Right-o, I am back on it with this re-watch. I was trying to leave a gap big enough so I'd finish just in time for S7 but frankly I have no patience. I need their faces on my screen now.
This is a wonderful series opener and definitely on of the stronger ones, it sets a lot up and I suppose it has to with the time jump. While I wouldn't have minded another series of war (c'mon on Warden Hall) I understand why they didn't go down that route. The shows job isn't to make commentary on wartime life but to be optimistic, romantic and all in all feel good, not to mention to be full to the brim with animals.
As much as I want to ignore the timeline because it does drive me up the buggering wall, I can't. How long has Mrs H been away, they're saying 3 years, but how, give me the ins and outs? Because like Edward would have been several months away in Dec '41 so that has to take us to March of 42 but the way Audrey says to Helen, "it only seems like yesterday she was coming into the world" re Rosie makes me think she must have been there for Rosie's birth as she was Jimmy's. But then Mary, has to be at least 9 months old (her birthday I'm fairly sure is in a few episodes time). So that makes me think that if Mary is a 44 baby, Rosie must be a 43 baby because there was no hint in the '41 series that Helen was expecting. Betty and Edward, I think it's implied had a bit of a shotgun wedding so that's what Jan '44 or December of '43? Also, also, why did Edward not come to Skeldale? Siegfried is all but gagging to comfort Audrey in the S5 CS you can't tell me he didn't offer Skeldale on a silver platter, or volunteer to speak with the hospital up at Pumphrey Manor on Audrey's behalf to get him a space in there.
Like, I understand why the time skip is necessary and I do not hate it but I have too many questions about the in-between times to be chill about it.
The amount of times I said, Girl 🙃 when Siegfried was being a moron in this episode frankly would make a great drinking game if I drank. He is so pained by her leaving; even though he knows it was logical, it makes me wonder if there had been a different plan that was changed last minute that kick-started all his erratic behaviour. I think in their talk over their game that is somewhat implied that he hadn't been expecting to her leave but also acknowledged she couldn't let Edward recover on his own? So, like which is it? In my mind he was expecting Edward to come to them, but something happened and she had to rush off and leave everyone behind. He resented it, which makes me think someone (Audrey) made the choice to go instead of stay.
The animal storyline of this episode was second to none. I loved it, it got all three vets involved and it mirrored the main human conflict perfectly. James and Siegfried's talk...argument on the moors was brilliant and I am so glad we get to see James giving him a bit of a what for because it sounds like James has basically had the weight of the world on his shoulders for a while. Then when they come back and Siegfried immediately starts looking to apologise to her, and ends up stroking her pinny like not to be a twat about this but that's quite a strong reaction for a platonic buddy pal going away.
The train station scene is pure gold! I need the music of this series injected into my fucking veins, give it to me now! The fact Siegfried is so tunnelled in on her that he just doesn't seem to remember to mention the itty bitty tidbit of info that fucking war is over! My guy is in love and so unsure what to do with himself. Like their little faces when they get their hug, laughing nay giggling and swaying together. I cannot even.
Then we get the bonfire bit, and I like the callback to the '39 scene way back when that was nice to tie everything together. Also, Audrey, straight up strokes his arm...she doesn't just take it, she gives it a stroke and you want me to believe they are friends and only friends nah, mate, they have a bond, that has pushed to its dizzy limits but it goes beyond platonic perimeters.
Other random tidbits: did Audrey change to travel? Like her little brown and burgundy combo she wears it when she arrives and then wears it when she leaves despite the fact she had a little green cardie on in the kitchen? That feels like a very extra thing to do because it looks far more formal an outfit choice.
Also, I wonder if Audrey thinks about how Siegfried dismissed that they are friends? Like did his little outburst there contribute to her seeing Dorothy being a more suitable candidate for him on the dating front? That he was being more honest in his anger, that she does feel taken down a peg, that she is a housekeeper and nothing more. Because it felt so fucking harsh, especially in front of company.
Anyway, I am looking forward to revisiting this series as it is one of the strongest. This episode, was 50 minutes so I don't think there was any deleted scenes but if anyone has intel on cut scenes for the rest of S6 do let me know because this rewatch has highlighted that some things are given better context with them. Finally, fun fact, I had 0 idea that Rachel Shenton was pregnant during filming of S6 when I originally watched this back in Novemeber-ish time last year, that went totally over my head so I'll be on the look out for the bump lol.
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