[7.7/10] I think the theme of this episode is “Broad tropes that I wrinkle my nose out, which turn into surprisingly mature plots that I enjoy.”
The prime example here is the business with James and Helen. This one felt like a sitcom story to me. James wants to tell Helen that he’s considering a job back in Glasgow, but can’t quite bring himself to do it when she squelches his lead-in. Helen finds out from Mrs. Hall who thinks James already spilled the beans, and then she’s a little stung with James when she shows up at Tristan’s birthday party.
The whole thing seemed like a recipe for manufactured drama. The whole “I meant to tell you and then you found out anyway” thing is an old trope, and I wasn’t relishing the relationship drama that would unfold afterwards.
But you know what? For one thing, their interactions at the party are nicely understated. There’s an air of awkwardness that pervades the whole dinner, and the light tension between james and Helen is a major part of that. Accentuated with one of Hugh’s socialite pals implicitly giving Helen shit for leaving Hugh, and you have something that feels believably uncomfortable for everyone, rather than over the top and melodramatic.
Likewise, when James does come clean the two have (gasp) a mature adult conversation about it. James apologizes. He talks about not wanting to put too much pressure on their relationship. He talks about wanting to stay here and be with her, but also feeling an obligation to his parents who gave up so much for him. And Helen understands. They value their grown-up relationship over any temporary slip-ups, and remain pretty cute together. Color me surprised.
That dinner party is one of my favorite bits in the whole show. This isn’t a very naturalistic series. Everything is pretty manicured, writerly, posed for maximum drama or at least T.V.-ready conflict. And yet, this felt like a Gimore Girls-style meal gone wrong, where everyone’s ostensibly on their best behavior, but can’t help but let the barbs slip in a way that makes everyone else at the table shift in their seats. The scenes really capture that awkward energy of a group of people who don’t know one another tangled in one another’s dirty laundry being aired through veiled comments and subtle digs. It’s good stuff.
To the same point, I generally like the Tristan/Siegfried material here. I’d honestly thought, based on the first half, that this was going to be one of those “Tristan goes on wacky hijinks” subplots. Him having to rasp an ornery horse, or birth a difficult calf is played up with the general comic zaniness that come with his stories. Throw in the fact that he was mostly playacting the difficult birth, and some more sitcom material of Sigfried launching him on his own but wanting to check up on him all the time, and I thought this was going to be another one of those middlebrow subplots the show likes to do.
Only then, it went someplace real. I was genuinely touched by Sigfried toasting to his brother’s success. He “excellent” reviews from customers, the confidence and change he’s seen in his younger brother, his sense as a “proud father” figure, all warm the heart.
Then, of course it all comes tumbling down. Siegfried worries that Tristan is up to his old tricks. Tirstian, characteristically lets a little success go to his head. And in the ensuing uncomfortable argument, Siegfried lets it spill that he lied about Tirstan passing his exams.
It’s the bombshell that’s been in the offing since last season’s Xmas special. I like how it finally comes out.
Tristan is devastated, feeling like a fraud and laughing stock for holding himself out as a credentialed vet when his qualifications were built on a canard. He’s hurt aht Mrs. Hall participated in the ruse. (Which, admittedly, still feels out of character.) And more frustratingly Siegfired won’t admit that he’s wrong. He thinks Tristan needed the boost and all but claims victory, something particularly rich given that the truth spilled out after he upbraided Tristan for exaggerating.
It’s a good performance from the actor who plays Tristan, showing the genuine woundedness from a normally sly character. And I like that this isn’t resolved quickly or easily. Both men think they’re right. Both feel aggrieved and justified. It’s going to take something meaningful between the two of them to fix it, with no simple options in sight. I didn’t solve the dramatic secret Sigfired’s been keeping, but I do like how they finally unveil it.
Overall, a good episode that takes some corny premises, and spins them into gold by tackling them in a serious and mature manner.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2023-06-02T03:03:56Z
[7.7/10] I think the theme of this episode is “Broad tropes that I wrinkle my nose out, which turn into surprisingly mature plots that I enjoy.”
The prime example here is the business with James and Helen. This one felt like a sitcom story to me. James wants to tell Helen that he’s considering a job back in Glasgow, but can’t quite bring himself to do it when she squelches his lead-in. Helen finds out from Mrs. Hall who thinks James already spilled the beans, and then she’s a little stung with James when she shows up at Tristan’s birthday party.
The whole thing seemed like a recipe for manufactured drama. The whole “I meant to tell you and then you found out anyway” thing is an old trope, and I wasn’t relishing the relationship drama that would unfold afterwards.
But you know what? For one thing, their interactions at the party are nicely understated. There’s an air of awkwardness that pervades the whole dinner, and the light tension between james and Helen is a major part of that. Accentuated with one of Hugh’s socialite pals implicitly giving Helen shit for leaving Hugh, and you have something that feels believably uncomfortable for everyone, rather than over the top and melodramatic.
Likewise, when James does come clean the two have (gasp) a mature adult conversation about it. James apologizes. He talks about not wanting to put too much pressure on their relationship. He talks about wanting to stay here and be with her, but also feeling an obligation to his parents who gave up so much for him. And Helen understands. They value their grown-up relationship over any temporary slip-ups, and remain pretty cute together. Color me surprised.
That dinner party is one of my favorite bits in the whole show. This isn’t a very naturalistic series. Everything is pretty manicured, writerly, posed for maximum drama or at least T.V.-ready conflict. And yet, this felt like a Gimore Girls-style meal gone wrong, where everyone’s ostensibly on their best behavior, but can’t help but let the barbs slip in a way that makes everyone else at the table shift in their seats. The scenes really capture that awkward energy of a group of people who don’t know one another tangled in one another’s dirty laundry being aired through veiled comments and subtle digs. It’s good stuff.
To the same point, I generally like the Tristan/Siegfried material here. I’d honestly thought, based on the first half, that this was going to be one of those “Tristan goes on wacky hijinks” subplots. Him having to rasp an ornery horse, or birth a difficult calf is played up with the general comic zaniness that come with his stories. Throw in the fact that he was mostly playacting the difficult birth, and some more sitcom material of Sigfried launching him on his own but wanting to check up on him all the time, and I thought this was going to be another one of those middlebrow subplots the show likes to do.
Only then, it went someplace real. I was genuinely touched by Sigfried toasting to his brother’s success. He “excellent” reviews from customers, the confidence and change he’s seen in his younger brother, his sense as a “proud father” figure, all warm the heart.
Then, of course it all comes tumbling down. Siegfried worries that Tristan is up to his old tricks. Tirstian, characteristically lets a little success go to his head. And in the ensuing uncomfortable argument, Siegfried lets it spill that he lied about Tirstan passing his exams.
It’s the bombshell that’s been in the offing since last season’s Xmas special. I like how it finally comes out.
Tristan is devastated, feeling like a fraud and laughing stock for holding himself out as a credentialed vet when his qualifications were built on a canard. He’s hurt aht Mrs. Hall participated in the ruse. (Which, admittedly, still feels out of character.) And more frustratingly Siegfired won’t admit that he’s wrong. He thinks Tristan needed the boost and all but claims victory, something particularly rich given that the truth spilled out after he upbraided Tristan for exaggerating.
It’s a good performance from the actor who plays Tristan, showing the genuine woundedness from a normally sly character. And I like that this isn’t resolved quickly or easily. Both men think they’re right. Both feel aggrieved and justified. It’s going to take something meaningful between the two of them to fix it, with no simple options in sight. I didn’t solve the dramatic secret Sigfired’s been keeping, but I do like how they finally unveil it.
Overall, a good episode that takes some corny premises, and spins them into gold by tackling them in a serious and mature manner.