[7.5/10] There’s a certain permission to be sappy that comes with an Xmas episode. I can see the strings when Tricki Woo makes a miraculous recovery, or everyone from across the show gathers at Mrs. Pumphrey’s house to vindicate the episode’s “Holidays are better together” themes. So I can’t pretend these moments hit me like a thunderbolt. But they’re charming and warm enough, which is all you really need for a dose of yuletide endearment (even if you’re a chucklehead who’s watching it in June.)
I’ll reiterate my issue that keeps the show in “good not great” territory, at least from a writing perspective. (The acting and direction continue to be top notch.) All Creatures is willing to graze some big issues, but never really commits to their examination, especially if it’d be challenging. That runs too counter to the show’s cozycore, hugbox sensibilities.
Case in point, James calls his mom, who hasn’t spoken to him since the big reveal in the last episode, which was apparently three months ago. There it is! Consequences! Something that comes out of James’ grand dilemma. And their ensuing Xmas phone call is sweet. There’s a funny, lived-in feel to the inside jokes about the father’s log-carving and mum’s indignance at the resemblance. I even like the resolution, where James’ mom says she understands he’s where we need to be but she still misses him and James thanks his parents for all they sacrificed to let him do what he loves, and his parents essentially say, “Of course, you’re our son.” There’s truth at the core of the conversation, of difficulty in letting someone leave the nest while also being glad for everything that’s made it possible. But again, no real hardships, no real worries about mom and dad’s apparent money issues. Everything feels a little too easy to me.
Likewise, one of my favorite parts of this one is the conversation between Helen and James in their “Father Christmas and Elf” getups. They realize they haven't talked about where they’ll be, what Helen will do, or even resolved where to have Xmas Day lunch. For once, you get the sense that they may have rushed into this without thinking it through, and there’s hints of friction about what their lives will look like on a practical basis, beyond their love for one another, that will pose challenges they’ll need to resolve as husband and wife.
Except, no, not really. You can see the way much of “The Perfect Christmas” is built to show that Helen will have a point and purpose on the show even when she’s no longer just a love interest. On the one hand, I like that! The actress is talented. It’d be a disservice to mire her in nothing but further romantic storylines. And it’s nice to show her as a force to be reckoned with and not just James’ eternal date.
On the other hand, it's all a little too easy. There’s a mysterious upstairs with beds where they can stay. (Uh, why was Tristan sleeping in the cupboard all this time?) Helen understands the vet-skeptical farmers in a way James doesn’t, as demonstrated by the ornery chap and his sheep. And she has an intuition form working with animals herself that allows her to provide the bolt of insight that helps them save Tricki Woo. It’s all a good setup to show her working in the practice, not just hanging around. But as with so much in this show, it’s a little too neat, a little too fast, and a little too easy.
Everything else here is fine. Gerald is little more than a trophy for Mrs. Hall at this point, but he’s nice enough, and I like the story of her getting over her hang-ups enough to admit her feelings for him. She’s still my favorite character, and it’s nice to see her get a measure of happiness. Likewise, I appreciate the progressiveness of Siegfried’s hesitance over including Diana in the more family-focused festivities, only to have it be her who doesn’t want to complicate things, but does want to invite Siegfried over for a nightcap. Again, I don’t care much about their relationship, but a progressive divorcee character makes for an interesting ingredient in the stew.
I didn’t love the Tristan material. I guess it’s nice to see the show resolve the barley-there romance with Maggie and show that she moved on and is getting married. But the fake out over whether he passed his exams is so cheesy. Maybe it’s pointing the way to him taking himself more seriously in the coming season, but I doubt it. It’s all just a big swerve, and to what end?
Still, as usual, the brotherly sniping over his results is amusing (especially the debate over whether or not Tristan should have to show the letter given their twin deceptions), but Seigfried and Mrs. Hall’s attendant pride at what their Tristan accomplished is heartening.
The main story with nursing Tricki Woo back to health tugs at the heartstrings of animal lovers nicely, letting every member of the family contribute to restoring the little pup’s wellbeing. And there’s an effort to humanize Mrs. Pumphrey and her doting on Tricki without any family of her own.
But there again, the answers are a little too easy. James and Helen don’t want to disappoint the Aldersons who are expecting them for Xmas day, or Mrs. Hall who’s expecting the same, especially with her son as a no-show once again. So instead of having to make a choice, they trundle everyone off to celebrate together with Mrs. Pumphrey at her place.
There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s an old sitcom resolution to the problem. But it’s a reminder that this show isn't really interested in problems, just the warm moments that follow when our characters deftly leap over them. Still, if there’s a time and a place to offer that sort of comfort food storytelling, it’s in a Xmas special, so perhaps such a yuletide indulgence can be forgiven, just this once.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2023-06-05T03:15:33Z
[7.5/10] There’s a certain permission to be sappy that comes with an Xmas episode. I can see the strings when Tricki Woo makes a miraculous recovery, or everyone from across the show gathers at Mrs. Pumphrey’s house to vindicate the episode’s “Holidays are better together” themes. So I can’t pretend these moments hit me like a thunderbolt. But they’re charming and warm enough, which is all you really need for a dose of yuletide endearment (even if you’re a chucklehead who’s watching it in June.)
I’ll reiterate my issue that keeps the show in “good not great” territory, at least from a writing perspective. (The acting and direction continue to be top notch.) All Creatures is willing to graze some big issues, but never really commits to their examination, especially if it’d be challenging. That runs too counter to the show’s cozycore, hugbox sensibilities.
Case in point, James calls his mom, who hasn’t spoken to him since the big reveal in the last episode, which was apparently three months ago. There it is! Consequences! Something that comes out of James’ grand dilemma. And their ensuing Xmas phone call is sweet. There’s a funny, lived-in feel to the inside jokes about the father’s log-carving and mum’s indignance at the resemblance. I even like the resolution, where James’ mom says she understands he’s where we need to be but she still misses him and James thanks his parents for all they sacrificed to let him do what he loves, and his parents essentially say, “Of course, you’re our son.” There’s truth at the core of the conversation, of difficulty in letting someone leave the nest while also being glad for everything that’s made it possible. But again, no real hardships, no real worries about mom and dad’s apparent money issues. Everything feels a little too easy to me.
Likewise, one of my favorite parts of this one is the conversation between Helen and James in their “Father Christmas and Elf” getups. They realize they haven't talked about where they’ll be, what Helen will do, or even resolved where to have Xmas Day lunch. For once, you get the sense that they may have rushed into this without thinking it through, and there’s hints of friction about what their lives will look like on a practical basis, beyond their love for one another, that will pose challenges they’ll need to resolve as husband and wife.
Except, no, not really. You can see the way much of “The Perfect Christmas” is built to show that Helen will have a point and purpose on the show even when she’s no longer just a love interest. On the one hand, I like that! The actress is talented. It’d be a disservice to mire her in nothing but further romantic storylines. And it’s nice to show her as a force to be reckoned with and not just James’ eternal date.
On the other hand, it's all a little too easy. There’s a mysterious upstairs with beds where they can stay. (Uh, why was Tristan sleeping in the cupboard all this time?) Helen understands the vet-skeptical farmers in a way James doesn’t, as demonstrated by the ornery chap and his sheep. And she has an intuition form working with animals herself that allows her to provide the bolt of insight that helps them save Tricki Woo. It’s all a good setup to show her working in the practice, not just hanging around. But as with so much in this show, it’s a little too neat, a little too fast, and a little too easy.
Everything else here is fine. Gerald is little more than a trophy for Mrs. Hall at this point, but he’s nice enough, and I like the story of her getting over her hang-ups enough to admit her feelings for him. She’s still my favorite character, and it’s nice to see her get a measure of happiness. Likewise, I appreciate the progressiveness of Siegfried’s hesitance over including Diana in the more family-focused festivities, only to have it be her who doesn’t want to complicate things, but does want to invite Siegfried over for a nightcap. Again, I don’t care much about their relationship, but a progressive divorcee character makes for an interesting ingredient in the stew.
I didn’t love the Tristan material. I guess it’s nice to see the show resolve the barley-there romance with Maggie and show that she moved on and is getting married. But the fake out over whether he passed his exams is so cheesy. Maybe it’s pointing the way to him taking himself more seriously in the coming season, but I doubt it. It’s all just a big swerve, and to what end?
Still, as usual, the brotherly sniping over his results is amusing (especially the debate over whether or not Tristan should have to show the letter given their twin deceptions), but Seigfried and Mrs. Hall’s attendant pride at what their Tristan accomplished is heartening.
The main story with nursing Tricki Woo back to health tugs at the heartstrings of animal lovers nicely, letting every member of the family contribute to restoring the little pup’s wellbeing. And there’s an effort to humanize Mrs. Pumphrey and her doting on Tricki without any family of her own.
But there again, the answers are a little too easy. James and Helen don’t want to disappoint the Aldersons who are expecting them for Xmas day, or Mrs. Hall who’s expecting the same, especially with her son as a no-show once again. So instead of having to make a choice, they trundle everyone off to celebrate together with Mrs. Pumphrey at her place.
There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s an old sitcom resolution to the problem. But it’s a reminder that this show isn't really interested in problems, just the warm moments that follow when our characters deftly leap over them. Still, if there’s a time and a place to offer that sort of comfort food storytelling, it’s in a Xmas special, so perhaps such a yuletide indulgence can be forgiven, just this once.