All Creatures Great and Small Season 5, Episode 3, “Homecoming” Spoilers Ahead
“Homecoming” delivers what our hearts have silently longed for since the All Creatures Great and Small Season 3 finale, “Merry Bloody Christmas.” Season 4 was an exquisite emotional journey that left our hearts shattered and tenderly pieced back together. Yet, one little chunk remained unaccounted for.
Viewers have known since PBS released the Season 5 first look images (if not earlier) that Tristan Farnon would finally come back to Darrowby. Still, seeing the name Callum Woodhouse appear in its regular place in the opening credits is such a delight that Alexandra Harwood’s theme music sounds even brighter than usual. As Mrs. Hall declares with unreserved joy: “It’s good to have everyone back together again.”
The anticipation for Tristan’s return has been high, and All Creatures Great and Small Season 5, Episode 3, “Homecoming,” does not disappoint. The episode brings our favorite lovable goof home without unnecessary pomp but with all the emotion the occasion deserves.
Diverting Attention
The first images in “Homecoming,” daffodils bathed in bright light blowing in the breeze, call to mind scenes from “Broodiness.” Spring is in the air, and four seasons have passed since Helen first conceived the idea of a little Herriot. The baby, now flesh and blood, is about to begin his “spiritual journey.” His godfather, Siegfried Farnon, is stalled in the driveway of Skeldale House with a faulty carburetor. Meanwhile, Jimmy’s mother and godmother, Mrs. Hall, are busy inside with preparations for the arrival of his Scottish grandparents. Like muddy boot prints after a floor’s been swept, various distractions almost derail the christening celebration.
Helen is intent on impressing her in-laws. We first see her dolled up in a beautiful red ensemble, anxious that Skeldale House matches her impeccable appearance. She has been out early to pick and arrange flowers into a gorgeous bouquet and has “his lordship” Jimmy scrubbed and ready. Mrs. Hannah Herriot is intent on doting on her grandson. She barely gives Helen the time of day. She also fails to recognize how her romanticized reminiscing about James as a “wee thing” appears to cast judgment on Helen’s adequacy as a mother.
Although the practice is ostensibly closed for the family occasion, the vets do not get a day off. Siegfried is intent on perfecting his unsolicited christening speech. Instead, he must handle the case of a nanny goat whose owner refuses to follow the prescribed treatment and boldly lies to Siegfried’s face about it. Farmer Biggins’ repeated calls to Darrowby 2297 and his deception and stinginess — not to mention the gauntlet he’s erected to access his goat barn — have Siegfried feeling urges to commit criminal violence. James is intent on enjoying an outing with his family. His own mother and her pride for her accomplished son force him into service to tend to an uncharacteristically aggressive Lucy. Distracted by a familiar voice, James fails to consider all the reasons Lucy might have an unhealthy attachment to her toy.
Of course, the biggest distraction from the christening festivities is Tristan’s long-awaited homecoming. James’ medical discharge in “To All Our Boys” partially satisfied Siegfried’s casual (yet heartfelt) hope: “May we see them soon.” An unexpected two-word telegram signals the wish may have more magic in it. Yet, the circumstances of Tristan’s return, as the war rages on, remain a mystery. Our relief is not complete until his joyful reunion with Siegfried on the train platform, where we last saw the brothers together.
Tristan is back! Tristan is intact, at least visibly. Tristan has received a promotion to a nearby Army Veterinary Corps training center. Tristan leads the way to the Drovers, where he promptly has Siegfried cover his tab. All appears well. Exhale. Yet, Tristan is a master at distracting from the serious questions about his experiences on the front. For now, his comic exploits entertain the crowd, and his cleverness spares Siegfried from having to do “a stretch at Wormwood Scrubs” prison.
All Creatures Great and Small Season 5, Episode 3 Allows Fans a New Focus
Although Tristan’s return is the main focus of “Homecoming,” somehow, the episode shines a new light on everything that is wonderful about the series. Perhaps, gratitude gives viewers fresh perspectives. Perhaps, without the unconscious distraction of looking for the absent Tristan, we see more clearly what’s in front of us. Of course, the team deserves the lion’s share of the credit. Whatever the combination of factors, in All Creatures Great and Small Season 5, Episode 3, “Homecoming,” the superb details that create the authenticity and humanity of the show appear more noticeable.
The vision of Director Stewart Svaasand is instantly recognizable in close-ups of seemingly random objects — an untouched breakfast plate, a carburetor, a bouquet, and a rigged-up weight. I love how this direction invites us to linger on objects and look more deeply. Svaasand gives viewers opportunities to look for clues about what’s to come or about what remains unsaid. Seigfried is in agony but puts on a brave face. Everyone recognizes that Siegfried has a problem he cannot fix, and he’s forced to recognize he needs his little brother’s help. Helen’s gentle attentions go unappreciated. Biggins is a maniac.
As with “The Home Front,” in “Homecoming,” Svaasand stages action so that viewers perceive the full emotional weight of exchanges, even when the characters do not. As the elder Herriots leave Skeldale House, the camera shows us, but not James, Helen’s frustration. Instead, she turns a smiling face up to him. Similarly, Siegfried does not see Audrey’s anguish when he declines her offer of support. It is with Siegfried’s emotional struggles that we see this technique most. He makes his poignant promise never to scold Tristan with his back to Audrey. He shows alarm at the redeployment news while Tristan is bent over the engine. And his long hesitation at turning to face his brother on the train platform allows viewers to settle their emotions before Siegfried does. We can more fully recognize how he savors the final moments of hope, not yet ready to have his worst fears confirmed.
Writing for All Creatures Great and Small for the first time, Matt Evans delivers the sensitive character development and interlocking animal-human storylines that characterize the series. Like the Rover with its carburetor, the neglected nanny goat needs one simple treatment to return to roaming the fields. Lucy’s love of Emmeline allows Helen and Hannah to find common ground, as James suggested (perhaps to his regret). The dialogue is clever as ever and prompts laughter at unexpected moments — it’s a sacred occasion, Siegfried!
Evans smartly crafts Tristan’s reunions with the various Skeldale House residents to reflect the individual character of their relationships. The Farnons are now most definitely huggers. Heart eyes emoji. Mrs. Hall anticipates Tristan’s arrival with a special treat. Their teary-eyed embrace is so warm that it makes my eyes sweat hot tears. James and Tristan instantly resume their jokey rapport. They do eventually hold each other’s gaze for a serious moment of mutual affection. And it is when everyone looks on in wonder after Helen grants Tristan’s request to hold the baby that our found family finally truly feels complete.
Ros Little deserves a big nod for Helen’s celebration wardrobe in “Homecoming,” especially her glamorous green hat and coat for the christening. And kudos to the art department for the intricate setup at Biggins’ farm. The menacing hand-scrawled signs, barbed wire, and dangerously dilapidated labyrinth of gates all seal the image of the man as one who hates people almost as much as he hates spending money. Harwood’s tender, plucky notes perfectly punctuate scenes of the chugging car and the chugging train before a beautiful swell as the brothers reunite.
Finally, it would be remiss not to mention Samuel West’s remarkable and complex performance in “Homecoming.” He shows a simultaneously intrigued, impressed, and morally smug Siegfried as Mrs. Hall accepts possible contraband to prepare the cake. He perfectly portrays Siegfried’s dignified anguish and fortitude when opening the telegram. His silent lurking as Tristan reunites with others shows Siegfried’s awe and gratitude to have his baby brother “home in one piece.” Small gestures — a slow blink, a tightening of the lips — reveal his efforts at restraint. But it is the bright joy after sharing the news of “home tomorrow” that sticks most in my mind. It is a rare thing to see such uncomplicated happiness on Siegfried’s face.
Related Content: Scene Breakdown: Siegfried and Audrey Receive News from Tristan in All Creatures Great and Small’s “Homecoming”
That expression captures the lift to all our hearts that Tristan’s return represents. All Creatures Great and Small’s “Homecoming” may appear to bring things full circle, ending with a classic Farnon fight. We know, however, that the members of our found family are still journeying to “become the best versions of themselves.” Onward!
Now streaming on PBS: What are your thoughts on All Creatures Great and Small Season 5, Episode 3, “Homecoming?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Helen Williams; Playground Entertainment and MASTERPIECE.