 2004 {{Note|US, TV}}
* 23 September 2005 {{Note|GER}}
* 1 May 2006 {{Note|KOR, EBS}} 
* 10 July 2006 {{Note|UK, [[CiTV]]}} 
* 2 October 2006 {{Note|HUN}}
* 30 November 2006 {{Note|AUS/NZ, Nick Jr.}} 
* 16 March 2007 {{Note|JPN}}
* 12 October 2007 {{Note|FIN, DVD}}
* 4 April 2008 {{Note|AUS, [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC1]]}}
* 6 June 2010 {{Note|KOR, EBS English}}
* 24 April 2024 {{Note|US, [[Roku]], [[PBS Retro]]}}
}}
|previous=[[Thomas and the Firework Display]] {{Broadcast}}<hr>[[Chickens to School]] {{Production}}
|next=[[Spic and Span]] {{Broadcast}}<hr>[[Thomas and the Tuba]] {{Production}}
}}
{{Quote|Maybe teaching Percy will be fun, then he'll see I'm the biggest and the best.|Gordon}}
'''''Gordon Takes Charge''''', originally titled '''''Gordon and the Snow Gala'''''<ref name="gala">[https://www.thepropgallery.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/f9b1b3b86a055a9d42aacc5a91a21a11/a/t/atteprl2.jpg Eighth series prop list]</ref>, is the twelfth episode of the [[Series 8|eighth series]].

==Plot==
More visitors are coming to the island to celebrate Christmas. But one day, when the roads are blocked and Bertie cannot take any passengers, the Fat Controller assigns Percy to take passengers. Percy is worried, as he has not pulled passengers in a long time, but the Fat Controller assigns Gordon to teach him. Gordon huffily states that he is an express engine, and he should not be slowed down by a small engine, like Percy.

When Gordon and Percy arrive to collect their coaches, Percy bumps his coaches hard. Gordon tells Percy to back up smoothly to his coaches and Gordon backs up to his coaches without bumping them. The yard manager praises Gordon for being smooth and saying that it was the best buffering he has ever seen. This makes Gordon feel pleased, especially because he believes that teaching Percy will give him the chance to show off that he is the biggest and the best.

When Gordon arrives at Knapford, he smoothly comes to a stop. Percy arrives a moment later and upon seeing so many passengers, he blows his whistle and whooshes a lot of steam. Gordon crossly tells him he is doing everything wrong and that he should not wheesh until his passengers are on board. He then tells him to watch how he waits for his passengers and lets off steam after. Gordon is very proud to show Percy that he is the best and he is having fun, but Percy is becoming annoyed.

Gordon and Percy puff along different tracks during their routes, with Gordon going through the snowy valley and Percy going under the icy bridge. At Maron, Gordon and Percy pick up more passengers. This time, Percy waits until his passengers all are onboard until he wheeshes some steam. Gordon claims that Percy is learning a little bit, but he is still not doing it right. He once again tells Percy to watch him as he wheeshes steam and then immediately pulls out of the station. By now, Percy is very angry and dismisses Gordon's "teachings" as nothing but showing off.

As Gordon puffs through the countryside, he declares himself as very clever and starts showing off to James and Toby as he passes by. Neither of them are amused by Gordon's showing off, either, but Gordon continues on, declaring how nice and smoothly he puffs and that he is the fastest and the best.

When Gordon approaches Kellsthorpe. Thomas and lots of people are there and he wants to show off to the passengers by how smoothly he can travel, but Gordon is so sidetracked from showing off, and does not take any notice as to how icy the tracks are, and ends up overshooting the platform. The passengers watch as he ends up into a siding and runs into a snowdrift, but no one is hurt.

Eventually, the Fat Controller arrives, looking very cross. He scolds Gordon for showing off all afternoon instead of teaching Percy as he had ordered him to. Gordon quietly apologises for his behaviour, just as Percy passes by. Percy gently halts at the station with all of his passengers safely stepping on the platform, while Gordon's have to walk through the snow to transfer to the other train. Gordon feels embarrassed and his face turns red, but Edward soon pulls him out of the snowdrift.

That night, when it is time to go home, the passengers are all on board Gordon and Percy's trains. Gordon wants to show Percy how smoothly he can puff, but he remembers the accident he had and he does not want to look silly again. This time, he lets Percy go first to show Gordon how smoothly he can go instead. So Percy puffs out of the station first and Gordon follows him. All the way home, Gordon does not show off once.

When they arrive back at the shed, Percy asks Gordon if he saw how smoothly he went. Gordon compliments Percy, saying he has learned very well, but afterwards, he attributes it to his good teaching.

==Characters==
* [[Gordon (T&F)|Gordon]]
* [[Percy (T&F)|Percy]]
* [[Sir Topham Hatt (T&F)|Sir Topham Hatt]]
* [[Edward (T&F)|Edward]] {{Does not speak}}
* [[James (T&F)|James]] {{Does not speak}}
* [[Toby (T&F)|Toby]] {{Does not speak}}
* [[Bertie (T&F)|Bertie]] {{Does not speak}}
* [[Thomas (T&F)|Thomas]] {{Cameo}}
* [[Emily (T&F)|Emily]] {{Cameo}}
* [[Annie and Clarabel (T&F)|Annie and Clarabel]] {{Cameos}}
* [[Butch]] {{Cameo}}
* [[Mrs. Kyndley (T&F)|Mrs. Kyndley]] {{Cameo}}
* [[Jem Cole (T&F)|Jem Cole]] {{Cameo}}
* [[Refreshment Lady (T&F)|Refreshment Lady]] {{Cameo}}
* [[Other Real Human Characters#David Mitton|David Mitton]] {{Cameo}}
* [[Cyril the Fogman]] {{Cameo}}
* [[Storytellers#The Storyteller|The Storyteller]] {{Cameo}}

==Locations==
* [[Tidmouth Sheds (T&F)|Tidmouth Sheds]]
** [[Tidmouth Engine Works]]
* [[Knapford (T&F)|Knapford]]
* [[Maron (T&F)|Maron]]
* [[Kellsthorpe Road (T&F)|Kellsthorpe Road]]

==Trivia==
* Going by production order, this is the nineteenth episode of the eighth series.
* According to [[:File:S8ProductionListPG2.jpg|a prop listing for "Episodes 19-26 series 8 as at 17th November 2003"]]:
** This episode was originally titled ''Gordon and the Snow Gala''.<ref name="gala">[https://www.thepropgallery.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/f9b1b3b86a055a9d42aacc5a91a21a11/a/t/atteprl2.jpg Eighth series prop list]</ref>
** At that point during production, this was episode 24.
** "Item No. 38", required for this episode, was an unspecified quantity of "icicles for dressing bridge etc". Both the scene number and set are given as "Various". The "Shoot Date" is given as 15th December 2003, same as scenes later filmed for [[Percy and the Magic Carpet]] and [[Thomas and the Circus]].
* Thomas' [[Series 5|fifth series]] gauge 3.5 model for when he interacts with [[Sodor Construction Company|The Pack]] is seen at the beginning.
* When Percy whistles at Knapford, his whistle sounds the same as it did in [[Percy's New Whistle]].
* In the individual version of the episode, the music is played a few seconds late at the beginning while the music at the end is played early.
* One passenger's figure uses [[Teachers#Headmaster Hastings|Headmaster Hastings]]' body with [[Jem Cole (T&F)|Jem Cole]]'s head.
* This is the last episode to have [[Takeshi Aono]] as part of the Japanese voice cast, eight years before his death in 2012.
* The Icy Bridge that Percy passes through is actually the Bulgy's Bridge prop with a railway line running underneath it.
** This episode also marks the last appearance of the Bulgy's Bridge prop, excluding being seen in [[Music Videos]].

==Goofs==
* When Gordon puts his brakes on, he still makes a puffing sound.
* In the close-up of Gordon's wheels sliding, he is already heading down the siding, but in the next shot, he is heading down it again. Also, one of his coaches jerks upwards when it goes over the points.
* When Gordon and Percy are in the depot, Gordon backs up to only two express coaches, not three like the standard express train. But when Gordon pulls up to Knapford and stops on his express line, he is pulling a train of three express coaches.
* When Gordon is in Tidmouth Sheds, his eyes are misaligned.
* In the close-up of Percy wheeshing steam at Maron, Gordon and his express coaches disappear next to him.
* Gordon's tender bounces a bit when Edward pulls him from the snowdrift.
* When Gordon crashes into the snowdrift no snow lands in his tender, nor on the express's footsteps, but a few seconds later there is.
* When Gordon is in the snowdrift a small gap can be seen between his embarrassed face and eyes.
* In the US dub, Michael Brandon's voice slightly cracks when he says "His face was as red as Bertie the Bus."

==Merchandise==
* [[:Category:Magazine stories|Magazine Stories]] - [[Gordon's Snow Show]]

==In Other Languages==
{{Collapse 1}}
{{Other Languages
|BRA=Gordon dá as ordens
|CHI-MAN=爱炫耀的高登
|HRV=Gordan preuzima kontrolu
|CZE=Gordon se ujal vedení
|DAN=Gordon lærer fra sig
|DUT=Gordon neemt de leiding
|FIN=Jori opettajana
|GER=Gordon sagt, wo's langgeht
|GRE=Ο εγωιστής Τζόνι
|HUN=Gordon, a példakép
|ITA=Gordon assume il comando
|JPN=ゴードン、せんせいになる
|KOR=선생님이 된 고든
|LAM=Gordon al mando
|NOR=Gordon Viser seg fram
|POL=Gabryś rządzi
|RUM=Gordon preia comanda
|RUS=Гордон хвастается
|SRP=Gordonova odgovornost
|SPA=Gordon el profesor
|SWE=Gordon ger lektioner|FRE=Le Professeur Gordon}}
{{Collapse 2}}

==Home Media Releases==
{{Scroll box|
===UK===
* [[It's Great to Be an Engine!]]
* [[The Complete Series 8]]

====UK DVD Packs====
* [[The Ultimate Collection (UK Exclusive Boxset)|The Ultimate Collection]]
* [[5 Adventurous DVDs]]
* [[Classic Collection]]
* [[Triple Pack]]

===AUS===
* Series Eight

====AUS DVD Boxsets====
* [[The Essential Collection (5 DVD Boxset)|The Essential Collection]]
* [[The Complete Series 7|Series Seven]] and Series Eight '''Double Pack'''
* [[The Complete Series 1-10]]

===US/CAN===
* It's Great to Be an Engine! {{Note|Direct-to-Home Video}}

====US/CAN DVD Packs====
* Bob the Builder: [[w:c:btb:Bob's Favorite Adventures|Bob's Favorite Adventures]]/[[Thomas & Friends]]: It's Great to Be an Engine! '''[[Double Feature]]'''
* [[All-Aboard for Adventure!]]
* [[Fun Pack]] {{Note|US only}}
* [[Let's Explore with Thomas]]

===ZA===
* [[Making Tracks with Thomas]] {{Note|VHS}}
* [[Truck-loads of Fun]] {{Note|DVD}}

====ZA DVD Boxsets====
* [[4 Disc Collection]]
* [[5 DVD Boxset (2006)|5 DVD Boxset]]

===MYS===
* [[Emily's New Route and Other Adventures]] {{Note|VCD}}
* [[Don't Tell Thomas and Other Adventures]] {{Note|DVD}}
* [[Cheery Holiday Collection]]

===SPN===
* [[Thomas and Friends - Volume 2 (Spanish DVD)|Thomas and Friends - Volume 2]]

====SPN DVD Pack====
* [[First Season (Spanish DVD)|First Season]]

===ROM===
* [[Gordon Takes Charge (Hungarian DVD)|Thomas & Friends 4]]
* [[It's Great to Be an Engine!]]

====ROM DVD Packs====
* [[Triple Pack 3]]
* [[Six DVD Set]]

===NL===
* [[James Gets a New Coat (Dutch DVD)|James Gets a New Coat]]

===GER===
* [[So Many Surprises]]

===NOR/DK/SWE/FIN===
* [[It's Great to Be an Engine!]]

===CZ===
* [[It's Great to Be an Engine!|Thomas' Best Contraption!]]

===POL===
* [[Thomas to the Rescue (Polish DVD)|Thomas to the Rescue]]

===HUN===
* [[Gordon Takes Charge (Hungarian DVD)|Gordon Takes Charge]]

====HUN DVD Boxset====
* [[Thomas the Tank Engine & Gift Keys extension box]]

===GRC===
* [[Trains Make Mistakes Too!]]

===IDN===
* [[Emily's New Route and Other Adventures|Emily's New Route and Other Stories]]

===THA===
* [[Thomas and Friends - Volume 38 (Thai DVD)|Thomas and Friends - Volume 38]]

===JPN===
* [[Thomas the Tank Engine Series 8 Vol.6]]

===KOR===
* [[Character Special Edition Series Vol. 4]]
* [[Thomas the Little Engine and Friends Season 3 Vol. 3]]

===HK===
* [[Thomas and Friends Volume 22 (Hong Kong DVD)|Thomas and Friends Volume 22]] {{Note|VCD}}

===TWN===
* [[Thomas and Friends Volume 10 (Taiwanese DVD)|Thomas and Friends Volume 10]]
}}

==References==

{{Series 8}}

[[es:Gordon al Mando]]
[[he:גורדון תופס פיקוד]]
[[pl:Gabryś Rządzi]]
[[ru:Гордон хвастунишка]]
[[Category:Series 8 episodes]]
[[Category:Episodes]]
[[Category:2000s]]
[[Category:2004]]