Hiro Helps Out

"I'm not Master of the Railway, I'm Master of the Muddle."

- Hiro

Hiro Helps Out is the twentieth and final episode of the thirteenth series.

Plot
Hiro arrives at Knapford station to find the Fat Controller very busy; so busy, in fact, that the Fat Controller leaves his top hat inside his office and bumps into the stationmaster and a porter. Edward arrives and like Hiro, is quite worried about the Fat Controller's unusual behaviour. The Fat Controller has a meeting to attend with the Thin Controller and he does not listen to Edward who tries to ask him where to take his visitors from Brendam Docks.

Hiro decides to help Edward, so as not to bother the Fat Controller and tells Edward to take his visitors to the hills. Later, Hiro finds Thomas taking tables and chairs, but he does not know where to take them; so Hiro tells Thomas to go and visit Farmer Trotter. Finally, Hiro finds Percy taking ducks, who want to go for a swim; so, Hiro tells Percy to take the Fenland Track so that the ducks can have a swim.

Hiro thinks he is doing a good job until he sees the Fat Controller, on his way back from the meeting looking very cross. Edward's visitors are supposed to be at the Town Hall for a concert, which is where Thomas is also supposed to be with the tables and chairs, and Farmer McColl is waiting for his ducks. Hiro feels very bad and rather silly; he has not been the "Master of the Railway," he has been the "Master of the Muddle." Hiro tells the Fat Controller that he did not want to bother him, and the Fat Controller reminds Hiro that he is in charge of the Railway.

Hiro decides to sort out his muddle for the Fat Controller, so he tells Edward and Thomas to go to Knapford station where the Fat Controller will give them his orders. Then, he finds Percy, who cannot get the ducks back inside their boxes. Using his whistle to make duck noises, Hiro helps Percy. Once Thomas, Edward and Percy are at Knapford, the Fat Controller tells them where to go and Hiro promises himself to always be helpful to the Fat Controller - the right way in the future.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Percy
 * Hiro
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Henry
 * James
 * Emily
 * Rosie
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants
 * The Teacher
 * The Ginger-haired Boy
 * The Lady with the Big Hat
 * The Welsh Bird Watcher
 * The Female Puppet Show Entertainer
 * Farmer Trotter
 * Farmer McColl
 * Mr. Percival

Locations

 * Knapford
 * MC BUNN
 * Kirk Ronan Junction
 * The Fenland Track
 * Farmer Trotter's Pig Farm
 * Three-Track Level Crossing
 * Town Square
 * Brendam Docks

UK, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and South Africa

 * Ben Small as Thomas
 * Keith Wickham as Edward, Percy and the Fat Controller
 * Togo Igawa as Hiro

US and Canada

 * Martin Sherman as Thomas and Percy
 * William Hope as Edward
 * Togo Igawa as Hiro
 * Kerry Shale as Sir Topham Hatt

Trivia

 * This episode was shown in select US theatres in October 2010.
 * This is the only thirteenth series episode in which the main character is not a member of the Steam Team.
 * The events of this story is similar to The Green Controller.
 * This is the last episode narrated by Kas van Iersel in the Netherlands.
 * In Poland, this episode premiered before Hero of the Rails, meaning that the Polish audience would not know who Hiro is.
 * This is the last episode to be released on home media in South Korea.

Goofs

 * The Fat Controller refers to Mr. Percival as "The Thin Controller" in the US narration. This is the only time Mr. Percival is referred to as such in said dub.
 * Hiro says "Good morning" to the Fat Controller, but the clock at Knapford reads 4:20.
 * The lighting on Knapford in the final scene with the engines is darker than normal.

Merchandise

 * Books - Strange Whistle
 * Magazine Stories - Hiro Helps Out, Hiro Helps Out and Hiro Helps Out!

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * The Lion of Sodor
 * The Complete Series 13
 * Awesome Adventures: Races, Chases and Rescues

DVD Packs

 * 10 DVD Boxset
 * Sodor's Heroes!

US

 * The Lion of Sodor
 * Awesome Adventures - Vol. 2: Races, Chases and Fun

DVD Packs

 * Steam Team Collection

AUS/MYS/SWE/DK/NOR/FIN

 * The Lion of Sodor

AUS DVD Packs

 * The Lion of Sodor and Splish, Splash, Splosh! Double pack

CHN/THA

 * Snow Tracks

FRA

 * Thomas and the Runaway Kite
 * Series 13

GER

 * The Master of the Muddles

JPN

 * Fellow Hiro Special Care
 * Outstanding Performances of Hiro and Thomas

ITA

 * Curious Cargo

KOR
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 * Thomas and Friends Five Specials Set

Der Herr des Kuddel-Muddels Hiro Ayuda a los Demás הירו עוזר Pomocnik Hirek Горе-начальник