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Air Date:
6th
April 2008
These are the stories they tell...
Scott and Sir Ralph
argue over the rights and wrongs of missing headlamps...and when Scott pulls a train with the wrong headcode, as does Sir
Ralph, Scott decides: now is the time to reveal Sir Ralph's infamy..
Analysis:
Episode Nine and Episode Eight were made one after the
other, so the similarities in film style and the shots used are shown explicitly. The basic premise of Episode Nine was split
between the story about Sir Ralph's past history, and the subject of “headcodes”, which we felt needed explaining
explicitly (and accordingly, has been adhered to in every episode since Nine).
The head codes were not a nightmare – but the editing
was! There are several occurrences where the head codes on Sir Ralph are wrong, especially in the last few minutes of the
Episode. So much for head code accuracy...!
As far as episodes are concerned, Episode Nine had the least going on in it – very few moving shots are
seen, and most of it is dialogue preparing the viewers for the plot twists and surprises to follow in the next episode, which
would appear a month later. The reasoning is simple: Episode Nine had a simple plot, and was ultimately a sacrifice of sorts
– it was an average episode, which was used more to build up suspense, and prepare the viewer for the main event of
the series, the episode which the team had worked the hardest on – Episode Ten, “The Legacy of Gadwall”.
The station sequence was filmed on a set that was later
modified for Episode Ten to represent York Station – and it is here that we see Arthur the A2 pacific in the series
for the first time (although not named, he is still seen later on, pulling Sir Ralph's train). Further, this is the
first and last time that the model for Sir Ralph is seen – by Episode Ten, this model had been replaced by an extremely
accurate version – single chimney, blue livery, weathered, with correct number and nameplate added. This would be the
kick-start to the debate about accuracy in the series, and by Episode Twelve, every locomotive would have correct number and
names emblazoned on their sides.
This episode also saw the departure of George the Ivatt
tank engine. This would be by no means his last Episode – he would reappear in Episode Ten's opening credits, and would
return to the series just a few episodes later, in Episode Thirteen, in a non-speaking role.
Scott's outburst was accompanied by a very dramatic,
loud and rhythmical tune – and what was it? It was in fact, in the original broadcast, the music heard at the end of
the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, “Best of Both Worlds (part one)”. Says Simon: “It just fitted,
and I was not going to argue with my lovely music director over whether or not we should use it. She's a trekkie, I was the
director, and I was always going to lose that battle!!!”
It was a tense, deliberate cliff hanger that kept many
viewers waiting for the third instalment of the “Sir Ralph Wedgwood Trilogy” with anticipation – but what
was the secret behind Sir Ralph...?
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