Air date: August 22nd, 2004 (UK), September 26th, 2004 (US)
It's winter and on Thomas' Branch Line, Emily decides to "help" Thomas by telling him what he's doing wrong. So she tells him to slow down when he passes her at the water column and tells him not to talk to children when he takes on more water as they're making him late. Thomas sees Emily's "help" as nothing but constant nagging, so he decides to ignore her from now on.
The following morning, Thomas sets off early for the quarry to take stone trucks to the docks. However, when the Fat Controller arrives to report that heavy snow is coming and all engines must where snowploughs, Emily points out that Thomas is already working and does not know about the oncoming bad weather. Agreeing with Emily, the Fat Controller tells her to tell Thomas that he wants him to get his snowplough fitted. Once her snowplough is fitted, Emily sets off to find Thomas.
Taking on water at Maithwaite with trucks for the quarry, Thomas is happy until Emily arrives and tells him that he must get his snowplough fitted. Thomas ignores Emily on purpose seeing this once again as nagging and thinks that the weather is fine. After delivering trucks to the quarry, Thomas sets off for the dairy. However, clouds quickly build up and snow starts falling making Thomas' journey very difficult. Soon the snow builds up and Thomas gets stuck in a snowdrift by a signal box. Thomas feels sad whilst the snow builds up around him until he hears a whistle - only to discover that Emily has come to his rescue. Emily blames Thomas for not listening to her and Thomas blames her for being too bossy.
However, upon their return to Tidmouth Sheds, the Fat Controller scolds Thomas for not listening to his orders. But Emily owns up as she neglected to tell Thomas that it was the Fat Controller's orders about the snowplough. Shocked and surprised that two engines were not listening to him, the Fat Controller orders Emily to help Thomas get his snowplough fitted. With his snowplough fitted at last, Thomas thanks Emily for owning up to her mistake and he promises to listen more carefully to Emily in future.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Aesop Amnesia: Thomas should've remembered that he needed his snowplough after his experience in "Thomas, Terence, and the Snow".
- Backhanded Apology: Thomas demands that Emily apologize for her bossy attitude, but she replies with this:Emily: I am sorry - sorry that you didn't listen to me!
- Bittersweet Ending: Despite disappointing The Fat Controller for not listening to him, Thomas and Emily reconcile as the former gets his snowplough fitted.
- Control Freak: Emily's attitude to Thomas.
- Hope Spot: When Thomas gets stuck in the snowdrift and hears a whistle, he's over the moon, since he's going to be rescued... until he sees that the rescuer is Emily.
- Jerkass Has a Point: While Emily was incredibly bossy, she is correct in Thomas needing his snowplough.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: This episode establishes Emily's bossy personality.
- Unwanted Rescue: Thomas is delighted when hears an engine coming to rescue him from the snow... until he realizes the rescuer was Emily.
- Well, Excuse Me, Princess!: Emily, much to Thomas' displeasure.
- What the Hell, Hero?:
- Thomas calls out Emily for her bossiness while Emily calls Thomas out for not listening to her to wear his snowplough.
- Then the Fat Controller calls out Thomas for not listening to orders about his snowplough, and then calls out Emily for not telling Thomas it was him who gave the order.
