this is going to be a thread about the mechanics of Dinosaur Train, a PBS Kids show about dinosaurs riding a train

the show follows a family of pteranodons that end up adopting a t-rex that ends up in the nest for some reason. to figure out what he is they ride the dinosaur train

all of this is explained in the theme song so if you're already lost go ahead and just watch the theme song until you're up to speed.

you're back. anyways the main way that the show works is that the train goes through time tunnels so that the dinosaurs can see dinosaurs in any time period

this also means that the dinosaurs interact with other dinosaurs in time periods, which is the first issue that this thread will discuss

time in the world of dinosaur train moves parallel to each other with singularity hubs at the end of each period (aka mass extinctions)

because time is in parallel dinosaurs from each time period can visit each other and have time advance in a way that makes sense

now, chances are if you watch a single episode of dinosaur train, this won't be your first question. however, most of the other main things are easy enough to explain

for example, the steam engine runs on wood and does not run on coal (a byproduct of the mass extinctions of dinosaurs)

things get complicated the more you watch the show, like any episode where they discuss anything done by Dinosaur Train Industries

or, say, how they have the ability to make a fucking time traveling train but then think that a goddamn blimp is a New Innovation

or the ethics of inter-species relationships which you would THINK a show about DINOSAURS would AVOID but NO, shiny HAS to have a crush on DILBERT

WHY WOULD YOU EVEN WRITE THAT IN WHEN IT'S LITERALLY UNNECESSARY? IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CRUSH SUBPLOT (and you NEVER HAVE TO HAVE A CRUSH SUBPLOT) WHY LIKE THIS

and it's literally JUST THAT and they make references to it ALL THE TIME but do NOTHING WITH IT AT ALL. WHY put it in there if it goes NOWHERE?

sorry i thought that it would be a fun joke to be like "hahaha, dinosaur train? what a wacky show!" but i forgot the level of nonsense that universe gets into

like, the train is run by a corporation but nobody seems to pay for it, or pay for anything, so is this a capitalist dystopia where members of society murder each other for food?

it's also implied that the dinosaurs that operate the train do that and only that until they die so. i don't even know.

thanks for listening to my TED talk. next time we discuss Thomas the Tank Engine and the concept of free will