Book adaptations can hardly get better than this. Since Herriot's books are, according to his son, over 90 % true, sticking to them is particularly important. Here we have characters and scenes that were considered authentic by people who were originally there. Siegfried is my particular favourite. According to contemporaries Robert Hardy got him just right, how exciting is that!
Compared to the 2020 series, here the realism of Herriot's books is embraced. The actors - or maybe rather, the screenwriters - are not afraid to get down and dirty. The priceless supporting characters are featured splendidly.
Just one thing about Siegfried, he was actually only about 30 when James started to work for him. He was a ladies' man, and to show this Hardy has a couple of awkward scenes with young women in the early episodes. Doesn't really work. There are also some scenes between Callum and his girlfriend which I find problematic. That is not original Herriot material, towards the end of the series they ran out of it.
These are very passing moments though. Visually the show is dated, particularly the first seasons, but you get used to it. It's worth it, I assure you. Above all I recommend the books.
Compared to the 2020 series, here the realism of Herriot's books is embraced. The actors - or maybe rather, the screenwriters - are not afraid to get down and dirty. The priceless supporting characters are featured splendidly.
Just one thing about Siegfried, he was actually only about 30 when James started to work for him. He was a ladies' man, and to show this Hardy has a couple of awkward scenes with young women in the early episodes. Doesn't really work. There are also some scenes between Callum and his girlfriend which I find problematic. That is not original Herriot material, towards the end of the series they ran out of it.
These are very passing moments though. Visually the show is dated, particularly the first seasons, but you get used to it. It's worth it, I assure you. Above all I recommend the books.