- “Look, Daisy! I've got some sweets; they're called bulls-eyes! I like them. Do you?"
"Humph! Keep your old bulls-eyes!” - ― A boy and Daisy
Bulls Eyes is the twenty-first episode of the fourth season. It first aired in the Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales episode, Missing Whistles in 1996 in the US.
Plot
Toby's cowcatchers and sideplates are designed to prevent animals from getting hurt if they stray onto the line, but Daisy thinks they look ridiculous and believes that Toby is simply afraid of getting hurt himself. She tells Toby that any animal, even something as big as a bull, will always run away if she toots her horn and looks them in the eye, despite Toby's insistence that they will not. Later that day, Daisy is asked by a policeman to guide a stray bull back to its farmer. She sets off, eager to prove to Toby that she can handle bulls, despite the fact she has never actually encountered one before.
Although not really very fierce, Champion the bull had been cross that morning, which resulted in him jumping the fence and sliding down the valley onto the line. Just as he begins to eat the nearby grass, Daisy arrives and toots for him to move. Despite several attempts, Champion ignores her and continues eating. Eventually, he notices Daisy and advances curiously towards her. Daisy becomes unnerved, as the bull is not running away as she expected him to and she is scared that she might get hurt, although she tries to deny this. Champion then sniffs Daisy. This proves to be the last straw, as Daisy retreats back to the station.
Toby soon learns about what happened and after reminding Daisy that a bull should always run away according to her, goes to shoo Champion away himself. Although Toby's bell and whistle prove ineffective against the still-grazing bull, he eventually retreats after Toby blows steam at him and reunites with the farmer further down the line. Later that evening, some boys tease Daisy with some "Bulls Eyes" sweets, much to her annoyance.
Characters
- Toby
- Daisy
- The Policeman
- One Little Boy
- The Rest of the Little Boys (do not speak)
- James (cameo)
- Percy (cameo)
- Stephen Hatt (cameo)
- Jem Cole (cameo)
Locations
Trivia
- This episode is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Branch Line Engines.
- Going by production order, this is the twenty-second episode of the fourth season.
- This episode takes place before Percy's Predicament as the narrator said Daisy never met a bull.
- The US narration was only released on VHS and was never released on DVD after VHSs were taken away. A clip from the episode was shown on Sir Topham Hatt's Scrapbook bonus feature on New Friends for Thomas, Henry and the Elephant and Engine Friends DVDs. The full episode was finally released for digital download on Amazon in 2016.
- A photograph from this episode was released as a Royal Mail stamp in 2011 to mark the Reverend Awdry's Centenary.
- The sweets appear to be black and white beads.
- This episode marks the last of a few things for Daisy:
- Her last appearance until the special Calling All Engines!
- Her last speaking role until the special Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure.
- Her last appearance in an episode until the nineteenth season episode, Thomas the Babysitter.
- Her last episode as a main character until the twentieth season episode, Ryan and Daisy.
- This marks the first time Toby's whistle is heard. It is Percy's in low pitch.
- Daisy has a different horn sound.
- This marks the only appearance of the Castlelated Tunnel in the television series to date.
Goofs
- In the Indian narration, Michael Angelis is credited as the narrator, even though it was re-dubbed.
- After James puffs past Toby with coaches, the camera cuts to Daisy for about five seconds and then cuts back to Toby, but James is nowhere to be seen.
- Daisy's left eye is slightly off after she passes the eve crossing.
- When the policeman warns Daisy about Champion, the guard does not have a mouth.
- When Champion looks around, a small box can be seen at the entrance of the tunnel.
- Daisy's eye-mechanism is visible in several shots:
- After the policeman tells Daisy about Champion.
- When Champion sniffs at her.
- After Daisy says "Keep your old bull's eyes!" she turns at the points, but in the shot after that, she is turning again.
- During the opening scenes at Elsbridge, Daisy has a Co-Bo wheel arrangement (thought to be BoCo's chassis).
- When Toby meets Daisy in her shed, her face is falling off.
- When Toby comes out of the tunnel, his eyes are wonky.
Merchandise
- My Thomas Story Library - Daisy (discontinued)
- Magazine Stories - Daisy and the Bull
Home Media Releases
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DVD Packs
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| #01 Granpuff | #10 Rock 'n' Roll | #19 Henry and the Elephant |
| #02 Sleeping Beauty | #11 Special Funnel | #20 Toad Stands By |
| #03 Bulldog | #12 Steam Roller | #21 Bulls Eyes |
| #04 You Can't Win | #13 Passengers and Polish | #22 Thomas and the Special Letter |
| #05 Four Little Engines | #14 Gallant Old Engine | #23 Paint Pots and Queens |
| #06 A Bad Day for Sir Handel | #15 Rusty to the Rescue | #24 Fish |
| #07 Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady | #16 Thomas and Stepney | #25 Special Attraction |
| #08 Trucks | #17 Train Stops Play | #26 Mind that Bike |
| #09 Home at Last | #18 Bowled Out | |