Skeldale House feels different now. If you grew up with the 1970s version of the show—the one with Christopher Timothy and the legendary Robert Hardy—you probably went into the Channel 5 and PBS Masterpiece reboot with a healthy dose of skepticism. I know I did. Reboots usually feel like hollowed-out versions of the original, stripped of soul just to cash in on nostalgia. But the new All Creatures Great and Small is a rare exception to the rule. It’s cozy. It’s sharp. It’s actually better in some ways than the original, and that's a tough pill for purists to swallow.
The show isn't just about cows with bloat or sheep stuck in the Yorkshire mud. It’s about a very specific kind of post-WWI trauma and pre-WWII anxiety that the original series sort of glossed over in favor of slapstick. Don't get me wrong, there’s still plenty of slapstick. Siegfried Farnon, played with a frantic, brilliant energy by Samuel West, still blusters through the hallways of Darrowby. But there’s a weight to it this time.
Why Nicholas Ralph is the James Herriot We Needed
When the casting was first announced, Nicholas Ralph was a total unknown. That was a gamble. You've got this massive franchise based on the semi-autographical books by Alf Wight (writing as James Herriot), and you hand the lead role to a guy with almost zero screen credits? It worked. Ralph brings a quiet, sturdy sincerity to the role that makes the "fish out of water" trope feel fresh again.
He’s a Glasgow boy in the Yorkshire Dales. The locals don't trust him. Why should they? He’s young, he’s "learned," and he thinks he knows better than farmers who have been breeding livestock for forty years. The new All Creatures Great and Small leans into this friction. It isn't just "James saves the day." It’s "James earns the right to stay."
Honestly, the chemistry between Ralph and Rachel Shenton, who plays Helen Alderson, is the emotional engine of the series. In the books and the old show, Helen was often just... there. She was the love interest. She was the "pretty girl at the farm." This version gives her a life. She’s managing a farm, dealing with a younger sister, and carrying the grief of her mother’s death. She’s James’s equal, not his prize.
The Farnon Dynamic: Siegfried and Tristan
We have to talk about Callum Woodhouse as Tristan Farnon. Taking over a role made famous by Peter Davison is no small feat. Tristan is usually the comic relief—the lazy, charming younger brother who can't pass his exams but can charm the pint out of a local’s hand.
Woodhouse keeps that.
But there’s a sadness there too. Siegfried isn't just an overbearing brother; he’s essentially Tristan's father figure because their parents are gone. When they fight about Tristan failing his veterinary exams (again), it’s not just funny. It’s painful. You see the disappointment of a man who fought in the Great War and wants his brother to have a "real" life.
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The Yorkshire Dales as a Character
The cinematography in the new All Creatures Great and Small is, frankly, ridiculous. It looks like a moving oil painting. While the original series was shot on video for the interiors and 16mm film for the exteriors, the new production uses modern high-definition tech to capture the scale of the Dales.
You see the grit. You see the rain.
Filming primarily in Grassington (which stands in for the fictional Darrowby), the production team managed to avoid the "theme park" look that plagues many period dramas. It feels lived-in. When James is out in the middle of the night, shirtless in a barn trying to turn a calf, you feel the cold. It’s not sanitized. Ben Vanstone, the lead writer, has gone on record saying they wanted to honor the "muck and the magic" of the books. They nailed it.
Mrs. Hall: No Longer Just the Cook
Anna Madeley’s Mrs. Hall is perhaps the biggest departure from the source material, and it’s the show’s smartest move. In the original, she was the stereotypical housekeeper. In the new All Creatures Great and Small, she is the glue holding Skeldale House together.
She has a backstory. She has a son, Edward, from whom she’s estranged.
She isn't just cooking breakfast; she’s navigating the egos of three men who would probably starve or kill each other without her. Her friendship with Siegfried is one of the most nuanced adult relationships on television right now. It’s platonic, yet deeply intimate. They rely on each other in a way that feels incredibly modern despite the 1930s setting.
Dealing with the Looming Shadow of War
One thing the new All Creatures Great and Small does better than its predecessor is the pacing of history. We know what’s coming. We know that 1939 is around the corner. The show treats this with a subtle hand. You see the posters for the local militia. You hear the talk of "that man in Germany."
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It adds a layer of stakes to these small, village stories. Why does it matter if a dog survives a surgery? Because the world is falling apart, and these small acts of kindness are all the characters have.
When James has to decide whether to stay in a "reserved occupation" (veterinarians were needed for the food supply) or sign up for the RAF, it’s a genuine moral crisis. The show doesn't treat it like a plot point. It treats it like the life-altering trauma it was for that generation.
Making the Veterinary Science Feel Real
They actually use real vets on set. Andy Barrett, a veteran vet advisor who worked on the original series, came back for the new one. This is why the procedures look so visceral. When James is sticking his arm into a cow, that’s not a CGI cow. Well, usually it’s a very high-tech prosthetic, but the movements, the tension, and the medical jargon are all vetted (pun intended).
- They use "old school" techniques that were cutting edge in 1937.
- The sulfonamide transition is a major plot point—the birth of modern antibiotics.
- They show the transition from horses to tractors, which was a death knell for many traditional vets.
This historical accuracy makes the show more than just "comfort food." It’s a document of a changing world. The farmers are skeptical of James’s "new-fangled" medicines for a reason: their livelihoods depend on those animals. If James is wrong, a family doesn't eat.
The Evolution of the "Cozy" Drama
We live in a "Peak TV" era where everything is dark, gritty, and cynical. Every hero is an anti-hero. Every ending is a tragedy. The new All Creatures Great and Small rejects that without being "twee."
It’s "comforting," yes. But it isn't "safe."
Characters die. Favorite animals die. Relationships fail.
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The brilliance lies in the resilience of the characters. They keep going. They find joy in a pint at the Drovers Arms or a well-timed joke. It’s a show that believes in the fundamental goodness of people, which is probably why it’s a massive hit in both the UK and the US.
How to Watch and What to Expect Next
The show has been renewed for seasons 5 and 6, which is fantastic news for fans. We’re moving deeper into the war years, which will inevitably change the dynamic of Skeldale House.
If you're starting from scratch:
- Season 1 introduces James to the Dales.
- Season 2 focuses on the James/Helen romance and Tristan’s maturity.
- Season 3 deals with the wedding and the impending war.
- Season 4 introduces new characters like Richard Carmody (played by Hamish Blake), a socially awkward but brilliant vet student who shakes up the house.
The production value has stayed consistently high, and the writing remains tight. It’s one of the few shows where the Christmas specials feel essential rather than like "filler" episodes.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Newcomers
If you want to get the most out of the new All Creatures Great and Small, start by reading the original books by James Herriot. You’ll realize how much of the "new" stuff—like Mrs. Hall's expanded role—is actually hinted at in the text but was never fully realized until now.
Next, pay attention to the set design. The production team spent months recreating the interior of Skeldale House to look exactly like a 1930s surgery, right down to the specific surgical instruments and the types of tobacco Siegfried smokes.
Finally, don't just watch for the animals. Watch for the subtle shifts in the British class system. James is a working-class Scot trying to navigate the landed gentry and the fiercely independent farmers. It’s a masterclass in social hierarchy that adds a whole other level of enjoyment to the viewing experience. Whether you're in it for the puppies or the period drama, the show is a rare gem that honors its past while firmly planting its feet in the present.