Channel 5's reboot of All Creatures Great and Small first aired in September 2020, during the height of the pandemic, offering viewers a soothing escape from anxiety. The series, set in the Yorkshire Dales, follows a trio of vets and is deliberately mild, with beautiful scenery and polite interactions, making it a comforting watch.
The show quickly became the most-watched series on Channel 5 in five years, praised for its gentle tone. Now, as series two begins, the world has opened up, but the first episode proves the show's formula remains effective. The Yorkshire Dales are still breathtaking, problems are minimal, and characters remain pleasant.
The show's success has inspired other gentle remakes, such as a new series of The Darling Buds of May starring Bradley Walsh. Creating such agreeable television is challenging, requiring sincerity and avoiding sarcasm or social commentary. The BBC's original ran for 90 episodes, and if this reboot maintains its quality, it could surpass that.
