Ep 2. Dog Days

In the second episode of the first season of All Creatures Great and Small titled "Dog Days", we see James Herriot trying to establish himself as a veterinarian in the small town of Darrowby in Yorkshire. He is struggling to gain the trust of the locals and his colleagues as many are skeptical of him being a young and inexperienced vet.

The episode starts with James being called to attend to a pregnant cow whose difficulty in delivering its calf has the farmer worried. James is faced with a tough decision as he has to make a choice between using his newfound knowledge and experience to save the cow and the calf or risk losing both in the process. In the end, James is able to successfully deliver the calf and the cow makes a full recovery.

As the episode progresses, we see James Herriot making an acquaintance with a young boy who becomes the target of bullying by older boys. James offers a kind word of encouragement and a sympathetic ear, thus making a connection with the boy's father, who is a vet himself and a respected member of the community. This helps James earn the respect of the father who invites him to lunch and they have a candid conversation about the ups and downs of being a veterinarian.

Meanwhile, Siegfried, James' boss, is upset with the arrival of a new vet in the town, Rupert Alderson. He is concerned about losing business to the obviously more experienced vet. Rupert is met with hostility from Siegfried and James as they see him as competition. However, later on, they are surprised to learn that the newcomer vet is actually a dog specialist, and they decide to reach out to him when James faces difficulty in treating a dog with an unusual condition.

As James deals with the dog's condition, he develops a new level of respect and admiration for the work that Rupert Alderson is carrying out. He sees the skills and techniques used by Rupert in treating animals and learns a lot from it.

The episode ends with a sense of camaraderie between the three veterinarians. They come together to treat a sick animal, and this brings all of them closer together. James has begun to gain acceptance from the locals, and his struggle for respect and acceptance is starting to pay off. He has earned the trust of some of the farmers, and the people of Darrowby are slowly starting to have faith in him.

In conclusion, the second episode of All Creatures Great and Small, "Dog Days", shows the struggles of a young veterinarian trying to establish himself in a new town. James Herriot faces multiple challenges as he tries to make a mark, but his determination and kind heart help him win the trust of some of the locals. With every passing day, he learns something new and develops his skills further, making connections with people and animals alike. With the arrival of a new vet in town, the situation becomes more complicated, but ultimately, he is able to form an alliance with the newcomer, leading to an eventual sense of brotherhood between the three vets.