All Creatures Great & Small back on Thursday.

[olderandnonthewiser]

I love this series, one of my all time favourites and a new series starts on Thursday. Lovely feel good tv, and a real sign of Autumn when a new one lands.

Anyone else?

I assumed the memorial was for ww1 casualties as ww2 was still active.

Thank you....

I can see myself going to an animal shelter to re-home a cat/dog.

Don't worry I wont practice what I learn from the TV show :)

Are the dogs in the series drugged as they were exceptionally motionless. Especially the sheepdogs and mist unlike any sheepdog I've come across.The spaniel was a bit more lively and the retriever is old inhibi so wouldn't expect it to be gambling about.

Plus when they were looking for the sheep ( in a most unlikely fashion) why didn't Tristan say he'd walked past half a dozen or so when he was at the war memorial.

Plus moor sheep will have been hefted so will have their own patch of moorland to stick to so wouldn't be lost - maybe that's why farmer was almost lacksidaskic about the whole list sheep thing.

The animals are not drugged, and their welfare is monitored. Unlike the original tv series, which did not do that.
I thought it was lovely, not too sentimental, but very pertinent about the impact of war. Maggie's Arthur is in Burma, he could end up as a prisoner of the Japanese if he isn't killed. I liked the sheepdog story, and the farmer's horror at the idea of keeping a pet!
I'm glad Edward survived, married and had little Mary, that was sweet.

Yes, the WWI memorial was giving Tristan pause for thought. We don't know what happened to him in Italy, nor what his medal was awarded for. He's keeping quiet.

Realised dogs weren't drugged, nor the rats laft to fend for themselves! But the ywere remarkably passive. The house dogs as well, with rodents running around 🤣

I do love ACGAS. I'm old enough to remember the original series, and at one time had all the books 🤣

I loved the books, too, @onceuponatimeinneverland !
I read an article about this new series and how they prioritise animal welfare, understandably
In the original series the actors would do all manner of invasive procedures. Fortunately, it's all done on dummies or with CGI now.
That miniature pony was cute, but I reckon they used the same piece of film several times!

I enjoyed it but feel as if I've missed an episode! I definitely haven't. Confused about Mrs Hall in Sunderland and on her return to Darrowby her relationship with Siegfried seems odd. As does Siegfried.
Perhaps all will be revealed in later episodes.
it's just perfect autumn viewing.

The opening scenes felt a bit different in tone to previous series and what went after. I don’t recall James referring to her as Mrs H before? Jimmy seemed older than four/five. The rats were descendants of Siegfried’s pet (name I’ve forgotten) and presumably behaving similarly out of control. Would rationing not have made it tricky to accommodate the comings and goings at Skeldale?

I read that the actor who plays little Jimmy is actually 7 years old but because he had lines to say ie Dad and asking if Rosie was born the same way as the calf I assume they needed a slightly older child to play the part. I know she wasn't in it last night but I think the jump from December 1941 to June 1945 will allow Jenny to be the right age. Imogen who plays her grew rather a lot last series and no longer looked the 15 ? 16 she was meant to be. From what I remember she was meant to be 12 in series 1 set in 1937 so now in 1945 she will be about 20.

I wondered if all the scenes last night with Helen sat down were because Rachel was pregnant when filming so they did not want to show her bump?

Jenny was in the farm kitchen scene at the start and holding Jimmy’s hand around the bonfire at the end.

I think Siegfried struggled to cope after the death of his first wife, before the series began. Audrey arrived and kept everything on an even keel. Then Audrey left to help her son after he was demobbed and started a family. Other housekeepers didn't stay, and I think Siegfried started to spiral.
I agree that Jim is supposed to be about 4, but they needed him to say lines when he was doing the rounds with his Dad.

Jimmy was born in the Christmas episode set at the end of 1940. Now we have jumped to June 1945 so he's about 4 and a half. From the looks of it Rosie is now about 2? So born in 1943 ?

Yes.

Tristan has really grown up hasn't he? I hope we find out what he did to get a medal. I also like his continuing friendship with the barmaid Maggie. She told him way back that she wouldn't marry him, but I did wonder last night that if Arthur doesn't return from Burma, then they might get together.

Yes, I'm glad they've made him a bit more mature. The war would certainly have helped him to grow up.

Why has Helen let Skeldale get like that?!

Did Mrs Hall leave at the end of the last series & Helen take over as housekeeper?

Haven't Helen, James and the children gone to live at the Dad's farm?

Well yes, that's why I was wondering why Skeldale being a mess was Helen's "fault" unless she had taken over Mrs Hall's role!

Eta James is at Skeldale to be on call I think.

There has been a three and a half year interval since tge end of the last series. My best guess is that Mrs Hall left when her son returned after being injured when his ship was sunk. He probably arrived back in UK sometime 1942. She would have gone to be him as he recuperated. At some point Rosie has been born and with two kids they needed more space than one attic bedroom, so moved to the farm .There was talk of replacement housekeepers being employed but none could cope with Seigfried. I think it was only when Tristan came homenthey realised how bad things had got.

Yes.

I don't remember Mrs Hall leaving so it seemed odd to me that such a big thing was made of getting her back!

At the end of the last episode,actually the Christmas special. Mrs Hall had only just learnt that her son was still alive and at that point in hospital in Singapore. Three and a half years have elapsed since then. She clearly left when her son arrived back in England.

Three and a half years have elapsed since then. She clearly left when her son arrived back in England.

Yes it was explained but it seemed so clunky.

And why was Siegfried so pissed off that she went to look after her son?

I wonder if they are being set up as a couple?