'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.
