Papers – As this episode of All Creatures Great and Small begins, James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) tries to teach Richard Carmody (James Anthony Ross) how to drive the vehicle. James reminds Richard he’ll have to learn how to do this if he wants to be a vet in the Dales. At Skeldale House, Helen (Rachel Shenton) listens to a radio report about the war. There is an enlistment notice for James nearby. Audrey Hall (Anna Madeley) listens to James complaining about Richard’s driving when they return. When Helen comes down, James claims Richard is really making progress. Richard reminds James they have to get to Mrs. Pumphrey’s soon. James says they only have two nights left together.

Once they leave, Audrey asks Helen if she knows why James keeps himself so busy. Helen understands because she is doing the same. Audrey tells Helen that Gerald is cooking her dinner tonight. James tells Mrs. Pumphrey (Patricia Hodge) that she’ll be in Richard’s hands so things will continue as normal. Richard checks Tricki and notices the dog has a slight skin irritation. Mrs. Pumphrey believes it is anxiety because James is leaving, but Richard argues it is likely an allergy. Richard offers to give her some food supplements. James thinks it is worth a try. Richard asks about Cedric. Once they’re alone, James tells Pumphrey he’d appreciate it if she could tell Siegfried that Richard is getting on well. She claims they’re only going to see Uncle Farnon until James returns.

Audrey eats with Gerald (Will Thorp) who believes he needs a brandy. Gerald says you never expect to meet someone who changes your life when you reach their age. He reveals that his sister Lillian is really struggling. Gerald is leaving to help his sister and he’d love for Audrey to come with him. When Audrey asks if he’ll be back, Gerald says he hopes so. James returns and finds Helen asleep. Later, Siegfried (Samuel West) asks James about Richard’s driving. James says he can nearly be trusted on his own. Siegfried suggests he could take Richard out and see for himself. Once Richard enters, Siegfried tells him they’re going for a drive. Siegfried gets him to drive faster and insists it is smooth sailing once he realizes everyone else on the road is an imbecile. They nearly get into a wreck with Mrs. Pumphrey who is in his weekend car.

They soon learn that they’ve hit a cat. At Skeldale House, Audrey tells Helen about Gerald moving away. She thinks he is going for good, but she doesn’t want to lose him. Helen thinks the war has taught them to grab onto the things they love and cherish every moment. James returns as he prepares to leave with Helen. Before he can, Siegfried and Richard return with the injured cat. Richard blames himself. James says there is no collar or identity disc. The cat’s claws are fine so it wasn’t Richard’s fault after all. James suspects there might’ve been a fall or the cat might’ve been hit by farming machinery. Siegfried thinks it’d be best to put the cat out of its misery. James asks Richard if he’d like to do it. Richard agrees to do it, but Helen wonders if there is something they can do.

James explains it is a tricky operation to realign and reset the bone. Even if the cat survived, it would be a difficult recovery. Helen offers to look after him. They agree to try it. James asks Siegfried what’ll happen the next time there is an operation that requires two vets. He tells Siegfried that he’ll have to face up to it because he’ll be gone this time tomorrow. Siegfried yells for Richard so he can assist before telling James to go be with his wife. Later, Siegfried informs Helen that they had trouble realigning the bone and he lost more blood than they would’ve liked. Nevertheless, the cat is alive. James and Helen made a bed for him and they’re going to call him Oscar. When Pumphrey calls, Siegfried says he’ll go with Richard. Although Richard is worried because she hasn’t warmed to him, Audrey thinks it’d be good for him to go.

Once they’re alone, Helen admits to Audrey she’d give anything to have one more week with James who joins them seconds later. Helen wants them to be there when Oscar wakes up. James believes he has an idea. Siegfried and Richard arrive at Mrs. Pumphrey’s place. Siegfried talks to her in private and explains that Richard is talented. James and Helen decide to have their picnic upstairs so they can be there when Oscar wakes up. Helen insists it is alright for James to be sad, nervous, or unsure. She tries to get James to talk about his feelings. Pumphrey tells Richard Carmody that Tricki’s condition has worsened. She admits that Tricki won’t eat the supplements. When she mentions she has been using a new shampoo, Richard says they might’ve found the problem.

He recommends going back to the old shampoo. Pumphrey says she’ll get Francois (Joseph May) to pull the car around since Richard can’t get behind the wheel. She is going to give him a driving lesson. Pumphrey doubts Richard will be scared of anything once he has driven her precious cargo. She instructs him to talk to Tricki constantly. It actually works. Oscar begins waking up. James tells Helen there wasn’t a shadow of doubt when he signed up with Tristan. He admits a lot has changed since then. James apologizes for abandoning her, but Helen insists he isn’t abandoning anyone. He says what he is doing is amazing and she is proud of him. Later that night, James finds Siegfried still awake.

James tells him he is packed but not ready. They talk about the time when James first arrived and how the locals got him drunk. James asks how Evelyn coped when Siegfried went to war. Siegfried promises they’ll look after Helen and the baby. Moments later, James finds Helen caring for Oscar. The next day, Audrey approaches Gerald to say she doesn’t want to lose him. She suggests they can go together. She worries they’ll always regret it if they don’t take this chance. When Gerald asks if that makes them engaged, Audrey says she suppose it does. At Skeldale House, James gets ready to leave. Audrey enters to say Mr. Metcalfe’s got a pig with tummy trouble. Siegfried asks Richard to go and whether he’ll stay longer than planned.

James goes upstairs to say goodbye to Helen who tells him to go before she cries. James goes outside where he says goodbye to Helen and Siegfried. Helen finds a box for the baby.

 

All Creatures Great And Small Review

The fifth episode of All Creatures Great and Small’s fourth season had some good moments as the characters develop and James prepares to leave. There still wasn’t much in terms of animals, but James’s impending departure at least created some emotional moments. Even then, the series doesn’t hold the same emotional weight it had in the first two seasons. Carmody has been a good addition so it is nice to see the character settle in a bit more.

While the series isn’t as impactful as it once was, it remains one of the better series right now. It just needs more animal scenes and should stop feeling so much like a soap opera. This was easily one of the best episodes of the season though. It scores a 6.5 out of 10. Recaps of All Creatures Great and Small can be found on Reel Mockery here.

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