Every season, GBH Drama prepares to bring you coverage of the latest and greatest in British dramas. This month, we get the long awaited third season of MASTERPIECE’s remake of the classic series All Creatures Great and Small. Featuring eccentric characters, adorable animals, and the vast, rolling hills of Yorkshire, this series does not disappoint. GBH Drama contributor Amanda-Rae Prescott is here to recap the magic as it happens.
This episode of All Creatures Great & Small forces everyone to reckon with the reality of Great Britain officially going to war with Germany. While our characters do not have all of the answers, this is the beginning of the transition to life on the home front. This episode is packed with emotional moments so let’s discuss them all.
Conflict Of Interest Part 1
The episode begins with James testing the herd at Heston Grange. Helen is taking notes on the results. Richard tells James that no matter what happens with the war, family should come first. James once again feels the urge to be patriotic because of the news reports.
Midway through the testing, James finds that one of the cows is very narrowly under the growth requirements. The rules from the MAG are strict and this means the animal may be sick. Richard begs James to stall an official declaration of infection but Helen argues James could be struck off (lose his veterinary license) and lose all of their income as a result. James agrees to take a sample back to Skeldale to detect infection. Can they keep an angry Harcourt at bay?
Meet The Parents
While the Herriots are at Heston Grange, Tristan gets gussied up to formally meet Florence’s parents. Siegfried is annoyed that the Farnon name may be ruined but this doesn’t hurt Tristan’s confidence. At the dinner table, we find out some key elements of the Pandhi backstory. First of all, George grew up in India but was sent to England to further his veterinary education. He first met Siegfried at veterinary college, and he was hard headed as always. George met his wife because she had a sick cat. Their marriage was also socially controversial, and not just because of race. His wife was a vicar’s daughter and George’s family clearly had money.
Tristan is a bit nervous but he successfully convinces the Pandhis that he will treat Florence with respect. He slips up a bit on the cultural sensitivity front by questioning an offering of wine, but he’s forgiven. Florence explains that not all Hindu sects abstain from alcohol. He ends up completely hung over the following day because he didn’t realize how much the elder Pandhis like to drink. What will happen next for the love birds?
Failed Ultimatum
The real radio clips from 1939 announcing war updates drive the pace of the episode even though these scenes are often the shortest. The first interruption is when Jenny hears that the German invasion of Poland has resulted in diplomatic responses to try to reverse it. The second one announces that the UK ambassador has told Germany they have 1 day to withdraw troops from Poland or else, just as Helen and James are discussing her dad’s situation. The last update is the formal declaration of war, just as there’s a discussion of Dash’s fate. We can see how the anxiety of these updates is driving the action of the episode.
Mrs. Pumphrey’s Victory Garden
Mrs. Pumphrey is finally back! (FYI: Patricia Hodge was in a show on the West End for most of Season 3) She found a stray tabby cat and she wants the Skeldale vets to check him out. Tricki Woo is his usual floofy self. Tristan makes the house call and gives the cat a vitamin injection. He sees workers moving root vegetables and other supplies around the manor. Mrs. Pumphrey tells Tristan she’s setting up a victory garden and preparing for anyone who needs temporary shelter. This is her way of fighting back Hitler. Before Tristan leaves, she advises him to hold on to the ones he loves because times will be tough in the future. It’s very possible Mrs. Pumphrey lost Mr. Pumphrey and other relatives in World War I or the Spanish Flu pandemic afterward.
A Hasty Proposal
Tristan takes Mrs. Pumphrey’s advice about holding fast to the people you care about during tough times in an unexpected direction. He visits Florence’s house because she’s the person he cares the most about. He asks her if anyone else is around and it turns out her roommates might be, so they step into the alleyway. Tristan tells Florence he admires her so much for being her own person and then uses his brass keyring to pop the question.
While the romantics among the audience want to root for Tristan, this proposal is really awkward. Florence asks Tristan why is he proposing, which proves they didn’t have a prior conversation about this topic. She then says it’s not the right time, especially as the war could change too much in their lives. In addition, she points out Tristan clearly needs time to do something other than whatever Siegfried wants. Tristan is clearly sad about this rejection but it’s possible that maybe time apart will make their hearts grow fonder.
Separation Anxiety
Alongside the TB testing and the proposal, Mrs. Hall hears noises outside of Skeldale House. A Springer Spaniel named Dash is tied up outside with an anonymous note asking the vets to take care of him. Mrs. Hall brings him inside so he has Jess for company. While cleaning up Siegfried’s study, she finds a notice from the government. The notice advises that any animals that cannot be rehomed should be euthanized. Siegfried is opposed to the edict but at the same time believes Dash is the start of an inevitable trend as more people’s normal lives are disrupted. Siegfried and Mrs. Hall put up flyers asking for info on Dash’s owner. In the meantime, Dash makes himself very comfortable on Siegfried’s favorite chair.
Some time passes and there’s no sign of Dash’s owner. Mrs. Hall is growing fond of Dash but she knows he will eventually leave. Tristan suggests that Mrs. Pumphrey may be interested in taking in Dash as she has plenty of room and supplies. Mrs. Pumphrey meets Dash and believes he will be an excellent playmate for Tricki Woo, but Dash refuses to get up and go to Mrs. Pumphrey. Siegfried realizes he can’t let go of Dash and tells her that he belongs with them. His forever home is Skeldale now!
Conflict Of Interest Part 2
James tests the sample from Richard’s underweight cow and it is indeed positive for TB. Helen partially filled out the forms stating the Heston Grange herd was clean but James didn’t sign it nor was the envelope stamped. Mrs. Hall, while cleaning up, thought she was being kind and mailed the form. YIKES! Meanwhile, Richard calls Malick to pick up the infected cow which is also against MAG rules. Richard thinks this will stall the MAG, but it does the exact opposite. Now James looks like a liar who’s protecting his wife’s farm from closure. Helen is, naturally upset, but James sees that Richard was just trying to protect his livelihood. James also promises that he can give Richard and Jenny the money that he was saving to move out of the bedsit. This is why we love James, but this isn’t going to look good to the MAG at all!
Siegfried offers to take the fall for the mistakes since he’s too old to be drafted if he loses his vets license, but James declines that offer. James and Helen make their way to the scary MAG building once again. While waiting for Harcourt, James tells Helen he was the teacher’s pet and now this feels like kids in trouble at school. Poor James’ usually polite demeanor is no match for Harcourts’ outrage. Richard called ahead and fessed up to the MAG that he improperly put down the infected cow. Not only did James break his promise, Helen technically cannot fill out the forms on his behalf. James pushes back against this by saying he was the only one to actually sign the forms and the Heston Grange mistake forms are invalid because he never signed them. He also strenuously denies he intended to pull a fast one. Harcourt doesn’t want to hear what Helen has to say but she tells him anyway. She says that if James gets struck off, none of the Dales farmers will agree to TB testing, which is inevitably deadly for both animals and humans. Harcourt finally backs down and admits that the MAG can’t afford to lose James as a veterinarian. Later on, the MAG men come and take away the remaining cows from Heston Grange and it is officially declared closed. Our favorite vet can continue to heal the animals of Darrowby!
Duty & Independence
While Siegfried and Mrs. Hall are waiting for the Herriots to get back from the MAG, Tristan comes in and tells them the bad news about his proposal to Florence. Siegfried chides Tristan for proposing, which is wild considering how earlier on in the story he wanted Tristan to take dating more seriously. This was Tristan's final straw, and he tells Siegfried he’s awake to his brother’s emotional manipulation. The war declaration is Tristan’s opportunity to forge his own path in life and take care of himself.
After the announcement of war, James and Helen notice that there are children evacuees arriving in Darrowby. Helen notes that some of those kids may never see their parents again. James is also moved by seeing the evacuees and feels he has to do something. James tells Siegfried that despite being in a reserved occupation he would never forgive himself for not doing something to serve his country. His negative experiences with the MAG are just one more push in the patriotic direction.
James leaves Skeldale to join the growing line of men adding their names to the armed services recruiters list. Tristan runs after James to join him. James and Tristan at the beginning of the series were strangers and now they’re best friends possibly going off to war together. The credits roll as they wait their turn.
How can Skeldale House run if both the younger vets are called for service? We may have to wait until Series 4 for a full answer. However, next week on All Creatures Great And Small is the 2022 Christmas Special which forms the bridge to the next season and may give us some clues.
