“Second Time Lucky”
Note: Here be All Creatures Great and Small Season 3 spoilers! I’m leaving out the references to luck but otherwise, this recap is highly detailed. You have been warned.
All Creatures Great and Small, Season 3 episode 1 recap
We open on James’ parents arriving via bus. Why are they there? It’s James’ and Helen’s wedding the following day! Here begins many references to the upcoming war, duty (both familial and national), and luck.
In the surgery, Clancy, one of the cutest dogs yet in the series, is said to be in for overnight observation due to vomiting. Yeah, you know you’re watching ACGAS when we get a puking animal. Settle in!
Siegfried is grumpy about James going on a honeymoon. Siegfried grumpy? What’s new, amiright? Tristan, being Tristan, jokes about losing the ring which he has been entrusted with as best man. Ok, right here, you know what happens but let’s see how it plays out. There’s also a pointed dialogue about making sure James doesn’t drink too much and gets to the church on time. Mrs. Hall downs a drink she had been holding (for Tristan? For James?) and hands James some milk from a jug on the breakfast table. Again, I want every single thing Mrs. Hall cooks on this show.
All Creatures Great and Small, Season 3 episode 1 recap continues
Cut to a recruiter trying to sway Tristan and James. Siegfried interrupts saying they are officially in a reserved occupation since they are veterinarians and can’t be called up. This point comes back a few times throughout this episode. Off the merry trio go to Drovers. Drink up, boys!
Meanwhile, Helen and her sister say goodbye to their father as he too heads off to the pub. The sisters have a nice moment here. Sigh. I love the writing.
In the pub, Tristan is determined to get James hammered and orders a yard of ale. A yard, y'all. Henry comes over and talks about his cows maybe having tuberculosis and mentions worrying about infected milk. Um, didn’t James drink some milk that morning?! As Henry walks away, Tristan mentions that Henry lost one of his sons to TB. They carry on and James downs the yard of ale to cheers all around.
We cut to Mrs. H the next morning. She rouses Tristan and asks where James is. Tris can’t remember and as she leaves the room, he realizes he’s lost the ring for the wedding ceremony. Of course. Classic.
Siegfried at first pretends not to be hungover but has to admit he was drunk when Mrs. Hall teases him about finding his trousers…muddy and in the pantry. She pulls the ring box from the pocket and hands it to him as he gets breakfast. He didn’t trust Tristan with it so he took it for safekeeping. FOOD. Please someone cook for me the way Mrs. Hall cooks for everyone.
All Creatures Great and Small, Season 3 episode 1 recap continues
Where is James? We find that he has spent the night in Henry’s barn, having drunkenly promised to test all his cows before the wedding ceremony that afternoon. Henry tries to dissuade him but laughingly agrees that they can get started. Tristan hurries to pick him up. Helen serves her dad and sis a yummy farewell breakfast, insisting on keeping busy up until the time she needs to get ready.
James hears that Henry’s only remaining son Wilfred has volunteered for military service. Older farmers are exempt, but it seems young men can sign up if they choose. Tristan arrives as the men are halfway done with testing the herd. James says they absolutely must finish even after Tris warns him that the wedding is now only two hours away. The clock's ticking, James!
Back at the surgery, Mrs. Hall is readying the attic/bedsit area upstairs for the newlyweds. Clancy escapes and starts to nose around. The camera pulls in as he steals bacon from the sideboard…right next to the ring box that Siegfried had placed there while eating his breakfast. Dun, dun, dun!
Mrs. Hall brings down a box of mementos to show Siegfried and tells him about her own rushed wedding ceremony. She and her man had no ring so she knotted a piece of string to wear until they could get a proper one. The mention of a ring triggers Siegfried to pat his waistcoat pocket and he then runs out of the room to get the ring. He eyes a guilty-looking Clancy as the dog licks his chops, clearly having just finished eating…something.
Back to Helen’s dad and sis keeping a close eye on her, not wanting a repeat of her non-wedding with Hugh. She teases them by pretending to be fretful and worried. But she loves James, she says, and they Will. Be. Married. Today.
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Back to the cows. Discussing Wilfred having volunteered, Tristan argues that he and James can best serve as vets, not as soldiers. There’s one cow left now. But Henry and Tris insist that James leave for the ceremony. Just then, Wilfred yells for them to come. It seems that the last cow is down in the gully with what appears to be an injured leg or foot. She’s in a lot of pain. This is always the hard part for me. Poor animals!
Clancy still hasn’t vomited despite all the stuff Siegfried has given him. After a bit of back and forth, Mrs. H, Clancy, and Siegfried drive away with James’ wedding suit. Mrs. H will be dropped off at Helen’s to help her get ready.
Henry’s cow has to be put down. Wilfred is angry and feels James has not done all he can. (What's he really upset about? I think you can guess.) James then suggests they can splint the leg to keep her weight off it and see what happens. He’s cutting it fine, though, but says, “well, Helen will have to take me as I am,” not knowing that his suit is coming to him.
The moments that come next illuminate how great the writing is. I just love Mrs. Hall’s character and she has some great moments here with Helen while fixing her hair. They joke that this was the second time she’s helped her ready for a wedding. Helen on the verge of tears lovingly reminisces about her mom.
Next, we see Tricky (Tricki? Tricky? It's tricky) Woo has arrived as his family’s representative. He is carried on a pillow as is befitting of his status. All hail Tricky Woo! Helen, her father, Tricky Woo, and Mrs. Hall are driven in a fine car to the church while little sis rides her bike. (why? Weird, huh? Guess the car was full?)
Siegfried arrives at Henry’s farm and tells James he understands why James wants to splint the cow’s leg but the wedding is more important. Wilfred hands James the gun but Tristan volunteers so James won’t have to put an animal down on his wedding day. That would be awful, right? James and Siegfried exit with Clancy in tow. Tristan then hesitates and Wilfred says he doesn’t “have the stomach for it.” Taking the rifle, Wilfred remarks, “Someone’s got to do it.” We know he’s not just talking about the cow.
As James tries to change in the car, they talk about what it means to be a husband. James talks about signing up for military service to help in the war but again S discourages him, telling him what they do is so very important.
Just as James realizes Siegfried has forgotten his dress shoes, guess who decides it’s time to vomit? Siegfried is happy, though, because he won’t have to admit he lost the ring. James, wearing wellies, runs through the churchyard ahead of S and Clancy. Inside the church, his father gives him his shoes to wear. S hands Tristan the ring box…which is revealed to be empty. Siegfried at the end of his rope, tells Tris, “You’re on your own,” and rushes past with Clancy.
Mrs. H brings in Tricky Woo, which causes Clancy to bark. I thought, oh god, here comes a dog fight. But no, the dogs settle. Tristan is so so nervous, shooting looks at his brother, worried that Helen will be very angry with him about losing the ring. Mrs. H always knows what’s up cuz she leans in, “It’s the ring, isn’t it?” I love her.
Helen and her dad are outside, ready to walk in. The wedding march begins. So so lovely. As Helen and James look at each other, smiling ear to ear, the ceremony begins. When we get to, “and now, the ring,” Mrs. Hall saves the day with…you guessed it, a knotted string. Helen declares it perfect and gives a knowing glance to Mrs. H.
And thus James Alfred Herriot and Helen Rosemary Alderson are wedded. As they leave the church, the whole gang is there, including sweet Jessie. They leave for their honeymoon.
Siegfried asks Tristan about Henry’s cow. Tris says, “James felt he couldn’t give up. His sense of duty’ll be the death of him one of these days.” Hmmm.
Helen asks James to pull the car over after a bit and tells him this is the furthest she’s ever been from home. (Flashback, Samwise Gamgee, anyone?) They kiss.
All Creatures Great and Small, Season 3 episode 1 recap continues
One week later, we see them return just at the moment Wilfred gets into an army vehicle. He sees James and gives him a bit of a salute-like wave which means all is right between them. Helen points out that there’s a new plaque on the door with James’ name on it! Once inside, Siegfried tells him he deserves it and cites his “commitment to the cause.” Tada, he’s making him a partner!
Tris comes in, wanting to head to the pub and hear all about the honeymoon trip. Helen has other plans. They barely make it upstairs before kissing and trying to take off each other’s clothes. Clearly, they had a lovely honeymoon and want to keep that magic going.
But guess what Siegfried’s other present was? Yup, a phone has been installed in the bedsit. A phone with an alarmingly loud ring. The two lovebirds fall onto the bed, kissing…and it breaks. Tropey but cute. Back to kissing. He promises he’ll find them someplace new to live but Helen shushes him. “As long as we’re together, it will be perfect.” RING RING and James answers the phone. Commitment, indeed.