As the Xmas special begins, James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) meets Bert Chapman (Dave Hill) on Christmas eve. Bert explains that it is his missus Anna (Cleo Sylvestre) and she is worried about her pups. James heads inside, says hello to Anna, and checks on Susie. During the examination, Bert says he has heard that Hutton is putting on a right proper spread at Drovers. They say they’re going so they can celebrate Helen and Hugh’s marriage. When James is asked if he is going, he says his mother would skin him alive if he didn’t make it home for Christmas. Then, he says there is nothing wrong here except for a big load of pups. He suspects Susie will have her pups in a few days. Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) checks the mail and receives Tristan’s test results.

Siegfried believes he should open the letter but Mrs. Hall (Anna Madeley) tries to convince him otherwise. She doesn’t believe knowing will change anything. Plus, she doesn’t want to ruin Christmas with an unholy argument. Siegfried eventually relents and lets Audrey take the test results from him. When she walks away, Siegfried looks at a package under the tree that says, “Edward, all my love, mother”. After that, they head outside and visit the market. Edward likes Brussels sprouts so Audrey decides to purchase some. Tristan (Callum Woodhouse) gets off of the bus and joins them seconds later and admits he has been in Broughton for the bell-ringer’s Christmas celebrations and they’re enthusiastic drinkers.

Tristan asks about his test results but Audrey claims they haven’t arrived yet. Maggie (Mollie Winnard) checks on the donkey and wonders what it has been eating before putting David (Jake Hayes) in charge of it. James runs into Tristan and tells him he won’t be leaving until tomorrow. He claims he is happy for Helen and Hugh but Tristan doesn’t believe that. He reminds James that Connie is always there to take his mind off it. Tristan encourages James to put in a good word for him with all of Connie’s friends. Tristan turns his attention to Maggie only to realize they’re under the mistletoe together but she claims James and Tristan are. He offers to buy everything she is selling. James returns home and asks Audrey if there is anything he can do to help.

He is told he can take the sausage rolls through for her. James does as asked and finds Tristan decorating with the mistletoes he purchased from Maggie. Siegfried comes down dressed as Saint Nick. He reminds James that the real Father Christmas wears green and white. Tristan believes his brother will thank him when he winds up under the mistletoe with Dorothy (Maimie McCoy) but Siegfried says she is Audrey’s guest. James continues before Siegfried reveals he has plans for his brother. He dresses up and handles the line of kids waiting to see Father Christmas. Dorothy asks Audrey about Edward and says he should be groveling on a bended knee after everything he did.

Audrey wants to put that behind them and says Edward wants to come. Audrey hears someone at the door and believes it could be Edward but it is Helen (Rachel Shenton), Richard (Tony Pitts), and the family. Hugh (Matthew Lewis) tells them he won’t be staying since he is going to meet a few friends down at the Renniston since it is his last night of freedom. Tristan does his best to control the crowds while James tells Helen he thought she would be resting up for the big day. She claims it isn’t that big but Connie (Charlie May-Clark) believes otherwise. Then, they discuss the pig roast at the Drovers. James and Helen say Merry Christmas and kiss cheeks before Helen’s father calls her over. James checks the phone and learns that Bert needs his help again.

He apologizes to Connie and invites her to come with him but she isn’t dressed for it. James prepares to leave alone but finds Helen worrying about her wedding. She offers to come with him but James says she should probably stay and enjoy the party. Helen insists because she wants to take her mind off of the wedding. Maggie and a friend arrive next and James leaves with Helen. They go to the Chapman house and learn more about Bert and Anne’s wedding. James has a bad feeling about Susie so he asks for some hot water. Anne reveals the dog is six. Bert returns with the hot water and James goes to work right away.

James reveals there is a big pup stuck fast but he has a feeling that they can remove that pup and the others will come away. He believes the others will be smaller and they’ll be able to get them out. Tristan learns Siegfried is missing before Audrey asks him why James would take Helen out with him. She wants to make sure that James isn’t sly but Tristan isn’t sure about that. David tells Tristan it is his fault and it is poorly now. They step outside and Tristan learns that the donkey is not feeling well. They take the donkey inside to the stable. James tries to help Susie but he can’t free the pup so he tries using forceps next. If that doesn’t work, he’ll recommend taking her away for a cesarean. Anne reminds Bert she told him that six years old was too late for a first litter. James and Helen don’t believe that though.

James goes to work with the forceps. He says he nearly has it so he tells Helen to keep stroking Susie and talking to her to keep her calm. James feels it coming towards him and it comes out a short time later. The first pup is a boy with a faint heartbeat. He tries to get air into the pup’s lungs as quickly as possible. He does everything he can before letting Susie work on her pup. James and Helen hold hands as they wait for Susie to help her pup. It works and the pup comes to life. James and Helen tell one another well done before he says he will give Susie some pituitrin to help her get the rest out. Siegfried gets out of his Saint Nick suit and returns to the party. He tries to approach Dorothy but Tristan stops him and warns him he smells too strong.

They go outside and check on David’s donkey. Siegfried scares David and Tristan while trying to find out if the donkey swallowed anything that could’ve hurt it. Siegfried eventually gets upset and leaves Tristan to take care of his patient. He goes inside and finds out that Audrey is still waiting for Edward to show up. She tells him that Dorothy has to go back to Scarborough tonight. He tells her that the flesh is willing but the spirit lacks but Audrey doesn’t want to hear about his willing flesh. Siegfried grabs two drinks and takes one to Dorothy. She wonders if Siegfried will be able to stop being Tristan’s father and start being his brother again. Tristan notices a mistletoe above them and says it is a terrible parasite. He explains it clings onto a tree and sucks the life out of it.

They separate after that awkward encounter. Tristan tries to find out what the donkey has been eating while David and the other kids watch. Tristan tells David about being shy and Maggie not really knowing him. He goes on to say that he has a way to pretend and he tells David about his magic mask which allows him to be anyone he wants. Tristan lets David try on his magic mask before their conversation turns to Bob and his diet. David confesses that Bob has been eating mistletoe. Tristan believes they can help him. Meanwhile, James believes Susie will be okay with the rest of the pups and they should leave. It is very foggy when James tries to take Helen home but he believes they can’t dry home in this weather. He calls Audrey and tells her about the complication and why Helen went with him.

He says he’ll try to make it back tonight. If not, he wants Audrey to tell Mr. Alderson to meet them at Skeldale in the morning. Audrey wants James to tell her he won’t do something he’ll regret but he only promises to have her back in time for the wedding. James apologizes to Helen who reminds him it was her idea to come with him. Anne believes the fog won’t leave until morning either. James tells her that they’ll be time in the morning while Bert goes to sleep. Anne enters and tells them about her marriage and meeting Bert. When Helen steps away, Anne asks James if she knows and he asks what. She says it doesn’t come around often even when it makes life hard. Anne tells him that Helen is up there with him tonight before Helen returns. Tristan takes care of the donkey and tells David he can keep his magical mask. Siegfried watches and seems impressed with his brother.

When the kids leave, Tristan tells him how he took care of Bob. Tristan is surprised when Siegfried admits he wants to ask his advice. Tristan tries his best to help his brother. Susie has the rest of her pups and Bert wakes up. Anne thanks James before they return to bed. Helen and James admit they seem like they’re full of love. The Christmas party ends and Maggie asks Audrey where David is at. She finds out that he is happier than normal. He tells her that Tristan made Bob better. They leave with the others moments later. Audrey asks Dorothy if she can convince her to stay. Then, they begin talking about Edward and Audrey suggests he probably had something more exciting to do on Christmas Day. Dorothy says he has no right to punish her and she didn’t do anything.

Siegfried enters and looks for Dorothy. He catches her just before she can leave. He admits he likes her and that he isn’t good with this sort of thing. He tells her what the old Siegfried who was good with this thing would do. He says he is still linked to someone he likes and can’t let go but he’d like to try. He asks if he can kiss her and she agrees. They kiss before Audrey tells him she’d like to see more of the old Siegfried. Before she leaves, she lets Siegfried know that Edward did not turn up. Helen asks James if he ever thought what his life would’ve been like if he hadn’t come to Darrowby. He says he’d been on the docks working as an apprentice plater. As for Helen, she says he wanted to go to secretarial college and move into town. She likes the Dales but understands that it is a big world out there. When her mom died, her plans went out of the window.

James admits most everything has been good to him but he wishes he’d stood up to Siegfried sooner. And, he might’ve kept more of his clothes on when she saw him. He confesses he should’ve told her that coming up there on the day before her wedding was a bad idea. She tells James that it is probably best for Hugh to never find out so James says he won’t hear it from him. He encourages her to get some rest since it is a big day tomorrow. James blows out the candles before we jump over to the church where Audrey sings with other locals. Maggie visits the house and finds Tristan standing under the mistletoe so she joins him and kisses him. James covers up Helen with a blanket. Siegfried arrives at the church and joins Audrey. He holds her hand and sings with her as she begins to sob. When they leave, Audrey admits she thought Edward might be ready to forgive her.

Then, she reveals she caught Edward stealing from her former employer and he expected her to lie for him. Audrey told Mr. Grenville what Edward had done and offered her resignation. As a result, they put Edward in Borstal for six months. Helen wakes up and finds James sleeping in the chair nearby. In the morning, James wakes up Helen with a drink. She gets up, opens the door, and looks outside with James standing behind her. Back at home, Siegfried asks Audrey if there is anything he can do to help but she wants him to stay out of the way. There is no sign of James although he said he’d have Helen there on time. Audrey believes he will. Tristan gets up and joins them for a drink before Siegfried tells him about the test results. Tristan wants to wait to check them but Siegfried grabs the letter and tears into it immediately.

Tristan passed and he can’t believe it. They begin celebrating and Siegfried tells his brother he is proud of him. Siegfried checks the results again and we see that he passed pathology but failed parasitology. He throws the letter into the fireplace. Richard confirms with Audrey that there have been no signs of his daughter yet. Unfortunately, the car breaks down so James has to crank it by hand. He gets it started and believes they still have time to make it. Tristan lets everyone know that they’ve arrived. Helen is told that her dress is upstairs and she shouldn’t panic. James enters and Siegfried hands him a drink. Audrey and the others check on him seconds later. He says it was a long night before saying he was considering staying but they don’t think he should. Audrey believes it is for the best for him to go and Siegfried agrees to let him take the Rover.

James gets in the Rover and drives away before Helen walks down the stairs in her white wedding dress. James stops in the middle of an intersection and looks back before turning around. Meanwhile, Helen and her family head to the church. James drives the Rover to the church before Tristan and Siegfried show up. He tells them he missed it and Tristan says he did. James goes into the church and finds Helen sitting alone. He sits down with Helen who says she thought he was going home. James says something told him he should be there and she says she knew she would make a fool of herself. When asked if anyone is still outside, James says he is sure Tristan led everyone to the Drovers. Hugh paid the tab in advance and Tristan has an uncanny ability to sniff out a free pint. Helen begins crying and asking what she did because Hugh didn’t deserve it.

James tells her that she didn’t do this because she was cruel or unkind. Instead, she is the opposite of those things but she doesn’t feel that way. James tells her that her father is waiting outside with Jenny so they should get her home. He walks her out of the church before returning home. As he walks through the hallway, we hear the others talking about him. He puts on his cap before Tristan asks if he saw Helen. Tristan can’t stand it and wants to know what happens with Susie’s puppies. Audrey says they should eat before warning Tristan not to be naughty. Siegfried stands up and tells everyone how grateful he is for everything he has. He reiterates himself and explains he is talking about the people in his life. He lets them know that they’re infuriating but he is fond of them anyway. Later, they sit around and listen to the radio.

 

All Creatures Great And Small Review

The Night Before Christmas was one of the best episodes of All Creatures Great And Small yet. The episode wasn’t over the top with the comedy or criticism from Siegfried. I think the characters are starting to settle down a bit and it is getting better with each episode. This episode was more serious and straightforward than some of the others.

I am confident that a lot of people in the UK and United States will love this show. This was an integral episode since it revealed what caused Audrey’s relationship turmoil with Edward and it ended the potential marriage between Helen and Hugh. I believe this clearly opens the door for a relationship between James and Helen.

Anyone could see that coming. The episode has real character development as well. Siegfried finally gave up pushing his brother and accepted that he only passed one exam. Tristan is becoming more competent with people and animals. James is now a full-fledged member of the family. What wasn’t to like? The episode scores an 8.5 out of 10. Previous recaps of All Creatures Great and Small can be found on Reel Mockery right now!