Latest / Cozy Comfort Club Podcast / All Creatures Great and Small Season 2, Episodes 1–3: Where the Heart Belongs

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All Creatures Great and Small Season 2, Episodes 1–3: Where the Heart Belongs · Cozy Comfort Club Podcast

0:04
SPEAKER_00: Welcome to Cozy Comfort Club,
0:05
SPEAKER_00: the podcast where we talk about comfort movies,
0:08
SPEAKER_00: cozy stories and the little moments that make them memorable.
0:12
SPEAKER_00: I'm Leah,
0:12
SPEAKER_00: a stay at home mom of three,
0:14
SPEAKER_00: a lifelong lover of cozy stories and someone
0:17
SPEAKER_00: who could spend way too much time thinking about fictional characters
0:20
SPEAKER_00: and why they make the choices they do.
0:23
SPEAKER_00: And if you enjoy cozy mysteries,
0:25
SPEAKER_00: period dramas,
0:26
SPEAKER_00: character driven stories and comfort TV with a little emotional depth,
0:30
SPEAKER_00: you are definitely in the right place.
0:33
SPEAKER_00: Here, I talk about how stories feel,
0:36
SPEAKER_00: I share what worked,
0:37
SPEAKER_00: what didn't,
0:38
SPEAKER_00: and even the moments that made me side-eye a character,
0:41
SPEAKER_00: all so you know what's worth adding to your watchlist.
0:49
SPEAKER_00: Today,
0:50
SPEAKER_00: we're heading back to the Yorkshire Dales to discuss All Creatures Great and Small,
0:53
SPEAKER_00: season two, episodes one through three.
0:56
SPEAKER_00: And because we're covering three episodes, I won't be giving a full scene by scene recap.
1:01
SPEAKER_00: So instead,
1:02
SPEAKER_00: we're going to talk about the biggest character developments,
1:05
SPEAKER_00: the relationships that are changing,
1:07
SPEAKER_00: the animal stories that stayed with me,
1:09
SPEAKER_00: and of course, all those cozy moments that make this series so special.
1:15
SPEAKER_00: As always,
1:16
SPEAKER_00: this discussion contains full spoilers for All Creatures Great and Small,
1:19
SPEAKER_00: Season 2, Episodes 1, 2, and 3.
1:23
SPEAKER_00: If you haven't watched them yet, this is your friendly spoiler warning.
1:26
SPEAKER_00: But before we return to Scaledale House, let's have a quick cozy catch-up.
1:31
SPEAKER_00: So we officially have our routine down at home now that school has been back
1:35
SPEAKER_00: in session since the first full week of August.
1:37
SPEAKER_00: And that feels like an accomplishment all by itself.
1:41
SPEAKER_00: I was able to get a haircut last week and over the weekend I went thrifting all So
1:46
SPEAKER_00: on Sunday, I had a terrible migraine, so I was in the house.
1:49
SPEAKER_00: But when I went thrifting,
1:50
SPEAKER_00: I found all eight books in the Anna Green Gable series for around $8 total,
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SPEAKER_00: which of course was a steal.
1:57
SPEAKER_00: I also picked up two bonus books, Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez.
2:01
SPEAKER_00: And every time I go on vacation, someone dies by Katherine Mack.
2:06
SPEAKER_00: And because fall is clearly already on my mind,
2:09
SPEAKER_00: I found the coziest little fall leaf platter and a leaf shaped decorative dish
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SPEAKER_00: that I can use for my keys and all the other random things.
2:16
SPEAKER_00: And so, yeah, I'm already thinking about decorating and how I want the house to look for fall.
2:22
SPEAKER_00: I am not really a person who decorates.
2:25
SPEAKER_00: I barely have pictures around my house.
2:27
SPEAKER_00: If you don't know this already, I'm an army spouse, so we move quite a bit.
2:33
SPEAKER_00: I tend to not decorate, but I'm trying to get in the mood.
2:37
SPEAKER_00: It's Cozy Comfort Club after all, so right?
2:39
SPEAKER_00: I have to live up to that.
2:41
SPEAKER_00: And fall is my favorite time of the year.
2:43
SPEAKER_00: This is where I shine.
2:44
SPEAKER_00: And I know my fellow cozy queens and kings understand.
2:47
SPEAKER_00: The second I see leaves and pumpkins and plaid and anything remotely fall, I am ready.
2:53
SPEAKER_00: As for what I've been reading,
2:55
SPEAKER_00: I started Murder with Puffins by Donna Andrews,
2:57
SPEAKER_00: which is the second book in the Meg Langslow series.
2:59
SPEAKER_00: I really enjoyed the first book.
3:01
SPEAKER_00: It's a cozy mystery series.
3:03
SPEAKER_00: The first book is called Murder with Peacocks.
3:05
SPEAKER_00: I love peacocks.
3:06
SPEAKER_00: They're my favorite birds.
3:07
SPEAKER_00: But I've realized that in this season of my life, I depend so heavily on audiobooks.
3:12
SPEAKER_00: And I think this may be one of those books that I enjoy more in print than I do on audio.
3:17
SPEAKER_00: There are just too many characters.
3:19
SPEAKER_00: The story moves so quickly.
3:20
SPEAKER_00: But it is very funny.
3:21
SPEAKER_00: I find myself laughing a lot at Meg and Michael as a couple.
3:24
SPEAKER_00: They are very cute.
3:25
SPEAKER_00: I may end up just going ahead and DNFing it.
3:28
SPEAKER_00: Not because it isn't good or anything,
3:30
SPEAKER_00: but because I think this is one I might have to wait to curl up in a chair
3:33
SPEAKER_00: and physically read it during the winter.
3:35
SPEAKER_00: We'll see.
3:36
SPEAKER_00: I also finished the first season of Gone.
3:39
SPEAKER_00: It was just released a few weeks ago on BritBox, starring Eve Miles and David Morrissey.
3:44
SPEAKER_00: And wow, this psychological thriller and crime drama had both me and my husband hooked.
3:52
SPEAKER_00: There are only six episodes and I really hope we can get a second season.
3:56
SPEAKER_00: We need some answers about what's going to happen with Tina, the case involving Tina.
4:00
SPEAKER_00: And I may even bring it to the podcast soon because I have some thoughts
4:04
SPEAKER_00: and I just need to talk about it.
4:07
SPEAKER_00: I'm also watching The Ridge on Acorn TV,
4:10
SPEAKER_00: which may have one of the most unlikable lead characters I have ever seen.
4:14
SPEAKER_00: And I'm watching The Art Detectives also on Acorn TV.
4:17
SPEAKER_00: I'm on episode five.
4:19
SPEAKER_00: It's just okay to me, but I'm warming up to it.
4:23
SPEAKER_00: It's very cozy.
4:25
SPEAKER_00: As for what I've been listening to, I've been quite the nerd lately.
4:28
SPEAKER_00: I've had the scores from the other Bennett sister and Ludwig on repeat
4:31
SPEAKER_00: because they really helped me relax.
4:33
SPEAKER_00: And that is how badly I need peace right now.
4:36
SPEAKER_00: I haven't even wanted to listen to any music with words over the past few weeks.
4:40
SPEAKER_00: Just get rid of the lyrics.
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SPEAKER_00: Give me a soft instrumental score.
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SPEAKER_00: Let my brain be quiet for a good while.
4:46
SPEAKER_00: That's where I am in life.
4:48
SPEAKER_00: I also wanted to share a small update about the podcast.
4:51
SPEAKER_00: So moving forward, I'll be focusing on one major or big episode each week.
4:55
SPEAKER_00: Don't worry,
4:56
SPEAKER_00: there'll still be bonus episodes whenever I have the time
4:58
SPEAKER_00: or whenever I watch something like Gone that I absolutely have to talk
5:02
SPEAKER_00: about immediately.
5:03
SPEAKER_00: I think this new rhythm will give me a lot more time to create thoughtful episodes
5:08
SPEAKER_00: without losing some of the spontaneity that I think makes the podcast so much fun.
5:13
SPEAKER_00: And yeah, I hope that this will be like my season two.
5:18
SPEAKER_00: You know that song by Harry Styles, season two weight loss.
5:21
SPEAKER_00: I don't know if you know that.
5:22
SPEAKER_00: But this will be my season two on podcast.
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SPEAKER_00: And if you don't know this, I just started in March and I'm kind of learning the flow.
5:28
SPEAKER_00: I needed a new flow and I needed to feel like I can have quality over quantity.
5:35
SPEAKER_00: And I really want you guys to get to know me personally as well.
5:40
SPEAKER_00: All right, that's it for this week's cozy catch-up.
5:43
SPEAKER_00: Now let's head back to the Yorkshire Dales and talk about All Creatures Great
5:47
SPEAKER_00: and Small Season 2, Episodes 1 through 3.
5:50
SPEAKER_00: Before we get into the discussion, here are a few quick details about this group of episodes.
5:54
SPEAKER_00: So All Creatures Great and And for this episode,
5:56
SPEAKER_00: we're discussing season two, episodes one through three.
6:12
SPEAKER_00: Episode one is titled Where the Heart Is,
6:15
SPEAKER_00: episode two Semper Progrediens, episode three We Can But Hope.
6:20
SPEAKER_00: The series is streaming on PBS Masterpiece and these episodes run approximately 50 minutes each.
6:26
SPEAKER_00: Season two originally premiered in the UK in 2021 before arriving on PBS Masterpiece
6:31
SPEAKER_00: in January of 2022.
6:33
SPEAKER_00: Our main returning cast includes Nicholas Ralph as James Harriet,
6:38
SPEAKER_00: Samuel West as Siegfried Farnan,
6:41
SPEAKER_00: Anna May Lee as Mrs.
6:42
SPEAKER_00: Audrey Hall,
6:43
SPEAKER_00: Callum Woodhouse as Tristan Farnan,
6:45
SPEAKER_00: Rachel Shinton as Helen Alderson, and Matthew Lewis returns as Hugh Holden.
6:51
SPEAKER_00: We also have a major casting change this season.
6:54
SPEAKER_00: The wonderful Dame Diana Rigg,
6:56
SPEAKER_00: who played Mrs. Pumphrey throughout season one, passed away in September of 2020.
7:01
SPEAKER_00: And Patricia Hodge takes over the role beginning in season two,
7:04
SPEAKER_00: bringing her own interpretation to Mrs.
7:06
SPEAKER_00: Pumphrey in her very spoiled Pekingese tricky woo.
7:10
SPEAKER_00: If you're a PBS mystery fan,
7:12
SPEAKER_00: keep an eye out for Patricia Hodge in the upcoming Marble Hall Murders,
7:15
SPEAKER_00: where she plays Miriam Grace, also known as Lady Margaret Chalfant.
7:19
SPEAKER_00: We also have some recognizable guest stars this season.
7:21
SPEAKER_00: So we have James Fleet, who plays Colonel Merrick in episode two.
7:25
SPEAKER_00: You may recognize him from the 1995 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility,
7:30
SPEAKER_00: or more recently from I, Jack Wright.
7:33
SPEAKER_00: We have Dorothy Atkinson, who you may know from Mom or Call the Midwife.
7:37
SPEAKER_00: She plays Diana Brompton.
7:38
SPEAKER_00: And Philip Hill Pearson,
7:40
SPEAKER_00: who also appears in the 2026 adaptation of A Woman of Substance,
7:44
SPEAKER_00: plays Rob Benson in episode one.
7:47
SPEAKER_00: And of course,
7:47
SPEAKER_00: we also get an appearance from Ella Bricoleri,
7:50
SPEAKER_00: who I don't think any of us will forget as Mary and the other Bennett sister.
7:54
SPEAKER_00: Apparently,
7:55
SPEAKER_00: this is an Ella Bricoleri week for me because I also just watched her appear
7:58
SPEAKER_00: in episode three of Love Vig,
8:00
SPEAKER_00: and she keeps popping up in everything I'm watching,
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SPEAKER_00: and I'm certainly not complaining.
8:05
SPEAKER_00: Behind the Scenes,
8:06
SPEAKER_00: All Creatures Great and Small is a playground entertainment production co-produced
8:10
SPEAKER_00: with Masterpiece on PBS.
8:12
SPEAKER_00: Season 2 was filmed on location in Yorkshire during spring and summer of 2021 as
8:16
SPEAKER_00: the cast and crew returned to work following the COVID lockdowns.
8:20
SPEAKER_00: Filming in spring also allowed the production to capture lambing season and
8:23
SPEAKER_00: the bright green Yorkshire landscape.
8:25
SPEAKER_00: The first episode takes place shortly after Easter.
8:28
SPEAKER_00: I believe it's 1938 with spring bringing new life and new possibilities to the Dales.
8:35
SPEAKER_00: Across these first three episodes,
8:36
SPEAKER_00: James returns to Darby after spending time with his family in Glasgow
8:40
SPEAKER_00: and finds himself facing major questions about where he belongs and what he wants
8:44
SPEAKER_00: for his future.
8:45
SPEAKER_00: And meanwhile, Helen is adjusting to life after calling off her wedding.
8:49
SPEAKER_00: Tristan is dealing with the results of his veterinary exams and Siegfried is trying
8:53
SPEAKER_00: to keep Skeldale House running while managing everybody else's problems and
8:57
SPEAKER_00: then creating a few of his own.
9:00
SPEAKER_00: These episodes bring us back into the familiar world of Skeldale House
9:04
SPEAKER_00: while beginning a new chapter for James, Helen, Siegfried, Tristan, and Mrs. Hall.
9:10
SPEAKER_00: So let's talk about the story so far.
9:12
SPEAKER_00: So across these episodes, James is wrestling with some major decisions about his future.
9:17
SPEAKER_00: So when season two begins, he is back in Glasgow visiting his parents.
9:21
SPEAKER_00: His father is struggling with a bad back.
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SPEAKER_00: Money is tight.
9:24
SPEAKER_00: And James is offered a position at the vet college.
9:26
SPEAKER_00: His mother even accepts a job on his behalf because she believes staying
9:30
SPEAKER_00: in Glasgow would allow him to help support the family.
9:33
SPEAKER_00: And I think she just wants to be near her baby.
9:35
SPEAKER_00: But James isn't a baby.
9:37
SPEAKER_00: He has already built a life in the Yorkshire Dales.
9:40
SPEAKER_00: He has a community, meaningful work, beautiful surroundings, and of course, Helen.
9:45
SPEAKER_00: So throughout these episodes,
9:46
SPEAKER_00: James is really being pulled between his responsibility to his family and
9:50
SPEAKER_00: the life he has created for himself and Daryl B.
9:52
SPEAKER_00: He is also thinking about how veterinary medicine is changing.
9:56
SPEAKER_00: James wants to work efficiently, but he also wants to introduce workers.
10:00
SPEAKER_00: And in the background, there's this growing possibility of war.
10:02
SPEAKER_00: So episode one opens with newspaper headlines.
10:15
SPEAKER_00: Now, James is not only acting as a vet in these episodes, though,
10:28
SPEAKER_00: he's at times it also feels like he's a grief counselor,
10:32
SPEAKER_00: a relationship counselor,
10:34
SPEAKER_00: an emotional support system for almost everybody else around him.
10:38
SPEAKER_00: I feel like both him and Mrs. Hall have that job.
10:41
SPEAKER_00: Now let's talk about James and Helen's story.
10:44
SPEAKER_00: So Helen has mostly isolated herself since she decided she wasn't going to marry Hugh.
10:50
SPEAKER_00: She seems so worried about what people in the village are going to think of her
10:54
SPEAKER_00: and she is embarrassed.
10:56
SPEAKER_00: But of course James finds a way back into this woman's life.
11:02
SPEAKER_00: So Jenny's dog Scruff has been chasing and scaring Mr. Ben's ewes.
11:06
SPEAKER_00: And one of the sheep is so stressed that she goes into early labor and loses her land.
11:11
SPEAKER_00: And it puts Scruff at risk of being put down.
11:14
SPEAKER_00: So James has to visit the Alderson farm and explain what happened.
11:18
SPEAKER_00: But he's also advocating for Scruff and for Jenny and stands up to Helen's father,
11:24
SPEAKER_00: which was bold in my opinion.
11:25
SPEAKER_00: James decides that he wants to help train Jenny's dog and thankfully she's allowed to keep him.
11:31
SPEAKER_00: During all of this,
11:32
SPEAKER_00: Jenny tells James and Tristan in the car to That Helen didn't marry Hugh
11:37
SPEAKER_00: because she liked someone else, or at least that's what Hugh thought.
11:40
SPEAKER_00: And James realizes that that person was probably him.
11:43
SPEAKER_00: And he recognizes that Helen is struggling and he invites her to the daffodil ball.
11:48
SPEAKER_00: I love that the invitation was not only about James wanting to spend time with her,
11:52
SPEAKER_00: but it was also about bringing Helen some joy during a very difficult time
11:57
SPEAKER_00: in her life.
11:58
SPEAKER_00: So they reconnect at the ball,
11:59
SPEAKER_00: they dance together, and they acknowledge how much they care for each other.
12:04
SPEAKER_00: I loved how patient Helen was when she waited for James at the surgery.
12:09
SPEAKER_00: He had 16 cases that day to get through and then an emergency case on top of that.
12:13
SPEAKER_00: And she understood the demands of his work.
12:15
SPEAKER_00: So I really like that.
12:16
SPEAKER_00: We also get another appearance from Anne.
12:19
SPEAKER_00: And that's the woman that James and Helen met when James helped deliver her dog's puppies.
12:23
SPEAKER_00: So Anne played a major role in Helen's decision not to marry Hugh.
12:28
SPEAKER_00: And she has always noticed James's feelings for Helen.
12:32
SPEAKER_00: Now, Helen eventually reminds James that he belongs in Derby.
12:36
SPEAKER_00: And she tells him that she came to the ball because of him and that she loves dancing with him.
12:40
SPEAKER_00: And then we get their date at the Reniston.
12:42
SPEAKER_00: And this is a beautiful hotel, luxury hotel restaurant.
12:46
SPEAKER_00: And during their date, Helen helps James understand farm life a little better.
12:51
SPEAKER_00: She explains...
12:52
SPEAKER_00: That the land is often inherited and that families pour their blood,
12:55
SPEAKER_00: sweat and tears into keeping it going.
12:57
SPEAKER_00: I think that conversation gives James a new perspective on one of his cases
13:01
SPEAKER_00: and reminds him that treating the animal is only one part of understanding
13:05
SPEAKER_00: the people who depend on it.
13:09
SPEAKER_00: Helen opens up to James about losing her mother and she takes him to the roof,
13:14
SPEAKER_00: which was her mother's favorite place.
13:16
SPEAKER_00: And they finally share a kiss and embrace.
13:19
SPEAKER_00: And honestly, it was about the sweetest thing ever.
13:23
SPEAKER_00: So Tristan starts season two being very Tristan.
13:27
SPEAKER_00: He is still working mostly in the dispensary and he remains pretty nonchalant
13:32
SPEAKER_00: about his responsibilities.
13:33
SPEAKER_00: So at the
13:38
SPEAKER_00: Starts taking on a little bit more work after James recommends
13:42
SPEAKER_00: that Siegfried gives him additional responsibility because James also thinks
13:46
SPEAKER_00: that Tristan is fully qualified.
13:48
SPEAKER_00: But of course, there are a few hiccups.
13:50
SPEAKER_00: We learn that Tristan enjoys his crosswords and crick
13:53
SPEAKER_00: And would usually rather be doing almost anything else besides work.
13:57
SPEAKER_00: And he even tries to arrange a few days off.
14:00
SPEAKER_00: But that plan does not last.
14:01
SPEAKER_00: Not long at all.
14:02
SPEAKER_00: And Tristan is still sarcastic, cheerful.
14:05
SPEAKER_00: He's always interested in whatever drama is happening around him.
14:08
SPEAKER_00: He struggles with honesty.
14:09
SPEAKER_00: He gossips with Jenny.
14:11
SPEAKER_00: And he just tries to earn Siegfried's trust, which feels nearly impossible.
14:15
SPEAKER_00: And honestly,
14:15
SPEAKER_00: Tristan and Siegfried are,
14:17
SPEAKER_00: like Mrs. Hall said, much more alike than either of them wants to admit.
14:21
SPEAKER_00: Now, Tristan is also the person who pushes James to attend the Daffodil Ball,
14:25
SPEAKER_00: and he asks Helen to go with him.
14:27
SPEAKER_00: So I would like to give Tristan at least partial credit for bringing James
14:30
SPEAKER_00: and Helen back together.
14:32
SPEAKER_00: And he continues offering romantic advice to both James and Siegfried,
14:36
SPEAKER_00: just as he did last season.
14:37
SPEAKER_00: We also see him enjoying a makeout session with Annabelle.
14:40
SPEAKER_00: That was Ella Brugolieri's character.
14:42
SPEAKER_00: So Tristan is certainly not neglecting his own romantic life.
14:47
SPEAKER_00: One thing I do love about Tristan, though,
14:48
SPEAKER_00: is that underneath all of his jokes and tricks,
14:51
SPEAKER_00: he is often the truth teller of the group.
14:53
SPEAKER_00: Like James encourages him to stand up to Siegfried and by episode three,
14:58
SPEAKER_00: Tristan chooses honesty over continuing to lie.
15:02
SPEAKER_00: Siegfried.
15:03
SPEAKER_00: So meanwhile, Siegfried is dealing with his usual outbursts, control issues.
15:08
SPEAKER_00: And an alarming number of lies in these episodes.
15:12
SPEAKER_00: Again, the Fardin brothers are much more alike than they realize.
15:15
SPEAKER_00: And Siegfried is trying to loosen his grip and trust Tristan more,
15:20
SPEAKER_00: but he doesn't fully understand how important it is for Tristan to gain experience
15:24
SPEAKER_00: and to feel capable.
15:26
SPEAKER_00: And he's also struggling with The changing profession and James talking about how
15:30
SPEAKER_00: the profession is changing.
15:32
SPEAKER_00: Siegfried has his established methods that work for him and James is pushing for modernization.
15:38
SPEAKER_00: So that forces Siegfried to consider whether he has become stuck in his own ways.
15:43
SPEAKER_00: So he pours himself into work.
15:44
SPEAKER_00: He overworks himself and he seems most comfortable when everything revolves around the practice.
15:49
SPEAKER_00: And at the same time,
15:51
SPEAKER_00: he's trying to guide James without becoming too intrusive and Trying to decide
15:56
SPEAKER_00: when he needs to put his foot down.
15:58
SPEAKER_00: And then, of course, there's the big secret he's been keeping.
16:01
SPEAKER_00: Tristan did not pass his exams.
16:03
SPEAKER_00: Siegfried has hidden the truth from everyone, but Mrs. Hall catches him in the lie.
16:07
SPEAKER_00: And when he is confronted,
16:09
SPEAKER_00: Siegfried has a habit of blaming everybody else rather
16:12
SPEAKER_00: than taking any responsibility.
16:13
SPEAKER_00: This man needs some accountability, okay?
16:17
SPEAKER_00: That's all I gotta say.
16:18
SPEAKER_00: He needs some accountability.
16:19
SPEAKER_00: We also learned that Dorothy is in Malta and has sent Sigrid a postcard.
16:23
SPEAKER_00: We know he has very deep feelings for her, but he's not exactly making an effort to write back.
16:27
SPEAKER_00: At the same time,
16:29
SPEAKER_00: he's dealing with clients who take advantage of his time,
16:31
SPEAKER_00: so he has to begin establishing a postcard.
16:34
SPEAKER_00: Now, I did appreciate that he agreed to update the coats for the vet practice.
16:38
SPEAKER_00: That showed that at least he's willing to change.
16:40
SPEAKER_00: And Siegfried also goes on a date with the very flirtatious Diana.
16:45
SPEAKER_00: So he's getting back out there romantically.
16:47
SPEAKER_00: And he says that he wants to trust James,
16:49
SPEAKER_00: interest him more, and do a better job at recognizing them when they do succeed.
16:54
SPEAKER_00: And like some of the other characters,
16:55
SPEAKER_00: Siegfried is just really struggling with the difference between honesty
16:59
SPEAKER_00: and what he believes is the truth people need to hear.
17:03
SPEAKER_00: Moving on to Mrs. Hall, she remains right in the middle of everything.
17:07
SPEAKER_00: She is the matriarch of Skeldale House.
17:10
SPEAKER_00: She has to constantly remind everybody of their worth and encourage them to see
17:14
SPEAKER_00: the good in one another.
17:15
SPEAKER_00: She has such a soft spot for James and Tristan.
17:18
SPEAKER_00: And he attempts to put her in her place, but Mrs. Hall knows how to handle that, man.
17:22
SPEAKER_00: She sees every bit of chaos happening around the whole house.
17:35
SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
17:36
SPEAKER_00: I don't think the household or the practice could function without her, to be honest.
17:40
SPEAKER_00: Although Mrs. Hall is not completely innocent when it comes to honesty either.
17:44
SPEAKER_00: So at this point,
17:45
SPEAKER_00: I think these episodes,
17:46
SPEAKER_00: all three of them, should be called the Liars of Skeldown House.
17:50
SPEAKER_00: Minus James.
17:52
SPEAKER_00: But Mrs. Hall clearly wants James to stay and Darby.
17:56
SPEAKER_00: And the two of them share a very special connection.
18:00
SPEAKER_00: And in episode two, we see her become a little flustered over a connection with Mr. Hammond.
18:06
SPEAKER_00: He's one of their clients.
18:07
SPEAKER_00: But rather than going out with everybody else,
18:10
SPEAKER_00: Mrs. Hall chooses to stay home and read half the time.
18:13
SPEAKER_00: So she plays things very safe.
18:15
SPEAKER_00: And I do believe I wonder whether she could benefit from allowing herself to get out
18:19
SPEAKER_00: a little bit more and explore a life beyond taking care of everybody else.
18:23
SPEAKER_00: I also love seeing her support Helen and consoling her with Anne.
18:27
SPEAKER_00: Anne I like when she sends a package to Dorothy.
18:29
SPEAKER_00: She even offers to include a letter from Siegfried.
18:32
SPEAKER_00: She's so thoughtful.
18:34
SPEAKER_00: Quietly trying to help these people move their lives forward,
18:38
SPEAKER_00: even when they are determined to do it their own way.
18:40
SPEAKER_00: But by the end of episode three, James and Helen have finally acknowledged their feelings.
18:45
SPEAKER_00: Tristan is beginning to choose honesty.
18:47
SPEAKER_00: Siegfried is still sitting on a secret that could change his relationship with his brother.
18:51
SPEAKER_00: And Mrs. Hall is holding Skeldale House together.
18:54
SPEAKER_00: Barely, but she is.
18:56
SPEAKER_00: These first three episodes were really about people standing at crossroads,
19:01
SPEAKER_00: trying to decide where they belong,
19:04
SPEAKER_00: who they can trust,
19:05
SPEAKER_00: and whether they are brave enough to tell the truth about what they actually want.
19:08
SPEAKER_00: I don't know if you remember, at the end of season one, James is at a crossroads.
19:13
SPEAKER_00: And so now we're kind of back there to figure out which way is he going to go now.
19:19
SPEAKER_00: Now let's talk about the animal and community story.
19:21
SPEAKER_00: So of course I want to highlight the major animal and farmer stories
19:25
SPEAKER_00: from each episode because these cases often reveal just as much about the people of
19:29
SPEAKER_00: the Dales as they do about the animals.
19:30
SPEAKER_00: So in episode one the biggest case was about Mr.
19:34
SPEAKER_00: Benson's ewes after Jenny's dog Scruff frightens and stresses the flock.
19:39
SPEAKER_00: One ewes dies while another goes into early labor and loses her lamb and It is
19:43
SPEAKER_00: a heartbreaking situation and James has to balance protecting
19:47
SPEAKER_00: the farmer's livelihood with advocating for scruff and helping Jenny prove that
19:51
SPEAKER_00: the dog can be trained.
19:53
SPEAKER_00: We also get the much lighter storyline involving Miss Tompkin and her budgie.
19:57
SPEAKER_00: I always appreciate when the series balances those more emotional farming cases with
20:01
SPEAKER_00: a smaller and sometimes funny animal story.
20:04
SPEAKER_00: It kind of reinforces James's point that the future
20:08
SPEAKER_00: of vet Medicine may include more household pets, not only the livestock.
20:12
SPEAKER_00: And then in episode two, we meet Rock, Mr. Hammond's dog.
20:15
SPEAKER_00: And this case helps create a possible connection between Mr. Hammond and Mrs. Hall.
20:20
SPEAKER_00: I love seeing Mrs.
20:21
SPEAKER_00: Hall become a little flustered because she spends so much of her time caring
20:24
SPEAKER_00: for everybody else at Scaledale House.
20:26
SPEAKER_00: It was just nice to see someone paying attention to her for once.
20:29
SPEAKER_00: We also have the case involving Colonel Merrick's cow, who has a blockage in her stomach.
20:34
SPEAKER_00: This situation gives us more...
20:37
SPEAKER_00: Of an understanding of Siegfried and his professional boundaries.
20:40
SPEAKER_00: So this one was really good.
20:42
SPEAKER_00: And his rivalry with George, the other vet.
20:46
SPEAKER_00: Then there's Buttercup the Pig, another memorable part of episode two.
20:50
SPEAKER_00: This shows like the full range of vet practice for them.
20:54
SPEAKER_00: So one minute the vets are treating the little pets and then they're dealing with
20:57
SPEAKER_00: a pig and then they're dealing with a cow and a sheep.
20:59
SPEAKER_00: We get a good range this week.
21:02
SPEAKER_00: Then in episode three, the biggest animal in community stories centers around the Dalby farm.
21:07
SPEAKER_00: Episode three, from the beginning, we know that Mrs. Dalby loses her husband.
21:11
SPEAKER_00: So this case helps James better understand how deeply farmers are connected to their land.
21:16
SPEAKER_00: And their animals and the work passed down through generations.
21:20
SPEAKER_00: Helen's perspective is important here because she reminds them
21:23
SPEAKER_00: that vet decisions cannot always be separated from the financial
21:26
SPEAKER_00: and emotional realities of farm life.
21:28
SPEAKER_00: We also get the brood of chickens,
21:30
SPEAKER_00: Siegfried gifts to Tristan,
21:32
SPEAKER_00: naturally what is probably meant to be another one of Siegfried's lessons turned
21:36
SPEAKER_00: into more of a responsibility for Tristan to manage.
21:39
SPEAKER_00: And I love this addition because it is I mean, it just fits their relationship perfectly.
21:45
SPEAKER_00: Siegfried's trying to teach them, you know, discipline.
21:48
SPEAKER_00: And Tristan is looking for the easiest possible way around anything.
21:52
SPEAKER_00: And we also get a brief appearance from Candy, Helen's horse, which I'm happy to see.
21:58
SPEAKER_00: I hope we see more of her.
22:00
SPEAKER_00: Even though it's a small moment,
22:01
SPEAKER_00: Candy is obviously a familiar part of life of the Alderson farm.
22:04
SPEAKER_00: And of course,
22:05
SPEAKER_00: we get another appearance from good old Tricky Woo in episode three, Mrs.
22:10
SPEAKER_00: Pumphrey leaves him at Skeldale House
22:12
SPEAKER_00: after giving Uncle Harriet temporary guardianship while she attends the test match.
22:16
SPEAKER_00: And so Tricky Woo arrives with all the drama
22:20
SPEAKER_00: and special treatment we have already come to expect.
22:22
SPEAKER_00: And I love seeing him back at Skeldale House.
22:26
SPEAKER_00: So in All Creatures Great and Small, the animal cases are never just the side plots.
22:31
SPEAKER_00: They usually reveal the pressures that's facing the community.
22:34
SPEAKER_00: They challenge James Siegfried and Tristan as vets and assistant vets
22:41
SPEAKER_00: or whatever you want to call them and remind us that caring
22:44
SPEAKER_00: for these animals means caring for the people who depend on them too.
22:49
SPEAKER_00: All right, now let's jump into the character journey of James Harriot.
22:54
SPEAKER_00: So I think James is becoming much more certain about the kind of life he wants now.
23:00
SPEAKER_00: And what he truly wants seems to be community, romance, a good career, and a future in Darby.
23:08
SPEAKER_00: At the same time,
23:09
SPEAKER_00: we know he deeply loves his mom and dad and he appreciates everything they did
23:13
SPEAKER_00: to support him and help shape the person that he has become.
23:16
SPEAKER_00: And that is what makes the decision about Glasgow so difficult because James knows
23:21
SPEAKER_00: that his father is struggling with his back.
23:23
SPEAKER_00: He knows how badly his mother wants him home.
23:26
SPEAKER_00: So even though Darby feels like the place where he belongs,
23:29
SPEAKER_00: I do think he carries a lot of guilt about choosing that life over returning
23:33
SPEAKER_00: to Scotland and helping his family out.
23:36
SPEAKER_00: But compared with season one, James obviously feels much more confident.
23:41
SPEAKER_00: He has fewer doubts about his abilities as a vet and seems more willing
23:45
SPEAKER_00: to trust his own judgment now.
23:46
SPEAKER_00: He also knows how he feels about Helen and especially now that she's no longer marrying Hugh.
23:54
SPEAKER_00: Now, James is also beginning to stand up to Siegfried more.
23:57
SPEAKER_00: He can recognize the flaws in the practice and he questions the older methods and
24:02
SPEAKER_00: the push for modernization without doubting himself as much.
24:06
SPEAKER_00: And I loved seeing how his relationships at Skeldal House have evolved.
24:10
SPEAKER_00: His relationship with Tristan, it feels brotherly.
24:13
SPEAKER_00: His relationship with Mrs. Hall feels motherly.
24:16
SPEAKER_00: You can see that connection when James compares the food at Skeldal House.
24:22
SPEAKER_00: Now Helen
24:30
SPEAKER_00: is also helping James grow in a very important way.
24:33
SPEAKER_00: I mean she helps him understand the dedication and persistence and pride
24:38
SPEAKER_00: that farmers have in their land and letting go of the land or selling
24:41
SPEAKER_00: the farm is not simple.
24:42
SPEAKER_00: It's not a simple decision.
24:45
SPEAKER_00: I think Helen is teaching James how to see life from a different perspective and how
24:50
SPEAKER_00: to approach the people of the Dales with more empathy.
24:54
SPEAKER_00: Because being a good vet is not just about, oh,
24:57
SPEAKER_00: the animal is taken care of,
24:58
SPEAKER_00: but it's also about having empathy for the life that surrounds that animal.
25:03
SPEAKER_00: And that said,
25:05
SPEAKER_00: one thing that did frustrate me about James I think
25:15
SPEAKER_00: his livelihood does not depend
25:17
SPEAKER_00: on whether those animals survive the same way theirs does.
25:20
SPEAKER_00: So I did understand why Siegfried told him to back off and return Scruff.
25:25
SPEAKER_00: Because Scruff had really, really frightened those ewes.
25:28
SPEAKER_00: And the stress caused calcium deficiency.
25:32
SPEAKER_00: One of them died.
25:34
SPEAKER_00: And remember, the other one lost a little lamb.
25:36
SPEAKER_00: It was just sad all around.
25:37
SPEAKER_00: Another animal that was important was Hubert, and I'll bring him up in a minute.
25:40
SPEAKER_00: I absolutely do not think Scruff should have been put down.
25:43
SPEAKER_00: But I do think James has a habit of getting caught in the middle and then trying
25:47
SPEAKER_00: to make decisions for other people.
25:50
SPEAKER_00: I think he could probably learn a lesson or two from Siegfried
25:52
SPEAKER_00: about establishing those professional boundaries.
25:56
SPEAKER_00: The moment that showed James growth the most was during this conversation with Mrs. Dalby.
26:01
SPEAKER_00: I mean, he gives her his honest professional opinion and tells her that selling
26:05
SPEAKER_00: the farm may be the best decision,
26:07
SPEAKER_00: but when she does not follow that advice,
26:09
SPEAKER_00: he doesn't judge her or And I think the conversation James had with Helen at
26:15
SPEAKER_00: the Reniston really helped him handle that case with a lot more care.
26:18
SPEAKER_00: And James understood that Mrs. Dalby was not simply refusing to be practical.
26:23
SPEAKER_00: I think she was just fighting to preserve her family's land,
26:25
SPEAKER_00: the history,
26:26
SPEAKER_00: identity,
26:27
SPEAKER_00: and the way of life for her boys,
26:29
SPEAKER_00: Billy Jr.
26:30
SPEAKER_00: And by the end of episode three,
26:32
SPEAKER_00: James seems to me he may be more certain about where he belongs.
26:38
SPEAKER_00: So that moment with Helen on the roof,
26:39
SPEAKER_00: I'm sure it made it difficult for him to imagine leaving all of that behind.
26:43
SPEAKER_00: He found a woman he cares about deeply and the found family at Skeldale House.
26:47
SPEAKER_00: So at this point,
26:49
SPEAKER_00: I just can't imagine James choosing to leave all of them and the community
26:53
SPEAKER_00: that he has built in the Dales to return to Scotland,
26:56
SPEAKER_00: even if their technology is better, even if the pay is better.
26:58
SPEAKER_00: I just don't see it.
26:59
SPEAKER_00: Glasgow may be where James came from, but Darby is becoming home.
27:04
SPEAKER_00: All right, now let's talk about relationships.
27:07
SPEAKER_00: So James and Helen, I mean,
27:09
SPEAKER_00: I've already talked about this already,
27:11
SPEAKER_00: but I'm just so happy to see them moving forward.
27:13
SPEAKER_00: Finally, I understand Helen's apprehension.
27:16
SPEAKER_00: I mean,
27:16
SPEAKER_00: she just called off a very public wedding and she's obviously worried about how
27:19
SPEAKER_00: the people in the village may judge her.
27:22
SPEAKER_00: And that fear of public shame, it's real, okay?
27:26
SPEAKER_00: Even in 2026.
27:27
SPEAKER_00: But at this point, we know that these two are meant for each other.
27:31
SPEAKER_00: It took a while,
27:31
SPEAKER_00: definitely some obstacles along the way,
27:33
SPEAKER_00: but seeing them finally kiss was a beautiful payoff to a true slow burn,
27:38
SPEAKER_00: stranger to friends to lovers romance.
27:41
SPEAKER_00: Their chemistry always felt natural to me.
27:43
SPEAKER_00: From the moment they met on the bus in the first episode of season one,
27:47
SPEAKER_00: It was clear that Helen was going to be an important person in James' life.
27:50
SPEAKER_00: And they are just a very good looking couple, just in general.
27:52
SPEAKER_00: James is gentle with Helen.
27:54
SPEAKER_00: Helen is firm when she needs to be.
27:56
SPEAKER_00: They're able to talk about deeper things.
27:57
SPEAKER_00: And I think they can teach one another a lot of things as well.
28:02
SPEAKER_00: Now,
28:02
SPEAKER_00: Helen helps James better understand the people and the farming and the community of
28:06
SPEAKER_00: the Dales.
28:07
SPEAKER_00: And James gives Helen a space where she can be open without feeling judged.
28:11
SPEAKER_00: Their relationship just is built on friendship and trust and mutual respect.
28:15
SPEAKER_00: And this is exactly why the slow burn works so well.
28:19
SPEAKER_00: Now, James and Tristan...
28:22
SPEAKER_00: They no longer feel like rivals or strangers.
28:24
SPEAKER_00: At this point, they're like brothers.
28:26
SPEAKER_00: James can be anxious and serious and very focused,
28:29
SPEAKER_00: and Tristan is cheerful, unserious, and ready to turn almost anything into a joke.
28:34
SPEAKER_00: They balance each other very well.
28:37
SPEAKER_00: And I love that they advocate for one another and they help each other in career
28:40
SPEAKER_00: and romance departments.
28:42
SPEAKER_00: Whether James is encouraging Tristan to stand up to Siegfried
28:44
SPEAKER_00: or Tristan is pushing James to ask Helen to the daffodil ball,
28:48
SPEAKER_00: their friendship has probably become one of my favorite relationships at
28:51
SPEAKER_00: the Skeldale House.
28:52
SPEAKER_00: And they have like a real affection underneath all that teasing.
28:56
SPEAKER_00: Now, Siegfried and Tristan.
28:58
SPEAKER_00: So by episode three,
28:59
SPEAKER_00: I do think Siegfried and Tristan's relationship has improved a little,
29:02
SPEAKER_00: but these two seem to move through the same cycle over and over again.
29:07
SPEAKER_00: Honestly, this may be the most realistic sibling dynamic in the entire show.
29:12
SPEAKER_00: I think they admire one another, but Siegfried stays in that father role way too much.
29:17
SPEAKER_00: He doesn't give Tristan enough room to make his own mistakes,
29:21
SPEAKER_00: and that keeps Tristan from really fully growing up.
29:25
SPEAKER_00: At the same time, Tristan does need to mature.
29:28
SPEAKER_00: He may need to experience more life and get out from under Siegfried's wing
29:34
SPEAKER_00: before he can really figure out who he is.
29:36
SPEAKER_00: And I think Tristan is a man of many talents.
29:38
SPEAKER_00: He may simply just need more focus.
29:41
SPEAKER_00: And I'm not convinced that being a vet is the right path for him.
29:44
SPEAKER_00: But what really frustrates me is Siegfried lying about Tristan's exam results.
29:49
SPEAKER_00: I mean, I understand that he believes he's protecting Tristan's feelings,
29:52
SPEAKER_00: but hiding something this big is only going to make the fallout worse.
29:56
SPEAKER_00: And so Siegfried needs to stop making decisions for Tristan and just tell him the truth.
30:01
SPEAKER_00: Mrs. Hall and Mr. Hammond, that man was clearly trying to ask her out.
30:05
SPEAKER_00: And Mrs. Hall, she didn't know how to respond.
30:08
SPEAKER_00: We know her former husband was a brute,
30:10
SPEAKER_00: so I can understand why she may still be healing and afraid
30:13
SPEAKER_00: to open up her heart again.
30:14
SPEAKER_00: I'm also curious about whether we will hear from her son, Edward.
30:17
SPEAKER_00: I think that relationship weighs heavily on Mrs. Hall.
30:20
SPEAKER_00: And I think once she feels more settled or secure about her son,
30:23
SPEAKER_00: she may be able to make more room for romance.
30:26
SPEAKER_00: Because you know,
30:26
SPEAKER_00: when a parent is worried about their child,
30:28
SPEAKER_00: it can be difficult to open up emotionally to anybody.
30:31
SPEAKER_00: Now, Mrs.
30:32
SPEAKER_00: Hall spends so much time caring for everyone else that I would really love
30:36
SPEAKER_00: to see her allow someone to care for her.
30:39
SPEAKER_00: Siegfried, Diana, and Dorothy.
30:41
SPEAKER_00: Let's talk about that.
30:43
SPEAKER_00: I'm interested in Siegfried and Diana mainly because I want to see Siegfried get out
30:47
SPEAKER_00: of the house and just do something different other than work.
30:49
SPEAKER_00: Because he's over there trying to make everybody else miserable.
30:52
SPEAKER_00: But I am still waiting for Dorothy to return from Malta.
30:55
SPEAKER_00: It took me a little while, but I really like Dorothy.
30:58
SPEAKER_00: She is Mrs. Hall's good friend.
30:59
SPEAKER_00: I think she and Siegfried share a much more genuine emotional connection.
31:04
SPEAKER_00: I think Diana may be fun and flirtatious,
31:07
SPEAKER_00: but Dorothy feels like someone who really understands Siegfried deeply.
31:12
SPEAKER_00: The connection between Siegfried and Diana surprised me the most.
31:16
SPEAKER_00: I was not expecting them to move into flirtation in a day so quickly,
31:20
SPEAKER_00: especially with Dorothy still in the background.
31:22
SPEAKER_00: The relationship that frustrated me the most was definitely Siegfried and Tristan.
31:27
SPEAKER_00: They keep going around in circles.
31:28
SPEAKER_00: I just want Siegfried to stop lying and tell his brother the truth.
31:32
SPEAKER_00: And their bond has so much potential.
31:35
SPEAKER_00: They can't really move forward until Siegfried stops treating Tristan like a child
31:38
SPEAKER_00: and Tristan starts taking more responsibility for his own life.
31:42
SPEAKER_00: Let's talk favorite character.
31:44
SPEAKER_00: My favorite character across these three episodes was definitely Tristan.
31:49
SPEAKER_00: I'm always looking for a little comedic relief in my period dramas.
31:52
SPEAKER_00: Tristan delivered it over and over again.
31:55
SPEAKER_00: The storyline with Miss Tompkins' budgie was hilarious.
31:58
SPEAKER_00: The way Tristan killed that bird, not on purpose.
32:00
SPEAKER_00: And then he didn't tell Miss Tompkins,
32:02
SPEAKER_00: and then he casually put the poor thing in a drawer,
32:04
SPEAKER_00: and then he switched it out for a different color.
32:07
SPEAKER_00: I was done.
32:09
SPEAKER_00: Miss Tompkins was probably one of my favorite characters in general.
32:12
SPEAKER_00: She was so sweet, so nice.
32:15
SPEAKER_00: Then there was the way that Tristan compared his childhood to Herbert.
32:18
SPEAKER_00: The little, was it Herbert or Hubert?
32:20
SPEAKER_00: I keep saying it wrong.
32:21
SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
32:22
SPEAKER_00: The little lamb who had to fend for himself after his mother took against him, I guess.
32:27
SPEAKER_00: Only Tristan could look at an abandoned lamb and make it about himself.
32:31
SPEAKER_00: He was also completely invested in the village drama, all the drama.
32:36
SPEAKER_00: I loved watching him ask Jenny to spill the tea about Helen and
32:39
SPEAKER_00: the broken engagement because, of course, Tristan needed every little detail.
32:43
SPEAKER_00: And then we have his so-called heroic moment that ended up leading to
32:47
SPEAKER_00: a makeout session with Annabelle.
32:50
SPEAKER_00: And it was with Buttercup the pig who had the big bull on his head.
32:53
SPEAKER_00: He manages to pop it and It was like he performed some extraordinary act of bravery.
32:58
SPEAKER_00: I just thought it was hilarious.
32:59
SPEAKER_00: Tristan also deserves credit for playing matchmaker between James and Helen.
33:03
SPEAKER_00: He pushes James to attend the ball and then asks Helen to go with him.
33:07
SPEAKER_00: And then he pushed Helen to the surgery so that James had no choice but to ask her.
33:11
SPEAKER_00: So their reunion is partly thanks to Tristan refusing to let James hide from his feelings.
33:16
SPEAKER_00: I also love hearing Tristan call Siegfried Alpha being stuck in the rut.
33:20
SPEAKER_00: Tristan may be unserious most of the time,
33:21
SPEAKER_00: but every now and then he says exactly what everybody else is thinking.
33:25
SPEAKER_00: And then there were the chickens.
33:27
SPEAKER_00: He lied about them laying eggs, kissed them, named them after former girlfriends and Helen.
33:32
SPEAKER_00: I could not handle Tristan in these episodes.
33:34
SPEAKER_00: I couldn't.
33:36
SPEAKER_00: He was naughty, dishonest, dramatic, romantic.
33:40
SPEAKER_00: I mean, but sometimes insightful when he wants to be.
33:43
SPEAKER_00: And even when he is causing chaos, he just brings so much humor to this show.
33:49
SPEAKER_00: He may still have a lot of growing up to do, but I don't know what we would do without him.
33:54
SPEAKER_00: He was easily the character who brought me the most joy.
33:57
SPEAKER_00: Favorite scene.
33:58
SPEAKER_00: My favorite scene from these three episodes was,
34:00
SPEAKER_00: of course, the rooftop conversation between James and Helen.
34:02
SPEAKER_00: We've been waiting for this moment for so long.
34:04
SPEAKER_00: I think that's part of why it hit me so hard.
34:07
SPEAKER_00: The scene begins with James updating Helen about the Dolby farm and apologizing
34:12
SPEAKER_00: for not fully understanding what the farm meant to them.
34:14
SPEAKER_00: And I love that because it showed that James was not only listening to Helen,
34:17
SPEAKER_00: but actually allowing her perspective to change the way he approached it.
34:22
SPEAKER_00: And then the conversation becomes more personal.
34:24
SPEAKER_00: The rooftop actually represents Helen's relationship with her mom because it was one
34:28
SPEAKER_00: of her mom's favorite places to sit and contemplate life and think about all
34:32
SPEAKER_00: of her own memories.
34:34
SPEAKER_00: So when Helen opens up to James about the grief of losing her,
34:37
SPEAKER_00: the scene becomes much more than romance.
34:39
SPEAKER_00: It's about trust.
34:41
SPEAKER_00: It's about Helen allowing James into a part of her life that is so emotional and private.
34:46
SPEAKER_00: And then they kiss.
34:48
SPEAKER_00: Y'all, I cried.
34:50
SPEAKER_00: I mean, I really cried.
34:53
SPEAKER_00: After all the slow burn tension,
34:55
SPEAKER_00: missed opportunities,
34:58
SPEAKER_00: obstacles, seeing them finally share that moment just was so satisfying.
35:04
SPEAKER_00: And when the camera pulls back and we see them from behind sitting together on
35:08
SPEAKER_00: the roof, it was just, it was beautiful.
35:11
SPEAKER_00: It was so earned.
35:13
SPEAKER_00: Oh my gosh, yes.
35:14
SPEAKER_00: So for me, that scene was the perfect combo of grief and tenderness and romance and growth.
35:21
SPEAKER_00: It is easily the moment that I will remember the most from episodes one through three.
35:27
SPEAKER_00: And now we're going to talk about the theme of this chapter.
35:30
SPEAKER_00: I think the biggest themes across these three episodes are belonging, found family, and honesty.
35:36
SPEAKER_00: So James' journey is really about choosing where he belongs,
35:39
SPEAKER_00: not only physically, but emotionally.
35:42
SPEAKER_00: So Scotland is where he came from,
35:43
SPEAKER_00: it's where his parents are, and he feels A deep responsibility toward them.
35:49
SPEAKER_00: But Darby is where he has built a life.
35:51
SPEAKER_00: It is where he has a wonderful job in the found family and Helen.
35:57
SPEAKER_00: And so it's not about James deciding where to live.
36:01
SPEAKER_00: It's really him deciding where his heart belongs.
36:03
SPEAKER_00: And that idea of found family kind of runs throughout these episodes.
36:08
SPEAKER_00: James, Tristan,
36:09
SPEAKER_00: Siegfried, Mrs. Hall,
36:10
SPEAKER_00: they frustrate one another constantly, but they also do show up for each other.
36:14
SPEAKER_00: They support, they challenge, and they care for each other.
36:17
SPEAKER_00: They don't always get it right,
36:18
SPEAKER_00: but there's a real sense that Scaledale House has become a home for all of them.
36:22
SPEAKER_00: And I also think these episodes are about holding the people you love accountable.
36:26
SPEAKER_00: James encourages Tristan to stand up for himself.
36:28
SPEAKER_00: Tristan calls Siegfried out for being stuck in a rut.
36:31
SPEAKER_00: Mrs. Hall challenges Siegfried when she realizes he's been lying.
36:34
SPEAKER_00: And Helen helps James see where his understanding of farm life is limited.
36:38
SPEAKER_00: That kind of accountability is part of love, too.
36:41
SPEAKER_00: But if I had to choose the biggest theme, it would actually be honesty.
36:45
SPEAKER_00: Um, because nearly everybody hiding something.
36:47
SPEAKER_00: Helen is hiding from the embarrassment aftermath of leaving Hugh at the altar.
36:52
SPEAKER_00: James is hiding from the full truth of how he feels about Helen and also
36:55
SPEAKER_00: from how he really feels about taking a job in Scotland.
36:58
SPEAKER_00: And then Mrs.
36:59
SPEAKER_00: Hall is concealing her He's hiding Tristan's exam results,
37:01
SPEAKER_00: his emotions,
37:02
SPEAKER_00: avoiding the truth about romance,
37:03
SPEAKER_00: constantly deciding that he knows what's best for everybody else.
37:05
SPEAKER_00: And like I said, these episodes could be the liars of Skeldale House.
37:08
SPEAKER_00: But beneath all of that hiding is fear.
37:30
SPEAKER_00: Of embarrassment,
37:31
SPEAKER_00: disappointing the family, being rejected, change, admitting what they really want.
37:35
SPEAKER_00: So by the end of episode three, some of these characters are moving toward honesty.
37:40
SPEAKER_00: And I love that Helen opens up to James and James becomes honest about his feelings for Helen.
37:46
SPEAKER_00: And I love that moment when he was like, I missed you.
37:49
SPEAKER_00: And she said, I miss you too.
37:51
SPEAKER_00: That was so sweet.
37:52
SPEAKER_00: Oh my gosh.
37:54
SPEAKER_00: I get goosebumps just thinking, well, something wrong with me, isn't it?
37:58
SPEAKER_00: I get too, too into this.
38:02
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
38:03
SPEAKER_00: Tristan finally chooses truth over another lie.
38:06
SPEAKER_00: But Siegfried has a long way to go.
38:09
SPEAKER_00: Even if he does begin to acknowledge that he needs to trust James and Tristan more.
38:13
SPEAKER_00: So to me,
38:14
SPEAKER_00: these episodes are about what happens when people stop hiding and start telling
38:18
SPEAKER_00: the truth to others, but also to themselves.
38:21
SPEAKER_00: Because belonging is not only about finding the right place.
38:24
SPEAKER_00: It's also about feeling safe enough to be fully known there.
38:28
SPEAKER_00: Now let's talk cozy moments.
38:30
SPEAKER_00: I mean, All Creatures Great and Small is one of the coziest shows on television.
38:35
SPEAKER_00: We begin in Scotland with the buses and trains and the stone buildings and all
38:39
SPEAKER_00: the comforting food, haggis,
38:41
SPEAKER_00: tatties,
38:41
SPEAKER_00: or whatever it's called,
38:42
SPEAKER_00: and the kind of Like, hearty meals that makes it just feel warm.
38:47
SPEAKER_00: And then, of course, we return to the Yorkshire Dales.
38:50
SPEAKER_00: That is cozy city, okay?
38:53
SPEAKER_00: Or cozy country, whatever you want to call it.
38:55
SPEAKER_00: The rolling pastures,
38:56
SPEAKER_00: the green hills,
38:57
SPEAKER_00: farms, cottages, cobblestone streets, barns, sheep, little village roads.
39:02
SPEAKER_00: Oh, my gosh.
39:03
SPEAKER_00: Even when the characters are dealing with serious problems, the setting, it just makes you calm.
39:08
SPEAKER_00: I mean, the intro, the song.
39:10
SPEAKER_00: The music, the animation at the beginning.
39:13
SPEAKER_00: Ugh.
39:14
SPEAKER_00: Anyway, Skeldale House remains one of my favorite TV homes, for sure.
39:18
SPEAKER_00: There's something so cozy about everybody gathering around the fireplace, Mrs.
39:23
SPEAKER_00: Hall moving through the kitchen,
39:25
SPEAKER_00: Tristan talking about crosswords,
39:26
SPEAKER_00: steaming cups of tea appearing at the right moment.
39:28
SPEAKER_00: Then, you know, to go to Mrs. Dalby, she had biscuits, cakes, and scones.
39:32
SPEAKER_00: Ugh.
39:33
SPEAKER_00: I could spend an afternoon sitting in that house,
39:35
SPEAKER_00: in all their houses, going from house to house, just getting cozy and taking naps.
39:39
SPEAKER_00: The wardrobe also deserves a mention.
39:41
SPEAKER_00: James and Tristan both wear those cozy green vests.
39:44
SPEAKER_00: Oh, I love that.
39:45
SPEAKER_00: There was a blue tie that I love that James wore too.
39:48
SPEAKER_00: Maybe it was on his date.
39:49
SPEAKER_00: I can't remember.
39:50
SPEAKER_00: And this entire show is a celebration of knitted sweaters.
39:53
SPEAKER_00: If you have not watched this, I don't even know why you're listening.
39:56
SPEAKER_00: But if you haven't watched this and you love to knit or crochet like me, come on.
40:02
SPEAKER_00: This is going to have you sitting there crocheting and knitting all day or maybe something.
40:07
SPEAKER_00: Helen's green jacket looked comfortable.
40:10
SPEAKER_00: I loved her colorful polka dot dress when they went to the Reniston.
40:13
SPEAKER_00: The daffodil ball, cozy.
40:16
SPEAKER_00: That was so joyful.
40:18
SPEAKER_00: The decorations, the dancing, the live music.
40:21
SPEAKER_00: I mean, it was great.
40:23
SPEAKER_00: The animals, of course.
40:25
SPEAKER_00: We have sheep in the fields.
40:27
SPEAKER_00: We have chickens all around the house.
40:29
SPEAKER_00: Roosters crowing, horses, dogs, cows, pigs, birds, lambs.
40:33
SPEAKER_00: I mean, even when the animal storylines are emotional,
40:36
SPEAKER_00: their presence just makes everything feel so cozy.
40:41
SPEAKER_00: In the everyday village details,
40:42
SPEAKER_00: the market and people traveling to and from by bus,
40:46
SPEAKER_00: train, car, and farm visits and country drives.
40:49
SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's just so, so familiar and I just love it.
40:55
SPEAKER_00: It's the kind of show that makes you truly want to pour a cup of tea or if you drink coffee.
41:00
SPEAKER_00: Find the nearest knitted blanket or crocheted and settle in.
41:04
SPEAKER_00: Now, let's talk questions I'm still thinking about.
41:08
SPEAKER_00: After these episodes, I have a few questions about where the season is heading.
41:13
SPEAKER_00: Will James officially turn down the position at the vet college in Glasgow?
41:17
SPEAKER_00: Darby obviously feels like home,
41:20
SPEAKER_00: but choosing to stay is definitely going to disappoint his mom
41:23
SPEAKER_00: and will leave his parents without additional support.
41:26
SPEAKER_00: But he could work from Darby and send them money.
41:30
SPEAKER_00: That's what he could do.
41:31
SPEAKER_00: And if James does choose Darby, Darby, I think I'm saying it wrong today.
41:39
SPEAKER_00: Sorry, guys.
41:40
SPEAKER_00: I think it's Darby.
41:42
SPEAKER_00: They say it like Darby.
41:44
SPEAKER_00: Okay, anyway, you know what I'm talking about.
41:46
SPEAKER_00: How will his parents react?
41:48
SPEAKER_00: Will they understand that he has built his own meaningful life or will
41:53
SPEAKER_00: the guilt continue to follow him?
41:56
SPEAKER_00: Now that James and Helen have kissed, what happens next?
41:59
SPEAKER_00: Will they pursue a relationship?
42:00
SPEAKER_00: Will Helen's fear of village gossip and the aftermath
42:03
SPEAKER_00: of her broken engagement make her pull away again?
42:07
SPEAKER_00: I'm also wondering when Tristan will discover the truth about his exam results,
42:10
SPEAKER_00: because Siegfried cannot keep that a secret forever.
42:12
SPEAKER_00: And the longer he waits, the more damaging that revelation is going to become.
42:17
SPEAKER_00: How badly will Siegfried's lie affect his relationship with Tristan?
42:21
SPEAKER_00: And does Tristan truly want to become a vet?
42:24
SPEAKER_00: He's talented and charming.
42:25
SPEAKER_00: And I think he is capable of surprising everyone when he applies himself.
42:28
SPEAKER_00: So I'm not completely convinced this is the future he would choose
42:33
SPEAKER_00: without Siegfried's influence.
42:34
SPEAKER_00: I also want to know whether Mrs.
42:36
SPEAKER_00: Hall will allow herself to explore a possible connection with Mr.
42:39
SPEAKER_00: Hammond or anybody else.
42:41
SPEAKER_00: She spends so much time caring for everybody else.
42:43
SPEAKER_00: Come on, time for somebody else.
42:46
SPEAKER_00: Um, Siegfried's romantic life, is he going to really be interested in Diana?
42:51
SPEAKER_00: She need time to get over that cheating ex-husband of hers.
42:54
SPEAKER_00: Or is this another way of avoiding the deeper feelings he has for Dorothy
42:59
SPEAKER_00: while she's away in Malta?
43:00
SPEAKER_00: And finally,
43:01
SPEAKER_00: how will the growing possibility of war affect James,
43:04
SPEAKER_00: Skeldal House, and the entire Daryl B community at large?
43:08
SPEAKER_00: The newspaper headlines starting in episode one and how...
43:14
SPEAKER_00: James looked at Mr. Hammond because Mr. Hammond injured his leg.
43:18
SPEAKER_00: I don't know if he lost it.
43:19
SPEAKER_00: I think he just injured his leg and he's a war veteran.
43:24
SPEAKER_00: I wonder, I think war.
43:29
SPEAKER_00: I think that's next for us.
43:32
SPEAKER_00: And I'm just wondering how that's all going to change things.
43:35
SPEAKER_00: And so those are the questions I'm carrying into the rest of season two.
43:39
SPEAKER_00: And I'm excited and also a little nervous to see what happens.
43:44
SPEAKER_00: And here's our final cup of comfort and ratings.
43:48
SPEAKER_00: It was a very strong opening to season two.
43:50
SPEAKER_00: James had his arm up another animal's behind almost immediately.
43:54
SPEAKER_00: The Farnham brothers were right back to their usual shenanigans.
43:57
SPEAKER_00: And Mrs. Hall was there absorbing all that chaos around her.
44:00
SPEAKER_00: It felt like coming home.
44:01
SPEAKER_00: I enjoyed these episodes just as much as season one.
44:04
SPEAKER_00: You know what?
44:04
SPEAKER_00: Possibly even more because I'm already familiar with these characters now
44:07
SPEAKER_00: and I'm emotionally invested.
44:10
SPEAKER_00: Now, one of the things the show does well is making these vet cases feel just
44:14
SPEAKER_00: as important as the interpersonal relationships.
44:16
SPEAKER_00: So the animals aren't really in the background.
44:19
SPEAKER_00: They kind of reveal something about everybody there and even the vets.
44:24
SPEAKER_00: And at the same time,
44:25
SPEAKER_00: we're watching James wrestle with where he belongs and,
44:29
SPEAKER_00: you know, all the other dynamics and the nails.
44:34
SPEAKER_00: And I've noticed too, random,
44:36
SPEAKER_00: that Maggie, the barmaid from Drove's Arms, she didn't appear in these episodes.
44:40
SPEAKER_00: So she was mentioned, though.
44:42
SPEAKER_00: And I hope we can see her again because I really enjoyed what she brought
44:46
SPEAKER_00: to Tristan's story in season one.
44:49
SPEAKER_00: So I would absolutely recommend this three-episode chapter.
44:53
SPEAKER_00: It is perfect for viewers who love character-driven period dramas,
44:56
SPEAKER_00: slow-burn romance,
44:58
SPEAKER_00: found family,
44:58
SPEAKER_00: beautiful countryside,
45:00
SPEAKER_00: and stories where the quieter moments matter just as much as
45:03
SPEAKER_00: the larger plot developments.
45:06
SPEAKER_00: And I would especially recommend it to anyone who enjoys watching flawed
45:10
SPEAKER_00: but lovable characters challenge,
45:12
SPEAKER_00: frustrate,
45:12
SPEAKER_00: and care for one another while being surrounded by animals and rolling hills
45:16
SPEAKER_00: and knitted sweaters and endless cups of tea.
45:20
SPEAKER_00: My overall rating for episodes in one, two, three is a 4.75 out of five stars.
45:24
SPEAKER_00: And of course, the cozy rating is a full five out of five cups.
45:28
SPEAKER_00: My final cup of comfort is the feeling of returning to Skeldal House and realizing
45:32
SPEAKER_00: that even with all the secrets,
45:34
SPEAKER_00: arguments, and uncertainty, these characters have truly become a family.
45:40
SPEAKER_00: Before we wrap up,
45:41
SPEAKER_00: if you enjoyed this episode and want to support Cozy Comfort Club,
45:44
SPEAKER_00: you can now buy me a coffee or tea.
45:47
SPEAKER_00: Your support helps me continue creating thoughtful,
45:50
SPEAKER_00: cozy conversations about the shows and books we love.
45:53
SPEAKER_00: You can also support the podcast by following,
45:56
SPEAKER_00: leaving a rating or review, and sharing the episode with another period drama fan.
46:00
SPEAKER_00: Every listen, follow, review,
46:02
SPEAKER_00: and coffee truly helps this little cozy corner grow,
46:05
SPEAKER_00: and I appreciate you being here more than you know.
46:08
SPEAKER_00: Coming up next,
46:09
SPEAKER_00: we're closing out Ludwig this Cozy Mystery Thursday with episodes five and six,
46:13
SPEAKER_00: including the season one finale.
46:16
SPEAKER_00: Then after this week,
46:17
SPEAKER_00: Cozy Comfort Club will officially move to one main episode every Tuesday
46:22
SPEAKER_00: with bonus episodes appearing along the way whenever I can fit them in.
46:26
SPEAKER_00: Next Tuesday,
46:27
SPEAKER_00: we will return to All Creatures Great and Small Season 2 to discuss Episodes 4
46:31
SPEAKER_00: through 6.
46:32
SPEAKER_00: And because Episode 7 is the Christmas special and the last episode of Season 2,
46:38
SPEAKER_00: I will be covering that separately as a bonus Countdown
46:40
SPEAKER_00: to Christmas episode released on the same day on the 25th.
46:45
SPEAKER_00: And if you didn't know,
46:46
SPEAKER_00: every month on the 25th,
46:47
SPEAKER_00: I chat about a cozy Christmas movie or special as we Countdown to Christmas Day.
46:52
SPEAKER_00: So this special fits perfectly into that tradition.
47:00
SPEAKER_00: And that's it for today's episode of Cozy Comfort Club.
47:03
SPEAKER_00: If you enjoyed this,
47:04
SPEAKER_00: don't forget to follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts,
47:07
SPEAKER_00: Spotify, or wherever you listen.
47:09
SPEAKER_00: And if you want weekly watch lists,
47:11
SPEAKER_00: cozy recommendations,
47:12
SPEAKER_00: and graphic reviews you can save to your phone,
47:15
SPEAKER_00: make sure you're subscribed over on Substack.
47:18
SPEAKER_00: You can also follow along on Instagram at Cozy Comfort Club and feel free
47:22
SPEAKER_00: to send me your recommendations.
47:23
SPEAKER_00: I love adding to our cozy list.
47:26
SPEAKER_00: Until next time, keep it cozy.