All Creatures Great & Small

Sorry, a bit late to the thread, but I have loved the series. I didn't expect to like it, as I loved the original series, but it's been great. Is there to be another series? Hope so! Although I guess the virus will hold up filming

I thought Helen was in the first series (Carol Drinkwater) then Lynda Bellingham in later series.

I can't remember whether she was in the first books or not and certainly don't remember her being engaged to Neville Longbottom!

Am getting a bit tired of Mrs Hall’s knowing sideways glances.
Tristam still hasn’t found any charm and James seems a bit spineless.
Sam West continues to be a good Siegfried, the part was made for him.
Helen appears continually miserable/feisty.....why? She wasn’t in either the book or the original series.

Sorry to disagree but I have not enjoyed these programmes but DH seemed to like them . I though the ending was very contrived and the housekeeper is so wrong . A housekeeper would not go to the pub with the people she worked for or give tham advice .

The real Helen (Joan) wasn't a farmer's daughter.
But it's a good story, very enjoyable.

It's all a lovely story though. Fine by me.

And if Helen had been engaged (sure she wasn't) it wouldn't have been to that character. As far as I remember we only heard about him when James had to shoot his horse and a farmer's daughter wouldn't have been his idea of a suitable wife.

Ladyleftfieldlover I don't remember that either.

Isn't Neville Longbottom doing well? Popping up all over the place - Ripper Street for one. Who would have thought poor little Neville with his toad would do so well

They did say they'd changed the storyline.

Yes, it should be on at Sunday tea time! I don’t remember Helen being engaged (Neville Longbottom!) before marrying James.

It's all in the eye of the beholder Jabberwok!

Sam West ?

Well, he doesn't exactly ooze charm!!

I have also read all the James Herriot books. I have not found the new Tristan to be morose at all! Callum Woodhouse the actor playing Tristan is 26.

It's an account of the real life of real people in the Yorkshire Dales in 1938 nothing to do with comparasons, and should reflect this as accurately as possible! Veterinary taining takes 5 years making Tristan about 24 in his final year or perhaps a bit older, making the original Tristan about spot on age wise, and in real life, if the books are to be believed, wasn't even remotely morose!

He is very good in the role grannylyn. I think its a great mistake to compare it with the previous TV version. James and Tristan feel just right for me. Peter Davidson was lovely in the old programme but was clearly too old to be a student. The new Tristan looks like the lazy student he's meant to be!
Its a drama not a story set in concrete!

Sam West is lush !!

I did try again! but for me it was just awful in every way possible. It was so unauthentic in every respect from Mrs Hall to Mrs Pumpfrey bearing in mind these early episodes were set in 1938 in rural Yorkshire!! It was sadly completely unlike the books and the era it was set in, particularly Mrs Hall who simply wouldn't have been, and wasnt so intimate with her employer, and Tristan who was completely charmless, when in fact he was the exact opposite. I won't be watching again!

The cast was great but the stories were so rushed, there was a lot more depth and detail in the books.

Did the BBC really turn this down?

I think it's very good and like that the housekeeper gets more of a look in.

I liked the portrayal of James.
He came across as an observer, someone who wouldn't make a scene or show his emotions easily but who didn't suffer fools gladly.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thought the casting of Siegfried and Tristram was spot on. I thought James came across as a bit of a wimp ?

Oh I'm so sorry the series has ended. It was just great. Such pleasant viewing. There's to be a Christmas special. I'm really disappointed that I'll have to wait so long to catch up with them all.

Stumbled across the first episode while searching for another programme on Catch Up. Decided to try it and was pleasantly surprised. So poignant to see Diana Rigg.