The young James Herriot

[Laafet]

I thought it was not very good. I hate the drab filming, I have a small TV so can't see half of what is going on. The horse upset me a bit as we had two at work shot on Friday so it was all a bit close to the bone. In general the story line was so poor, I probably won't bother watching again.

 

[Boxers]

I agree with others. it was boring and i only half watched and listened to it. it just didn't hold my attention.

i hated that the colours were so drab and grey. i couldn't get the hang of the timeline. i mean those pups were full grown in just a few days, and as for him shooting the pony, well i thought he had only been there a day or two and was unqualified.

won't be watching the rest of the series I don't think.

 

[mulledwhine]

^^^^ it was common for students to be sent out and practice then. You did not need any qualifications in those days

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Haven't seen it yet,have it recorded so will reserve judgement. However I have read that Alf Wight's (Wilf White was a show jumper ) family were heavily involved and a lot of the stories came from his own notes and diaries from before he started writing the books.

Yes, I saw Alf Wight's son on 'Breakfast' this morning and he said that the script was based on his father's manuscripts. He seemed quite pleased with the result.

I thought it brought home how little vets (and doctors) could do to cure/improve illness in the period between the wars. They had no antibiotics available and very few other effective medicines. All they could do was relieve pain and hope for the best, in most cases.
It apparently is also true that vet students were sent out to cases without qualified supervision. Which, IMO, doesn't "drag the veterinary profession in to some sort of intellectual morass" but shows just how far modern veterinary medicine has come in the last 70 yrs.

 

[ISHmad]

Recorded this last night so not seen it yet. Was really looking forward to seeing it so hope I'm not another one on the disappointed list...

 

[misterjinglejay]

I'm another one that wasn't impressed! I will watch the rest because I was really looking forward to it, and want to give it every chance.

The original series and film were so good - any remake has a lot to live up to.

 

[kirstyl]

Yes, I saw Alf Wight's son on 'Breakfast' this morning and he said that the script was based on his father's manuscripts. He seemed quite pleased with the result.

I thought it brought home how little vets (and doctors) could do to cure/improve illness in the period between the wars. They had no antibiotics available and very few other effective medicines. All they could do was relieve pain and hope for the best, in most cases.
It apparently is also true that vet students were sent out to cases without qualified supervision. Which, IMO, doesn't "drag the veterinary profession in to some sort of intellectual morass" but shows just how far modern veterinary medicine has come in the last 70 yrs.

My dad went to school with Alf Wight's son Jimmy in Thirsk! I'll have to get him to watch 'Breakfast' on IPlayer. I found it very exciting as a child that his vet surgery was just along the road from my aunt's house. Mixing with the stars ...

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

Yes I wasn't overly impressed either, and I got a bit frustrated with the acting and the way it was written, and I didn't warm to the characters.
I love the original TV series and I was expecting it to be similar, which is, I suppose why I'm disappointed it's not.

 

[frozzy]

Dissapointing and again I couldn't get the timeline at all.! New born pups with docked tails yet a few days later they were full grown. Supposed to be Yorkie X JR's and looked more like English setters (and about the same size)
Whoever was in charge of continuity needs shot.!
Equigal yes I too thought it to be a Welsh C, and how the heck they were to pull it through that rabbit warren to dispose of the carcass lord alone knows.Maybe of interest to the lay person but those of us that know a bit were not amused. And yes I had the azotoria within the first few seconds when he said the nag got every Sunday off. Shant be rushing to see parts2 &3!!

 

[Maesfen]

and anyone who knew Wilf White will be outraged, and fuming [ he vetted a horse for me in the 1970's]

Lol, Wilf never claimed to be a vet although he knew an awful lot of veterinary knowledge and taught me a lot but I think you meant Alf.

My old vet started college as AW left but knew him well and our claim to fame is that we sold a Border Terrier to one of Alf's partners in his practice so used to get some inside info.

I think people need to remember that veterinary science then was nothing like it is today, in many things they were flying by the seat of their pants and things or treatment then would look extremely crude now. Crikey, I remember when sulphanilimide was the new wonder drug, it really did help things a lot but today is hardly ever talked about or used.

 

[Penny Less]

I didnt like it at all, The original series with Christopher Timothy etc was very funny, this had no humour at all. Also, did anyone else think "Frank Spencer" when Herriott first came on the scene?

 

[mirage]

I was very disappointed too.I loved the original books and series and was really looking forward to this.I watched the originals when I was the same age that my eldest daughter is now,so recorded it for her,but won't let her watch it as it had none of the humour I remembered and was downright gloomy and badly lit.

I diagnosed 'Monday Morning Disease' too.

 

[Carefreegirl]

Went to bed halfway through, like most was looking forward to it and I just about remember the original.....

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

When James Herriot finally did diagnose the horse with Monday morning disease, his treatment idea was to give the horse 3 months off?

It was suppose to be 1933, so I'm not sure what drugs were in use then, but should JH have not suggested a couple of days off work, hot blankets across the loins, reduce grain and cut oats completely on the days the horse does not work, then after a couple of days start work again gradually.
From then onwards, on the horses day off the grain should be reduced and no oats ...

Surely that would have been a less drastic option to try, to see if the horse responded compared to either: 3 months off work entirely or shoot it?

 

[WelshRuby]

This! I hated it, especially at the end where he gave the boy a puppy when they couldn't even afford feed themselves and then portraying the whole scenario as happy ever after, ugh!

I think the dead horse was bought from the father by the Vet school for research/disection so the son came home and they could afford to keep a pup

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

I think the dead horse was bought from the father by the Vet school for research/disection so the son came home and they could afford to keep a pup

That's right, the dead horse was bought by the vet school, but that money enabled the father to get his son out of the poor house, meaning he was in totally destitute situation. It seemed stupid of James Herriot to offer the dog, as they surely wouldn't have been paid much for a dead horse in the 30s.

 

[siennamum]

It infuriated me. There was a gormless quality to the whole thing, from the stupid way Herriot was played, to the ridiculous decisions (closing your eyes and shooting blindly in the general direction of the horse) to the heavy handed, clueless direction ( would the senior vet/ lecturer REALLY stand outside & leave the gormless one alone with the horse...)
Waste of license fee IMO

 

[welshcobabe]

Well did like it I shall watch then all I also found it interesting regarding the treatment of females trying to become vets.

 

[DragonSlayer]

Well, I got to watch it earlier on catch-up and enjoyed it.

I like to think it's 'dark' to get over the point that times were hard for students, women especially it seems, and James learnt a valuable lesson early on, thus seeing the problem to the conclusion.

I'll be watching the next one..

 

[Miss L Toe]

I think the dead horse was bought from the father by the Vet school for research/disection so the son came home and they could afford to keep a pup

I lived in Glasgow in the 1950s [ I am sure there were plenty of dead horses at the knackers] no need to buy a live one.
Sorry, I got mixed up with Alf and Wilf, these are synonyms, and I only met him over sherry, after he vetted my C Bay
http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/mulgrave+supreme

 

[Achinghips]

Anyone else think James Herriott looked like Norman Wisdom, what with his tanktop and flat cap, bumbling around?

Thought it was clunkingly dreadful and not a very "oss" picious start

 

[tallyho!]

I fell asleep halfway through... So the dray died then?

Snoresome...

 

[monikirk]

Dreadfully poor acting - I also thought Norman Wisdom! Over long and tedious especially after watching Eddie Izzard in a brilliant production earlier.

 

[meandmyself]

It infuriated me. There was a gormless quality to the whole thing, from the stupid way Herriot was played, to the ridiculous decisions (closing your eyes and shooting blindly in the general direction of the horse) to the heavy handed, clueless direction ( would the senior vet/ lecturer REALLY stand outside & leave the gormless one alone with the horse...)
Waste of license fee IMO

I agree with this! I won't be watching any more episodes.

 

[Ibblebibble]

I thought it was quite good, nothing like the old series but then i didn't expect it to be so perhaps thats why i wasn't disappointed I think this is trying to show how tough it was rather than looking at the funny side which the previous series did.

 

[Penny Less]

Just watched part 2 and still not impressed, cant stand the dark interior shots. However, I now have to watch part 3 as they have Gordon Setters in it and I am a great fan of them !

 

[Wildforestpony18]

I thought it was alright but didnt get really into it. Just something on tele for once

 

[Lucy1992]

Well I really like it! x

 

[tallyho!]

I don't like the bald bigot.

 

[ridefast]

I'm not sure which part of it I watched but found it funny that one of the students was treating a pet "ewe" which was actually a dirty great ram! haha