| This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the statue, the DVD or the Chinese book. |
- “This is the finest statue I've ever seen!"
"And the cleanest!” - ― The Mayor and the Fat Controller
The Lion of Sodor is the second episode of the thirteenth series.
Plot
Thomas is given the job of transporting a crate which Cranky states that he needs to take special care of as it as it contains The Lion of Sodor, which he thinks is an actual lion, despite Cranky attempting to tell him otherwise. On route to Knapford, Thomas sees Henry and tells him about how he thinks he is taking a lion. Surprised at this, Henry states that he is only taking syrup. Remembering what Cranky said about taking care of it, Thomas asks for some of the syrup as he thinks the lion would like it and is given some. However, Thomas then reveals that it is The Lion of Sodor which shocks Henry who also tries to tell Thomas what Cranky was trying to say, though Thomas does not wait to listen.
Thomas later sees Edward and also informs him that he thinks he has a lion. When Edward responds that he only has fish, Thomas asks for some as he thinks that his lion would like some as well. He is given some, only for Edward to again attempt, and fail, to inform Thomas the truth about the Lion of Sodor. Thomas then meets with Toby who he again tells about his "lion", to which Toby states that he only has straw. Thomas also thinks that his lion would like some straw and is given some, but yet again does not wait to hear Toby tell him the truth.
When Thomas arrives at Knapford station, the crate is opened up and everyone is shocked to see the Lion of Sodor is actually a statue and in a terrible mess. This causes the Fat Controller to be cross and Gordon and James to laugh. Thomas feels very silly and owns up to what he thought of his cargo. The Fat Controller and Henry explain that the Lion of Sodor was a special statue which got broken. Thomas' cargo was the new statue of the Lion. Feeling silly, Thomas agrees to get the statue clean. Taking advice from Henry and Edward, he gets it cleaned at the wash-down and then polished at the Sodor Steamworks. Once the Lion of Sodor looks very clean, Thomas takes Toby's advice to a shortcut via the windmill to get back to Knapford station, where the Mayor of Sodor is overjoyed to see the new statue.
Characters
- Thomas
- Edward
- Henry
- James
- Percy
- Toby
- Cranky
- Sir Topham Hatt
- The Mayor of Sodor
- Gordon (laughs only)
- Emily (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants (cameos)
- The Teacher (cameo)
- The Bird Watcher (cameo)
- The Ginger-haired Boy (cameo)
- The Blond-haired Boy (cameo)
- The Dark Uniformed Children (cameos)
- The Welsh Bird Watcher (cameo)
- The Lady with the Big Hat (cameo)
- The Female Puppet Show Entertainer (cameo)
- Big Mickey (faceless, cameo)
- Victor (mentioned)
Locations
- The Viaduct
- The Coal Hopper
- Brendam Docks
- Maron
- Knapford
- Sodor Steamworks
- The Windmill
- Maithwaite
- Crosby Washdown
- Kirk Ronan Junction
Cast
UK
- Ben Small as Thomas and Toby
- Keith Wickham as Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, the Fat Controller, and the Mayor of Sodor
- Matt Wilkinson as Cranky
US
- Martin Sherman as Thomas and Percy
- William Hope as Edward and Toby
- Kerry Shale as Henry, Gordon, James and Sir Topham Hatt
- Glenn Wrage as Cranky
- David Bedella as the Mayor of Sodor
Trivia
- Apart from laughing, Gordon does not have any dialogue in this episode.
- This episode marked the first of a few things:
- The Mayor of Sodor's first speaking role.
- The first appearance of the Viaduct since the sixth series episode, Edward the Very Useful Engine and its first appearance in CGI.
- This episode was shown in select US cinema in October 2010.
- Buster's theme from the Jack and the Sodor Construction Company episode, Thomas and the Moles when he flattens the molehills is heard here.
- This episode was used for a Television advert of Google Home in Japan.
- The ending of the episode was shown on BBC News on 18th July 2010 when the BBC was discussing the subject of Thomas CGI take during their topic of Thomas' 65th anniversary of The Railway Series in that exact same year the episode was released.
- In Poland, this episode premiered before Hero of the Rails, so the audience would not know about the Sodor Steamworks.
- The Korean title of this episode is the same both on the dub and subtitles.
Goofs
- When Thomas arrives at the docks, the flatbed is missing its axles. Also, when he first arrives, it is lighter in colour.
- In the scenes when the signal turns green and Thomas leaves, the mountain looks different.
- Toby said he only has straw in his trucks, but he had flatbeds.
- As Toby is trying to tell Thomas the Lion of Sodor is not an actual lion, steam comes out of Thomas' cab instead of his funnel.
- The narrator states that Thomas' driver also put the fish and hay into the lion's crate, however, it was actually put in by Thomas' fireman.
Merchandise
- Take-n-Play (discontinued)
- Magazine Stories - A Lion on Sodor
- Books - The Lion of Sodor (China only)
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
UKDVD PacksUS/AUS/ZA/ARA/MYS/POL/GER/SWE/NOR/FIN/DK/CZ/GER
US DVD PacksAUS DVD Packs
GER DVD BoxsetsFRA
JPN
THA/ITACHNKOR |
| #01 Creaky Cranky | #08 Thomas and the Pigs | #15 Splish Splash Splosh |
| #02 The Lion of Sodor | #09 Time for a Story | #16 The Biggest Present of All |
| #03 Tickled Pink | #10 Percy's Parcel | #17 Snow Tracks |
| #04 Double Trouble | #11 Toby's New Whistle | #18 Henry's Good Deeds |
| #05 Slippy Sodor | #12 A Blooming Mess | #19 Buzzy Bees |
| #06 The Early Bird | #13 Thomas and the Runaway Kite | #20 Hiro Helps Out |
| #07 Play Time | #14 Steamy Sodor | |