S06E06 - Our Hearts are Full
(photos courtesy of ACGaS tv, Ch5, & Cat Simmons)
Episode 6 was an extremely warm and touching hour that hit all the right notes for a season finale. The writing really captured all the highs & lows on the emotional scale for all the characters.
The reactions of the Skeldale household to the news of enemy surrender and the final end to the war - shown in slow motion - was an excellent directorial & editing choice as it allowed us to watch the information sink in slowly for each family member.
On a funny note, at the start of the radio announcement scene - as James was knocking and waking everyone up - we heard Mrs Hall say from behind her bedroom door "are we on fire?". The way she said it just made me laugh. Same with Siegfried's "are you drunk?"
The climax of Tristan's war trauma was handled with great care and feeling. The scene in the church - when Tris opens up to Siegfried - described the horror of war without being overly graphic. And the ever steadfast Mrs Hall was there at the start of the scene to help the two brothers communicate as she has so often done in the past.
Excellent storytelling to include Tom Chapman and his mother Grace in showing how the long war affected the lives of others in the small closely knit village. Same for including Maggie and her toddler son grieving the loss of a husband & father.
Jimmy "cheeky monkey" Herriot was a delight in this episode and he just about stole every scene he was in. I especially enjoyed his moments with Aunty Audrey; but he was a cutie - and so smart - in the scenes with his dad and granddad too.
I could totally relate to Mr Alderson's irritation with his new telephone and his scenes added a touch of humor to an otherwise emotionally heavy episode. The missing calf gave Tom an opportunity to feel helpful and more like his former self again - as did the additional work offered to him by Mr A.
All the S&A interactions - their conversations - their late night kitchen hug - his expressions of "always" - her touching him several times - were all sublime. However I remain in 'wait & see' mode regarding whether the show will really take them to the next stage in their relationship.
The lighting of the beacon on the hill, the patriotic hymn, and the beautiful view of other beacons across the dales was so very moving. The final show of S6 regular season was a real tearjerker but in such an uplifting way.
E6 left us with a positive forward-looking message. Will be waiting impatiently for the holiday special episode in December.
