Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

The British television series All Creatures Great and Small ran for seven seasons total, with a hiatus of about eight years between seasons three and four.  During this time, several specials were produced and there was enough interest generated to warrant resurrecting the series.  For fans of the show, the break divides the series into two distinct eras.  The other main difference is that while the writers in the first three season took great pains to try to craft the shows around stories direct from James Herriot’s books, the later seasons didn’t really try to tie into the books all that much, other than keeping the same characters.

The main cast remains the same from season four.  The series follows the life and times of veterinarian James Herriot (portrayed by Christopher Timothy) in the Yorkshire Dales in England.  He is in a practice there with the Farnon brothers.  Elder brother Siegfried (portrayed by Robert Hardy) is the senior veterinarian and although serious in his responsibility, he has a charming manner and a good sense of fun.  Younger brother Tristan (portrayed by Peter Davison) is something of a ladies man and at times very irresponsible.  Joining the practice the previous season was Calum Buchanan (portrayed by John McGlynn).  Calum can’t be found in the books by name, but was instead based on the assistant James had in later years.

The fifth season starts off in the wintertime.  I don't recall very many winter scenes in the series before this, if any.  This season is fairly represented by some different climates, which is nice.  The setting of the shows has always been amazingly beautiful, and it seemed to me like this season took more advantage of outdoor shooting locations than in seasons past, which I enjoyed quite a bit.

The stories are the same charming, family-friendly stories fans of the series are used to.  Tristan is up to his usual shenanigans.  He has a date with a gal for a dance, but needs to find someone to couple up with her sister as well and recruits Calum.  Everyone starts learning that pampered pooch Tricki Woo seems to be able to pick a winner at the races and James can't find a bookie to take his bet.  James’ wife, Helen (portrayed by Lynda Bellingham), has put her back out and spends the first four episodes of the season seen only lying in bed.

As the season wears on, Tristan resigns his position at the Ministry of Agriculture.  James and Helen buy their own home this season.  James must make a painful decision to put his own dog down.  Television comes to the Dales.  Tristan eventually departs the series for greener pastures in Ireland.  The vacuum is filled by Calum.  If anything, I felt that too much time is spent this season on Calum’s girl problems.  It felt like the series drifted a bit from what it was originally and at times he seemed to be the focal character rather than James or Siegfried.  James and Helen’s children are seen quite briefly.  At the end of the third series, Siegfried also was married and there was mention in one of the specials of a son, but there is no sign of any of Siegfried’s family here at all.  I was never sure whether they were just being ignored or if the series writers and producers just wanted to pretend all of that never happened.

Still, there are plenty of stories about taking care of pets and farm animals.  Parents be warned that although the series is family-friendly, not every situation has a happy ending.  All Creatures Great and Small depicts the realities of life and death, although I feel all of these situations are handled in a very sensitive manner.  I watch the shows with my 14 year old daughter who would like to make a career for herself dealing with animals in some capacity, and although she might tear up at the end of a story, it’s not completely depressing.  Usually there is an uplifting moment at the end of the episode as well.  There’s also plenty of humorous moments, usually involving the dignity of the main characters.

Although the stories stand on their own pretty well, I would recommend that people watch earlier seasons first to get to know the characters and certain nuances that are present.  You really won’t appreciate Trickie Woo unless you’ve seen the earlier stories.  The fact that the central character, James Herriot, seems relegated to being a supporting character to Calum’s trials and tribulations might be confusing as well.

The DVD still retains a grainy quality to it that works well for the series.  Remastering it to a crisp picture would be a disservice to the homey, old-fashioned feel to the show.  The scenery is beautiful and might have benefited from an upgrade, but I prefer the series with the softer tones to it that come with a grainier picture. It goes a long way to creating the proper atmosphere for watching this.  There are no real extras in this, just the episode and cast biographies shown in a slideshow format.  There have been a few special features through the series discs, and that’s one thing that would have been nice to have more of.

Still, this is a great series that’s really good for a nice night of family television.  It’s not like many of the mind-numbing shows geared toward teenagers today that turns off parents, and kids will likely enjoy the stories that involve hands up farm animals’ rear-ends and poop.  Most kids like animal stories as well, and although some might have sad tones to them, it’s handled in a decent context.  I highly recommend it, although I’d watch earlier series first before picking up this fifth season.


DVD Details:

Disc One

Against the Odds
Place of Honour
Choose a Bright Morning

Disc Two

The Playing Field
When Dreams Come True
A New Chapter

Disc Three

A Present From Dublin
The Salt of the Earth
Cheques and Balances

Disc Four

Female of the Species
The Jackpot
Two of a Kind


My All Creatures Great and Small series reviews:

Series One ~ Series Two ~ Series Three ~ The Specials ~ Series Four ~ Series Five ~ Series Six ~ Series Seven


© 2009 Patti Aliventi

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD