Season 5 Discussion Thread

nokat · February 10

5 minutes ago, Jodithgrace said:

I guess that all the speculation about a Siegfried/Mrs. Hall romance is to be denied now that Siegfried seems to be so taken by Persia lady.

They've been teasing at that for quite a while. She keeps that household running amid chaos. They do seem to have softened Siegfried somewhat. I think that romance won't happen though.

dancingdreamer · February 10

I'm going to miss Carmody, he resembled a mini Siegfried, but I really grew to like him.

Poor Bingo, I want Bosworth to get another dog. I too thought Hamish might need another home, but Carmody is taking him along.

Tristans speech to little Jimmy and the spaniel went over well. Jimmy's face has those plump little cheeks I'd love to kiss.

Another good episode, this season is definitely not disappointing.

I just read, when little Jimmy arrived on the scene, so did 5 babies, all playing that part.

Edited February 10 by dancingdreamer

Driad · February 10

Rabies vaccine for ferrets was approved in the US in 1992; I don't know about Britain. But I'm a bit worried about Doris's ferret-bitten hand.

magdalene · February 10

Siegfried's Persian romance is just a temporary detour. I remain on my barge on Denile that like real life Siegfried had his wife Audrey so will show Siegfried be with show Audrey when all is said and done.

I will miss Carmody! I too thought the actor was in his twenties - 44, it boggles the mind.

Callum Woodhouse's Tristan is utterly charming to me, and baby Jimmy seems charmed by him too.

PhoneCop · February 10

I knew Carmody would be exiting, but I’m hoping there’s a time jump or something that allows him to return eventually, especially since Siegfried left the door wide open for him. I don’t think the show necessarily needs somebody in the trainee role at all times, but I’ve enjoyed him as the younger-brother figure Siegfried might have chosen and wanted more of him playing the foil to Tristan. And he’d come such a long way—inviting Doris for drinks, learning how to drive, winning over Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricki. I guess like Mrs. Hall, I like it when the house is full, and now it's going to feel a little emptier despite Tris being back.

Speaking of Audrey, they certainly seemed to be nudging her closer to Bosworth, along with Siegfried and Miss Grantley. IDK about the latter, but I have a hard time believing the former is endgame.

Dowel Jones · February 10

I'm rather surprised that the farmers didn't check the "bomb" just a bit closer before Bosworth arrived. That much food would be quite popular. Of course, maybe what Bosworth and Audrey found was the leftovers. I was groaning over his Monty Python 'Upper Middle Class Twit' actions until I remembered that he had just lost Bingo, so I felt a bit more empathy for him.

The show is accurate about the Shah. He overthrew the previous ruler and ruled Persia (renaming it Iran) until 1941, when he cozied up to the Germans, as she said, which in turned led to the British and Russian forces overthrowing him and installing his son as Shah. That Shah is the one most of us are familiar with.

Doublemint · February 10

Nice to see Sigfried interested in a lady. Imagine if he did marry Mrs. Hall. She would be the "lady of the house" and would not be cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc. They would have to hire someone, and I don't imagine that would go well for her. In the unlikely event she continued to be a housekeeper as Mrs. Farnon, it would be a great disgrace for Sigfried. It is not 2025 in this show.

anna0852 · February 10

2 hours ago, Doublemint said:

Nice to see Sigfried interested in a lady. Imagine if he did marry Mrs. Hall. She would be the "lady of the house" and would not be cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc. They would have to hire someone, and I don't imagine that would go well for her. In the unlikely event she continued to be a housekeeper as Mrs. Farnon, it would be a great disgrace for Sigfried. It is not 2025 in this show.

I don’t think that would be the case. Sigfried hired a housekeeper more because he’s a man and therefore not going to turn his hand to “women’s work“ within the house plus he needed another adult on hand when Tristan was young and could afford to hire it out. If he hadn’t been able to afford a housekeeper, he probably would have hastily married in a union that was more of a mutual economic benefit than any sort of love.

This isn’t Downton Abbey, where Sigfried is some sort of aristocrat, and therefore it would be a social come down to perform any kind of labor. It’s more of the gender divide than anything else. If Audrey and Siegfried were to marry, the only real change was that she would act as hostess in the event they were entertaining and would share their bedroom. Maybe have someone in once a week to help with the washing.

Edited February 10 by anna0852

cardigirl · February 10

This season has been great, so far. Enjoyed all of the character development, and I will miss Carmody. I fear for him going to London, with all the bombing that is coming, though. 😢

I also suspected rabies from the rats for the ferret and thus for the Land Girl who was bitten. I was happy the show did not go that way (yet).

iMonrey · February 10

Good grief, Carmody is the worst wingman imaginable. What did he tell Mrs. Grantley? That Siegfried wasn't "pair bonded"? OMG. And his every interaction with Doris made me wish on his behalf the earth would just open up and swallow him whole. "It's Mr. Carmoday. Richard. I'm a vet. For animals."

Still, I honestly don't know that I'll miss him that much. He wasn't in last week's episode and I didn't really notice because we have Tristan back now. And I'd rather see more of him. This whole episode seem to revolve around Carmody.

Count me in as one who thought maybe Hamish would be left with Mr. Bosworth. In any event I hope he finds another dog. Shouldn't be too difficult, we learned last season a lot of soldiers were leaving theirs behind. That's how Mrs. Hall wound up with that one dog. What's his name again?

possibilities · February 10

I loved the woman at the goat estate. I would like to spend time with her myself! She seemed very modern, to me, though. And that estate is so lush-- surely if he married her, he would no longer be living at Skeldale? I don't know how it works when some extremely wealthy woman marries a middle class man with a career in that situation, but surely it's very rare. She wasn't even sharing her digs with soldiers like Mrs Pumphrey! I don't know what to make of the situation. Did she manage the grounds all alone? Her dogs looked very happy and healthy, as did really everything else there, despite the roundworms. Also, if the goats have them, they should check the dogs for same!

YorkshireLass · February 10

12 hours ago, Driad said:

Rabies vaccine for ferrets was approved in the US in 1992; I don't know about Britain. But I'm a bit worried about Doris's ferret-bitten hand.

Rabies is very, very rare in Britain (much like Australia & New Zealand) because it's an island and because of very strict quarantine laws. The last human case that was caught in the UK was in 1902. Any cases since then have been in people who have come into contact with it in other countries.

It was lovely to see Jimmy without his hat on finally. He's adorable and I bet he brings such joy to the set. I really appreciate that this show is making him an integral part of the storyline whereas in most shows the children seem to disappear once they're born.

England in the Spring is such a beautiful place. The gardens around the Grantley Estate were stunning.

Sad to see Carmody go. Hopefully, we'll get to see him again.

Sarah 103 · February 10

14 hours ago, Jodithgrace said:

Tristan does procrastinate, but he did eventually get the job done. Little Jimmy enjoyed his speech at any rate.

Tristan strikes me as the type that writes the essay/assignment the night before it's due but still manages to get a passing grade.

13 hours ago, dancingdreamer said:

I'm going to miss Carmody, he resembled a mini Siegfried, but I really grew to like him.

I had the exact same thought.

10 hours ago, PhoneCop said:

I knew Carmody would be exiting, but I’m hoping there’s a time jump or something that allows him to return eventually, especially since Siegfried left the door wide open for him.

Even if he doesn't return to the practice full time, I think Mrs. Hall and later Siegfried were hinting that he could return for visits during holidays or whenever his schedule allowed.

1 hour ago, iMonrey said:

Good grief, Carmody is the worst wingman imaginable. What did he tell Mrs. Grantley? That Siegfried wasn't "pair bonded"? OMG. And his every interaction with Doris made me wish on his behalf the earth would just open up and swallow him whole. "It's Mr. Carmoday. Richard. I'm a vet. For animals."

I think what's even worse, is that he does not even realize how bad it is. Carmody being a horrible wingman could work if played right "I'm sorry about my colleague, he means well."

DonnaMae · February 10

12 hours ago, magdalene said:

Siegfried's Persian romance is just a temporary detour.

I agree. It isn't really a romance either. I think it's just to throw us off. I'd bet on it that Siegfried and Audrey will end up together, maybe next season.

nokat · February 10

I get irritated with myself when I so want a romance to work. Yup, maybe next season.

Quilt Fairy · February 10

Maybe it's been there all along, but this is the first time I noticed that, in the square opposite the surgery entrance, there is a huge red sign for "Spratt's Dog Treats".

Orcinus orca · February 10

Figure Spratt to insist Mrs. Hall put on a uniform while a possible bomb is out in someone's field.

surfgirl · February 10

This blows! First they ship off Nash to Australia, over on MISS Scarlett. Now they're shipping off Carmody to London for research?! I really grew so fond of his character and loved how he and Sigfried would geek out over scientific stuff. Boo!

magdalene · February 10

7 hours ago, Doublemint said:

e to see Sigfried interested in a lady. Imagine if he did marry Mrs. Hall. She would be the "lady of the house" and would not be cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc. They would have to hire someone, and I don't imagine that would go well for her. In the unlikely event she continued to be a housekeeper as Mrs. Farnon, it would be a great disgrace for Sigfried. It is not 2025 in this show.

He is a middle class doctor and Audrey is a middle class woman, well liked and respected. The whole household loves her. And like someone so perfectly put it - this isn't Downton Abbey. Who is going to to be outraged about it? Tristan? He probably is secretly shipping them. Mrs.Pomfrey? I don't think that lady is small minded.

Dowel Jones · February 10

6 hours ago, possibilities said:

I loved the woman at the goat estate. I would like to spend time with her myself! She seemed very modern, to me, though. And that estate is so lush-- surely if he married her, he would no longer be living at Skeldale?

I rewatched that part to check on her comment about leaving Persia, and she said that she was watching the estate for her brother, who had departed for somewhere else. Obviously, he has significant money so maybe there are some off-camera people working there. Even if they married, I think Siegfried would keep Skeldale House just to avoid being seen as "the rich doctor who still makes money off of the farmers."

JudyObscure · February 11

Miss Grantley is played by Juliet Aubrey who I hadn't seen since 1994 when she was Dorothea in Middlemarch. I'm surprised I recognized her, but I thought she was great back then. Somehow I can't see her character lasting long. Poor Siegfried is going to have to read that whole manuscript if he wants to progress the pair-bonding.

dargosmydaddy · February 11

20 hours ago, Suzysite said:

On a side note, I read that the actor who plays Carmody is 44 years old.

Just curious where you read this? I tried Googling the actor, and couldn't find anything about his age.

Count me among the crowd who believes Siegfried/ Audrey is endgame. We've already weathered Gerald and several Siegfried dalliances... Mrs. Grantley won't stick.

Jodithgrace · February 11

He was born in 1981 according to Google.

dargosmydaddy · February 11

1 hour ago, Jodithgrace said:

He was born in 1981 according to Google.

Does Google give an actual source? When I Googled him, nothing came up with a year or an age.

cardigirl · February 11

11 minutes ago, dargosmydaddy said:

Does Google give an actual source? When I Googled him, nothing came up with a year or an age.

https://www.tvinsider.com/people/james-anthony-rose/

dargosmydaddy · February 11

8 minutes ago, cardigirl said:

https://www.tvinsider.com/people/james-anthony-rose/

Thank you!

If it's not a typo, I'm gobsmacked. He looks a decade younger.

surfgirl · February 11

23 minutes ago, cardigirl said:

https://www.tvinsider.com/people/james-anthony-rose/

If it's not on his IMDB page, I take it with a grain of salt.

Badger · February 11

If they ever redo the Jeeves and Wooster series, James Anthony Rose would be a perfect Gussie Fink-Nottle.

j5cochran · February 11

6 hours ago, magdalene said:

He is a middle class doctor and Audrey is a middle class woman, well liked and respected. The whole household loves her. And like someone so perfectly put it - this isn't Downton Abbey. Who is going to to be outraged about it? Tristan? He probably is secretly shipping them. Mrs.Pomfrey? I don't think that lady is small minded.

In one of the Christmas episodes (season 2, I think), the gang ends up at Mrs. Pumphrey's manor house for Christmas dinner. If Mrs. P. was going to disapprove of Mrs. Hall, she certainly would have been upset about having a mere servant at her table.

Edited February 11 by j5cochran

Orcinus orca · February 11

I must be in the minority but I never warmed to Carmody. I won't miss him a bit.

libgirl2 · February 11

14 hours ago, JudyObscure said:

Miss Grantley is played by Juliet Aubrey who I hadn't seen since 1994 when she was Dorothea in Middlemarch. I'm surprised I recognized her, but I thought she was great back then. Somehow I can't see her character lasting long. Poor Siegfried is going to have to read that whole manuscript if he wants to progress the pair-bonding.

That's who she is! I thought I recognized her. I also don't think she will last long.

2 hours ago, Orcinus orca said:

I must be in the minority but I never warmed to Carmody. I won't miss him a bit.

It took a bit but I ended up liking him quite a lot. I'll miss him.

iMonrey · February 11

13 hours ago, surfgirl said:

14 hours ago, cardigirl said:

https://www.tvinsider.com/people/james-anthony-rose/

If it's not on his IMDB page, I take it with a grain of salt.

Agreed. There is scant info about him on imbd, and no entry for him on Wikipedia. His film/TV credits only go back to 2020. I think the TV Insider page is a mistake, they might have mixed him up with someone else. No way he's 44.

libgirl2 · February 11

12 minutes ago, iMonrey said:

Agreed. There is scant info about him on imbd, and no entry for him on Wikipedia. His film/TV credits only go back to 2020. I think the TV Insider page is a mistake, they might have mixed him up with someone else. No way he's 44.

I watched it last night after I read about him being 44 so I really gave him a good look. He looks older but not 44. And his acting credits don't go that far back to be that age.

Edited February 11 by libgirl2

MrAtoz · February 11

Here is his entry in "Backstage," which is a sort of trade publication/website for performers. It lists his age range as 16-25. That's an indication of the ages that he can convincingly play on stage/screen. It doesn't necessarily reflect his actual age. But the fact that he seems to be limiting himself to younger roles is a good indication that he is fairly young.

As mentioned, there isn't a lot of personal information about him online. He doesn't have a wikipedia article, and imdb doesn't list his birth date. But given that his credits don't go back all that far, his appearance, and his own professional estimate of the age range he can play, I'm inclined to agree that the TV insider age of 44 is probably an error.

tennisgurl · February 11

I'm sad to see Carmody go, he really grew on me and it was fun having a mini Siegfried around. Hopefully he can at least come back for Christmas, especially with all of the bombing that London is going to be going through soon! I totally get him being so conflicted, he's happy here and feels like he's helping, but this really is a great opportunity for him.

Awww you know that Tristan will be a super cool uncle to baby Jimmy, he'll probably get an ear full from Helen one day about taking Jimmy to the pub a bit earlier than she might like! I also can totally get James feeling like he has to make as much time with Tristan as possible even as he wants to be with Jimmy and has actual work to do, Tristan could have to go back to the war at any time and, while no one actually gets too into it outload, he could very well never come home and James wants those memories.

Siegfried and the goat owner seem like they could be a good match, even with Carmody as the worlds worst wingman, but we all know that his heart belongs to a lady at home who bakes a mean pie and is a crack shot.

ML89 · February 11

I have to thank you all for telling me that Carmody had decided to go to London because I thought "I don't remember that" and realized I had fallen asleep near the end and not realized that I hadn't seen the whole episode!

Also, via the Masterpiece newsletter, Callum really is afraid of snakes...

Calvada · February 12

On 2/4/2025 at 3:17 PM, Doublemint said:

Going back to the previous episode, where Tristan gets the telegram, and leaves his uneaten breakfast dish of eggs, toast & sausage on the table. Adults were only allowed one egg per week and meat for the week about the size of a pork chop during rationing. I recently saw this in a photo on facebook. I realize they may have chickens, but still it seems they are eating very well for WWII era.

Given these restrictions, James must have felt absolutely terrible about scaring the dog, since it appeared he gave him a week's ration of meat to make friends. Even if it was more bone than meat, it could have been used as a base for soup or stew.

The discussion of rationing has led me to see what my local public library system has on the subject. I've requested Spuds, Spam and Eating for Victory.

laredhead · February 12

I read a PBS article today regarding he actors reactions to acting with a baby. Turns out they used 5 babies to portray "James" because babies are allowed a very limited time on sets. All of the actors said they enjoyed having the babies around, and talked about the challenges of using real babies.

Sarah 103 · February 12

6 hours ago, tennisgurl said:

Awww you know that Tristan will be a super cool uncle to baby Jimmy, he'll probably get an ear full from Helen one day about taking Jimmy to the pub a bit earlier than she might like!

Uncle Tristan is going to be the one who will let little Jimmy do things his parents will never let him do. When Jimmy feels like he needs to talk to an adult about something and can't go to his parents, he will turn to Uncle Tristan. Whether or not Tristan helps or makes the situation worse will be the big question, but that kind of stuff is a good decade away from where the show is now.

Blergh · February 12

As much as I'm sorry to see Carmody go, I can't say I'm entirely surprised since it wound up James had virtually nothing to do this episode besides try to operate on a ferret and put together a play pen!

However, I think that since Siegfried told Carmody that 'there'd always be a place' for him at Skeldale House, I wouldn't be surprised of Carmody made an appearance for a Christmas holiday [no spoilers please]! Somewhat sad that it seems that his own parents just dumped him in a boarding school as a young boy and never looked back so he essential HAD no place besides Skeldale where he'd feel at home much less welcomed!

Interesting that Persian scholar who Siegfried seems enthralled with.I'm not sure she'll do more than have a vague flirtation with him since she not only seemed to reclaim her original surname (and go by 'Miss. ..') after her husband's early death in the Great War but she even said she barely remembered him. This was somewhat rare but not unknown for widows to do- especially if there had been no children.

Dowel Jones · February 12

1 hour ago, Sarah 103 said:

Whether or not Tristan helps or makes the situation worse will be the big question, but that kind of stuff is a good decade away from where the show is now.

And, being born in 1941, Jimmy will be just barely an adult when a certain group of youngsters from Liverpool start making noise around the nightclubs. Tristan and Siegfried will be nursing their ales at the Drover's and complaining about the state of the world.

Sarah 103 · February 12

13 hours ago, Dowel Jones said:

And, being born in 1941, Jimmy will be just barely an adult when a certain group of youngsters from Liverpool start making noise around the nightclubs. Tristan and Siegfried will be nursing their ales at the Drover's and complaining about the state of the world.

Tristan won't be a fan but he'll think it's just music and a bit of harmless fun. Siegfried will be the one complaining about the state of the world and bemoaning the future of (what's left) of the empire.

Tristan won't like rock music but he will somehow get concert tickets for teenage Jimmy while Siegfried tries (unsuccessfully) to completely ban the music from Skeldale.

BuckeyeLou · February 12

20 hours ago, laredhead said:

I read a PBS article today regarding he actors reactions to acting with a baby. Turns out they used 5 babies to portray "James" because babies are allowed a very limited time on sets. All of the actors said they enjoyed having the babies around, and talked about the challenges of using real babies.

I read that article too, acting with babies & animals keeps the actors on their toes. All 5 babies are So cute! Tristin(Callum)said being around the babies made him feel 'broody", lol, which he said would make his girlfriend laugh.

Blergh · February 13

All that fuss over a box of cans dumped out of an airplane and him racing through the streets as though a NAZI invasion was imminent!

Someone needs to tell Bosworth that there's a reason why the Boy Who Cried Wolf has been passed down for centuries (at least)- and to consider what happens the credibility of those who get hysterical over the tiniest things!

JudyObscure · February 13

13 hours ago, BuckeyeLou said:

Tristin(Callum)said being around the babies made him feel 'broody", lol, which he said would make his girlfriend laugh.

He's so funny! One of my favorite episodes of The Durrells in Corfu was the one where he delivered a baby and became the hero of all the pregnant women and babies in the village.

iMonrey · February 13

14 hours ago, Blergh said:

Someone needs to tell Bosworth that there's a reason why the Boy Who Cried Wolf has been passed down for centuries (at least)- and to consider what happens the credibility of those who get hysterical over the tiniest things!

Yeah - I'm finding Bosworth to be a rather tedious character the show could do without, frankly. I get that the show wants to add trappings of the war era but Bosworth is just over-the-top silly.

libgirl2 · February 13

13 minutes ago, iMonrey said:

Yeah - I'm finding Bosworth to be a rather tedious character the show could do without, frankly. I get that the show wants to add trappings of the war era but Bosworth is just over-the-top silly.

I had hoped they would soften him up some after Bingo's death. He is sympathetic when he is talking about his dog. It needs to seep a bit into his daily behavior some, but he is who he is.

AZChristian · February 13

He's becoming the Barney Fife of Darrowby. Without the bullet in his shirt pocket.

Blergh · February 14

6 hours ago, AZChristian said:

He's becoming the Barney Fife of Darrowby. Without the bullet in his shirt pocket.

If it weren't for his ONE saving grace of having had a bond with his late dog, Bosworth would be more like the Warren Ferguson (Barney's replacement who NOBODY in Mayberry liked- not even Andy). At least Barney Fife had some likability. .

libgirl2 · February 14

13 hours ago, Blergh said:

If it weren't for his ONE saving grace of having had a bond with his late dog, Bosworth would be more like the Warren Ferguson (Barney's replacement who NOBODY in Mayberry liked- not even Andy). At least Barney Fife had some likability. .

I had to look him up since I didn't remember him at all. That speaks volumes....

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