[7.0/10] Pretty generic opening. Young guy is idealistic, naive, and untested, but determined and talented. Older guy is gruff and grumpy but has a heart of gold. Period piece female lead has a limit to what she can do given the expectations at the time, but has a asel-fpossesed quality and a subtle hand that helps her run the show. And there’s a love interest with hints at a mildly interesting backstory but who’s otherwise mostly just there.
There’s nothing wrong with the execution here. Everything’s well made, well performed, and all around well-done. But there’s a lot of familiar tropes aa play which diminishes my ability to be over the moon about this one.
I’ll admit, I find Farnon a bit irksome right from the jump. I know we’re supposed to. I know he’s supposed to seem like a jerk at first because that will make it all the more meaningful when he inevitably does some nice or noble thing down the line. But we already have Dr. House. We don’t need Dr. Doghouse, with half the wit.
That said, the notion of a young vet desperate for any job, finding himself away from home and trying his best to hack it provides a good spine for the episode. For all the cheesy and predictable back and forths with Farnon testing Harriet, or Harriet accidentally getting drunks, or the other such nonsense, the episode finishes strong. Harriet demonstrating his perseverance and dedication by rescuing a calf stuck in its mother’s womb, saving both animals from being euthanized, is a good way to dramatize his skills and his willingness to keep trying.
Everything here is thoroughly competent, and it’s nice to see some cute and/or funny animals . But in its first hour, All Creatures Great and Small is missing the extra something to make it more than a standard show following the familiar beats.
Shout by JoJoConejoBlockedParent2022-03-06T23:52:45Z
Oh, how cozy and charming!
Mrs. Hall in particular gave it a familiar touch