As the episode begins, James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) worries as he drives through the gate to meet Hugh Hulton (Matthew Lewis). At Skeldale House, Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) complains about the hole in his cricket flannels, but Audrey (Anna Madeley) reassures him it can be fixed. Then, he reveals they’re a man down and Tristan (Callum Woodhouse) isn’t going to play because it is only for farmers and vets. He claims he is neither. Siegfried thinks he is doing it because he is mad at him. James meets with Hugh who tells him about Monty, his bull that needs ringing and sedated so they can move him later. Tristan learns from Audrey that Hugh specifically asked for James when calling about his bull that needs ringing. Tristan argues it is about Helen and Hugh may not be happy with James.

Hugh is surprised James does things a bit differently, but it works since Monty feels nothing. As James goes for the ring, Hugh asks him whether he has missed anything and if he has been seeing much of Helen. James claims nothing has happened and he sees Helen every so often. Hugh reveals he is going up there later as the bull scares James knocking him back and down to the ground. Gerald Hammond (Will Thorp) fixes Audrey’s clock for her and explains lower is slower and left is lower. Then, their conversation turns to Farnon playing cricket and Gerald admits he never saw the appeal. He learns she is going to be attending the upcoming cricket match. Meanwhile, Helen (Rachel Shenton) and Richard Alderson (Tony Pitts) work on their fence while discussing Hugh coming to talk about the lease.

Helen is worried he’ll sell the property because of what happened between them. Mrs. Pumphrey (Patricia Hodge) calls and tells James there is something she needs to talk to Siegfried about discretely. He tells Siegfried before Tristan learns she would only discuss it with Siegfried in person. Tristan asks James about his visit to Hulton Hall, but James says not a lot happened. There was no duel although Hugh said he was visiting Helen later today. Tristan gets him worried that there could be more to that visit. Jenny (Imogen Clawson) lets the others know that Hugh has arrived before they all gather around. They chat briefly before Hugh confirms he is going to renew the lease with a few stipulations such as adding Helen and Jenny’s names to it. That ensures they can inherit the farm on the same terms if they wish to continue farming.

Then, he takes them back to the farm to show them the bull he wants to give to them, but Richard claims it is too much. They agree to think it over. Helen and Hugh agree to see each other at the cricket game before he leaves. Siegfried meets with Mrs. Pumphrey and learns Tricki has become increasingly amorous towards things, so she has been forced to take his cushion away. Siegfried says it is normal for an animal in the prime of his life. Pumphrey reveals Francois (Joseph May) once said Tricki seemed intent on getting into Mr. Handshaw’s yard. Dennis has a terrier named Bella. Although there is a simple surgery to curb his urges, Pumphrey would prefer a calming draught of sorts. Siegfried insists he’ll have to be fixed or he’ll continue his pursuit until he succeeds. James goes to the Alderson farm and learns about the bull from Jenny.

Once Helen sends Jenny inside, she tells James about Hugh’s visit and everything that has happened. Richard enters and tells them they’re still a player down for the match on Sunday. When James hears that Hugh is the captain of the other team, he decides to volunteer to play. He insists he is absolutely up to it, but returns to Skeldale House and starts reading books about cricket. James learns it is one of the most important cricket games since the Darrowby 11 go against Hulton Hall’s invited gentlemen. Pumphrey holds the game on her land. James confesses he has likely only played once. Siegfried is convinced James will do just fine with a little coaching. He is warned he is going to have a cricket ball coming at him at 80 miles per hour. James’s training doesn’t go so well. Audrey tells Tristan he could give his brother a hand although Tristan replies that his brother could apologize to him.

Tristan finally decides to help by instructing James to only focus on stopping the ball and not hitting it. Siegfried doesn’t like that, but Tristan says he needs to stop confusing him with pointless stuff and let him breathe. It works so Tristan follows up by telling him to never step away from his stumps. Audrey reminds Siegfried that his brother thinks he is owed an apology still. While Audrey answers the phone, Siegfried learns his brother’s team won the interschool cup three years in a row, and they set a record for the Under 12s. He is surprised to learn their father used to watch him play. The call is from Pumphrey. Siegfried learns that Tricki escaped and went toward Handshaw’s yard, so he agrees to go find him. He promises to say he was just passing through since Pumphrey says Tricki is so private. When Siegfried picks him up, Dennis (Nigel Betts) admits a litter or two of pups wouldn’t be the end of the world.

Before he goes, Handshaw admits they might have a fighting chance if Tristan was going to play tomorrow. Siegfried makes it back to Pumphrey who realizes she doesn’t have a choice but to have Tricki fixed. He encourages her to keep the dog on a lead until Monday for the surgery. The day of the cricket game arrives, and everyone prepares for the excitement. Pumphrey speaks to the group before Richard realizes that Mr. Rudd hasn’t arrived yet. They learn Mr. Rudd isn’t coming because the sheep got out, so Tristan agrees to take his place. After the coin toss, Hugh tells his team that they’ll be batting first. James gets bored playing in the outfield while Hugh keeps racking up the points. Margot (Jessica Clark) blows kisses to Hugh as he continues batting. By the time Hugh’s team has 120 points or so, Margot talks to Helen. The conversation is awkward and ends with Margot telling Helen she’ll see her in the tea tent.

Gerald brings Audrey a drink before she tells him Siegfried is overpitching. Gerald helps Audrey keep score. When Hugh’s team gets 138 points, he says they have enough to win the game. James is happy to get a cup of tea, but he is warned they’ll be batting next, and it won’t be pretty. Siegfried tells Pumphrey he isn’t too disheartened, and she believes it is because he has his brother who she calls their secret weapon. They discuss the operation. Mrs. Pumphrey makes it clear she is worried that Tricki is going to be changed by the operation. Siegfried admits some dogs will experience a change in temperament. She wonders if Handshaw would be up for an arrangement so Tricki can live life to the fullest. Siegfried reveals Dennis gave the impression that he would allow it. She asks what he would do. Siegfried looks at Tristan laughing in the distance before saying he’d drop the lead and let Tricki do what comes naturally.

Tricki takes off. Helen approaches Hugh and apologizes for everything that has happened. She insists she never wanted to hurt him but didn’t think they were right for one another. Hugh says he was devastated but felt free once he got over that. He agrees part of him felt like it wasn’t right. He hopes they can go back to being pals again one day. She admits they can’t accept the bull and he shouldn’t feel obligated to make amends. He asks her about James playing before learning they’ve only got together recently. He gives her a kiss on the cheek. When the conversation ends, James approaches Helen and asks about their chat. He asks about the kiss, but Helen says it was nothing. She tells him they’ve decided not to take the bull before Richard arrives to tell James he’ll be batting last since he is a novice.

Before the game resumes, Tristan says Hugh has a lot riding on this since he needs a win after hiding in France too embarrassed to show his face. Tristan and Tom do well but Tom eventually messes up. Then, the others get up and they stand little chance. Audrey tells Gerald that was a batting collapse although he admits it was more exciting than he anticipated. She says they’ll make a cricket convert of him yet. He tells her he walks Rock down by Copley Brook most evenings and she can join him if she is out with Jess and wants a little company. Helen listens as Audrey says they might see Gerald and Rock down there. James is told that he likely won’t have to go in.

When Henry gets up, he learns he only has four balls to face. Hugh throws the ball and Henry gets hit in the face, so James goes in. Richard tells him there are three balls left. If they don’t get him out, they’ll have a draw. Tristan gives him advice before they begin. James gets hit with the first ball. He hits the second one as Tristan yells for him to run. Tristan tells James to block the last ball and Hugh will be crying into his bed tonight. James and Helen look at each other before the pitch. At the last minute, James steps away and intentionally misses the ball. As he walks away, Tristan tells him it looked like he deliberately stepped away from the wicket. James doesn’t admit it though. Siegfried tells his brother and James that it was a great achievement, and the old man would be proud of his brother. Richard agrees James didn’t do too bad either until he lost his nerve.

Helen joins James who admits Richard doesn’t seem so happy with the outcome. Hugh interrupts to show sportsmanship and shake James’s hand. Once he leaves, Helen asks James how it feels. He reveals he felt he owed Hugh a win and Helen already knew that. She tells James she loves him for it before they begin kissing. Tristan joins his brother for a drink. Siegfried confesses he doesn’t remember his father ever visiting him at school although he helped deliver his first lamb when he was nine. Siegfried finally apologizes to his brother while also saying he thought he was acting in Tristan’s best interests. He realizes he might’ve been wrong. Tristan learns the money is there is he wants to go back to school or not. When Siegfried says it should be Tristan’s decision, his brother thanks him. James and the others arrive. Pumphrey walks by and says Tricki had some personal business to attend to.

Tristan sees Margot in the distance and decides to make his move, but he stops when Hugh walks up to Margot and kisses her. Tristan claims she wasn’t his type anyway because she was too tall, but the others don’t believe it. Before the episode ends, Tricki meets with Dennis Handshaw’s terrier.

 

All Creatures Great And Small Review

The last couple of episodes of All Creatures Great and Small prove how great this show can be although in different ways. The episode was mostly humorous with a few touching moments sprinkled in. Perhaps my only complaint with the episode was its predictability since it was easy to see James’s cricket decision and Hugh’s relationship with Margot.

Nevertheless, this minor hiccup couldn’t hurt this charming, fun episode. It was enjoyable to see James get himself in over his head yet overcome it with help from Tristan who is quickly proving himself in Siegfried’s eyes. Still, the star of the episode could’ve been the undeniably cute Tricki Woo. That was a funny addition and so accurate.

I anticipate that the next episode is going to be much different since the finale has to be dramatic enough to keep viewers desperately waiting for more. Regardless, this episode was delightful from start to finish and deserves an 8 out of 10. Catch up with our All Creatures Great and Small recaps here before you go.