'All Creatures Great and Small' Stages a Heartfelt "Homecoming"

The third episode of All Creatures Great and Small’s fifth season is titled “Homecoming,” and with good reason. In addition to bringing back a beloved character, this episode finally achieves the right mix of clever pacing, tenderness, and humor that is All Creatures at its very best. The war looms in the background, as it should, but meanwhile, the business of everyday life in Darrowby and its inhabitants, including animals, continues in a joyful flow. It’s spring in Darrowby and time for Helen and James to think about christening their baby son. It’s a big deal – housekeeper Audrey Hall is trading food coupons to gather the ingredients necessary for a christening cake. 

James’s parents are in town for the special occasion, and proud godfather-to-be Siegfried is preparing a speech, although not everyone else is on board. James thinks it will be too long/intellectual, but Siegfried assures him he takes his duties as godfather very seriously. Audrey also comments that she does but isn’t writing a speech. Assistant Richard Carmody is away, taking his exams to become a fully qualified veterinarian. So, when Siegfried receives a call from a particularly troublesome farmer, he tries to persuade James to visit the sick goat. But James wants to spend time with his parents, and Siegfried, grumbling all the way, sets off for his third visit. 

His car has carburetor issues, plus the additional aggravation of seven gates to negotiate on the track to the farm. The farmer, Mr. Biggins (Nicholas Asbury), is an arrogant complainer – really, he and Siegfried have a lot in common – and he observes with some pleasure Siegfried struggling with the final gate and advises he get his car seen to properly. The goat has a lumpy jaw (actinomycosis, a bacterial infection) and doesn’t seem to be getting better. Siegfried suggests increasing the dose of the goat’s medication, which allows Biggins to grumble about costs. Siegfried, in desperation, offers to waive his fee if the medication doesn’t work.

James’s parents, Hannah (Gabriel Quigley) and James Sr. (Drew Cain), are thrilled to return to Darrowby to meet their grandson. Siegfried comes home, grumbling, and discovers from Audrey that a telegram arrived for him while he was out. He takes it to read alone in his study. A telegram during wartime inevitably means terrible news, and Siegfried is relieved it announces the unexpected arrival of his younger brother that very day. There is still cause for worry, since Tristan could be injured or sick. Siegfried works out there’s only one train from London to Darrowby he could catch, and he has another fight to start the car.

At the railway station, the train arrives, with Tristan making a surprise appearance after its departure, and the two brothers embrace. Tristan first offers to fix the carburetor, which he does in seconds, and explains he’s being posted to training at Doncaster. Aware of his brother’s predilection to think the worst of him, he assures Siegfried it’s not any punishment but a promotion. He’ll be lecturing and training soldiers three days a week. At Skeldale House, Audrey warmly greets Tristan, and he and James have a teasing exchange. James is now a proper grownup with a baby, and Tristan has that – a mustache – on his face.

Mrs. Hanley (Angela Lonsdale) arrives with a patient, a poodle that’s behaving strangely. She is directed to the surgery by Hannah Herriot, who can’t waste an opportunity to boast about her son’s name on a brass plate outside. James examines Lucy, who has become fixated on her furry toy Emmeline, growling at anyone who always tries to take it away and wants it with her. James diagnoses an “unhealthy attachment” and locks Emmeline away in the surgery so Lucy can learn to do without her.

Siegfried is surprised when Tristan shows no interest in seeing cases, reminding his brother that he no longer works for him. Tristan is taken aback to find his bedroom has been taken over, with Carmody’s dog sprawled on the bed.

James’s parents, Helen and the baby, return from their walk, and Tristan sweetly asks to hold Jimmy. Now it’s time for the christening, and they all leave for church. Helen’s sister Jenny is the first to ask Tristan about his military service, and he tells her he fell in love with a camel. The baby is officially named James Alexander, and the ceremony is over; James suggests to Helen they have five or six more children. Helen, slightly annoyed with Hannah Herriot’s well-meaning baby advice, is not amused by more Herriot teasing. Still, she laughs when James admits his mother swore by Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup, a morphine-based, over-the-counter remedy for fussy babies.

Tristan asks Audrey about her son; she tells him that HMS Repulse is now on its way to Norway. Tristan suggests a trip to the pub after the christening, since he missed Jimmy’s birth. James, Siegfried, Mr. Alderton, and Jenny join them, and we now learn that Tristan’s war may not have been all light-hearted bar hopping and fun, as his letters suggested. When asked about Cairo, he deflects with the description of a brief dalliance with a glamorous Canadian called Rose. Unfortunately, Mr. Biggins is also in the pub and is not at all shy about joining the conversation. Challenged to share details of “real” warfare, Tristan tells the group he was involved in capturing Sidi Barrani, a significant British victory on the Egypt-Libya border. Tristan makes excuses and leaves, claiming he left his wallet at home.

Tristan asks Audrey about her son Edward and she tells him HMS Repulse is now on the way to Norway. Tristan suggests a trip to the pub after the christening, since he missed the traditional celebration at Jimmy’s birth. James, Siegfried, Mr. Alderton and Jenny join them, and we now learn that Tristan’s war may not have been all light-hearted bar hopping and fun, as his letters suggested. When asked about Cairo, he deflects with the description of a brief dalliance with a glamorous Canadian called Rose. Unfortunately Mr. Biggins is also in the pub, not at all shy about joining the conversation. Challenged to share details of “real” warfare, Tristan tells the group he was involved in the capture of Sidi Barrani, a significant British victory on the Egypt-Libya border. Tristan makes excuses and leaves, claiming he left his wallet at home.

Mr. Biggins complains to Mr. Alderton, until Siegfried agrees to visit the goat again. This time, Tristan shows some interest, having learned a lot about goats in Egypt, and agrees to help out.

Helen, Audrey, and Hannah return to Skeldale House and find Lucy has invaded the house to look for Emmeline. Helen and Hannah follow the frantic dog as she heads for the surgery, where Lucy is united with her beloved toy––or something she regards as more than a toy. Helen and Hannah finally bond as they notice Lucy is treating the toy like a baby, and in addition has swollen teats. As they announce to James on his return, they have successfully diagnosed a phantom pregnancy, something only a mother could understand.

Mr. Biggins complains to Mr. Alderton until Siegfried agrees to revisit the goat. This time, Tristan, having learned much about goats in Egypt, agrees to help. Siegfried and Tristan struggle through the seven gates; the farmer immediately demands a refund. Siegfried ignores him and asks Tristan to make a warm compress. Tristan looks around, finds the goat medicine packet unopened, and devises a strategy. He announces that Biggins’s goat has Nile Fever, which was caught from saliva on a postal stamp from his son stationed in Egypt. (Amazingly, Biggins falls for this preposterous explanation). It’s a good thing, Tristan continues, that Biggins didn’t give the goat any of the medicine Siegfried prescribed since the Nile Fever cure by injection could prove dangerous. At this point, he produces the unopened packet, proving Biggins has lied all along. Siegfried suggests that Biggins increase the dose to cure the goat.

Helen, Audrey, and Hannah return to Skeldale House and find Lucy has invaded the house to look for Emmeline. Helen and Hannah follow the frantic dog as she heads for the surgery, where Lucy is united with her beloved toy – or something she regards as more than a toy. Helen and Hannah finally bond as they notice Lucy is treating the toy like a baby and, in addition, has swollen teats. As they announce to James on his return, they have successfully diagnosed a phantom pregnancy, something only a mother could understand.

James’s parents leave for home, and Siegfried and Tristan return to Skeldale, where Siegfried laments the opportunity for his speech. He intended to start with the Emperor Penguin (one of many forms of fathering) and end with Aristotle. Typical Siegfried, Tristan claims. The fraternal relationship seems to be falling back into its old patterns because some things don’t change.

Siegfried's Top Lines from This Episode

• "Take me straight to your goat, Mr. Biggins."
• "I will never utter a cross word to that boy again if he comes home in one piece."
• Vicar: "Is the baby good with water?" 
  Siegfried: "Only if there are ducks."

All Creatures Great and Small Season 5 will stream/air weekly through mid-February (check your local listings) on most PBS stations, the PBS app, and the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel. All seven episodes of Season 5 are available now on PBS Passport, and Seasons 1-4 are streaming for members. Season 6 is already greenlit and expected out in 2026.