Rating: 
Summary: Very mixed, unfortunately....
Review: I absolutely adored the first three, and the specials... but this seems to have lost its way. There's the replacement Helen, and the trouble is that she's been replaced by someone who lacks the heart and the charm of Carol Drinkwater. Linda Bellingham seems more like someone's slightly stern nanny, and everyone in the cast reacts that way to her. And that's what's really wrong... the lightness of touch is gone, the actors seem awkward and uncomfortable with each other (especially when Helen is present), and it's not so much that they're older but that they're, I don't know, going through the motions, I suppose... with the possible exception of the ever-stellar Robert Hardy. You'll want to see these once, if you're a fan, but I don't think that I'll ever want to watch them again. I prefer to think of James off somewhere in the Dales, living happily ever after with the real Helen.
Rating: 
Summary: WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT
Review: I AM A FAN OF THE FIRST THREE SERIES. I BOUGHT THEM ALL AND LOVE THEM ALL. THAT SAID, AFTER THE FIRST ABYSSMAL EPISODE OF THIS SERIES I'VE SWORN THEM OFF. THE NEW HELEN MUST BE A RELATIVE OF THE NEW DIRECTOR IS MY ONLY GUESS. THEY'D HAVE DONE BETTER TO HAVE MOVED A MANNEQUIN ABOUT. HER ACTING IS THAT BAD, WHAT THERE IS OF IT. AND WATCH JAMES AND YOU'LL SEE HE'S AS DISAPPOINTED AS WAS I. WANT MORE? THE SETS HAVE LOST THEIR FEELING OF REALITY. THE DIRECTION IS FORCED. AND WHATEVER FEELING THE CAST HAD IS GONE, LOST, HISTORY. CAROL DRINKWATER, THE ORIGINAL HELEN HAD IT RIGHT WHEN SHE JUMPED SHIP ON THIS ONE. IT'S A SAD THING TO WATCH A CAST RAVEL BEFORE YOUR EYES TAKING A BELOVED STORY WITH IT, BUT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS EVISCERATED CORPSE OF A SERIES. OKAY, READY FOR SOMETHING POSITIVE? THE MUSIC IS BETTER. SEE, I'M NOT SUCH A NEGATIVE BLOKE. BUT, PLEASE, FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, SPARE YOURSELF THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THIS SPUTTERING FAILURE.
Rating:
Summary: Austerity in Post WW 2 All Creatures Great and Small
Review: I have had the opportunity to review all of the previous "All Creatures Great and Small" series of DVD's and since this is the final group I felt obligated to acquire it despite critical reviews posted by VHS owners. Of course, we as fans love the charm of this series and I hoped for the best. But I must report that there is a strange loss of magic to this particular group. You get the feeling of characters just doing what is necessary and matching the "austerity" of the era that they are trying to convey. I think it is due to a more stern attitude and as one other writer had said "loss of innocence" on behalf of the "James Herriot" character coupled with the unfamiliar nature of the actress assigned to play his wife. The filming also seems a little cheaper, not as colorful and Robert Hardy does not shout about as much probably due to the successful employment of Tristan in the Agriculture industry. In positive light we have a few repeat characters, Biggins, Dr. Granville Bennett, etc. but the episodes definitely reflect the hard times that Britain went through right after the war. We would like the characters to go on eternally, like 'Star Trek' became to Science Fiction fans but in my gut feeling I think we would have been better off if they had ended it with Carol Drinkwater and the Christmas Specials that still complied with Herriot's original book. I still strongly recommend the Reader's Digest 1983 book published in company with St. Martin's press, "The Best of James Herriot: The Favorite Stories of One of the Most Beloved Writers of Our Time" This delves into what you see on screen and says a LOT about gadgets and lifestyles that you see on the Dales. Complete with illustrations and photos. Series 4 recommended for the dedicated among us.
Rating: 
Summary: All Creatures, series 4
Review: I just wanted to say that, yes, James does seem much more serious in this set of stories, but the changes aren't surprising. He's older, he's been through a war and he has a lot more responsibility now. In other words, he's middle aged. But the series is still wonderful and worth adding to your collection. The funny thing is, I remember when I first saw the new Helen on TV many years ago I thought she was so old. It's a shock to see her now and realize that at the time she was younger than I am now. Time passes!
I wanted to answer a comment made by one of the reviewers about the animals used in the series. One of the earlier DVDs has a commentary by Robert Hardy and others that discusses this point. What they did was advertise for animals with the condition being shown in the script and would offer free veterinary treatment for the illness in return for being allowed to film the treatments. When the camera draws in for a closeup showing surgery being done, a real vet is performing the surgery and correcting a real illness. Robert Hardy does say that they would never be able to make the series today because of the rules regarding the use of animals in film and TV. But the point is, they didn't make an animal ill in order to film a segment. Rather, they found an animal that was already ill and provided free treatment in return for filming.
Rating:
Summary: If you like the series at all, you'll like this collection
Review: I'm dumbfounded by the poor reviews of the fourth season. I just finished watching the DVD set, and yes, the budget appears to be smaller, and Carol Drinkwater isn't Helen, and there is a little bit of rehashing (perhaps a total of 15 minutes out of the entire ten episodes). But I want to say right now that this is still an outstanding TV series, one of the best ever made, and even a relatively lackluster season outdoes any Emmy winner I can think of. "All Creatures" is not a quaint relic, but deals in very down-to-earth issues: life in the midst of physical hardship, spiritual riches, and societal and technological evolution, mixed with generous doses of compassion and humor in a way that no other series has really accomplished.
Much of the material was taken right out of Herriot's fourth book, "The Lord God Made Them All". Yes, it's tad more somber in tone, but (as in Doonesbury) the times change, and the characters grow, stumble, and adapt. Nonetheless, there are excellent moments that any Herriot fan will cherish. My only regret is that they weren't able to devote an episode to James' Russian sea voyage, but they did shorten it to an entertaining inspection of a Russian boat.
BTW, the DVD extras include a great TV interview of Christopher Timothy, including a hilarious out-take involving a prank pulled on Robert Hardy. In the interview he mentioned working on a fifth series. Did anything at all ever come of that? Also, he stated that some of the material used in the series was unpublished at the time. Perhaps it ended up in "Every Living Thing"? I need to read those last two books again.
I highly recommend all four seasons, plus the specials, on DVD. This is a series to be treasured.
Rating: 
Summary: What's all the fuss? This was the best of all the series!
Review: My husband and I have loved the "All Creatures" series since we first became aware of it a few years ago. Series 4 happens to be my very favorite one. One thing bothers me about all the series, however. I am concerned about the care of the animals in the shooting of the scenes. I remember particularly a horse lying on the ground on her side trembling violently. I wondered at the time what they did to that horse to cause such a physical reaction. There are other instances and they are troubling to watch.
Rating:
Summary: What's all the fuss? This was the best of all the series!
Review: My husband and I have loved the "All Creatures" series since we first became aware of it a few years ago. Series 4 happens to be my very favorite one. One thing bothers me about all the series, however. I am concerned about the care of the animals in the shooting of the scenes. I remember particularly a horse lying on the ground on her side trembling violently. I wondered at the time what they did to that horse to cause such a physical reaction. There are other instances and they are troubling to watch.
Rating:
Summary: All Creatures Great & Mix
Review: Set after the end of WWII, this series was taped about eight years after the previous series. As one would expect, there are a lot of changes - but the show is still as wonderful as ever. In this series, Carol Drinkwater (Helen) has been replaced by Lynda Bellingham, and although "The Changing of the Helens" (as I think of it) takes some getting used to, Lynda Bellingham is very good. Also, Helen and James have two children now. Of course, all of the actors look older than before (with the possible exception of Siegfried, who seems not to have aged in 8 years), but it doesn't matter at all. They are just as much fun to watch as ever. (And Tristan is still very, very cute.) Although all the episodes are great, my personal favorite is called "The Bull With The Bowler Hat". It's wonderful, but I'm not going to spoil it for you - you'll have to buy the series and watch it! :-)
Rating:
Summary: Great as usual!
Review: Set after the end of WWII, this series was taped about eight years after the previous series. As one would expect, there are a lot of changes - but the show is still as wonderful as ever. In this series, Carol Drinkwater (Helen) has been replaced by Lynda Bellingham, and although "The Changing of the Helens" (as I think of it) takes some getting used to, Lynda Bellingham is very good. Also, Helen and James have two children now. Of course, all of the actors look older than before (with the possible exception of Siegfried, who seems not to have aged in 8 years), but it doesn't matter at all. They are just as much fun to watch as ever. (And Tristan is still very, very cute.) Although all the episodes are great, my personal favorite is called "The Bull With The Bowler Hat". It's wonderful, but I'm not going to spoil it for you - you'll have to buy the series and watch it! :-)
Rating:
Summary: Continuation of the classic series
Review: The first three series of All Creatures Great and Small, based on the popular James Herriot books, told the story of how Herriot, (Christopher Timothy) newly qualified, travelled from native Scotland to Yorkshire to join the practice run by Siegfried Farnham (Robert Hardy)
It was the story not only of the humourous, touching dramas involved in running a vetinery practice, but also the story of Herriots romance and subsequent marriage to local girl Helen, played by Carol Drinkwater in the early years. The series concluded with the partners joining the war in 1940.
After two Christmas specials, the series began again after the war, starting with this series four. This time with Lynda Bellingham playing the role of Helen, instilling the character with a mumsy charm, as opposed to the more alluring Drinkwater.
The series was a classic, making much of people love of nostalgia, the cosy fireside chats in evenings, listening to Lamplight on the radio, and following historical events as the story unfolded.
Some thought the series was not quite the same after the war. One issue was the series was not taken from the books of Herriot, but written by new writers, who perhaps did not understand the characters as well as the splendid cast who had grown into their roles. Some continuity errors came up, for example, the age of the Herriots children, the second born just after the war, was somehow aged 12 around the Queens coronation year, in 1952.
Nevertheless, there were still some wonderful moments to enjoy, mostly involving the great interplay between Siegfreid, superbly played by Robert Hardy, and his phillerandering Brother, Tristan (Peter Davison). Some slow paying clients, best illustrated by the crusty Biggings making Herriots life a misery, and some hilarious cases, all mingled around the Yorkshire community and their colourful characters.
This series sees James and Helens struggles to own their first home and the introduction of a new character, Callum Buchannon, a colourful, outgoing Scottish vet, with a fascination for wildlife, among other things, and his subsequent romance with the former girlfreind of Tristan, Diedre.
Perhaps not the best All Creatures and Small series, but still wonderful.
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