All Creatures Great and Small Recap: Christmas Pigeons in February

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Tristan is out checking on the pigeons, and I wish everyone a happy holiday season! Even though we usually celebrate “All Creatures” Christmas in late February, it’s still a pleasant surprise amidst the winter gloom. Instead of trudging through cold snow to clear their windshields, people are cheerful, singing, and enjoying festive beverages. Although I might just be feeling this way myself (probably not). In Darrowby, despite potential shortages of meat and sugar, there’s no shortage of goodwill and companionship. Since it’s February Christmas, I get to make such observations!

As a movie critic for Jimmy Watch, I must say that this episode presents an unexpected twist: our beloved character, Jimmy, has grown exponentially! It’s easy to forget that he celebrates his birthday on Christmas, as this installment primarily focuses on his first one. Instead of the usual knitted onesies, we see him dressed in a tiny sweater and collared shirt.

However, something peculiar occurs midway through the episode – they swap out Jimmy! For just one scene, a different baby takes over. They attempt to conceal this change by wrapping him up tightly, but it’s evidently another infant, confirmed later in the credits as the twins playing Jimmy (a common occurrence in the industry), with one stand-in making an appearance during the scene with Helen’s father discussing Jimmy and cats.

It seems that both twins were unavailable for this specific scene, so they enlisted a baby off the street to fill in. I checked if their surname matched any of the cast or crew, but alas, it did not. So, that concludes our Jimmy Watch for 2025.

In the heartwrenching yet ultimately uplifting plot of the Christmas special, the story unfolds as Mrs. Hall’s son’s ship is struck by a Japanese vessel, leaving half the crew presumed deceased. Edward, who worked in the engine room at the ship’s bottom, has Mrs. Hall doubting his survival due to his absence. Struggling greatly with this uncertainty, she finds solace in caring for an injured fox, which she asks Siegfried to help nurse back to health after feeding it dog biscuits. The fox eventually becomes tame enough to reside around the village, but unfortunately, it’s bitten by a dog. In America, foxes are both rare and intriguing; I would be overjoyed to spot one. Although they may be common and troublesome in England, their charm remains, as I find them adorable and endearing.

In a brief lapse of judgment, Siegfried informs Mrs. Hall that the fox is likely not going to survive due to an infection, and he plans to euthanize it humanely. This sets off Mrs. Hall, who questions his right to decide life or death. Anna Madeley delivers a powerful performance in this scene, her acting skills really shining like a racehorse finally given the chance to gallop at full speed. Excellent work, Anna Madeley! I’d also like to express my gratitude for your contributions to multiple lesbian period films from 2008 to 2010. Your talent is much appreciated.

As a movie enthusiast, I found myself taking on the role of a caring protector when I saved a fox I named Cubby. You see, Cubby and Mrs. Hall share an unusual bond, and since I’m fond of them too, I couldn’t just let him go back into the wild, not with the injuries he sustained. Perhaps it would be best for Cubby to live with the dogs at the practice instead. After all, don’t we know that wild animals often find comfort in unconventional environments?

We also discover Edward’s fate, but let me pause here because there’s a bit more to the pigeon storyline that you won’t want to miss!

Tristan is impressing everyone with his knowledgeable approach to instructing Royal Army Veterinary Corps soldiers on mule care and beyond. His expertise is so notable that he’s been entrusted with a new task: secure a dozen plump pigeons for the army, as these birds will help produce more skilled stealthy pigeons. His superior officer praises them, calling them “remarkable little creatures.” With Christmas fast approaching, the army needs these pigeons by then, making this a special mission – a Christmas Pigeon Operation!

When Tristan shares his task involving pigeons with Siegfried, Siegfried expresses his admiration for these birds and their ability to navigate over long distances, even from a thousand miles away. He also recounts the tale of Cher Ami, a famed pigeon during WWI. Siegfried adds that Enoch Sykes, a local resident, is known for breeding top-notch pigeons. However, Tristan encounters an unusual issue – Mr. Sykes’ pigeons are leaving neon green droppings, which poses a problem. Eventually, he’s granted permission to borrow one pigeon (Ripley) from Mr. Sykes for testing purposes. Unfortunately, upon arriving at Skeldale, Tristan finds that Ripley has already passed away.

In this scenario, Tristan faces two options: conducting a pigeon post mortem or sending it to the lab. Siegfried’s lack of confidence in Tristan’s abilities for dissecting pigeons leads him to opt for the latter. To deceive Sykes regarding his deceased cherished pigeon, Tristan plans to dodge him and impersonate Siegfred on phone calls. Brilliant strategy, Tristan, with zero risk of failure… until Sykes appears and labels Tristan a coward. Fair enough, sir. Sykes then mentions that other pigeons have perished since then, and he squarely lays the blame on Tristan’s shoulders, even warning other local pigeon breeders about him.

After losing all access to pigeons, due to our impending pigeon deadline, it’s fortunate that lab results arrived confirming lead poisoning in the pigeons. However, you might wonder if pigeons would eat just anything? Tristan returns to Mr. Sykes’s to inspect the pigeon living conditions. Upon investigation, he finds that Sykes was tossing pigeon feed into the cages in a way that dislodged lead paint chips from the cage ceiling and onto the floor, which the pigeons inevitably ate. Given their nature, it’s no surprise that they are pigeons! Therefore, Tristan is no longer known as “the Bird Killer of Darrowby,” and the Pigeon Breeding Mission can proceed successfully.

Now that everyone has returned to Skeldale, it’s Christmas time, Cubby the Fox is thriving, and Mrs. Hall receives a phone call from afar. Indeed, it’s EDWARD who is alive like Cubby, calling from a hospital in Singapore. He’s hurt, but he’ll be okay. Upon hearing the news, Mrs. Hall breaks down, Siegfried becomes emotional, and everyone is overjoyed because they all adore Mrs. Hall. In response, Siegfried prepares festive drinks for them all, and they gather for dinner. Later on, Mrs. Hall delivers a speech expressing her gratitude for their support during difficult times with their compassion and empathy.

Wrapping up what makes this series special: a warm, inviting ambiance. With carols playing on the radio, the room bathed in firelight, and a Christmas tree standing tall, Tristan engages in charades with the family as Mrs. Hall gazes out the window to witness snowfall. Farewell, Darrowby Family! We hope you’ll stick around for at least four more years.

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2025-02-24 07:59