Uninvited Guests – As this episode begins, Tristan (Callum Woodhouse) speaks to James (Nicholas Ralph) and Helen (Rachel Shenton) about his time in the military. They find out that he’s just joking around about a camel. They find Audrey Hall (Anna Madeley) bringing in a bag of groceries. Siegfried (Samuel West) went to pick up Richard Carmody (James Anthony-Rose). Audrey tells James that Sid Crabtree (Ryan Hawley) said something about a cow being off its food. James tries to get Tristan to come along, but Tristan decides to stay. James arrives and Sid’s dog begins barking at him. Sid explains that Rose won’t eat and he can’t figure out why. Back at Skeldale House, Audrey tells Tristan that Siegfried didn’t think he’d mind sharing a room with Richard. Tristan and Siegfried arrive moments later. Tristan congratulates Richard on sticking it out with his brother.
Richard claims Siegfried has taught him a great deal. He just finished his finals in London. Tristan invites Richard to drink in The Drovers. However, Richard is interested in working on bacteria with Siegfried. Tristan keeps an eye on them while they work. In private, Tristan tells Audrey she could’ve warned him that Siegfried spawned a mini-killjoy. He’s worried about sharing a room with Richard. James tries to find out what is going on with Rose. He decides to use linseed oil in case she’s eaten too much. Later, Tristan finds it odd that Richard and Siegfried are playing cribbage. He’d rather get a nightcap. Tristan ends up going by himself. He comes home drunk later that night and wakes up Richard. When Siegfried checks on them, Tristan says Richard has commandeered his bed. Although Tristan thinks he deserves the bed, Richard believes it should be his. Siegfried tells them to resolve it amongst themselves quietly. Richard wakes Tristan early in the morning.
Downstairs, Siegfried and Audrey talk about the situation. Audrey wonders if Tristan is feeling left out. Siegfried doesn’t think so. During breakfast, Tristan and Richard get into it over the last piece of bread. Audrey finds them with half each. Siegfried interrupts to tell Richard to go up to the manor to deal with a snake. It may have been smuggled in from abroad by one of the soldiers. Tristan learns the house has been requisitioned as an Army convalescent home. Siegfried sends Richard on his own. Audrey thinks Tristan should go with him. Once they arrive, Matron Herbert (Caroline Chesworth) tells them what she knows about the snake. Tristan believes someone is joking around about a snake and there isn’t one around. He decides to have a nap. Richard researches the building for the snake. Tristan can’t find a bed, but he does find Mrs. Pumphrey (Patricia Hodge). She’s lost a painting she’s fond of. Pumphrey tried to take up the matter with the Matron, but she barely paid any heed.
Tristan tells her about the snake. Richard asks Harry (Bailey Brook) if he’s seen the snake. Harry is with Tricki (Dora) who will sit with anyone who has food. Harry and Richard talk about their choice of reading materials. Harry asks if the snake could be venomous. Richard ends up staying around and talking to him about snakes. Pumphrey speaks to the Matron about the snake. Matron says the painting will have to wait because they’re understaffed. Pumphrey and Tristan split up to see if they can find Tricki. Sid tells James he gave Rose the linseed oil, but she’s still not too clever. Mr. Oakley (Nicholas Collett) stops by to say hello. Sid asks if the problem is a stoppage. Oakley says Rose just needs a good gallop since his father swore by it. James tells Sid that he’ll try a lavage first. He claims galloping is just an old wives’ tale. Harry keeps telling Richard stories about being in the military. Tristan finds them talking. Harry says the best part is being able to return to see his girlfriend and family.
When Richard asks how Harry Tucker was injured, Tristan interrupts and introduces himself. Tristan mentions that Pumphrey wants Tricki. Richard says Harry will keep an eye on Tricki. Tristan is okay with it as long as Richard tells Mrs. Pumphrey. Tricki jumps off the bed and runs out of the room. Tristan and Richard rush to get the dog. Once they get him, they find themselves locked in a room together. Audrey calls Mr. Bosworth to ask about getting another mattress. James returns and tells Helen about Rose’s blockage. He’s flushed her out with no change. Sid can’t afford to lose another animal. James mentions what Mr. Oakley said. Helen suggests it can’t hurt. James says it would be satisfying to prove Mr. Oakley wrong. Tristan is unable to get the door open. Richard finds out that the window is locked. Tristan hopes someone will pass by the door. Once they sit down, Richard says it was rude to interrupt his conversation with Harry.
Tristan argues it wasn’t a good idea to ask Harry how he was injured. Richard happens to see the snake. Tristan sees it and jumps up on the couch. Bosworth delivers a mattress to Skeldale House. Audrey Hall offers to watch Jimmy so Helen can check in on James and Sid Crabtree. Richard picks up the snake and puts it in a box while Tristan holds Tricki. Richard believes Tristan is ophidiophobic or petrified of snakes. Tristan says he just avoids them at all costs. Richard admits this is the first python he’s seen in the flesh. Tristan thinks it was brave catching it. James tells Sid that Rose is no better but no worse. He thinks that’s a good sign. Sid hopes it wasn’t anything too serious that got James sent home. James tells him it was brucellosis. Oakley checks in with them and says he’s ready and willing to gallop Rose for them. Sid agrees to let Oakley do it. Tristan tells Richard that Pumphrey isn’t happy sharing the place. He admits she might not be the only one who has been territorial.
Tristan apologizes and Richard does too. Richard offers to find somewhere else although he admits he’s grown fond of the place. He reveals his parents spent most of the year abroad so he grew up in a boarding school. Tristan thinks they should share the room. They begin yelling for help. Oakley finishes with Rose. James checks her and admits she sounds surprisingly good. In private, James tells Sid that Oakley must’ve galloped her at the precise moment the lavage took effect. Sid thinks things turned out for the best with the brucellosis. He believes some good came of it. Shep scares James who yells at him on his way out. James tells Helen that the dog likes to pounce on people. Helen wants to go to The Drovers for a drink. Pumphrey finally finds Tricki, Tristan, and Richard. Richard shows her the snake and says he’s harmless. Pumphrey offers to tell the matron and promises to be civil about it. Richard wants to take the snake back to the surgery. James speaks to Helen about working with Crabtree. Helen suspects something else is going on.
James says Oakley and Sid said he was lucky to have got brucellosis. Helen agrees because that one visit could’ve changed everything. James mentions that his crew was shot down. He didn’t say anything in case he had to fly again. Helen asks if it’d help to talk about it now. James says he’s made his peace with it. He wants to take care of something before heading home. Matron gives Pumphrey the painting. They manage to smooth things over among themselves. Pumphrey says the painting is her father’s work and it’s a view from the house where she grew up. James tries to make his peace with Seph. He worries he’s broken his spirit until Seph bothers Oakley. At Skeldale House, Richard tells Siegfried that he’s named the snake Schrodinger. Tristan and Richard agree not to bring the snake into the bedroom. Siegfried notices the beginning of scale rot. Richard thinks they’ll have to treat it topically. Audrey learns that peace has broken out. Siegfried learns that it was Audrey’s idea for Tristan and Richard to work together.
In private, Tristan apologizes to Siegfried for making a trust. Siegfried tells him about Audrey getting a mattress. He admits he kept the room empty for a year. During dinner, everyone talks about the day at the manor. Richard has thought about following in Harry’s footsteps. Everyone encourages him to stick with the vetting. Later, Siegfried talks to Audrey about how she smoothed the waters. He thanks her for her efforts. Audrey likes it when the house is full and happy. She questions where they’re keeping a zoo. Siegfried says Richard will find a zoo to help with that. Tristan and Richard playfully argue more. They agree they enjoyed their escapade. Tristan insists he’ll find a way to get his bed back. Richard would expect nothing less.
All Creatures Great And Small Review
This episode of All Creatures was pretty enjoyable even if the animals did take a bit of a backseat. There were lots of animals here, but the episode primarily focused on the human relationships. The series hasn’t had a really strong animal-related storyline in some time. It would be nice to see the writers go back to that and create life-changing, emotionally impactful episodes that focus on animals, operations, and so on.
It seems the show only skims the surface in that area now and the drama at Skeldale House is at the front and center. This episode did that very well with Tristan and Richard at each other’s throats briefly. James also told Helen about his crew.
There is more to juggle now with Tristan back, the war ongoing, and so on. Overall, the episode was a breeze to get through, there were some humorous moments, and there were touching moments. This episode scores a 7 out of 10.
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Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.