Merry Winter Holidays everyone, I ought to give y'all a MASSIVE thank you for watching a 50 minute essay about an anthropomorphic steam locomotive. I truly put my all into this one as you can tell, as it is the first to crack the 50 minute barrier. I already fear the amount of work that I have to put into a 1h video... speaking of which, I would like to use the opportunity to remind you to leave your vote for 2 massive future projects that I MAY tackle in the future. Your input will decide if those videos may become reality one day. Please do not hesitate and let me know, it's only one click: th-cam.com/users/postUgkxYGvMsAO1Gow1Mw7r9cw7MxEgODfiP8GT I really need to know if there is enough demand for projects as large as this, because we all know that a Top 14 Thomas Specials and an even bigger Top 25 Thomas Seasons will be well over an hour long; the Top 25 might even be 2h long, which is something I only want to work on if there are enough people who want to see it. We have reached almost 400 votes in the past, so I know that 200 votes are possible. 2024 has been a crazy year for this channel. We started off with only 30 subscribers and are now at 670, which is crazy - the fact that I have amassed a subscriber count this large in only one year is still incomprehensible. I still can't fathom how my videos can gain 1000's of views despite my channel only being so small - it really exemplifies the undoubted loyalty of the Thomas Community. From the bottom of my heart: Thank you for everything that you've done for me; let's celebrate The Railway Series' 80th Anniversary in May 2025. - Zach
No dude, Nicholas wouldn't care about me. There are far more impressive content creators in this Fandom who deserve to get a shout-out by him much more than I ever will. But yes, I too truly put my all into my videos; this one for instance took me over 30h to produce...
Despite Duncan the Humbug being the last Skarloey episode given Mattel has deemed them 'unmarketable' to focus more on the standard-gauge engines, however it was a perfect swansong to the characters we know and love since the beginning of the RWS and S4 of the show, and Duncan's character journey really has come full circle (even in LizProductions5784's audio visual based on this episode and Christmas Carol) - same thing implies to Gordon and Spencer's bookend in Confused Coaches. Duncan has always been another favorite character of mine, and he is really a fun character for the TV crew, though I think even the HiT era really did well w/ him more by adding more layers such as being cheeky like in Duncan's Bluff or Great Discovery. If any of the original creators of Thomas have a favorite Narrow-Gauge engine - I think Awdry likes writing for Skarloey and Peter Sam, Britt Allcroft and David Mitton with either Rusty or Duncan, etc.
Like for real, how the fuck did we have two owners of the same property who had completely different mindsets about this? Owner A wants use them as consistent B characters to give us a yearly batch of episodes that are a nice change from the norm whereas Owner B just wants to use them as NPC's to fill in the background. Even HiT, who massacred them HORRIBLY, understood that the Skarloey's had potential and it allowed them to write creative stories that wouldn't have been possible with the Standard Gauge Engines. We can't win either way, because whenever HiT ended up using them, the episodes were atrocious more often than not. Mattel on the other hand never used them and thus, we are missing on a large chunk of interesting characters and story opportunities that would have been memorable almost instantly since it would have been a nice change from the norm. I will never comprehend Mattel's business decisions...
@@ZachIsland Also in terms of Duncan's render in CGI, it's apparent that Arc Productions (unlike Nitrogen) don't send their staff off to real railways in the UK and just use image sources they could find online (even since the models that were once on display at Nitrogen were sent off to Japan, it makes it harder for them to get more reference to ensure it stays consistent) - as a result, the returnee renders are either few hits or more misses.
Mattel Is not a company to talk about that considering the fact they were the biggest toy producer in the world and now are having the biggest downfall of any company in the industry and literally made The highest producing family toy line series (and TV and book series) somehow unprofitable even though they were giving them one of the most Successful brands in history
Duncan really peaked when he had to carry the balloon on the flatbed, the episodes with balloons always encapsulate the love I have for this franchise honestly.
It's nice to know that there is people like you who is willing to do character analysis while unlucky tug won't. Great video! Nice to know all of these things about Duncan!
I do love that in the RWS, Duncan realize that not all diesels are bad and he was nice during the story with the boy stouts in it. In the model series, he was good from season 4, 5 & kinda 6. As for Duncan the humbug, it does show a valuable lesson for a person who is useful (despite their flaws). And for Duncan to ignore someone else problems to get along with his work is good.
I think it goes without saying that Duncan was easily the best narrow gauge engine in the HiT era and arguably the only one of the bunch who wasn’t screwed up in that era. Even in his spotlight episodes that aren’t well received, he still felt like Duncan. That and he also got a few episodes that are among the best the HiT era had to offer (“Duncan and the Old Mine”, “Duncan’s Bluff”, and “Cool Truckings”).
Excellent essay video there, Zach. I couldn’t have talked about this finest Narrow Gauge character better than you even if I try myself. Although I love Duncan in every way, I think I prefer Peter Sam as my favorite of all the Narrow Gauge engines. The reason is that he is the most consistent of them all and his character progression over the course of the seasons feels natural, and he was never regressed into an idiotic child. 19:17 I don’t think Peter Sam acting like a critic in Season 9 is out of character for him. It’s more like a new side of his personality that we never see before. In Season 4, he wasn’t meant to be the brightest bulb and can be easily agitated when he feels like he’s wronged in some way. The once naive and infectious green guy who would take the brunt of idiot’s stupid decisions, is now trying to act like a wise guy to silly things. I have already done a character analysis video about Peter Sam myself a while back, so you can check it out if you want to know more. Merry Christmas🎄to you, Zach.
Hi Khor, Thank you so much for you great comment as always, it truly means the world to me reading *your* thoughts. I too love Peter Sam as mentioned and decided to give it a watch. It's a pretty good essay, well done man. If you can, you should make more essays, you really know your stuff. But of course, they are exhausting to make, I'd know. Though if you ever find the time and motivation to do a new one, let me know, because I sure would like to give it a go. Merry Winter Holidays to the Calson Family. - Zach
Ouh, it's the other way around, I profusely apologise. But come on man, when you write it the other way around you have to expect that we wessies are easily confused. It would help to add a comma in the description to make it obvious for us.
I think it’s a good thing that Duncan did not appear in blue mountain mystery. He would’ve absolutely thrashed Thomas after he found out that Thomas told Victor about Luke. And also have time and energy to give diesel a hearty thrashing as well
You know what? That actually seems plausible. Suddenly I wish that Duncan did make it into BMM after all because I can totally picture that scene with him present. Diesel feeling uneasy around an angry Scottish steam engine who is much smaller than him sounds absolutely hilarious. But still, in a perfect world, Duncan would have come out of the Steamworks as one final surprise. I am sure that this is what they actually wanted to do at first, but they couldn't, and so they were coerced to recolour Rheneas since he looks the most similar to Duncan.
@@ZachIsland as soon as I get trainz 19, (and someone who can do a very very thick angry scottish accent and more skill in da vinci resolve, and a microphone) I'm going to do a fan episode where Diesel tries to get rusty to join the evil diesels. but fail horribly
I just wish the people actually in charge of any big storytelling company would understand this rule that has been completely forgotten in this new era. Also, I don't know why I changed this one comment so much. At least now it's short and meaningful.
I think Duncan gives off more of a rough labourer vibe. You see those people get shafted because they are “old school” and offensive. Good stuff though mate.
let me say Duncan despite being in a series that has constantly mischaracterized so many characters has managed to somehow remain pretty much unscathed my theory on way Duncan is so good in hit era is well that era loved to make characters into braindead idiots and well Duncan naturally is that
When I first saw this video on TH-cam, I actually knows that it's actually I believe it was click bait. This was because I thought this video was straightforward published by the unlucky tug😂🎉
Duncan in the hot air balloon isn't a terrible episode but it is the weakest Duncan hit episode to quote the unlucky tug which is saying a lot because Duncan's episodes were usually the safe most of the time
How is it not a terrible episode? Why the fuck is Duncan supposed to transport a 20m hot air balloon??? Nothing happens in this episode and Duncan is portrayed as the bad guy even though it's Peregrine who made him do such nonsense. It's one of the worst of the entire Model Era, because I literally just can't wrap my head around it... Clanger and Does it All aren't great either, but at least I can sit through them without wanting to punch my screen, though Clanger ain't that far off from making me want to do just that either.
I not saying is a good don't get me wrong this episode is mid is basically up up and away but with a narrow gauge engine but yea Duncan and the hot air balloon is dumb but is not terrible its just dumb and worst Duncan hit era episode
Merry Winter Holidays everyone,
I ought to give y'all a MASSIVE thank you for watching a 50 minute essay about an anthropomorphic steam locomotive. I truly put my all into this one as you can tell, as it is the first to crack the 50 minute barrier. I already fear the amount of work that I have to put into a 1h video... speaking of which, I would like to use the opportunity to remind you to leave your vote for 2 massive future projects that I MAY tackle in the future. Your input will decide if those videos may become reality one day. Please do not hesitate and let me know, it's only one click:
th-cam.com/users/postUgkxYGvMsAO1Gow1Mw7r9cw7MxEgODfiP8GT
I really need to know if there is enough demand for projects as large as this, because we all know that a Top 14 Thomas Specials and an even bigger Top 25 Thomas Seasons will be well over an hour long; the Top 25 might even be 2h long, which is something I only want to work on if there are enough people who want to see it. We have reached almost 400 votes in the past, so I know that 200 votes are possible.
2024 has been a crazy year for this channel. We started off with only 30 subscribers and are now at 670, which is crazy - the fact that I have amassed a subscriber count this large in only one year is still incomprehensible. I still can't fathom how my videos can gain 1000's of views despite my channel only being so small - it really exemplifies the undoubted loyalty of the Thomas Community.
From the bottom of my heart: Thank you for everything that you've done for me; let's celebrate The Railway Series' 80th Anniversary in May 2025.
- Zach
The Unlucky Tug would be proud! For that matter, you’re the only person in this fandom that could probably rival him
What about Thomas Theorist? I think he’s great too!
No dude, Nicholas wouldn't care about me. There are far more impressive content creators in this Fandom who deserve to get a shout-out by him much more than I ever will. But yes, I too truly put my all into my videos; this one for instance took me over 30h to produce...
@ I absolutely ADORE and would even say LOVE that dude’s content! However, he definitely gets wayy more recognition and actually is friends with Tug!
Despite Duncan the Humbug being the last Skarloey episode given Mattel has deemed them 'unmarketable' to focus more on the standard-gauge engines, however it was a perfect swansong to the characters we know and love since the beginning of the RWS and S4 of the show, and Duncan's character journey really has come full circle (even in LizProductions5784's audio visual based on this episode and Christmas Carol) - same thing implies to Gordon and Spencer's bookend in Confused Coaches.
Duncan has always been another favorite character of mine, and he is really a fun character for the TV crew, though I think even the HiT era really did well w/ him more by adding more layers such as being cheeky like in Duncan's Bluff or Great Discovery. If any of the original creators of Thomas have a favorite Narrow-Gauge engine - I think Awdry likes writing for Skarloey and Peter Sam, Britt Allcroft and David Mitton with either Rusty or Duncan, etc.
Like for real, how the fuck did we have two owners of the same property who had completely different mindsets about this?
Owner A wants use them as consistent B characters to give us a yearly batch of episodes that are a nice change from the norm whereas Owner B just wants to use them as NPC's to fill in the background. Even HiT, who massacred them HORRIBLY, understood that the Skarloey's had potential and it allowed them to write creative stories that wouldn't have been possible with the Standard Gauge Engines.
We can't win either way, because whenever HiT ended up using them, the episodes were atrocious more often than not. Mattel on the other hand never used them and thus, we are missing on a large chunk of interesting characters and story opportunities that would have been memorable almost instantly since it would have been a nice change from the norm.
I will never comprehend Mattel's business decisions...
@@ZachIsland Also in terms of Duncan's render in CGI, it's apparent that Arc Productions (unlike Nitrogen) don't send their staff off to real railways in the UK and just use image sources they could find online (even since the models that were once on display at Nitrogen were sent off to Japan, it makes it harder for them to get more reference to ensure it stays consistent) - as a result, the returnee renders are either few hits or more misses.
@@thesudriana016 "Once the Americans get a hold of it, the whole series would be vulgarized and ruined." -Wilbert Awdry.
@AbbeyYard And the most painful thing about it? He was right...
ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Thomas_%26_Friends:_All_Engines_Go
Mattel Is not a company to talk about that considering the fact they were the biggest toy producer in the world and now are having the biggest downfall of any company in the industry and literally made The highest producing family toy line series (and TV and book series) somehow unprofitable even though they were giving them one of the most Successful brands in history
Duncan really peaked when he had to carry the balloon on the flatbed, the episodes with balloons always encapsulate the love I have for this franchise honestly.
Big balloons make my boiler bubble, Chris.
@@ZachIsland Big balloons make all the Hatts hatless, Zach.
It's nice to know that there is people like you who is willing to do character analysis while unlucky tug won't.
Great video! Nice to know all of these things about Duncan!
@StationFilms12345 Nicholas can’t talk about every character…
@ZachIsland exactly which is why it's so great that we still have people like you who is willing to do it!
@@ZachIsland Who knows? Maybe he could.
Duncan's grumpy trait still remains in the HIT era at times which helps with being consistent.
I do love that in the RWS, Duncan realize that not all diesels are bad and he was nice during the story with the boy stouts in it. In the model series, he was good from season 4, 5 & kinda 6. As for Duncan the humbug, it does show a valuable lesson for a person who is useful (despite their flaws). And for Duncan to ignore someone else problems to get along with his work is good.
Nice video on Duncan. It was fantastic.
I think it goes without saying that Duncan was easily the best narrow gauge engine in the HiT era and arguably the only one of the bunch who wasn’t screwed up in that era. Even in his spotlight episodes that aren’t well received, he still felt like Duncan. That and he also got a few episodes that are among the best the HiT era had to offer (“Duncan and the Old Mine”, “Duncan’s Bluff”, and “Cool Truckings”).
Excellent essay video there, Zach.
I couldn’t have talked about this finest Narrow Gauge character better than you even if I try myself. Although I love Duncan in every way, I think I prefer Peter Sam as my favorite of all the Narrow Gauge engines. The reason is that he is the most consistent of them all and his character progression over the course of the seasons feels natural, and he was never regressed into an idiotic child.
19:17 I don’t think Peter Sam acting like a critic in Season 9 is out of character for him. It’s more like a new side of his personality that we never see before. In Season 4, he wasn’t meant to be the brightest bulb and can be easily agitated when he feels like he’s wronged in some way. The once naive and infectious green guy who would take the brunt of idiot’s stupid decisions, is now trying to act like a wise guy to silly things.
I have already done a character analysis video about Peter Sam myself a while back, so you can check it out if you want to know more.
Merry Christmas🎄to you, Zach.
Hi Khor,
Thank you so much for you great comment as always, it truly means the world to me reading *your* thoughts. I too love Peter Sam as mentioned and decided to give it a watch. It's a pretty good essay, well done man. If you can, you should make more essays, you really know your stuff. But of course, they are exhausting to make, I'd know. Though if you ever find the time and motivation to do a new one, let me know, because I sure would like to give it a go.
Merry Winter Holidays to the Calson Family.
- Zach
@@ZachIsland You’re welcome Zach. You can refer me as Calson. Khor is actually my surname.
Ouh, it's the other way around, I profusely apologise. But come on man, when you write it the other way around you have to expect that we wessies are easily confused. It would help to add a comma in the description to make it obvious for us.
@ it’s alright. I’m used to it. 😊
W video! Duncan’s definitely my favorite narrow gauge character
You really love model era Duncan, I gotta admit, I’m a big fan of him too
I think it’s a good thing that Duncan did not appear in blue mountain mystery. He would’ve absolutely thrashed Thomas after he found out that Thomas told Victor about Luke.
And also have time and energy to give diesel a hearty thrashing as well
You know what? That actually seems plausible. Suddenly I wish that Duncan did make it into BMM after all because I can totally picture that scene with him present. Diesel feeling uneasy around an angry Scottish steam engine who is much smaller than him sounds absolutely hilarious.
But still, in a perfect world, Duncan would have come out of the Steamworks as one final surprise. I am sure that this is what they actually wanted to do at first, but they couldn't, and so they were coerced to recolour Rheneas since he looks the most similar to Duncan.
@@ZachIsland as soon as I get trainz 19, (and someone who can do a very very thick angry scottish accent and more skill in da vinci resolve, and a microphone) I'm going to do a fan episode where Diesel tries to get rusty to join the evil diesels. but fail horribly
GET THIS MAN MORE SUBS ASAP. THIS IS SOME HIGH QUALITY STUFF DUDE.
You mean it dude?
17:08 I wouldn’t say that’s a character shift, he did this in Rock n Roll.
44:40 A good character is made with care towards the character and not who the character can offend or represent.
I just wish the people actually in charge of any big storytelling company would understand this rule that has been completely forgotten in this new era.
Also, I don't know why I changed this one comment so much. At least now it's short and meaningful.
Good video on Duncan, I do like Duncan as well since he is an interesting character.
15:21 Duncan: Woah!
34:33 anyone else put off at how far apart the tracks are from each other?
It’s just looks so weird in my opinion.
Who’s excited for this one? Because I sure am!
MEEE
Could you do a character analysis on Sir Handel next?
Yes , we do need a video on sir handel the great
I think Duncan gives off more of a rough labourer vibe. You see those people get shafted because they are “old school” and offensive.
Good stuff though mate.
Duncan is like squidward tentacles in a nutshell
The one who becomes more relatable the older you get.
let me say Duncan despite being in a series that has constantly mischaracterized so many characters has managed to somehow remain pretty much unscathed my theory on way Duncan is so good in hit era is well that era loved to make characters into braindead idiots and well Duncan naturally is that
Loved this video “I am a plane engine”
I can’t wait! Don’t I get to catch it early?
I actually love Duncan Drops a Clanger, Trusty Rusty, Duncan and the Hot Balloon lol
When I first saw this video on TH-cam, I actually knows that it's actually I believe it was click bait. This was because I thought this video was straightforward published by the unlucky tug😂🎉
Eh what???
Duncan in the hot air balloon isn't a terrible episode but it is the weakest Duncan hit episode to quote the unlucky tug which is saying a lot because Duncan's episodes were usually the safe most of the time
How is it not a terrible episode? Why the fuck is Duncan supposed to transport a 20m hot air balloon???
Nothing happens in this episode and Duncan is portrayed as the bad guy even though it's Peregrine who made him do such nonsense.
It's one of the worst of the entire Model Era, because I literally just can't wrap my head around it...
Clanger and Does it All aren't great either, but at least I can sit through them without wanting to punch my screen, though Clanger ain't that far off from making me want to do just that either.
I not saying is a good don't get me wrong this episode is mid is basically up up and away but with a narrow gauge engine but yea Duncan and the hot air balloon is dumb but is not terrible its just dumb and worst Duncan hit era episode
@@meciomontoya8440 At least Patrick and Pansy appears in it.
It might just be me but I don’t mind Trusty Rusty too much
Neither do I. As I said, it's a fine episode, but I will never defend retconning past events and regressed characterisation.