All Creatures Great and Small
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What Siegfried hath wrought, let his own blunder put asunder.
The truth is out and Tristan learns he did not pass his vet exams.
But before we get to that dramatically satisfying moment, lets go back in time to earlier that day.
Siegfried gives him that initialed work bag that Mrs. Hall ordered, and Tristan is very pleased.
He also gets his own list of vet appointments.
This is stressful until Siegfried says that James is going to accompany him.
Especially if your animals were your livelihood?
I know things were different in the 30s, butwerethey?
Its still bad, though.
He then goes to see a man about a horse.
The grumpy horseman he meets there is Mr. Monkham, who will proceed to be very judgy.
He will, but lets pull off to the side for a moment because minor gentry??
That doesnt even sound good!
Why arent you good enough formajorgentry?
What Im saying is that this is embarrassing for everyone.
Also, abolish the class system.
Moving on, Tristan files some teeth and gets kicked in the knee by a horse.
Mr. Monkham, the grumpy horseman, laughs.
Did anyone else understand what was going on with the crying dog plotline?
I kept thinking something was going to happen, but nothing.
I get it, dog.
I kept thinking something would reach a crisis point with the dog, but it never does!
It just cries if you leave it alone.
Also is this Siegfrieds dog, Jess?
But I think vaguely like this dog?
Tristan delivers his first calf and later tells James he was exaggerating the pain he was in.
Mrs. Hall is fixing a broken chair in time for the dinner party.
It looks like tightening something?
Does this need to happen?
I proclaim that this proximity is, as they would say in Tudor times, aclew.
Mrs. Hall is flustered!
Siegfrieds date Diana teases him!
This is EXACTLY the sort of thing television writers do when they will eventually pair up two people.
She does this because hetoldher he was going to tell Helen.
So now Helen knows, and she knows that James has kept this from her.
Withheld information: a theme for this episode!
Because Margot is Fancy, she is friends with Helens recently jilted fiance.
Margot says they were all devastated about her and Hugh.
Well, I guess we hate Margot.
She apologizes later, but get outta here, Margot!
Your brightly toned appearance clashes with our beloved muted aesthetic!
The dinner party is terrible.
Everyone is awkward and quiet.
It is very reminiscent ofConversation Piece fromWonderful Town, mixed withThe Offices Dinner Party.
Margot keeps talking about Hugh and being snippy to Helen.
Mrs. Hall made Beef Wellington!
When do you think this dish was invented?
What are your thoughts on the Duke of Wellington?
How would YOU have defeated Napoleon?
Come on, people.
Siegfried stands and makes a toast to Tristan and his first day out as lead vet.
All the reports of Tristans work have been uniformly excellent.
It is a lovely moment, but Tristan looks unhappy.
IT HAS COME OUT.
IT IS SO DRAMATIC.
TRULY THE RED WEDDING OFALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL.
Everyone leaves but Tristan and Siegfried.
Tristan just missed the mark on one paper, parasitology.
So, good thing he wasnt treating those cows with husk last week, huh?
(Not the moment, Alice.)
Tristan is extremely upset, and heshouldbe!
This is such a terrible thing Siegfried has done!
And then Siegfried says he doesnt think hes necessarily in the wrong, which is full-out bonkers.
Tristan goes to the kitchen, where Mrs. Hall finds him.
She tries to explain Siegfrieds motives and feelings and then apologizes again.
This episode gets a 5/5 for PATHOS.
Aphorisms are useful sometimes for clarity.
They finally talk about Glasgow and have some good communication about it!
Well done, you two.
James feels that no matter what he decides, hell be letting people down.
He wants to be with Helen, but he wants to support his parents.
Helen says theyll work it out, which is such a nice relationships-are-a-partnership statement.
Tristan is drinking Siegfrieds special whisky in front of the fire.
Its a well-intentioned sentiment!
They decide to go get drunk at the Drovers for Tristans birthday.
Good work, guys.
I know James doesnt go to Glasgow, butwhat if James goes to Glasgow?
ADoctor Whospinoff starring a dog would be terrible, right?
Or just terrible enough to work?
