All Creatures Great and Small

All Creatures Great and Small

show

TV-PG, 2020, Drama, Comedy

WISE
85%

WISE Score

99

Avg. Tomatometer

Cozy, gorgeous veterinary drama set in 1930s Yorkshire—like a warm blanket for your soul, but with more cow births.

IMDb8.6
RT Critics99%
MC84
TMDB8.2
Common Sense Media
Where to Watch
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Where-to-watch data byJustWatch
Screenwise Verdict

This is the rare show that earns its 99% Rotten Tomatoes score. It's beautiful, thoughtful, and genuinely enriching without being preachy or boring. Yes, it's slow—but that's a feature, not a bug. If your family is drowning in overstimulating content and you want something that feels like a palate cleanser, this is it.

That said, let's be real: younger kids (under 10) may struggle with the pacing. There's no action, no jokes-per-minute quota, no flashy editing. It's a show that asks you to sit with characters and care about their lives. If your kid can do that, they'll learn about empathy, animal care, and what it means to be part of a community.

The veterinary scenes are handled with care—nothing gratuitous, but you will see animals in distress and medical situations. It's educational and respectful, but sensitive kids might need a heads-up.

Bottom line: This is top-tier family viewing for households that value substance over spectacle. It's comfort food for the soul, and it actually delivers on being wholesome without making you roll your eyes.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10+ who can appreciate slower-paced, character-driven storytelling. Younger kids (7-9) could watch with parents, especially if they love animals, but may find it slow. Adults will genuinely enjoy this—it's not 'kids' TV at all, just wholesome and family-safe.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
95

This 2020 remake of the beloved veterinary series set in 1930s Yorkshire is profoundly wholesome. It models kindness, compassion for animals, community cooperation, and gentle humor. The show focuses on a young vet learning his trade in the countryside, with emphasis on human decency, mentorship, and the beauty of rural life. The pacing is deliberately calm—almost meditative—which is refreshing but may feel slow to viewers accustomed to faster content. No cynicism, cruelty, or mean-spirited behavior; just good people doing good work.

Imaginative
68

The show is beautifully shot with gorgeous Yorkshire landscapes and period detail, which sparks appreciation for history and rural life. However, it's more observational than actively imaginative—it's a character-driven drama rather than a fantasy or creative exploration. It invites curiosity about veterinary medicine, animal care, and life in a different era, but doesn't push boundaries or encourage viewers to build/create/explore in the way more inventive media might. It's thoughtful and atmospheric rather than boldly original.

Safe
92

Exceptionally safe for family viewing. Common Sense Media rates it for age 10+, likely due to some mild veterinary procedures (animals in distress, birthing scenes) and period-appropriate social dynamics. No violence, gore, sexual content, or profanity. The 'dangers' are limited to seeing farm animals in medical situations—nothing gratuitous or traumatic. Kids mode is available on PBS platforms. The only minor caution is that some animal medical scenes might be emotionally intense for very sensitive younger viewers, but nothing is graphic or exploitative.

Enriching
88

Highly enriching. The show offers insight into veterinary science, rural life, historical context (1930s England), and ethical questions about animal welfare and community responsibility. It models empathy, professionalism, perseverance through failure, and the value of mentorship. Characters face real challenges and grow through them. The 99% RT critic score and 84 Metacritic rating reflect its quality storytelling and emotional depth. It's genuinely entertaining for adults and older kids who appreciate character-driven drama, though younger viewers may find it slow.

Parent Info
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Why It Might Be Great

  • Genuinely wholesome without being saccharine—models kindness, empathy, and community in a way that feels real and earned
  • Stunning cinematography of the Yorkshire Dales makes you want to book a flight to England immediately
  • Teaches about veterinary medicine, animal care, and rural life in an accessible, engaging way
  • Character-driven storytelling with real stakes and emotional growth—adults will be just as hooked as kids
  • Perfect antidote to chaotic, overstimulating content—this is slow TV done right
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What to Watch For

  • Some veterinary scenes show animals in distress or medical procedures (births, surgeries)—nothing graphic, but may upset very sensitive younger viewers
  • Pacing is deliberately slow and contemplative, which is lovely but may bore kids expecting action or constant stimulation
  • Period-appropriate gender and class dynamics (1930s England)—good opportunity for historical context conversations

Conversation Starters

  • "What do you think it would be like to be a vet in the 1930s without modern technology?"
  • "Which animal case was the most interesting or surprising to you?"
  • "How do the characters show kindness to each other, even when they disagree?"
  • "Would you want to live in a small village like that, where everyone knows everyone?"
Stills
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