“All Creatures Great and Small” Summary: A two-sided love triangle

Photo: Helen Williams/PBS

Avast, All Creatures fans, fly the flag on the schooner. Because we have a new “ship”. My opinions on Tristan have so far ranged from “nice guy” to “he’ll be fine,” but he has great chemistry with newcomer Charlotte Beauvoir and I’m happy to accept this development. I want all the characters in the main cast to be happy. But the story doesn’t always have to revolve around them, or even focus too much on them (looking at you, Helen).

I’m really enjoying Siegfried’s personal journey this season. They’re not in a hurry. He has small realizations in every episode, and each time his actions are adjusted. He was probably alone for about four years, but Siegfried was too eccentric to be left alone. A properly adapted human society is needed to guide him in the right direction. I once had a friend who spent too much time alone for a while. While we were playing together, the person said something to himself and then said, “Shhh!” I said, “Sir, it’s definitely okay to talk to yourself, and we do that too. You’ll only get weirder if you stay silent.” Siegfried needs this kind of feedback, and fortunately he now has people around him who can provide it. You can’t just eat sardines and mysteriously rush to some unknown place, Siegfried. I mean, you can, but at what cost? (The price is alienation. This is not a funny answer, but it’s true.) As I say every week, thank God for Mrs. Hall.

It all begins when Siegfried receives an invitation to a black tie dinner at Castle Ohley on Saturday. He ignores Tristan’s plans to go to the Drovers’ house because he wants to befriend the rich. Siegfried says it’s good for business, but I think everyone knows he’s a boozy bitch. Having this knowledge makes James and Tristan’s theorizing later in the episode much more interesting. Tristan is depressed and lonely and wants to connect with his brother, but Siegfried is still in insular Siegfried mode and doesn’t notice this at all.

Siegfried and Tristan separately see a note asking Captain Farnon to come to the Beauvoir mansion, and they leave together. Two Captain Farnons! Charlotte greets them and says her father has just asked her to ask for Captain Farnon. Apparently Captain Farnon is good with horses. That applies to both. The two Farnon jockeys head to the stables with Charlotte to check on her horse, Philbrick, who is not eating. Siegfried recommends rest, and Tristan suggests exercise. Well, this is no good, folks. They decided to start with rest and go from there. Tristan and Siegfried secretly argue over who General Beauvoir was referring to. Mrs. Hall then tells Siegfried how disappointed Tristan was that Drovers was cancelled, but Siegfried simply dismisses it as he is focused on being the fancy guy at the party.

If you look at Charlotte and think, like I did, “Hmm. This girl looks like Emma Thompson,” that’s because she’s actually Emma Thompson’s daughter. It’s Gaia Wise! Her father is Greg Wise, aka Willoughby from Sense and Sensibility (though if you’re a fan of All Creatures there’s a 60% chance you already know that). If Eleanor Dashwood and Willoughby had a daughter, this is what it would look like. she’s amazing But #NoRedemption for Willoughby.

Philbrick has not yet eaten, but Tristan learns that he is a warhorse from Sicily. There, Charlotte worked in the Auxiliary Territorial Service until she contracted malaria and had to return home. That’s just Daisy Miller. There, she and Tristan bond over their love of horses, their mutual attraction, and the challenges of returning to civilian life. Good for them.

But what about James? James is really in trouble this week. Siegfried is always in the car, so if James wants to visit Helen on his lunch break, he has to pedal his rickety bike up and down the Yorkshire Dales. Then when he arrived at the farm, the sheep were tangled in the hedge and Helen was not there. James takes Helen to the movies on Saturday and tells Jenny that they can finally spend time together. I support you and your platonic marriage, James. (Sorry, they still don’t get along very well.) James’ other job this week is to find a partner for Tricky Woo, but since Tricky is an older dog, no breeder is interested. “But what about wisdom?” asks Mrs. Pumphrey. Great question. Granted, I don’t know anything about dog breeding, but can’t she shell out a lot of money to a breeder?

The battle between Siegfried and Tristan continues over who will take on the Beauvoir case. Siegfried is furious when he learns that Tristan has gone out alone, and thinks that James may be fighting over Charlotte. “To me, he always had a thing for rich women,” James says. Well done, sir. I felt it was very obvious that Siegfried was not into Charlotte. The main reason is that when Siegfried falls in love with someone, he either prostrates himself or withdraws deep within himself, becoming a conceited, soulmateless, lonely being. (Did you spot Mrs. Hall’s snood this week?)

Captain Farnon’s confusion is resolved with the arrival of General Beauvoir, played by Jonathan Hyde. Look, he’s Richie Rich’s butler and Robin Williams’ father from Jumanji! Remember when Richie Rich had the rights to McDonald’s in his house? That’s how it was. General Beauvoir clearly wanted Tristan, but Siegfried’s self-esteem was hurt. However, Tristan thinks that Siegfried loves Charlotte. Because he and James only use their brains to diagnose animals. So now this story is flying around the clinic and Mrs. Hall has to just sit there and listen because Siegfried doesn’t talk about himself anymore. Damn it, Siegfried. Modify your life (but don’t overdo it).

Charlotte invites Tristan to an event at the Château de Orlay (cute). Siegfried enjoys listening to Elgar and plays the air cello at home. On the night of the event, the chickens come home to roost. Siegfried and Mrs. Hall have a drink before Tristan leaves and discuss Tristan’s hiding of his army medals. When Tristan and James show up and tell Siegfried that Charlotte has asked Tristan out on a date, Siegfried is confused by their sensitivity. “She’s over 20 years younger than me!” Again, men of the house, why didn’t you see the woman Siegfried was dating? they are everywhere. He just wants to secure General Beauvoir’s business. But all of this is brought to a screeching halt when the phone rings and Philbrick isn’t feeling well. Go away! Run to the sick horse!

Tristan and Siegfried both go to the hospital, where Siegfried is eventually diagnosed with a kidney infection. They call it “pyelonephritis.” Philbrick will now be able to administer antibiotics and hopes the track will receive a significant amount of money to treat the horse, which will be used to pay for an X-ray machine from last week. Siegfried returns home and Charlotte and Tristan dance in the stable. Tristan then kisses Emma Thompson’s daughter. imagine. i like them! More Charlotte!

At home, Mrs. Hall confesses to Siegfried that she is angry at him for not thinking of others (see: James hobbling down the hill on his bicycle and Tristan looking generally sad). Siegfried needs to communicate because he keeps things to himself too much. She says that if Tristan had told her earlier about Siegfried’s interest in Mr. Beauvoir, Mrs. Hall would have already known about Siegfried’s side. He obediently listens to this information, which is a big deal for Siegfried. Tristan comes home happy, and Siegfried is like, “Oh my god.” So he and Tristan ended up drinking on Saturday night. Tris looks very happy. Siegfried finally smiled.

Oh, and Tricky has a love affair with a miniature poodle. Let’s see how it goes.