All Creatures Great and Small
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Everything in this first episode is as charming as a television program can be.
Its not going to kill a cow in the first episode.
Thats the kind of drama you reserve for episode three.
He wants to be a veterinarian, which feels pretty stable?
In a move familiar to many, he gets off the bus too early.
Unfortunately for him, there are literally no houses, people, or sheep in sight.
He has to walk the rest of the way into town, and it of course immediately starts raining.
Sir, did you not bring an umbrella?
I know umbrellas were around in 1930s Europe becauseI looked it up.
Where is James going?
Okay, get ready for EVEN MORE CHARM because its about to explode all over your screen.
The buildings are all made out of limestone.
Everything reminds you of Kate Winslets cottage inThe Holiday.
Think Henry Higgins, but much more likable because hes not a raging misogynist.
The terrible car is important because it marks Jamess GROWTH this episode.
The Friesian cow is the one from the Chik-Fil-A ads, or at least it very strongly resembles it.
But the cow version.
This is how we know Siegfried is grumpy but has admirable priorities.
Jamess interview is, in fact, a vet visit.
and is a disappointment to all.
His entire journey this episode is from fear to confidence and from book-learning to practical experience.
It is all very bildungsroman, but shoved into one television episode.
I have been remiss in not speaking of Siegfrieds housekeeper, Mrs. Hall.
Mrs. Hall keeps a cricket bat to ward off intruders.
Mrs. Hall is full-up on cardigans and I love her.
The other character who seems important this episode is Helen.
Helen is very clearly Jamess love interest, and she reminds one vaguely of Hayley Atwell.
Well done, The Past.
She has them out there because a calf has a hurt leg.
My notes here just say ITS A BIG-EYED CALF OMG LOOK AT IT.
If you watch this series for nothing else, do it for the extremely good cow content.
Also, my heart just burst again thinking of Siegfried telling the calfs mother not to worry.
Through some cat-related mishaps, Siegfried finds out James was drunk the previous day and he fires him.
Did I cry when the baby cow was finally born?
Yes, that for sure happened.
James stands up to Siegfried, and in response, Siegfried hires him as his assistant.
What low-stakes drama, what vintage aesthetics, what likable characters.
I am all about this episode.
Because I would also watch that.
Should we all start wearing sweater vests and snoods?
If I start building a moss-covered, dry-stone fence on my street, will the neighbors notice?
