Every so often a show comes along that manages to cast a spell on its own, and it’s clear already that All Creatures Great and Small is just such a series. With its focus on a young veterinarian who begins his career in the north of England, it quickly introduces viewers to this fascinating region and its many quirky residents.
Just as importantly, it also creates characters, both main and secondary, who show an extraordinary amount of bravery as they contend with the vicissitudes of being an animal owner and of dealing with their health issues.
Mrs. Pumphrey
There’s no question that the late Diana Rigg was one of the most talented actresses of her generation, and she brought her considerable talents to bear with the character of Mrs. Pumphrey.
Though she can be a bit indulgent and silly when it comes to her dog, it is also true that she showed an extraordinary amount of strength in being willing to let him out of her sight so that he could lose weight, and become healthier, under the care of James and Siegfried.
Tristan Farnon
Though he can sometimes be a bit lax when it comes to his studies as a veterinarian in training, it’s also true that Tristan has a heart of gold. He genuinely wants to impress his brother and, when he can buckle down, he shows that he actually has the makings of a good vet. What’s more, he also shows that he has a backbone.
Though he’s often very willing to follow Siegfried’s lead in most matters, on more than one occasion he has been willing to stand up to his brother and to tell him when he’s doing something wrong.
Hugh Hulton
As Neville Longbottom in Harry Potter (one of the series’ bravest characters), Matthew Lewis showed that he had a lot of depth as an actor. He brings a lot of that to bear in his characterization of Hugh Hulton, one of the powerful landowners in the neighborhood.
Though he can sometimes let his feelings get the better of him, he also shows that he is a brave man, someone willing to it to others what he is feeling. This is particularly true of Helen, the one woman that he seems to love above all others.
Dorothy
Dorothy is a relatively minor secondary character in the series, and she only appears in a handful of episodes. Every time that she appears, however, she shows that she is a very powerful woman.
This is particularly true when it comes to her relationship with Siegfried. It’s not everyone, after all, that would show themselves willing to get involved with a widower (which Siegfried is), let alone someone who is still mourning his wife to a degree that he finds it almost impossible to move on from her death.
Maggie
It takes a particular sort of person to be a barmaid in a small town like that which appears in the series, which makes Maggie all the more extraordinary as a character.
She clearly has the sort of courage that allows her to face down some of the men that come into the tavern and, just as importantly, she also shows that she is brave enough to be able to tell Tristan of her feelings for him, even though she has no guarantee that feels the same about her.
Jenny Alderson
As a member of the Alderson family, Jenny understands what it takes to be a farmer. However, it’s also true that she has a lot of her sister in her, and this means that she is also willing to go her own way.
She repeatedly shows in the series that she has a lot of courage, most notably when she, along with James, try to train her dog not to chase sheep, even though she knows that doing so might be impossible and that he might have to be put to sleep anyway.
Mrs. Hall
Every great period drama needs the character who is the conscience for everyone else, the one person that others can rely upon. In this series, that role is occupied by Mrs. Hall, who not only manages to keep the veterinary practice running smoothly but is also the person that the men can go to when they need advice.
However, she also shows how strong she is and has always been, as when she its to Mr. Farnon that she turned in her own son for committing a crime against their employer, something that took a tremendous amount of courage.
Helen Alderson
Helen Alderson is one of this series’ best characters, in large part because she is a proud, independent woman who is willing to live life on her own . She consistently shows that she is also one of this series’ most courageous. This can most clearly be seen when she decides not to marry Hugh at the last moment, knowing that neither of them would be happy.
Even though she knows that it will damage her reputation and break his heart, she ultimately realizes that it’s the only thing that she can do.
Siegfried Farnon
It takes an extraordinary sort of person to pursue a career as a vet, knowing that there will be times when it’s impossible to heal an animal. That makes Siegfried all the more extraordinary as a character since he has been doing this for quite some time.
He repeatedly shows that he is a very brave man, most notably when he declines the chance to become the official vet for horse racing, even though it has been his heart’s desire, all because they want to punish James for something that he had to do.
James Herriot
James Herriot is one of the key reasons that this series will appeal to animal lovers. From the very first episode, he shows that he is someone who takes his profession seriously and genuinely cares about the animals and the people that are under his care.
What’s more, he also shows that he has a great deal of bravery, as he shows both when he stands up to Siegfried and when he has to put a horse to sleep, even knowing that he will make an enemy of Hugh by doing so.