All Creatures Great and Small
All Creatures Great and Small
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that All Creatures Great and Small is based on the beloved autobiographical stories by British veterinarian James Herriot (which were previously adapted for TV in the late 1970s). They center on his experiences as a vet assistant in Yorkshire in the 1930s-'50s. Some scenes involve the fairly graphic reality of animal care -- including birth, illness, injury, and death -- as well as mention of matters like putting an animal down to prevent its suffering. The show reflects the time in which the story is set, with traditional gender roles (women tend to house matters while men are at work, for instance) and normalized smoking. James (Nicholas Ralph) is a likable fellow for his sunny outlook and unfailing self-confidence, and it's fun to celebrate his career and personal victories with him. There's a budding romantic relationship and rare use of language like "damn." This engaging series has themes of perseverance and could expand kids' awareness of how people lived and worked during Herriot's lifetime.
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A family classic!
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What's the Story?
ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL opens as young veterinary school graduate James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) secures his first job as an assistant to curmudgeonly country vet Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) in the Yorkshire Dales. As James gets acquainted with the locals and their animals, he learns there's more to the craft than just delivering calves and tending to hoof problems; being a doctor to animals often means caring for the people who own them as well. With kindly Mrs. Hall (Anna Madeley) helping keep him on track, a new romantic interest in his life, and Siegfried's ne'er-do-well brother, Tristan (Callum Woodhouse), arriving to complicate matters, James settles into his new surroundings and sets his sights on a lengthy career.
Is It Any Good?
This take on Herriot's autobiographical tales (an earlier adaptation premiered in 1978) is well written and acted, and its setting in the bucolic Yorkshire Dales just magnifies its charm. Ralph is instantly engaging as the wet-around-the-ears Herriot, who arrives there eager to prove himself but endearingly naive about life and all its ups and downs. He's a true optimist, though, which he quickly discovers runs counter to his new boss's sharper personality, but the two find a happy medium that allows them to work alongside each other without too much distress.
Set in mid-19th century rural England, All Creatures Great and Small reflects Herriot's encounters with animals and their people, who run the gamut and span economic and educational classes of the time. It's a cross-section example of one man's life experiences, ever told with humor, compassion, and honesty. That honesty translates to realistic images of veterinary care and tense moments that accompany them, but also to heartfelt personal victories for the likable James Herriot.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the time and place setting of this series. In what ways are social norms different from they are in modern times? How are class differences represented? How do shows like this help us put history into context?
What hard-fought life lessons does James learn? How do they demonstrate his ability to persevere? What motivates him toward success? Why is the ability to recover from failure an important quality to have?
Do you think the country vet scenes in this show are too graphic for its intended audience? Why or why not?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 10, 2021
- Cast: Nicholas Ralph, Samuel West, Anna Madeley
- Network: PBS
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Book Characters, Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Horses and Farm Animals
- Character Strengths: Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: December 16, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Call the Midwife
Sublime British medical drama with explicit birth scenes.
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The Incredible Dr. Pol
Rural vet's life is positive entertainment for older kids.
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Downton Abbey
Absorbing costume series is perfect watch-together fare.
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Poldark
Complex, moral leading man sells British period drama.
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