To All Our Boys – As the fifth series of All Creatures Great & Small begins, Helen Herriot (Rachel Shenton) and Audrey Hall (Anna Madeley) get ready to visit Mr. Bosworth (Jeremy Swift). At RAF Abingdon in Spring 1941, James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) speaks to Banerjee (Samir Mahat) and another man about flying. Bosworth speaks to Mrs. Pumphrey (Patricia Hodge) about collected items and the Victory Gardens. While Dot Fawcett (Caroline O’Neill) is recovering, the others are asking to step up and care for the gardens. Bosworth says they’re still looking for wardens for blackout duty. Mrs. Pumphrey says their first Land Girl has arrived safely with Farmer Danby. Once the meeting ends, Helen and Audrey talk about Dot having an operation. Helen tells Audrey and Jimmy that the world shouldn’t stop just because she had a baby.

At home that night, Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) plays with Jimmy. Richard Carmody (James Anthony-Rose) doesn’t want to join them since he’s training Hamish. Richard says he’s very intelligent so he’s not surprised his owner was sad to leave him. Wing Commander Whitely (Simon Paisley Day) gives James and the others an update about the war. He reveals they’re going to expedite all flight training schedules. The first long-distance run to Scotland will take place tonight. He names several including Herriot, Hibbert (Luke Hammond), and Banerjee. Helen tells Audrey she’s going to call Dot in the morning. Siegfried learns they’ve called an extraordinary meeting of the North Riding Veterinary Society. It’s at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning and attendance is mandatory. Siegfried admits they’re stretched to their limit just covering the farms. Audrey says there is another option. James notices Banerjee is missing. He finds Banerjee checking his calculations because he doesn’t trust himself.

They go for a walk and talk about what they have in common. James tells him about delivering his first calf. Richard is asked to step up. James and the others get ready to fly out. James insists he’s fine when asked. He collapsed to the ground moments later. Medical Officer Reid (Callum Coates) speaks to him when he wakes up. Reid suspects he’s familiar with brucellosis. James admits he treated a herd with it last year. There was no reason to believe he had it. Reid warns him that he may have a recurring fever and delirium is possible. He can’t say when James will be able to return to active duty. Helen checks on Dot who had a hysterectomy. Dot tells her about the medication that helps her float off to sleep. She has little Frisk so she doesn’t have to be alone. Siegfried tells Richard he’s done well for his first time flying solo. Helen arrives with Jimmy. She takes a call from RAF Abingdon that concerns her until James speaks to her.

He tells her about his diagnosis. James believes he’ll be back in the barracks tomorrow. Reid returns to James later to say the Wing Commander doesn’t think he’s fit to fly. Reid admits he can no longer be classed as 100% fit. James’s flying days are over. Reid says that means he would normally serve as ground crew, but that’s not his decision to make. James speaks to Hibbert and Banerjee about it later. They’ve been assigned to Atkinson for the run to Scotland tonight. They know it’s not James’ fault. James tries to convince the Wing Commander to change his mind. The Wing Commander tells him he can begin digging ditches instead. Dot brings Frisk to Richard because he died in the night. Dot says he’s burying him herself, but she’s just had an operation. Richard tells Dot to leave it with him. He takes it to Audrey who says Siegfried usually calls Mallocks, the abattoir. Richard says he’ll inform Siegfried. He writes down the information on a form.

Pumphrey arrives to help Audrey and the others. She works out a few kinks with Bosworth. Then, Pumphrey tells Audrey she has been asked to vacate Pumphrey Manor. It is being requisitioned by the army as a convalescent hospital. They’ll be happy in the little cottage. Richard and Siegfried have a mix-up at the clinic. Frisk comes out of his box. When they argue about it, Audrey comes in and learns it was Dot’s cat. Helen and Audrey find the cat a short time later. James helps dig trenches. Later, James learns that the training missing came under fire from the Luftwaffe. Reid says the boys were shot down over the North Sea. Atkinson is dead. Banerjee was pulled out of the wreckage but he’s in a bad way. Hibbert likely died on impact. James confronts Wing Commander Whitely and blames him for sending them with a pilot who didn’t know what he was doing. The Wing Commander says he knows the odds every time he sends a man up.

He does his best to improve them, but he doesn’t always have that luxury. James calls Helen to tell her what he’s doing now. She thinks they should send him home if he’s not going to fly anymore. Audrey checks on Helen later. James talks to Mr. Edwards about one of the heifers calving. Edwards tells him to get on with what he’s there to do. James checks in on the men trying to help. He asks for binder twine. Bert is sent to get some. James explains how you slip the loop over the fetlock. With James’s help, they manage to get the calves out safely. James speaks to the Wing Commander about wanting to serve. If he’s no longer of use there, he might be of more use elsewhere. James is given his discharge papers. The Wing Commander admits there aren’t too many vets around right now. Audrey speaks to Bosworth about volunteering to be a blackout warden. He says they can only accept male volunteers.

Pumphrey overhears their conversation. She says the Wrens she knew didn’t take no for an answer. Audrey tells Bosworth she was a female when she joined the Wrens in the last war. Pumphrey also tries to convince Bosworth to let Audrey take the job. Helen learns from Dot that Frisk is under the sofa again and not moving. Helen finds a faint heartbeat so she rushes Frisk to Siegfried. Richard and Siegfried find out that it’s like Frisk was under anesthesia. Dot mentions that he’s been licking her saucer. She’s been taking her medication with tea. It’s morphine. After she takes it, she puts the spoon in her saucer. Siegfried believes the cat has been taking morphine as a result. James returns to Darrowby. Hamish is at the door when he arrives home. James finds Jimmy before Helen finds him. Later, James learns about Frisk taking morphine. Audrey surprises Siegfried in her uniform and says she wanted to do more for the war effort. He’s happy with her decision.

Later, James talks to Siegfried about flying. He thanks Siegfried for looking after Helen and Jimmy. James goes upstairs and joins Helen.

 

All Creatures Great And Small Review

This episode of All Creatures was okay, but it feels like the series has definitely lost a step since the first couple of seasons. There was a lot of stuff here that wasn’t necessary because none of it went anywhere to begin with. We had the whole Banerjee character who turned out to be pretty much pointless in the long run.

If the team is going to force such characters into these shows, they need to at least have some purpose instead of just having a life-changing accident and never showing up again. Dot’s story with Frisk was a little more effective, but it also lacked any emotional impact whatsoever.

Richard Carmody evolving as a vet has the most potential of any storyline at the moment. It’s hard to even know where this is going from here. The animals are only props that show up from time to time to remind everyone that James is still a vet. Even the birthing scene was fairly shallow compared to what the series used to do. It’s like the budget was cut at some point and this turned into a soap opera.

The series is still watchable and not terrible by any means, but it’s easy to see why viewers have lost interest. This episode scores a 5 out of 10. Recaps of All Creatures Great and Small can be found here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link.

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