Thread:Thomperfan/@comment-32807753-20180218033640/@comment-32807753-20180325010956

I know it might seem like a weird choice, but hear me out.

I think Flora has a lot of story potential to her. The idea of having another tram engine on Sodor, one that's younger looking than Toby and is shy and quiet, sets up a lot of story ideas. The problem with Flora's episode (Tram Trouble) was that we barely got to see Flora's character and how the episode feels like a generic three-strikes-your-out plot. Having Flora stay away from Toby feels like Thomas wanted to make the episode as generic and boring as possible.

If I had to rewrite Tram Trouble, the story would go something like this: Toby, becoming older and older every year, worries that he'll become scrapped, so Toby tries to work harder than he usually does, resulting in him feeling more troubled. Meanwhile, Flora is being dropped off in the docks by Cranky. She is introduced to Thomas, Edward, and Gordon. They are surprised by this new tram engine, at first liking Flora, but they become worried about what this means for Toby (would Flora end up replacing the old tram engine)? Flora is revealed to be timid, as when Thomas tries to talk to Flora, she's very quiet. Diesel sees this and immediately starts coming up with an evil scheme. Some time later, Toby sees this new tram engine. Diesel rumors to him that Flora is replacing him. Toby at first disbelieves this rumor, but later that day, Flora bumps into Toby and runs off. Toby thinks this new tram engine is being rude, and thus, he believes Diesel. He tries to outdo Flora all day. He works harder and faster than he usually does, much to the liking, but concern for the Fat Controller, as he sees Toby is straining himself. Later that night, Toby comes across Flora again, and goes up to confront her until he sees Diesel teasing her for her timidity by scaring her. Toby gives Diesel a taste of his own medicine by scaring him. It's here where Toby meets Flora for the first time and sees Flora is shy. Flora explains that she's very nervous and has never worked in a place with so many engines before, as where she came from, she too was the only tram engine. Toby, feeling great sympathy for her, lets his anger go and decides he's going to help her the next day. After a day of mentoring Flora, which involves her getting to know how the island works, Toby comes up to the Fat Controller and says he accepts his fate of replaced by Flora. He understands that he is growing old and compliments Flora for being such a useful engine and will do a great job in his place for the future. The Fat Controller explains that Flora is not replacing Toby and is actually going to work at the Sodor Tramway at Great Waterton (Oh yeah, I did my research ;) ). Toby is happy to not be scrapped and Flora, though upset she won't get to work with Toby often, is happy for him. Now, she and Toby are great friends whenever they see each other.

So... what do you think?