All Creatures Great and Small (TV Series) All's Fair (2020) User Reviews

Fairground attraction

[safenoe · 8/10 · 7 November 2022]

I'm now starting to watch the first series of the All Creatures Great and Small reboot, not having watched the original series which featured Peter Davison, who I think was the only actor from the original series who was from Guyana.

This is an entertaining episode, with James being redeemed at the end through one of the locals buying him an ale for being honest as the Attending Vet much to the chagrin of some of the locals who think they can be dishonest and get away with it.

I like the reboot, and I wish Peter Davison (not Davidson) could make a cameo appearance. I'd also love Danny Dyer to make a guest appearance.

A fair watch

[xmasdaybaby1966 · 7/10 · 29 September 2020]

It has been a wonderful high - standard series so far which is why this episode seemed a bit of a let down. There are still highs and lows with James being put to the test at the local show. The empathy of the characters and the humour just doesn't seem to be as equal to the previous episodes but is still a good watch.

Holy cow!

[rrtiverton · 8/10 · 14 February 2021]

Farm politics, town fair and great stories.

Though Tristan is really one dimensional.

Frustration Builds

[VetteRanger · 8/10 · 11 January 2023]

The day of the Darrowby Show has arrived, and James has been presented with the honor (hornswoggled) into being the official veterinarian for the competitions and shows. As his friends place bets on how far in the day he will get before he packs it in and tells everyone "where to go", James struggles with complainers and cheaters.

Added to his problems are doubts about Helen's father's prize bull, which will almost certainly win the prize for bulls and command a handsome price at sale. However, James is concerned if the bull can successfully perform his "duties". If the bull is "lame", the sale would constitute a fraud committed on the buyer.

Will he get to the end of the day? And will he manage to weave his way through the ethical and personal considerations?

James's Show

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 24 January 2024]

It is time for a village fair and the veterinary practice is going to participate. James has been chosen to be a judge, but doesn't realize the breadth of the politics that are involved in what he does. He measures the height of ponies (so they can qualify as real ponies). People harass him and try to intimidate him in order to get their animals judged in their favor. He is torn over whether to blow the whistle on a bull who has not been performing. His actions, he feels, will influence his relationship with the young woman with whom he is infatuated. If he is honest about the bull's physical condition, it would affect her financially. She is barely hanging on as a farmer. One thing that gets a little tired is an overzealous official who is on James' case every minute.

It's just a series with familiar named characters

[Sam_Owens · 6/10 · 11 February 2021]

Does not follow the stories of Herriot except in a vague way. Lots of side story additions that are not about creatures great and small but about people, like people everywhere throughout time. Nothing original there. At best I can say it's not bad.

Well, I had high hopes for this episode . . .

[amorehl-93-99338 · 6/10 · 19 February 2021]

This episode started out with a story that actually came from James Herriot's pen! James was in charge at the fair with all the myriad, albeit humorous, aggravations the farmers presented. But then the writers had to add their own invented, rather large sub-plot of Helen's fictional fiance and Clive the bull. Nope, that never happened! As one reviewer described the show: "It's just a series with familiar named characters," because it's certainly not a recounting of Herriot's beloved stories. OK, sure, as PBS's own Masterpiece site describes it, he only sold millions of his stories in hard cover and "many millions more in paperback," so why would the writers and producers think that he might have known how to craft humorous and touching stories the public would love? No, no, they obviously know better! This series is such a wasted opportunity, so much of it beautifully done, including having James being played by an actual Scottish actor. But, hey, if you've never had the pleasure of reading any of his stories, you'll probably like this show because there is much to like -- just not nearly as much as there should have been.

Don't really like the loser brother!

[napera · 7/10 · 8 February 2021]

I would like it better if it weren't for the waste of space brother!