1x03 Andante

[7.6/10] I’m going to call this the Siegfried redemption episode. I found the character almost intolerably jerky in the first episode, but they’ve done enough to highlight his heart of gold in the next two.

We learn about his history in the war. He feels he owes a spiritual d ebt to the horses who carried soldiers into battle and were shot because it was cheaper than transporting them back. He’s looked down upon as a simple farm horse doctor, but has the talents to work on thoroughbreds. As prickly as he is with his subordinates, he’s no less curt with his superiors, even in a situation where “personal niceties” would help him get a job he badly wants. There’s integrity and consistency in that. He’s not willing to sacrifice an animal’s welfare for his own, which is admirable.

Likewise, when Herriot chooses to put a prized racehorse down rather than let it suffer any longer, Siegfried stands by him. His first move is to comfort Herriot over having had to euthanize an animal. When the community treats Herriot as a “horse killer” for having had the temerity to show mercy to the locals’ pride and joy, Siegfried insists on sending James back out to service their animals so as to not let the unfair bias against him win out. And when the sympathetic general offers Siegfried the choice job with the racehorses, but only at the cost of Herriot’s employment, Siegfried turns him down. His honor and decency toward someone who’s done nothing wrong is another act of selflessness, putting the welfare of others, be their animal or colleague before his own.

That sort of altruism can buy you a lot of jerkiness as a television character, at least in my book. Again, the beats here are a bit predictable. There was little doubt in my mind that James had made the correct diagnosis when he determined that the only right course of action was to put the eponymous horse down. But the choices the characters make -- to stick to animal welfare no matter the personal cost, and to show loyalty toward one another no matter the same -- make the outcomes meaningful even if they’re heavily telegraphed.

The loyalty extends to the other stories here. I don’t care much for the subplot about Tristan collecting the practice’s debts, blowing the funds on beer, and then winning the money back via a bet laced with inside knowledge. But I do like him helping James out with a diagnosis when poor Herriot is clearly frazzled by the Andante situation. Ms. Hall looking after the farmgirl’s little sister, and trying to both expand her horizons and relieve Helen’s extra responsibilities is a nice beat for her. Even Hugh, who’s harsh in this one and the obstacle to James’ romantic pursuits, is understandable in his affection for his horse and wanting to be there to make sure everything’s done right.

Overall, this is another improvement from the prior episode, and hopefully promising for the trajectory of the show from here!