Category: Directed by Metin Hüseyin

All Creatures Great and Small (2020) s01e05 – All’s Fair

This episode takes place over a single day—it’s town fair day—and has a whole bunch of plots. I’m not sure if it’s the best episode of the show so far, but All’s Fair is certainly the most logistically ambitious and successful.

The day starts with Nicholas Ralph on his way to play “Attending Vet” at the fair; he’s going to inspect ponies, judge a pet show, and just be around for whatever veterinary question an attendee might have. Steven Blakeley plays the annoying event coordinator, who hounds Ralph throughout the day, occasionally resorting to calling for him through a megaphone. It’s not an enviable position (before you even get to the shitty people who want Ralph to help their animals cheat to win), and everyone at the veterinary practice except Ralph knows it.

In fact, they bet on it. As Ralph heads out, Callum Woodhouse and Samuel West gleefully wager on when Ralph will break down. Even Anna Madeley, who tells them she disapproves of gambling, places a bet.

But Ralph’s arc isn’t just going to be contending with angry pony and dog owners; he’s also going to get himself into a moral quandary regarding potential love interest Rachel Shenton’s prize bull. Specifically, whether or not the bull’s much of a prize anymore, Shenton and her family are trying to sell it, needing the money. So, in addition to staying ahead of Blakely and not trying to offend Shenton, Ralph’s scurrying around the fair trying to track down Jon Furlong, another farmer who should know whether or not the bull’s got what it takes.

Studding wise.

It’s a direct follow-up to last episode, including Tony Pitts as Shenton’s dad. Her actual beau, Matthew Lewis, is also around, putting his fingers on the scale as needed. While not a high-stakes arc, it’s a good one for Ralph in terms of character development and performance. He gets to do a varied lot amid the rest of his busy episode.

Meanwhile, both Woodhouse and West have romantic arcs. Woodhouse is trying to figure out the next steps in his relationship with bartender Mollie Winnard and doing what he can to avoid talking with her about it. West tries to provide brotherly counsel but soon needs some of his own when Madeley’s friend, Maimie McCoy, pops in for a visit. McCoy’s from a few episodes back, where she and West’s genial flirtations quickly gave way to automotive discussions. Here, they stick to the genial flirtation.

Madeley’s arc proper kicks off thanks to McCoy’s visit and some discussions of the past, which affect Madeley in the present. Also, correction from earlier because I looked it up finally—Madeley was not in a nursing corps in the First World War; she was in the Women’s Royal Naval Service. They do not appear to have done any nursing. My bad.

Her arc eventually involves Imogen Clawson, calling back to their bond from a few episodes ago.

The episode doesn’t culminate any outstanding story threads; it just brings some background elements in those threads to the fore, getting “All Creatures” ready to move forward.

It’s a packed episode—script credited to Debbie O’Malley—and director Metin Hüseyin does a great job keeping everything coherent.

Ralph’s got the best arc, probably followed by Madeley, who’s got the least of the three supporting arcs, but definitely the most intense. Though this episode does reveal some critical backstory on West, who it reveals to be a widower. That history also informs on Woodhouse. So, again, not a big wrap-up, rather a big unwrapping.

It’s impressive.

All Creatures Great and Small (2020) s01e03 – Andante

This episode very nicely alleviates most of my (limited) concerns about “All Creatures,” even without bringing back Diana Ring for another guest spot.

As with the previous two episodes (so, all the previous episodes), new veterinary assistant Nicholas Ralph again has an arc where he needs to be worried about losing his position. However, it’s the plot here, not just a quick resolution or foil to move things along. The episode’s third act is just Ralph—and new pal Callum Woodhouse (they need to team up to cope with the boss, Samuel West) and housekeeper slash den mother Anna Madeley—freaking out about him losing his job. It’s even worse this time because everyone in town knows about it, so they’re either congratulating Ralph (because his latest potential mistake affected a bet) or mocking him.

It could all go wrong, and every episode going forward could have this same beat, but they finally seem to have it addressed here. West’s got a whole lot more agency this time around; he’s not just the overbearing boss, he’s the sympathetic colleague.

The other outstanding concerns—can Woodhouse be a non-competitive, not twerp effectively, and can Madeley get a real arc–also get answered. Both in the affirmative. Woodhouse gets a very amusing turn about trying to collect payment from the local farmers, and discovering the best way to do it involves getting them drunk before hitting them up. He even makes a new friend: bartender Mollie Winnard, who seems like his imminent love interest.

Meanwhile, Madeley’s arc involves babysitting Imogen Clawson so older sister Rachel Shenton can… do things. Clawson’s nearing her terrible teens and no longer minding Shenton, who’s had to play mom in addition to sister, and Madeley brings a new perspective to the entire situation. It also gives Madeley and West’s relationship some depth because they can bond over parenting, though West’s just older brother parenting Woodhouse. It’s an amusing arc, too; Clawson’s impetuous and overconfident, so Madeley’s got to contend with attitude.

Then West’s got an arc where he’s interviewing to be the vet at the local racetrack. Initially, he’s only able to get his foot in the door because of local rich guy Matthew Lewis (who we met last episode as Ralph’s rival for Shenton’s affections), but then he and stuck-up track owner Nigel Havers have a great bonding scene. It’s West’s best-acted episode of the series so far; it’s also the most significant real arc he’s gotten.

Ralph gets the veterinary procedural cases—a horse with colic and then a cow showing signs of heat exhaustion. Lots of terrific acting from Ralph on both cases, where his expertise is questioned repeatedly. Susan Jameson’s great as the nasty cow owner, who delights in mocking Ralph.

After the taut third act, there’s a nice resolution with West and Madeley. They’re quickly becoming the show’s most tangible, developed, and rewarding relationship. It’s particularly nice since they both have a strong episode apart, then bring it together throughout and at the end.

Hopefully, this episode will be the last time Ralph has an “am I fired” arc for a while. It certainly seems like they’re comfortable being done with it. Fingers crossed.