Ep 1. Springtime for Diesel

Thomas & Friends season 21 episode 1, titled "Springtime for Diesel," marks the beginning of a new season for the popular children's television show. The episode revolves around Diesel, one of the show's recurring characters and the only diesel locomotive on the island of Sodor.

As the episode begins, Diesel is feeling restless and unhappy. He has grown tired of his usual routine of shunting trucks and wants to do something different. When he learns that the other engines are planning a special springtime surprise for Sir Topham Hatt, the railway's director, he becomes determined to be a part of it.

At first, the other engines are hesitant to include Diesel in their plans. Diesel has a reputation for being untrustworthy and causing trouble, and the other engines worry that he will ruin their surprise. But Diesel is persistent, and eventually, the other engines agree to let him help.

The surprise, it turns out, is a new garden for Sir Topham Hatt. The engines spend days working hard to prepare the garden, and Diesel starts to realize that he enjoys gardening more than he ever thought he would. As he works alongside the other engines, he begins to feel like he is part of the team.

When the garden is finally finished, Sir Topham Hatt is delighted and thanks the engines for their hard work. He also compliments Diesel, which leaves the diesel locomotive feeling very proud of himself. Diesel realizes that he doesn't need to cause mischief to feel important; he just needs to work hard and be a good team player.

In addition to the main story, "Springtime for Diesel" features several subplots. Percy, another one of the show's characters, is worried that he will be replaced by a new engine, while Thomas, the show's titular character, tries to solve a mystery involving a missing hat. These subplots add depth to the episode and provide opportunities for characters other than Diesel to shine.

Overall, "Springtime for Diesel" is a heartwarming episode that reinforces the importance of teamwork and the value of hard work. It teaches children about the importance of trying new things and working together to achieve a common goal. The show's colorful and engaging animation, along with its beloved characters, makes it a great choice for young children.