All Creatures Great and Small – Season 1 – Review
Director: Brian Percival, Metin Huseyin, Andy Hay
Writer: James Herriot (Novels) Ben Vanstone, Lisa Holdsworth, Freddy Syborn, Debbie O’Malley, Julian Jones (Screenplay)
Cast
- Nicholas Ralph (Prey for the Devil)
- Anna Madeley (In Bruges)
- Samuel West (Van Helsing)
- Rachel Shenton (White Gold)
- Callum Woodhouse (Raven’s Hollow)
Plot: The numerous adventures of a countryside veterinarian practice in 1930s to 1940s Yorkshire, England.
Runtime: 48 Minutes per Episodes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict on All Creatures Great and Small – Season 1
You’ve Got to Dream (D. Brian Percival)
You’ve Got to Dream sees the struggling Scottish veteran James Herriot (Ralph) get his first job in Yorkshire. His father is proud he is taking the chance during the difficult times for the country, while his mother is filled with worry. Siegfried Farnon (West) is the current vet looking for an assistant. James must prove himself if he is to get the role he dreams of.
This is a nice opening episode, it lets us meet James and the people around the town. It has the humour in how everything is going to unfold. As well as showing the politics of the small village. We are now ready to see what James is going to go through going forward. (3/5)
Another Farnon? (D. Brian Percival)
Another Farnon? See James getting to meet Seigfried’s estranged brother Tristan (Woodhouse). However, when it comes to his day job, James finds himself dealing with farmers who prefer tradition to more modern medicine. James finds himself working with Tristan who has a built-in relationship with the locals.
The second episode continues to give the show a comfy feeling. It continues to show the small village feeling throughout and the Yorkshire Dales make a beautiful backdrop. The added animal inclusion makes you want to return to see what happens to them in the village and the early romantic interest inspires us to return for more. (3/5)
Andante (D. Metin Huseyin)
Andante sees Siegfried looking to get a big contract at the local racecourse. Meanwhile, James conducts his rounds and Tristan must earn his place in the surgery. Mrs Hall goes on to help Helen by showing her daughter a different side to life. With each character on their own adventure, James faces his toughest case yet.
This continues to show the edgy environment James must work around. It shows him as the outsider struggling to fit in around the village when he is left to make the difficult decision. This shows Siegfried putting his reputation on the line in what is an incredibly difficult situation. In this episode, we get to learn a lot about the characters and what makes them tick. (5/5)
A Tricki Case (D. Andy Hay)
A Tricki Case sees James take Mrs Pumphrey’s Tricki home to help improve his diet. However, his own work means must trust Tristan to care for the dog. This gives Tristan a chance to prove he is responsible enough for Siegfried to help fund the remaining part of his education. All the while James starts spending more time with Helen as he starts to feel more at home in the village.
This episode continues the dynamic between the three vets and continues to show the two brothers needing to show their importance to the business. It continues to show the charm needed to keep the series feeling comfy throughout. Tricki is a mischievous little dog that gets laughs with their adventure through the episode too. (4/5)
All’s Fair (D. Metin Huseyin)
All’s Fair sees James be the attending vet at the Darrowby Show. He is delighted with his role, however, Siegfried and Tristan have a secret bet on how long he will last. This does give James a chance to meet even more of the locals and help the people who can’t afford the regular vet. Although this day will push every inch of James’ patience.
This episode continues to build the difficult tension between the villagers and James. Some are taking to him, while others still have a level of resentment toward him. The overarching bet going on adds plenty of laughs, as the brothers continue to show their differences. (4/5)
A Cure for All Ills (D. Andy Hay)
A Cure for All Ills sees James needing to make yet another difficult decision in the field. Meanwhile, Seigfried is ill and the pressure on making sure Tristan passes his exams is mounting. However, Mrs Hall pushes Tristin into taking the clients today proving he can handle the pressure placed upon him.
The season’s conclusion sees James needing to make more of his own decisions about what to do. It challenges Seigfried’s authority as James and Tristan risk their own reputations. This reflects the growth shown by James and Tristan throughout the series. As well as Siegfried learning to accept their ability to disagree with everything he would do. (4/5)
Overall
Season 1 is a nice comfy first series of the veteran show. It has the comedy coming along very well and shows the difficulties of getting welcomed into a new village. Each story is kept simple which fits the time and era the show is set in. It builds the relationship within the show and the chemistry between the cast is excellent. This leaves us wanting to return for more adventures for the vets in future series.
Where to Watch
All Creatures Great & Small Complete Series One – Four Box set on 11 December 2023
Final Thoughts – All Creatures Great and Small – Season 1 is a true comfy evening viewing.
