All Creatures Great And Small (2021) - General Discussion

[chitowngirl]

James Herriot’s adventures as a veterinarian in 1930’s Yorkshire get a glorious new adaptation in a seven-part series based on his beloved books. Exciting newcomer Nicholas Ralph will make his television debut as the iconic vet who became renowned for his inspiring humor, compassion and love of life.
 

Begins Sunday January 10 on PBS

[Wonkabar5]

U.S. dvd out Feb. 9, under the “Masterpiece” label.  UK  Independent Channel 5  original content runtime was well below 60 minute mark  but *who knows* how Masterpiece will creatively “edit” our airtime transmission.   😉  Shaking head and rolling eyes as well. 

Place your holds @ your local library now, lol since the dvd is $34.99 thereabouts last I checked.   Bluray 42.99.   This edition *I think * has the Christmas special, included. 

Edited December 26, 2020 by Wonkabar5

[AZChristian]

The Masterpiece website schedule shows "All Creatures Great and Small" running on PBS starting January 10th.

[Me Too]

Oh happy days.  Finally something to look forward to on this subfreezing, foggy time of the year. 

[magdalene]

I am looking forward to this.  Comfort TV is important to me these days.  I know what I am getting with this one.  Also, it's already renewed for a second season, another plus.

[krankydoodle]

Ooh, Diana Rigg is in this too! They credited the Pekingese in the trailer, which made me roll my eyes but I also kind of love.

Edited December 29, 2020 by krankydoodle

[Wonkabar5]

Yes, alas,  it was her last role. Poor Mrs. Pumphries!  (Have to go look up her spelling,lol) 

She passed just a few months ago.  😪

[magdalene]

10 hours ago, krankydoodle said:

Ooh, Diana Rigg is in this too! They credited the Pekingese in the trailer, which made me roll my eyes but I also kind of love.

That's Tricky Woo.  I read the books and watched the original series as a child and I remember the dog to this day.

[Wonkabar5]

It was actually my husband who introduced me to the series when the original came out on VHS some years ago at our local library.  It was his childhood favorite. 🙂  Embarrassingly,  I had never even heard of it before.  Blush.  I was into the Costume Drama fix,  although I *do* remember watching “ “Danger UXB” on PBS in real-time in the 8th grade.   

[Haleth]

Happy dance!  This looks wonderful!

[supposebly]

I loved the series as a kid and hope this will be available in Canada too. Although I'm not sure anyone can top Robert Hardy as Siegfried Farnon.

[AZChristian]

49 minutes ago, supposebly said:

I loved the series as a kid and hope this will be available in Canada too. Although I'm not sure anyone can top Robert Hardy as Siegfried Farnon.

Samuel West = Sexy Siegfried.  I'm in!!!

[Bunnyette]

This was part of my Sunday night childhood viewing, I’m curious to see how it plays out in the revamp.

[zoey1996]

Glad to see this forum! 
I don’t know why I never watched this first time.  Liked this first episode!

[HoodlumSheep]

The opening credits gave me major Durrells vibes :') same people working on it perhaps? I suppose i can google the credits later.

that was a nice comfy hour of television.

james seems like a swell enough lad.

A handful of cutie patootie bby calves too

siegfried i could see potentially getting on my nerves at some point (depending on my mood), but i loved the lil 'magic' show he put on for the guy when helping his horse.

Mrs. Hall is definitely my fav so far.

Edited January 11, 2021 by HoodlumSheep

[humbleopinion]

I like Jess the dog, a very good boy.

Mrs. Hall, please make me a right farmer’s breakfast.

[Sharpie66]

Just finished watching, and it was everything I was hoping it would be! I loved the books when I read them as a kid in the ‘70s, and I have fond memories of that original adaptation. When I saw the trailer for this version, I thought it looked charming, and it really was. The performances overall were very good indeed, especially James and Mrs. Hall. Both the scenery and the animals look wonderful. 

[AZChristian]

LOVED IT!!!!!

[ECM1231]

Never read the books or saw the earlier adaptation but it sounded delightful and it was. I have to admit I shed a tear when that adorable calf was delivered.

Can someone explain why Siegfried was not addressed as "Doctor?" James was a graduate of veterinary school but does one need to pass certain boards to become a. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)?

[Sharpie66]

According to this, UK vets couldn’t use “Doctor” until 2015. https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/news/uk-veterinary-surgeons-to-use-courtesy-doctor-title/

[magdalene]

That lived up to my childhood memories!  Quite frankly after the last year and this last week I wish could live in this world. 

I had forgotten what an ass Siegfried can be.

James is likable just how he should be and Mrs Hall is a treasure.

And wonderful ending with the adorable calf well and alive after all that labor.

[Brookside]

On 12/29/2020 at 8:19 AM, Wonkabar5 said:

Yes, alas,  it was her last role. Poor Mrs. Pumphries!  (Have to go look up her spelling,lol) 

She passed just a few months ago.  😪

Mrs Pumphrey 🙂

I liked this, but it made me cry because I grew up just south of where it's filmed and now I'm 5000 miles away.

[Sharpie66]

I just downloaded the audiobook for the first Herriot book and started listening tonight. Seigfried is definitely different in the book, but he is a ladies man, so Sexy Seigfried works for me.

The book begins with the calf’s delivery, but is complicated by the addition of a doubting Yorkshire uncle of the cow’s owner adding dire predictions since James isn’t as experienced as the Yorkshireman’s hometown vet.

I haven’t reread the books in nearly 40 years, so this should be a treat.

[humbleopinion]

Clive is an impressive specimen but all the animals are magnificent.

Like the cast, the beautiful Yorkshire countryside and the local cynical humor taking us to another place, time, and sensibility.

James and Helen have heat.

Closed caption helped my lazy ears understand the villagers.

[cardigirl]

It is beautifully filmed and has lovely animals, but for some reason, felt a little stilted to me. I remember very fondly the 1978 version.  I will keep watching though!  🙂 

[MrAtoz]

Enjoyed this adaptation quite a bit, though I couldn't help comparing it to the earlier version, which I've rewatched recently, thanks to BritBox.  Siegfried in the original seemed to trust James much more quickly, and the Mrs. Hall of the original was much older and more dour.  A young and attractive Mrs. Hall will take some getting used to! 😀 Now I'm tempted to read the books, to see which adaptation is more accurate.

The Yorkshire countryside is as beautiful as ever, and the animals are suitably adorable.  I'm not especially familiar with any of the cast, but they all seem capable so far.  Samuel West is doing a good job of showing that there's a heart under Siegfried's prickly exterior, which I hope is something that will be further explored as the series continues.

[Rose Quartz]

I liked it, except they made Sigfried too obnoxious for my taste.  I've only seen a few episodes of the previous series so I can't compare to that, but in the books he's much more of an eccentric rather than the curmudgeon he was here.  For example, he would annoy James by sometimes telling him conflicting things, but there was no indication that he was so impossible to work with that he couldn't retain an assistant.  Hopefully they'll dial it back a bit in future episodes.  Also, I'm really looking forward to meeting Tristan in the next episode since he was always my favorite character.

[libgirl2]

On 1/2/2021 at 9:13 AM, AZChristian said:

Samuel West = Sexy Siegfried.  I'm in!!!

I know! Woo hoo! 

[peacheslatour]

14 hours ago, magdalene said:

That lived up to my childhood memories!  Quite frankly after the last year and this last week I wish could live in this world. 

I had forgotten what an ass Siegfried can be.

James is likable just how he should be and Mrs Hall is a treasure.

And wonderful ending with the adorable calf well and alive after all that labor.

I remember from the books James saying that he would have his arm in a cow up to the shoulder and the cow would have a contraction that would damn near break his arm.

BTW there is a repeat broadcast today at 3:pm pacific.

Edited January 11, 2021 by peacheslatour

[Blergh]

I grew up on the Original All Creatures so I have to admit that it was a mixture of wanting to relive those times and seeing if they'd make it a clone or whether there would be any significant departures.

 I have to admit that while, at the time, I fully embraced the idea of James popping up out of nowhere on the bus to Darrowby when first seen, I like that we got to see James in Glasgow (though I'm not sure he'd have not gotten jeered for wearing a track shirt and shorts on the mean Glasgow streets back in 1937-  he'd be depicted getting flak from his longtime farmer clients in the mid 1950's for wearing walking shorts on his rounds)). Interesting that his father was a dreamer while his mother wanted him safe and secure so badly that she wanted him to go into factory work. 

Nice little meet cute with Helen and her sister (?) on the bus but they didn't seem to get that he was about to step out onto a crossroads in the middle of nowhere rather than in the Darroby town center! Interesting that the 2020 Helen had a Yorkshire accent as befitted a local girl while the OAC one had closer to a RP one (as did  the OAC James while this one has more of a Scots one).

Good old Mrs. Hall not sure what to do with him but serving him tea first thing. Er, that is , good YOUNG Mrs. Hall attempting to serve James tea first thing but, Siegfried insists James accompany him on his round first thing despite him having gotten soaked to the skin by the mercurial Yorkshire rains. The AOC Mrs. Hall was the stern but goldenhearted mother of the whole crew (and even Siegfried deferred to her by calling her [his housekeeper] Mrs. Hall rather than 'Hall' or . ..whatever her first name was). This one seemed to favor James right away and also have concern over Siegfried overworking himself. And will it be addressed why the younger (and frankly  pretty) Mrs. Hall as well as Siegfried seem to be content to have a platonic bond despite them both having interest in the opposite gender (at least long enough for there to have been a MR. Hall in her life)?

James got too easily talked into having 'a drink' and he sure paid the price mixing up those cats! Of course, his drunken time had ALREADY become the talk of Darrowby before the ginger cat owner asked for her cat back! 

Interesting twist that James got canned by Siegfried first thing yet went over the top trying to save an unborn calf and its mother to try to prove himself to Siegfried. The risk proved worth it and the bond got stronger. 

Excellent photography of the Dales and countryside. 

 

I had fun with this one and am looking forward to the rest of this series. 

 

 

[Haleth]

That was lovely.  I haven't seen the original since it first aired but it did bring back fond memories.  This one will do very well indeed.

[JudyObscure]

I'm loving it and realizing that whether it's a baby on, "Call the Midwife," or a wet little calf on this, I'm just a crybaby sucker for the newborn.

[peacheslatour]

Quote

Interesting that his father was a dreamer while his mother wanted him safe and secure so badly that she wanted him to go into factory work. 

Didn't she keep saying he should go to work on the docks?

Quote

James got too easily talked into having 'a drink' and he sure paid the price mixing up those cats! Of course, his drunken time had ALREADY become the talk of Darrowby before the ginger cat owner asked for her cat back! 

I remember from the books several times when James got smashed. Usually when he was with Granby, the small animal specialist. One specific incident comes to mind, he was a judge at a animal husbandry fair and he drunkenly wiped down someone's windshield with a dead chicken.

[AZChristian]

6 hours ago, Blergh said:

The AOC Mrs. Hall was the stern but goldenhearted mother of the whole crew (and even Siegfried deferred to her by calling her [his housekeeper] Mrs. Hall rather than 'Hall' or . ..whatever her first name was). This one seemed to favor James right away and also have concern over Siegfried overworking himself. And will it be addressed why the younger (and frankly  pretty) Mrs. Hall as well as Siegfried seem to be content to have a platonic bond despite them both having interest in the opposite gender (at least long enough for there to have been a MR. Hall in her life)?

I believe it was tradition (and may still be) for the housekeeper and head cook to be called "Mrs." regardless of her actual marital status.  Mrs. Hughes on Downton Abbey had never been married (until later in the series when she married Carson), but was always addressed as Mrs. Hughes.  There was never a "Mr. Patmore" although the cook was always Mrs. Patmore.  The personal maids of the lady of the house were addressed - like the butler and valet - by last name only.  Who can forget "O'Brien"? 

[Blergh]

12 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Didn't she keep saying he should go to work on the docks?

 

You are correct. My bad.

 

But my point was that Mother Herriot seemed to believe that it was better to throw one's lot in a dead end position to survive than chance starvation and poverty via hitching one's wagon to a pie in the sky (which isn't entirely wrong but if no one was willing to take chances and risks in life, there'd have been nothing achieved in this world). 

However, knowing that James would have had no choice but to work on the Glasgow docks (and hear Mother Herriot's ' I TOLD you sos') had he been permanently fired by Siegfried did give more urgency into his risking everything (including Siegfried possibly pressing charges for auto theft) via going on an urgent call despite being technically fired from the practice AND using Siegfried's car that he technically had no longer had any right to be driving due to him no longer being employed by Siegfried! 

[peacheslatour]

41 minutes ago, Blergh said:

You are correct. My bad.

 

But my point was that Mother Herriot seemed to believe that it was better to throw one's lot in a dead end position to survive than chance starvation and poverty via hitching one's wagon to a pie in the sky (which isn't entirely wrong but if no one was willing to take chances and risks in life, there'd have been nothing achieved in this world). 

However, knowing that James would have had no choice but to work on the Glasgow docks (and hear Mother Herriot's ' I TOLD you sos') had he been permanently fired by Siegfried did give more urgency into his risking everything (including Siegfried possibly pressing charges for auto theft) via going on an urgent call despite being technically fired from the practice AND using Siegfried's car that he technically had no longer had any right to be driving due to him no longer being employed by Siegfried! 

It would have been a nightmare. Thank god, Siegfried reconsidered.

[Doublemint]

I read the books back in the day and saw the former series - even recently, so I was preparing to think this version not up to par.   It was great, and I'm looking forward to it  in these brutal times we are in now.   As others have mentioned, I'm a little thrown by the young and sexy Mrs. Hall.   I really liked the old Mrs. Hall of the former series.   Crusty, but a mother hen with a heart of gold.    I don't remember her sitting down at the dining table, or playing games in the evening with Sigfried.   All in all, I prefer the old adaptation figure of Mrs. Hall to the new one.

[DonnaMae]

This Mrs. Hall is so young and attractive, you'd think Siegfried would want her to be more than his housekeeper. 🤭

[Anela]

The original series aired when I was little, and I read some of the books when I was a teenager, and living much further away (Ohio). I really needed this, too. I'd forgotten Siegfried getting him really drunk. My mum was the one who bought the books, and we both laughed so hard at parts of them. 

Edited January 14, 2021 by Anela

[SandyToes]

I was so excited to see this.  Read (and re-read) the books long ago.  I know some of the stories by heart almost.  I never really got into the first TV series - very faithful to the books (especially the first few chapters/episodes), but something was always out of kilter for me.  This was done beautifully, but not as faithful to the books.  More of "inspired by" I think.  If I stop comparing it, I think it will be wonderful.   Beautifully filmed, and with the exception of the young-ish Mrs. Hall, (IMO) well-cast.

The comparison thing will be Tricki (see what I did there?) because I just downloaded the kindle version and started reading again.   Just wonderful, wonderful stories.  Gave a copy to my niece, who is expecting.  Great book for when you only have 5 minutes to read, or a whole rainy afternoon.

Edited January 14, 2021 by SandyToes

[peacheslatour]

1 hour ago, SandyToes said:

I was so excited to see this.  Read (and re-read) the books long ago.  I know some of the stories by heart almost.  I never really got into the first TV series - very faithful to the books (especially the first few chapters/episodes), but something was always out of kilter for me.  This was done beautifully, but not as faithful to the books.  More of "inspired by" I think.  If I stop comparing it, I think it will be wonderful.   Beautifully filmed, and with the exception of the young-ish Mrs. Hall, (IMO) well-cast.

The comparison thing will be Tricki (see what I did there?) because I just downloaded the kindle version and started reading again.   Just wonderful, wonderful stories.  Gave a copy to my niece, who is expecting.  Great book for when you only have 5 minutes to read, or a whole rainy afternoon.

I first read the books when I was in my late teens and I loved them. I had a job a few years ago in a very small flower shop with no break room so I used to take my breaks, eat lunch, etc. in my car when the weather was crappy. Needing something to read, I brought the first book. I had to give it up after a week because so many of the stories made me cry and I would go back in upset.

[Wonkabar5]

Love reading everyone’s reactions. I have yet to see any of it yet, since our (usually very good) TV antenna continues to fail us for PBS night views.  Daytime ok, night not so much.  Eh. But I’m  in the first batch of holds at the library. We don’t have dvd r, but that’s ok. 

Yeah,  not so sure of a very *young* and sprightly Mrs. Hall, though. 

Original Recipe Siegfried was famous for his yellow under vest. Does the new version have it? 

@SandyToes- love your pun!   🙂 

[Brookside]

I used to have a cassette of Herriot's Dog Stories.  I would listen to it in the car and would periodically have to pull over so I could cry without endangering anyone!

I'm enjoying this but, personally, I think I would have preferred to rewatch the original.

[peacheslatour]

2 hours ago, Wonkabar5 said:

Love reading everyone’s reactions. I have yet to see any of it yet, since our (usually very good) TV antenna continues to fail us for PBS night views.  Daytime ok, night not so much.  Eh. But I’m  in the first batch of holds at the library. We don’t have dvd r, but that’s ok. 

Yeah,  not so sure of a very *young* and sprightly Mrs. Hall, though. 

Original Recipe Siegfried was famous for his yellow under vest. Does the new version have it? 

@SandyToes- love your pun!   🙂 

They rerun each episode on Mondays at 3:00 pm. If your antenna works ok during the day, maybe you can watch it then?

[SandyToes]

On 1/14/2021 at 2:23 PM, peacheslatour said:

I had to give it up after a week because so many of the stories made me cry and I would go back in upset

Some really are heart breaking.  I sometimes skip those, as soon as I remember the story.   But others are tears-down-my-face hilarious.  First two books were my faves, and the ones I've read most often. There was a children's book, "Just One Woof" that I gave as a gift when it came out.  One of the all-time great stories!

[Blergh]

On 1/13/2021 at 5:37 PM, DonnaMae said:

This Mrs. Hall is so young and attractive, you'd think Siegfried would want her to be more than his housekeeper. 🤭

Not to mention call her something more cozy than 'Mrs. Hall'! 

 

Still, it will be interesting if the why they WON'T do it  gets addressed (and she DOES seem to care about all who live in Skeldale House).

[limecoke]

Yeah, I was pretty hesitant about a new version of such a classic series but I have to say that I really like it.  I read the books when they were originally published and have reread them and listened to the audio versions.  I also loved the original series and have viewed it several times too so here are some thoughts:

Huge props for casting an actual Scot in the role of James. It always bugged me that Christopher Timothy was missing such a key element of the real James.  I also really like the young actor-he seems perfect for the role.

I’m a big fan of Timothy West and he’ll be a great Siegfried. Still, I’ll miss the panache that Robert Hardy put into the role. The real Donald Sinclair loathed how he was portrayed by Hardy but everyone that knew “Siegfried” said it was spot-on.  

I’m not a big fan of the young Mrs. Hall. I understand why they went that way but it is such a departure from the books, it’s jarring. Mrs. Hall was a classic Yorkshire woman of the 30’s-40’s. Reserved, hard-working & taciturn. The new Mrs. Hall brings way too much 21st century to the role and it isn’t working for me so far. We’ll see. 

Helen’s perfect. The books describe her as “ahead of her time” so it works. But gosh, if they’d screwed everything up I’d still watch for the glorious Yorkshire scenery. I’ve been there and it’s every bit as gorgeous as it looks on film. Magical place.

Looking forward to the next episode. 
 

[AZChristian]

29 minutes ago, limecoke said:

I’m a big fan of Timothy West and he’ll be a great Siegfried.

Samuel West is playing Siegfried.  Timothy West is his real-life father.

[sugarbaker design]

The opening credits sequence reminds me of the Batsford Guides that Penelope Keith used in her 'English Village' shows.

[HoodlumSheep]

Leslie! I've been wating for him to show up, tho i guess I should be calling him tristan now. Ofc he lied about passing his exams. 

Mrs. Hall seems to have a son who causes her a great deal of trouble. Hmmmmm

James screwed up again. Uncle Herriot doesn't have the most impressive record so far. My mom was worried there was gonna be some drama involving the dog after he set it down. Instead we got drama with siegfried.

Neville!!!!!

Siegfried still has me on pins and needles with his whole hot n' cold thing he does. Felt bad for him tho bc he was genuinely proud of his lil bro. 

I've never read the books or watched older versions of the show, but i'm enjoying this immensely.

 

Edited January 18, 2021 by HoodlumSheep