Ep 3. Thomas and the Dragon

Thomas & Friends S22 (US) season 22 episode 3, titled "Thomas and the Dragon", opens with Thomas chugging along the tracks near Ulfstead Castle. He sees a poster advertising a dragon exhibit at the castle and becomes excited to see a dragon. Thomas arrives at the castle and is surprised to see that the dragon is actually a giant model.

While Thomas is admiring the model, he hears an unfamiliar voice saying, "Beware the dragon's breath." The voice belongs to a grumpy old engine named Merlin, who claims to have met a real dragon long ago. The other engines don't believe Merlin's story, but Thomas is intrigued and decides to investigate.

Thomas sets off on his own to find the so-called dragon, leaving his jobs for the day behind. He encounters a series of obstacles, including steep hills, narrow tunnels, and a rickety bridge. Despite these challenges, Thomas persists in his quest, determined to prove Merlin's story true.

As Thomas enters a misty valley, he hears a strange noise that sounds like a loud roar. Thomas is afraid, but he presses on, convinced that he will find the dragon. He eventually comes across a cave, and inside he finds a creature with glowing eyes and sharp teeth. Thomas is terrified, but he stands his ground, and he realizes that the creature is not a dragon at all, but rather a friendly kangaroo!

The kangaroo tells Thomas that she has been making the roar sounds because her son is lost in the misty valley. Thomas offers to help her look for the lost joey, and the two become fast friends. They search high and low, and just when they are about to give up hope, they find the joey safe and sound.

Thomas realizes that he has made a new friend by keeping an open mind and following his instincts. He decides to go back to Ulfstead Castle and tell Merlin his story, hoping to convince the other engines that dragons might be real after all.

As Thomas leaves the valley, he encounters the other engines, who are worried about him. They are relieved to hear that he is safe and sound, but they still don't believe in dragons. Thomas doesn't mind; he knows that he has seen something amazing, even if nobody else believes it.

As the episode comes to a close, Thomas and Merlin are seen talking about Thomas's adventure. Merlin, a bit embarrassed that he was wrong about the creature being a dragon, is impressed with Thomas's bravery and open-mindedness. They both agree that it's good to keep an open mind and be willing to learn new things, even if they seem impossible. The episode ends with Thomas and Merlin sharing a laugh, and Thomas chugs off into the sunset, ready for his next adventure.