- “That engine. I have no idea what she was talking about".
"Me neither.” - ― Duck and Oliver
The Way She Does It is the tenth episode of the twentieth series.
Plot
One morning, the Fat Controller asks Daisy to take some special passengers to the holiday town of Harwick the next day. He tells her that the special passengers are a troupe of entertainers and that she should look her best. Daisy, excited by the prospect, happily accepts the job and is eager to tell the other engines about it. During her passenger run, she tells Thomas, Ryan, Duck, Oliver, and the bull on the branch line all about her special job, remarking on how important the entertainers are and that she was chosen especially. As the day goes on, her excitement grows and she can hardly sleep that night, imagining what sort of grand performance the troupe will show.
The next morning, Daisy heads off to Knapford to collect the entertainers whilst also doing her passenger run. At her first stop, she notices a family about to board with their pet dog. Remembering the Fat Controller's words about looking at her best, she refuses to let the family on board and leaves them behind. At the next two stations, she spots a family eating ice cream and another family fresh from a visit to the beach, and she refuses to pick them up too.
Daisy arrives at Knapford without so much as a grain of sand in her and awaits for her special passengers when a man with a bowler hat and a woman with a suitcase approach her. Daisy is surprised to learn that they are, in fact, the entertainers she was due to collect. As she laments the fact that they were not what she was expecting, Stafford shunts a parcel truck behind her. Daisy, horrifed at the prospect of pulling a truck, leaves before it can be coupled. Stafford tries to stop her, but knowing his battery will not get him to Harwick, he is forced to give up.
Daisy sadly sets off to Harwick, disappointed that her passengers were not as grand as she thought they would be. She is so upset that she fails to pick up any of her passengers again. Once she arrives at Harwick, the entertainers are surprised to discover that there are no children. They then explain to a surprised Daisy that they were going to perform a puppet show, but all their luggage was in the parcel truck except for the puppets, which the woman had in her suitcase. Daisy realises that she had let her imagination get the better of her and had not considered that it was simply a puppet show.
Just then, Bertie arrives carrying all the passengers Daisy left behind, as well as the Fat Controller. He scolds Daisy for her actions and explains he had to get a special bus service to pick up the children. Daisy apologises for what she did and accepts the blame for letting the entertainers and children down as without a puppet stand, the show cannot go ahead. Luckily, Daisy then has an idea; the entertainers can use one of her windows as a stand. The show is a big success and despite the entertainers making some jokes at her expense, even Daisy cannot help but laugh.
Characters
- Thomas
- Duck
- Oliver
- Ryan
- Daisy
- Stafford
- Annie and Clarabel
- Sir Topham Hatt
- The Puppet Show Entertainers
- The Ginger-haired Boy
- The Blond-haired Boy
- A Workman
- Bert (cameo)
- Rex (cameo)
- Mike (cameo)
- Toad (cameo)
- Bertie (cameo)
- The Teacher (cameo)
- The Great Railway Show Judge (cameo)
Locations
- Island of Sodor
- Misty Island (mentioned)
Cast
UK
- John Hasler as Thomas
- Steven Kynman as Duck and Ryan
- Joe Mills as Oliver
- Tracy-Ann Oberman as Daisy
- Keith Wickham as Stafford, the Fat Controller, the Male Puppet Show Entertainer, a Workman and some Passengers
- Teresa Gallagher as Annie, Clarabel, the Female Puppet Show Entertainer, the Blond-haired Boy and some Passengers
US
- Joseph May as Thomas
- Steven Kynman as Duck and Ryan
- Joe Mills as Oliver
- Tracy-Ann Oberman as Daisy
- Keith Wickham as Stafford, Sir Topham Hatt, the Male Puppet Show Entertainer, a Workman and some Passengers
- Teresa Gallagher as Annie, Clarabel, the Female Puppet Show Entertainer, the Blond-haired Boy and some Passengers
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the twenty-first episode of the twentieth series.
- The episode's title is most likely a reference to Mr. Punch's catchphrase, "That's the way to do it!" The male entertainer also says this line at the end of the episode.
- This episode marked a few things:
- The first appearances of Rex and Mike in an episode.
- The first time since the sixteenth series that Misty Island has been mentioned.
- Bertie's only appearance in the twentieth series.
- The last time Stafford is referred to by name until the twenty-fourth series episode, Kenji on the Rails Again.
- When Daisy is telling Duck and Oliver about her special, it is revealed that she is most likely familiar in French as well as English, as she uses several French terms to describe the entertainers.
- It is possible that the episode was based off the annual story "That's the Way to Do It!".
- The Fat Controller was wearing the same clothing at the end from the episode, Ryan and Daisy.
- On the twentieth series digital release, the episode is paired with Pouty James.
Goofs
- Andrew Brenner is credited for writing this episode at the beginning of the Family Jr. airing instead of Davey Moore. This was corrected in the UK airing.
- During the shot of Daisy on her way to Arlesburgh West, the sound designers seemingly mistook the first time she blinks as her honking her horn and added an ill-fitting horn sound effect.
- There are no tracks leading to the miniature engines' shed.
- Daisy referred to the truck that was carrying the puppet stand as a van, when it was really an open-top wagon.
- After the Fat Controller says "Let's get the show started", he freezes for the remainder of the shot, although he can be seen blinking his eyes.
- Matt Wilkinson is credited in the UK credits despite none of his characters speaking in that dub. This also applies to William Hope in the US credits.
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
UK
AUS/ZA/NL
- Team Up with Thomas
US
IDN
| #01 Sidney Sings | #11 Letters to Santa | #21 Henry in the Dark |
| #02 Toby's New Friend | #12 Love Me Tender | #22 Three Steam Engines Gruff |
| #03 Henry Gets the Express | #13 The Railcar and the Coaches | #23 Engine of the Future |
| #04 Diesel and the Ducklings | #14 Mucking About | #24 Hugo and the Airship |
| #05 Bradford the Brake Van | #15 Cautious Connor | #25 The Missing Breakdown Train |
| #06 Saving Time | #16 All in Vain | #26 Skiff and the Mermaid |
| #07 Ryan and Daisy | #17 Buckled Tracks and Bumpy Trucks | #27 The Christmas Coffeepot |
| #08 Pouty James | #18 Tit for Tat | #28 Over the Hill |
| #09 Blown Away | #19 Mike's Whistle | |
| #10 The Way She Does It | #20 Useful Railway | |