By The Book – As this episode of All Creatures Great and Small begins, James (Nicholas Ralph) and Helen (Rachel Shenton) try to come up with baby names. James believes they’ll have to start telling people soon. Helen doesn’t want to yet because she likes the way things are. James argues she should slow down a little and put her feet up more. Helen goes downstairs to help Audrey Hall (Anna Madeley). Richard Carmody (James Anthony-Rose) reads at the dinner table. Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) comes in to get eggs. He talks to Audrey about Richard who is surgically attached to his book. Then, Siegfried tells Richard there has been a slight change in plans. Then, he tells James that Carmody needs more experience in the field.

Siegfried wants Carmody to assist James today. James tells Richard that they’re going to visit the new tenants at Low Beck Farm. In the car, Richard suggests the animal has brucellosis. James thinks they should inspect the animal before sentencing it to death. Richard isn’t worried he didn’t bring protective clothing since he doubts they’ll be there for long. Then, they speak to Elsie (Chloe Harris) and Sid Crabtree (Ryan Hawley) about the first cow born on the farm. Elsie says they came from Bradford and they’re beginners. James believes they’ve picked a great place to hunker down. He says they’ll get used to them around there soon enough. At Skeldale House, Helen sneaks into the pantry to eat a pickled egg.

Audrey catches her. She says Helen is sick every morning and the pantry thinks Tristan is back. Audrey knows that Helen is pregnant. Meanwhile, Richard still believes the cow has brucellosis. James says that means they could lose every unborn calf in their herd so the family’s future is at stake. Together, they tell Elsie and Sid about brucellosis. James confesses it is unlikely that the calf will live and they could lose many more. Helen tells Audrey she’d rather wait a bit before telling Jenny and her father. They talk about how she’ll feel come December. Helen suspects James will get his papers any day now. James instructs the Crabtree couple to keep the mother and calf quarantined and disinfect regularly. He theorizes the calf was already infected when they bought her. When Sid admits she has grazed with the others, Richard calls that a schoolboy error.

New animals should always be kept separate. James apologizes for Richard being rude before Richard falls to the ground. James leaves with a dirty Richard a short time later. At Skeldale House, Siegfried tells Richard that his manner is diabolical. Richard hopes he can redeem himself since he has been reading about brucellosis. Siegfried explains it is not their role to scold, but he is not going to terminate his placement. James gets a call from Sid Crabtree who informs him they lost their calf in the night. Helen offers to go with James who admits he should take Richard. Once they arrive, Elsie tells Helen that everything has gone wrong since they arrived. Helen believes they’ve been accepted since another farmer is sticking them. After all, judging is their version of a welcome mat.

Helen promises that James will do what he can. James learns one of the cows has been grunting since last night. He tells Sid that means she is calving. At Skeldale House, Audrey tells Richard that her dog has hurt its paw. Siegfried works them through an exercise to try to teach Richard how to deal with clients. He won’t let Richard refer to his textbook. Audrey tells Richard to trust himself. Ned Clough (Paul Copley) comes in with a real patient, a turtle. James and Helen deliver another calf, but it appears to be deceased as well. Richard believes the turtle is just shedding its skin. As for its lack of oomph, he suspects that could be dietary. He gives Ned something to eat and sends him on his way. Before Ned leaves, he privately tells Siegfried that Richard has a broom up his backside even though he knows his stuff.

James and Helen talk about the Crabtree couple and their difficult situation. When they get back, James tells Richard that the brucellosis has set in. Richard believes it is more useful to immerse himself in the problem. He invites James out to the Drovers. Once James turns him down, Richard suggests they can talk about zoonosis another time. James explains that zoonosis is when a disease jumps from one species to another. He admits vets can get it although it is rare. Richard says humans and animals can experience similar symptoms including the loss of an unborn fetus. James goes with him so he can look at the research. He learns that most of the women in the study didn’t carry to term. Richard says the link has never been proven, but it is a convincing theory. He wonders if it’d make a good dissertation topic since he has been looking for something unusual.

James gets upset and scolds Richard for his behavior. Audrey and Siegfried overhear James yelling so they intervene. Helen explains she invited herself today even though she shouldn’t have. Audrey gets a call from Clough and a letter from a solicitor. She tells the others that Clough will be bringing Bernard back in this afternoon. Richard tries to apologize again. Audrey learns that there is nothing they can do if Helen catches it. Then, they gather a group so they can help the Crabtrees disinfect their farm. James tells Sid to talk to his neighbors because he might learn something. Audrey follows Dash upstairs where Helen is relaxing on the bed. Since Audrey thinks Helen needs a distraction, she asks her to help with the baking. James wonders how he can tell Audrey that their baby will be alright.

Audrey says they should invite Jenny. Helen says she will when she has good news. Audrey insists she doesn’t always have to be the tough one. Helen thanks her. Richard checks on Bernard because he is still scratching and his skin is irritated. He decides to keep Bernard in for observation. At the pub, Siegfried tells James that they can never know what lies ahead. He says he tells the ones he loves what they need to hear and hopes it gives them comfort. James says he did think before admitting Siegfried rarely speaks of Evelyn. Siegfried says it was too late by the time they knew it was cancer. He talks about the difficulty of not being able to do anything. Siegfried suggests they should be more like Crabtree. He goes on to say hopeful.

Audrey reads the letter and learns that Robert has not contested her application for divorce. Siegfried storms in and yells for Audrey to fetch the confiscated books. He tells Richard that knowledge is power and they won’t submit to bacterium. Siegfried tells them to read the books because they might find something useful for Helen. After a while, they agree to turn in and press on tomorrow. Audrey says something about an agglutination test that James says it used to detect typhus in humans. They can use that test to find out whether Helen has it. James takes a sample and says he’ll get it to the lab first thing in the morning. Next, James tells the Crabtrees that they might have some calves after all. Sid reveals he took a farmhand job at Grace Chapman’s.

James has to run to collect some lab results. Richard tells Ned Clough what he witnessed during Bernard’s stay. He notices that Ned is scratching too. As Richard decides to try something else, James comes home to speak to Helen. Richard soaks Bernard before noticing Siphonantera or fleas. He thinks Ned might be the cause. Richard says he can find a treatment for both of them. James tells Helen that he got the results and thought they should check them together. Helen changes her mind and says she’d rather not know if it is bad. Both admit they’re terrified. James says they’ll be together no matter what happens. Audrey tells Siegfried that Richard cracked the tortoise. Helen eventually gathers the courage to open the test results.

Richard tells Audrey and Siegfried that Bernard was dealing with fleas. Helen comes down with James and confirms she is alright. The test was negative. While on a walk, Helen tells James she only cares that the baby gets here safe and sound. At Skeldale House, Siegfried questions what they’ll be like when the baby arrives. They believe Richard may have fleas since he is scratching. Later, Richard apologizes to James for the unfortunate incident. James believes he should apologize because things could’ve been worse if Richard hadn’t warned them. They share a toast to their growing family.

 

All Creatures Great And Small Review

This episode of All Creatures Great and Small was okay although it feels like the series has lost a bit of charm along the way. Again, the animals have taken a backseat while the series has become more of a soap opera. While this episode had a sick calf, there was very little interaction with the animal. The same can be said for Bernard.

Aspects of the episode were pretty predictable as well, especially the outcome of Helen’s test. All Creatures remains watchable and even enjoyable, but it doesn’t pack the same punch it had in the first two seasons. The series has strayed too far from its roots and what made it so special, the animals.

The episode was fine, but it would’ve been better with more animals and more heart. It scores a 6 out of 10. Recaps of All Creatures Great and Small are available on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Find out about advertising on Reel Mockery here. Discuss this series and others at the Reel Mockery Forum.