All Creatures Great and Small
Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
This episode didnt help things by being extremely heartwarming.
We slow-zoom into Skeldale House from the outside like were Scrooge at the window.
Going in, everything is decorated for Christmas, but no one is around because its very early.
There are garlands everywhere!
And a sign for the North Pole!
Its Christmas Eve morning, and James gets a call from Mr. Kitson, who has a sick cow.
Makes total sense, Mr. Kitson!
(It does not.)
He also picks up a small crooked log while looking very pleased with himself.
This relates to a Scottish tradition well get into later!
Youve really gotta beinto get into the Christmas luncheon.
Or you would, but then they start throwing invitations around all willy-nilly.
Invite Diana, Mrs. Hall says to Siegfried!
Invite Gerald, Siegfried says to Mrs. Hall!
Booooo, I say to everyone!
Diana specifically tells Mrs. Hall that she is excited about having an empty house.
Sure, Gerald would probably appreciate an invite, but is anyone a Gerald fan?
If you are, dont tell me unless youve made an elaborate Gerald/Mrs.
Hall collage, because I respect that kind of effort.
That, or a fanvid of them set to a Nickelback song.
That would be funny.
I had to keep reassuring myself that SURELY they would not kill him in a Christmas special.
But they killed Clive the Bull, so you never know.
Mrs. Pumphrey calls because there is something wrong with Tricki.
He is not eating.
Hes just lying in a chair, being depressed.
Siegfried diagnoses it as gastroenteritis, which is an intestinal infection that can be very dangerous.
Cant you wait untilafterthe holiday to make your home look like Miss Havishams?
Just have some dust on your chairs, its fine.
Siegfried takes Tricki with him for treatment, promising hell attempt to have him back by Christmas tomorrow.
James goes to the Aldersons to pick up Helen, who looks very pretty in her dress!
I am determined to shower Helen with compliments whenever I can now that their dynamic has improved so much.
Ilooked this up, and yes, apparently, youre supposed to start four to six weeks ahead.
It looks like chocolate, but it isnot.
Maybe Christmas pudding is amazing.
James also calls it Old Woman Winter.
Now we get to the fanfic portion of our show.
Notimmediately, but it puts them on the path.
He tells her she looks different (the trope!!
This is exactly the sort of inner-monologue fic I would have written when I was 17.
They get Mrs. Pumphrey to sit with him, but it doesnt do anything.
Meanwhile, did you know the ewe that James gave the shot to survived??
It is a saved sheep!
Does this relate to Tricki?
Yes, it does.
But it could also kill him.
Mrs. Pumphrey whispers in Trickis ear before he gets the shot, and I cry.
I cry so much.
She asks if she can hold his paw while its administered.
DAMN YOU, CHRISTMAS EPISODE, Alice howls while holding her cats close.
When Father Christmas is late, James takes over the role, with Helens assistance.
Helen feels like there wont be anything for her to do, which is fair!
James admits he hadnt thought about that (MEN).
Siegfried tries to invite Diana to Christmas lunch, and she basically tells him theyre friends with benefits.
I can get behind this.
FOR THE TIME BEING.
Mrs. Hall invites Gerald to lunch and he accepts.
The next morning (Christmas!
), James and Tristan both pad down the stairs in their jammies to check on Tricki.
Siegfried comes down in his robe.
Tricki still isnt awake, and his heartbeat is slow, so James gives him a shot of adrenaline.
You fluffy mop of a dog!
James immediately delivers Tricki to Mrs. Pumphrey for Christmas and comes in for a glass of sherry.
On Christmas Day, Tristans present to Siegfried is telling him that he passed.
Siegfried looks SO PROUD while reading it, and he nods at Mrs. Hall with tears in his eyes.
My little Yorkshire familyyyyyyyy.
They all sing Ding Dong Merrily on High and sound delightfully terrible.
Apparently, the gloria in that song has33 syllables, which I believe.
OMG, its all so heartwarming.
Later, he burns the log and quotes theRobert Burns poemAuld Lang Syne.
He reaches up and holds her hand.
I am perfectly calm about this entire situation.
Mrs. Hall is distracted by the sound of a plane and sees one out the window.
She looks over at James, Helen, and Tristan, worried.
The dog knocks over the board game the kids are playing.
Theyre all laughing and happy.
The camera pans back from Skeldale House.
I cry because I love this show so much.
We see the plane crossing the moon.
