Theory And Lore - Tumblr Posts
Hey there! Parent and Gordon fan here! Basically all you said is true except I’m not sure about the playground episode and that’s only because I barely remember it.
There’s also something that’s been missed here and that is that Gordon knew his siblings and it’s very obvious, although rarely mentioned, that Gordon is a prototype. It’s mentioned in many fanfics and theories on YouTube that Gordon was not truly meant to stick around. Where in one series by @tornadoyoungiron it’s written that The Flying Scotsman had a hand in saving Gordon’s life, there’s also a theory (I believe by UnluckyTug) that Gordon was sold to Sir Hatt because Gordon was unnecessary and The Fat Controller was desperate for a large engine but didn’t have the funds, so he got the reject/prototype: Gordon. Both, I find to be both valid theories and both really pull at the heartstrings.
But both theories have the commonality that Gordon knew his siblings and while he has the pride of a Gresley engine, he doesn’t have the emotional backing that a family would normally give. So, think of it kind of like Lucius and Draco Malloy except Lucius walked out and Draco only had the name to go off of amongst the rejection. Going with that we know Gordon knows his siblings and cares for them from the book series when it’s revealed his siblings have all been scrapped, save Flying Scotsman. He’s heartbroken, he’s so distraught that arrangements are made for his younger brother to be brought to him and they bond and spend time together. It hurt to see Flying Scotsman go but it also boosted him that not only was there a surviving sibling but a sibling that was happy to see him and loved him.
Of course later in the show we see how both The Flying Scotsman and Spencer tease Gordon often of his short comings but in real serious moments truly show a family bond and care. Why does it bother Gordon but not them? Easy! They live that competitive life. It cannot be coincidence that both mainland relatives, though both travel to Sodor, are both stinkpots some days but have a deep care for their relative regardless. That’s how their family must work, a lot of teasing but “hey, I’ve got your back”. Gordon didn’t grow up with that, at least not for the majority of his life and it bothers him. Not to compare sibling relationships to a marriage, but my husband and I because of two very different backgrounds have very different coping mechanisms. One of us has trauma and the other doesn’t. My husband is very teasing but also affectionate, I am not. I can’t handle it and it hurts, he’s working on changing those things and I also am working towards being a bit less sensitive. But it’s basically the same thing. Gordon came with trauma, but because he’s a Gresley engine and the first he puts up an emotional barrier that keeps him pompous, and over time those barriers broke either by him no longer being able to handle it or by him bringing the walls down himself.
But going to your questions from a parents point-of-view. Let’s say Gordon is a child and he’s very serious and he’s set in his ways and his a bit prideful. The Fat Controller, Sir Bertram Hat I, was known to be very tough on his engines but he also knew how childlike they could be. There are several examples of that in the book like the boys going on strike, Gordon and Thomas getting into trouble and then trying to do the whole “I think the other has learned their lesson and we’ll be real good” as well as examples from the show (which I know is another controller all together but really the same outcomes) like James being pouty and basically being grounded for a bad attitude, Thomas getting chastised for lying, Gordon for throwing a fit (on more than one occasion) and honestly they were handled fairly well. I say this because although the engines may have been young and doing things young children or adolescents do, they’re not human children but BIG ENGINES. People can and do get hurt, engines get hurt. If he wasn’t firm with them and they did goofy things like most youth do, the whole railway could’ve been shut down.
But we’re not talking about all the engines, we’re talking about Gordon specifically. Personally, I kind of have a Gordon like child. He’s well behaved, rarely gives me problems, he’s sweet and quiet and if he were ever to become explosive (I.g. Forever and Ever when Edward and Henry are banished moving) I’d probably initially react like Sir Topham Hatt which isn’t great, but to err is human. Here’s Gordon who’s usual problems are pride and racing, who’s throwing a temper tantrum because of change. Gordon who hasn’t had real change in decades. He’s freaking out because, despite how he might think it, his brothers are moving out and suddenly. He’s panicking! Not just one, but two! He’s frustrated, he’s scared, and things are out of his control. He has absolutely no say. As a parent, at first I would be upset at his reaction but then realizing what’s going on in his mind, it’s time for reassurance (which he got from Nia and not Sir Topham Hatt and I’m not the biggest BWBA fan but anyway).
Next we see the poor boy literally taking himself to the hospital because he’s all giggles and laughter. He has kept himself at such a high standard for so long that now that he’s fallen from that he’s thinking less of himself. I think this is where Sir Topham Hatt makes a good comeback from the Forever and Ever episode because he does tell Gordon it’s OK to laugh and giggle. It’s OK to be silly. Personally? I think that had to happen on Gordon’s time, not anyone else’s. Sure he was frightened but I think we can all agree that if younger Gordon from the original series was told that he’d mock them. Gordon’s grown enough at this point that he’s comfortable with it, as we see in the end where he says it felt good to giggle and he even chuckled a little despite the passenger getting after him.
In the end, Gordon has a lot on his shoulders and he’s been through a lot of hardship. He was basically abandoned by his original family, reunited with his younger brother who still cares for him but because of different “parenting styles” have trouble bonding, he’s set impossibly high standards that when he starts to fall short he beats himself up over, he’s prideful but it’s a mask to hide a lot of his own faults and shortcomings. He cares deeply for the others, even if he doesn’t always show it. He is a bit of a suck-up to Sir Hatt but can you blame him? He’s got daddy issues and he’s scared that if his usefulness wears thin he’s just going to be rehomed or scrapped like with what originally happened. Over time, he slowly comes out of his shell. We see with the CGI episodes he’s quicker to apologize, he’s more open about his struggles, and he’s even opened himself to laughter. He smiles more! It just took time, like all things.
I think what’s interesting is the book series is the only one that shows him growing older, accepting his time has come to retire from the express, and just enjoys lazy days. OK, I know AEG exists, I won’t accept it. It ruins everything canonically and is it’s own set universe that I refuse to acknowledge. ANYWAY, in the CGI series we see so much of Gordon’s growth. Honestly, my favorite episode will always be Henry Gets the Express because we see a pretty good example of a teenager getting parented. He didn’t do what he was told, he knew what he was supposed to do and got a little cocky, he learned real quick the world didn’t revolve around him but he was still loved and cared for. Sir Topham teased him a bit but tell me what parent wouldn’t have pulled that on their teenager that they know so well. He pouted, he didn’t finish his jobs (his homework/projects, if we’re going with the parenting symbolism), and he got grounded for it. He pulled himself back up and went to work.
Anyway, I have loved this deep dive and I honestly have so much more to say but I’ve written a novella and it’s late where I’m at. Gordon will forever be my favorite character and he has so much backstory for a children’s cartoon character that’s pretty deep. Honestly can never picture him as an old man but more as a young man that works with his adoptive family on the railway and just makes his way through the life he’s been given, which although started off very hard is turning into something beautiful.
Gordon the engine that grew up too soon
This is focusing on Gordon’s behavior and actions as well as some theories on the engines ages and how Gordon could possibly be one of the younger members of the Steam Team but do to his size others might assume he’s an older engine, also, that he is often labeled as the “senior” member of the group in merchandise and other media.
It’s not a reliable source, but according to the Wiki these are the built years of the Steam Team. (Oldest to youngest) Nia and Rebecca will be excluded as this is concerning the original team. Edward- 1896 James- 1912- 13 Toby- 1914 Thomas- 1915 Henry- 1919 Gordon- 1920- 21 Percy- Anywhere between 1925 and 1935 If this is correct than that makes Gordon, the second youngest member of the team and the youngest tender engine in the group.
This could cause some inner and outer conflicts as Gordon is placed in this position of responsibility, he might not have been ready for and as a result ends up with a big ego.
At the time he was built, Gordon was the newest and fastest engine of his line, so there was likely a lot of pressure he had to face to prove and keep up his worth. When Thomas, Percy, and a few other engines first arrived on Sodor other engines like Edward were put in charge to help mentor them. It makes one wonder if Gordon ever had a mentor and if he did was that engine any good? From Gordon’s attempts at trying to mentor Percy and Rebecca it would appear not, as with Percy, Gordon became more focused on impressing others and Rebecca had her own way of doing things. Could Gordon’s possible mentor have been a bad influence on the big engine?
It looks like narcissism can result from parentification due to “a child being forced to take on a parent’s idealized projection, which can encourage a compulsive perfectionism in the child at the expense of their natural development.” - healthline.com
Gordon’s showing off and boasting might be cries for attention and affection.
Gordon not liking the new engines because to him they are new challengers for the Fat Controller’s and others affection. The same could be applied to how Gordon is towards Thomas, as the little blue engine seems to get a lot of attention.
On top of this Gordon’s teasing of Edward for being too old might actually be out of disdain Gordon has for being viewed in the same manner. It is interesting to note that Gordon’s “dream” in “Calling All Engines” is about him being converted into a playground. Although this has happened to engines in real life, it is interesting that Gordon was chosen for this part.
According to dreamencyclopedia.net, playgrounds in dreams can mean a few things. *Expression of joy. *Exploring a need to connect more with this part of one’s nature. *Desire to escape from daily stresses. Need to be more carefree and explore one’s talent. If these meanings are correct, can this possibly mean that Gordon needs to find his “inner child”? or has a desire to escape from something that is causing him stress. If something is causing him stress, what is it? With BWBA Gordon seems to vastly teeter totter. With Rebecca Gordon seems to improve as he works well with her after his initial grumpiness fades away once they become friends and even sings along with her during Rebecca’s segment of meet the Steam Team. However, Gordon can do a 360 and display concerning behaviors like when Edward and Henry move out and he throws an engine version of a toddler tantrum, think its not okay for him to giggle, and his very colorful daydream sequences. Throughout its run TTTE has had several Sir Topham Hatts, but with Bertram Hatt I wonder what he did or say to give Gordon the impression that he would take Gordon’s express away and give him silly jobs for just giggling.
It is very concerning how Sir Bertram Topham Hatt is towards Gordon in BWBA. After Gordon’s tantrum and during his talk with Edward to try and convince him to move back to Tidmouth Sheds, Sir Topham Hatt catches up to Gordon and tells him this:
“You are usually one of my most sensible engines Gordon, but today you’re being very silly indeed”! -Sir Bertram Topham Hatt.
I’m not a parent, I can’t really speak on this so I’ll ask a question to any parent or guardian out there: Would you be concerned if your well- behaved child suddenly threw a tantrum?
I’m mentioning this to bring up that the way Gordon is viewed and treated might be the reason for some of his behaviors.
This isn’t meant to excuse Gordon’s behavior and actions, but rather explain or theorize why he does it.
