Homecoming – As the episode opens Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) trying to get his vehicle started when Maggie (Mollie Winnard) approaches. She suggests it is a bad carburetor. He claims to have already figured it out, but it isn’t cooperating and will try again tomorrow. She gives him something for Audrey Hall (Anna Madeley) before leaving. Once inside, he hands the item to Audrey. She lays it to the side and refocuses on the christening cake. Siegfried asks if Mr. Bosworth (Jeremy Swift) knows about their clandestine dealings. Audrey assures him that it is all legal. Helen Herriot (Rachel Shenton) says there is mud in the hallway. Audrey grabs a dustpan and brush. Helen volunteers to clean it up while Siegfried leaves to work on his christening speech which piques James Herriot’s (Nicholas Ralph) interest. Helen is surprised James’ parents aren’t with him. He says they will visit later but for now, they are at a bed & breakfast. Jimmy (Winter Gilliam, Remy Gardner-France) cries out. He asks if it was her idea for Siegfried to give a speech. She says he believes it is part of being a godparent. Siegfried receives a call from Biggins (Nicholas Asbury) about his sick goat, Peg. He delegates the task to James because he finds Biggins intolerable. James reminds him that his parents are visiting. Frustrated, Siegfried grabs his bag. James asks about his speech. Siegfried expresses the importance of Jimmy’s christening and says he takes being a godparent very seriously. Audrey tells James that she feels the same but she will not be giving a speech. Grateful, he races off to pick up his parents.

Siegfried passes through the first of Biggins’ seven gates. A messenger delivers a telegram at the Farnon house. Concerned, Audrey looks at the telegram. Biggins watches Siegfried struggle with one of his gates. As Siegfried passes through a smaller gate, Biggins urges him to have his carburetor looked at. Ignoring his comment, Siegfried says he still hasn’t fixed his gate and makes his way to the sick goat. Biggins asks if he is due a refund for his misdiagnosing Peg. Siegfried assures him that his diagnosis is correct. After assessing Peg, Siegfried asks if he administered the sulphanilamide correctly. Biggins says he did. Siegfried increases the dosage. Biggins complains about the cost and goes off to get some fresh straw. James Herriot Senior (Drew Cain) and Hannah Herriot (Gabriel Quigley) arrive. She scoops Jimmy into her arms. James tells them that Jimmy hasn’t been sleeping well. Senior suggests he is teething. Hannah says he has a big appetite like James and asks him if his mummy has been feeding him. Audrey greets them. Sensing something is wrong, Helen asks her if everything is okay. Audrey says sure and serves scones and tea. Believing Helen made the scones, Senior urges James to not let her get away. She tells him that Helen made them. James says Helen picked fresh flowers for them with no response.

Siegfried fills a syringe with a stimulant booster for Peg. Biggins says she only needs some iodine. Siegfried reminds him that iodine offers no benefits for Peg. Biggins complains about the cost of injections. After injecting the stimulant, Siegfried says all they can do is pray. Biggins sarcastically asks if he is going to be charged for the prayer. Siegfried gives him some medicine for free if it is ineffective and asks for help with the gate. Biggins says it is a death trap. Hannah tells James that her mum swore by Winslow’s Soothing Syrup. James says it was found to contain morphine. She recommends routine before leaving with Senior. Audrey gives Siegfried the telegram. He takes it to his office and shuts the door. She stands in the hallway. He emerges and announces Tristan Farnon (Callum Woodhouse) will be home tomorrow. She questions why he is returning. The next morning, James and Helen try to assure Siegfried that all is well. Seeing Siegfried never touched his breakfast, Audrey offers to accompany him to the train station. He declines and vows to never get angry at Tristan again if he arrives in one piece. After several attempts, his car starts right up but sputters all the way to the train station. He races to meet Tristan but he is nowhere to be seen. As he watches the train pull away, Tristan approaches from behind and quotes a phrase about tardiness being unacceptable. Siegfried embraces him.

Mrs. Hanley (Angela Lonsdale) finds the surgery closed. Hannah and Senior arrive. Pointing at James’ name on a plaque, Hannah boasts of his success. She insists on Hanley coming inside. Helen tucks Jimmy in his carriage. Helen, Hannah, and Senior leave to take Jimmy for a walk. Hanley says her dog, Lucy, is obsessed with her stuffed toy, Emmeline. Audrey and Tristan embrace. Siegfried tells her that Tristan will be training veterinary recruits in Doncaster. Tristan says it is lecturing, not training. James is assessing Lucy when he hears Tristan calling him. He suggests it is overstimulation, recommends separation, and stuffs Emmeline in a drawer. He rushes Hanley out the door and greets Tristan. As Tristan is telling him about his job in Doncaster, Siegfried says he can help in the surgery during his downtime. Tristan reminds him that he doesn’t work there. James escorts him to his room where Richard’s dog, Hamish is resting on the bed. Tristan greets Helen, Senior, Hannah, and Jimmy.

At the church, the vicar (Mark Chatterton) calls the family forward. Jenny Alderson (Imogen Clawson) and Tristan have a brief chat. The vicar baptizes Jimmy. After the ceremony, Richard Alderson (Tony Pitts) asks Siegfried if he should buy Tristan a pint because he has been away fighting the war. Siegfried stresses the need to stay on schedule. Audrey promises to have lunch ready when he returns. Tristan invites James to join them. Helen urges him to go. Siegfried apologizes for Tristan’s intrusion. Jenny joins the others at The Drover’s Arms. Maggie tells Tristan that Arthur is stationed in North Africa. Biggins is having a drink alone. Siegfried compares him to the Grim Reaper. Tristan blames him for not cutting ties with Biggins years ago. He asks Siegfried to pay because he left his wallet behind. Helen tends to Jimmy. Hannah puts a tray of sandwiches on the dining table. A feisty Lucy scratches on the door. Hannah lets her in. At the pub, Tristan tells the others about Rosa. Maggie teases him about not working while on duty. Siegfried says it seems he spent a lot of time drifting between bars. Tristan assures him that things are different from when he was in the war. Upset, Siegfried asks Biggins about Peg. Biggins claims she is worse and asks for a refund. Siegfried asks if he is following the directions. Biggins says the medicine is useless. Tristan accuses Biggins of slandering their good name. Siegfried insists on seeing the goat immediately. Tristan goes with him. Biggins swigs down his beer before leaving.

En route to Biggins’ farm, Tristan offers Siegfried some recommendations. Siegfried pushes the accelerator. Lucy scratches the surgery door. Helen opens the door. Lucy barks at the card catalog cabinet. Helen opens several drawers until she finds Emmeline. Lucy growls and wags her tail. Tristan detects swollen lymph nodes and diagnosis Peg with actinomycosis “lumpy jaw”. Siegfried says he originally diagnosed her with the condition and asks for the prescription. Biggins demands a refund. Tristan tells him if Peg was in Egypt, they would have given her iodine and hoped for the best. Helen says Lucy is treating Emmeline like a baby. Hannah compliments her mothering skills. Helen says Lucy’s teats are swollen. James arrives and is surprised to see Lucy. She suggests it is a phantom pregnancy. Tristan looks through the window and finds sulphanilamide. Hannah asks James if Lucy is having a phantom pregnancy. James says some get a swelling in the abdomen. Hannah can’t believe James tried to take her baby. James argues she was being aggressive. Hannah suggests it’s something only a mother can understand.

Tristan joins Siegfried who says Biggins is likely tormenting one of his farmhands. Tristan shows him what he found and says they should give Biggins a taste of his own medicine. When Biggins returns, Tristan says he wants to check one more thing. Then, he claims it’s Nile fever. Biggins believes they’re winding him up. They tell him the injection could cause serious consequences for the animal if he hadn’t been using their medicine. Biggins suggests he needs to increase the dosage. Siegfried shows it to him and says it’s easier to administer when you take it out of the packet. James says goodbye to his parents. Siegfried and Tristan return to Skeldale House and realize the party is over. Siegfried says he never got to do his speech. Tristan tells him to do it now because he wants to hear it. Siegfried talks about fathers and how they try to help those under their care become the best version of themselves. Tristan says job done. Siegfried admits you realize the roles have reversed when they begin to forge their own path. He says you find yourself needing them more than they ever needed you. James, Audrey, and Helen arrive just in time to hear them arguing.

 

All Creatures Great & Small Review

The animals that contributed to the show’s success have since been put on the backburner. It is now about domestic relationships and less about caring for sick animals. I would attribute the disappointing changes to a tightening of the budget.

In the episode, James misdiagnosed Lucy and caused her great distress for his own personal gain. Based on observation, Helen, a nonqualified individual, realized the dog had a phantom pregnancy.

Biggins is a mean-spirited lout. Too stingy to pay for Peg’s medicine but perfectly okay with buying a pint of ale. He knowingly and willingly allowed Peg to suffer. More unlikeable characters are being introduced than in previous seasons.

It was very disappointing to see him and Tristan butt heads at every turn. The spiral downward continues. The episode deserves a 5.2 out of 10.

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