‘All Creatures Great and Small’ Finale Brings a Surprise Death & Love Confession — What’s Next?
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[Warning: The below contains spoilers for the All Creatures Great and Small Season 6 finale, “Comfort and Joy.”]
Merry Christmas! Pass the murkey.
The first Yuletide since the end of World War II brought togetherness, sacrifice, laughter, and love to the sixth-season finale of Masterpiece’s All Creatures Great and Small on PBS Sunday, February 22. Once again, the show, based on the books of James Herriot, demonstrated how lots of small stories can add up to one great series.
The episode did have an unexpected death: the passing of that mischievous goat Hilda, whose favorite pastime seemed to be annoying Siegfried (Samuel West). The pain on the face of her devoted owner, Mrs. Stokes (Susan Hilton), was palpable as she gradually realized there was nothing the veteran veterinarian could do to save her beloved animal.
As for the humans, Tristan (Callum Woodhouse) and Charlotte (Gaia Wise) continued to grow closer despite the fact that — or maybe because — neither was particularly looking forward to Christmas. “Thank goodness it’s the one time of the year where it’s socially acceptable to start drinking at breakfast,” Tristan remarked as he tried to cut down a tree for the Drovers Arms pub. He was still ruminating about the service members who didn’t come home and the loved ones mourning their loss, especially barkeep Maggie (Mollie Winnard), who was left a widow with a young son when her husband lost his life in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp.
Charlotte revealed that she hadn’t enjoyed Christmas since her mother died a few years earlier, but pointed out that to the Druids, the evergreen tree represented “a reminder that even the longest, hardest winter will end, and spring will come.” She and Tristan sealed their burgeoning romance with a kiss and complementary “I love yous.”
Helen Williams/Courtesy of Playground Entertainment and MASTERPIECE
Thank goodness one couple was strengthening their bond. The return of Dorothy (Maimie McCoy), Siegfried’s past love interest, quashed any hopes that his relationship with Mrs. Hall (Anna Madeley) might move beyond that of a trusted employer and a devoted employee in 1945.
In fact, Skeldale House’s mother hen seemed to be encouraging the match, perhaps thinking that if Siegfried was going to find love, it should be with someone she considers a friend. Still, it was impossible to miss the irony when Mrs. Hall asked him, “What if you spend your whole life looking for something that don’t exist and miss what’s right under your nose?”
But there were more pressing matters. Turkey shortages meant a traditional Christmas bird was hard to come by, so rather than try out a recipe for murkey — a mock turkey consisting of stuffing wrapped in bacon with parsnips for legs — Mrs. Hall plotted to win one in a pub darts contest at the Drovers.
The plotline was inspired by the growing popularity of female darts teams in the 1940s. “We liked the idea for Mrs. Hall,” says executive producer Melissa Gallant. “She’s a character full of surprises.” By the time filming rolled around, Madeley, through practice, was able to notch many a tough shot.
As Mrs. Hall was hitting the winning bull’s-eye, Siegfried was kissing Dorothy underneath the mistletoe, and the housekeeper looked mighty uncomfortable when she saw them together. But it wasn’t the sequence’s biggest surprise. That came when the Skeldale House gang saw that the turkey they won was still very much alive! Little Jimmy (Thomas Riches) promptly named him Rudolph, so it was murkey for Christmas dinner.
The bird wasn’t at the rehearsal, which meant the cast didn’t see it until shooting. “It helps having genuine reactions to things,” Woodhouse says. “The first time I laid eyes on that turkey is in the show.”
As the Christmas tree was lit, Tristan summed up the sentiment of the first peacetime holiday since 1938. “I’m sure you’ll all join me in raising your glasses to those we lost,” he said. “Let’s hope their sacrifice wasn’t in vain. Let’s hope that it means the world doesn’t go down this dark road again. And let’s hope the year ahead brings us all the things we truly need: good tidings, comfort, and joy.”
Look for more of that in Seasons 7 and 8. Although Woodhouse expects All Creatures to end after that, he’d continue to play Tristan if he had the chance, calling him “a character I’ve grown very fond of.”
All Creatures Great and Small, Seasons 1–6, PBS app (with Passport) and PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel
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G
Ok so one episode was not the greatest. It should really have no baring on a show that stands as one of the best series on TV. Would I have loved to see Siegfried kiss Mrs Hall instead, of course!!!! Hopefully sooner than later
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C
ABSOLUTELY LOVE this series. Read the books in, maybe Jr High? And LOVED all of them, too!! The casing is wonderful and the camaraderie in the cast is obviousl
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K
We found the Christmas show disappointing; it would have been better to end the season with the previous episode showing the end of the war and the Darrowby celebration on the hill. Why, in the Christmas episode, did Hilda have to die and Dorothy reappear? She should have stayed on Malta! We're rooting for Mrs. Hall and Siegfried, as well as Tristan and Charlotte.
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J
I agree that the previous episode (non-Christmas) would have been a better finale. I don't know why they insisted on tacking on a holiday episode.... the show would have been better without it, imho.
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I
This season finale was poorly written. The too long storyline about the goat's death was frankly upsetting for an Xmas special. Everything felt off--the characterization of Audrey, the heavy handed introduction of a love interest out of the blue for Siegfried, and the oddly not shown Xmas dinner. After writing a masterful sixth season that was realistically building a romantic connection between Siegfried and Audrey they suddenly abandoned it for Dorothy-a character not seen since the very early seasons and someone no one really cares about. I read a review online where the writer called this Xmas special cruel and that is an accurate feeling I got when watching because it was so contrary to the themes and characterizations of previous episodes. Perhaps they were rushed when filming it or didn't have time for proper editing? Whatever the reason the writers definitely need to do better for season 7 so it will make sense. And a majority of fans are looking forward to Siegfried and Audrey building into a realistic relationship between two older adults--a rarity in most television dramas. Its a main draw to why people love the series...
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J
This wasn't the first introduction of Dorothy into Siegfried's life. I admit I didn't care for her all that much, and wish things had gone differently in this finale, but even though her return was a surprise,she wasn't a character dropped ii from out of the blue.
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M
In all honesty I didn’t remember who Dorothy was. However. I’m the person who isn’t keen on Siegfried and Audrey in a romantic relationship. I didn’t think the episode was that bad but it felt like they were trying to do too much in too little time and things felt disjointed.
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C
Hilda the goat's death was preventable -- she had eaten poisonous laurel leaves carelessly left out. So after the owner has to deal with both grief and guilt, and has to OK Siegfried's putting the goat down, he seems to just leave the devastated owner there with her dead pet? At Christmas?
I thought he might invite her to Skeldale, ask someone to stay with her, bring her a baby kid goat at the end. But the way the scene is cut, he just leaves her there, then gies home to his holiday.
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J
When Siegfried got on the phone to invite someone over, it briefly crossed my mind that maybe he was calling Hilda's owner. It would have been a very kind thing to do. Of course, I knew he had called Dorothy. Oh well, it would have been nice for Siegfried to make the grand gesture to a poor old lady.
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J
I agree, this finale was not quite up to par. From the goat to the Siegfried/Dorothy thing, it was just a bit 'off.' On one hand Mrs. Hall tried to nudge Siegfried & Dorothy together, but on the other hand.... well, we all know what the other hand is. On top of this, Helen was barely in the episode (for good reason, however), and her father and sister weren't there at all, even though they're family also.
The biggest bright spot in this finale is the turkey that Mrs. Hall was so intent on winning. Talk about a surprise appearance! 😆😄 That final scene, even though we didn't quite SEE the Christmas dinner, included the now-required "Merry bloody Christmas" toast, and made the final scene a good one.
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J
I honestly would’ve appreciated a trigger warning for this one. The goat euthanasia scene was extremely upsetting for me as someone who has gone through that with a pet. I had to stop it, let my boyfriend watch it and tell me when it was over. Way too dark for a Christmas episode.
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R
The Christmas show was very well done and realistic. Not every episode can have the happy ending we would all like to see. Life and death go on, no matter the time of year. I felt this episode gave me pause to remember pets and people no longer with me. Also to remember all the wonderful memories with them.
It is a great show and the actors make us believe in the people they portray.
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K
I completely disagree with every negative review. The entire season has been about loss, both sudden and gradual. A happy-go-lucky final episode would have been totally out of place. What I love about this show is the beauty and elegance they find in the most mundane circumstances. And, as this episode stated, the way that people find love and comfort in all sorts of relationships - romantic, siblings, neighbors, and even in a wayward goat. I found Hilda’s goodbye, the foreshadowing of Tricki’s demise, and the memory of all those lost in the war to be touching without being overly dramatic. And as regards Siegfried and Audrey - we know where the show is heading, but I’m so glad they’re not cheapening their relationship by rushing toward the easy Christmas kiss. The depth of their connection is rooted in self-sacrifice and building Skeldale as a home for all. They would never rush into a romantic relationship that would put that greater love for their home and family in jeopardy. The episode did exactly what was needed at the end of this season - a fitting nod to the end of the war and just a hint of things to come.
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A
It was extremely well done and perfectly suited for the era. There was a time when the beautiful subtleties of relationships were respected. Mrs.Hall is a model of stoic realism and guards her heart better than the vault at the Bank of England. The finale was heartbreaking but so was everything before and after WW2.
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R
I have been a long time fan of the series and always looked forward to it's uplifting messages and episodes. However the season finale was it's worst ever and I cannot bring myself to ever watch it again.
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C
What a silly reaction. One episode you don't like and you give it up?
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F
Good point, Charlene.
This epidode was quite the downer, unlike all other the other awesome episodes throughout seasons 1-6. At one moment Siegfried is speaking beautifully with Mrs. Hall about soulmates and the next day he's kissing someone else, strange and disappointing. Also, I do not recall an animal dying in the care of the vets, why introduce death at a time of birth? On another note, wby did broadcasting season 6 start well after the holidays?Does not this program air overseas much earlier si that the Christmas epidose line up with Christmas time?
Lastly, let's get the word / support out to extend the series past seasons 7 and 8!
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A
My favorite show and would hate for it to end after seasons 7 and 8. I look forward to watching every Sunday night
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T
This is one show I wish would go on FOREVER, but nothing does. The stories are so sweet ,simple and CLEAN!!
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