Is Tristan Never Coming Back to All Creatures Great & Small?
Season 4 of the series about Yorkshire vets will be released later this year. But is there any chance of seeing one of the most beloved characters?
Based on the novels written by the British veterinarian Alf Wight under the pseudonym James Herriot, the All Creatures Great and Small series is a charming and cozy tale of 20th-century veterinarians. But the quiet and peaceful times for the residents of fictional Darrowby, Yorkshire, have come to an end.
The final episode of Season 3 ended on a soul-shattering cliff-hanger.
On September 3, 1939, Neville Chamberlain addressed the nation by radio and officially declared war between the UK and the Third Reich. Thus began World War II. Later on, in the Christmas special, we learn that one of the protagonists, Tristan (Callum Woodhouse), has decided to join the army. Can we expect to see him in the new season?
As Tristan leaves his home in the Yorkshire Dales in the last episode, he addresses his family with a goodbye speech. This moment was heartbreaking for both the audience and the cast, as Samuel West, who plays the older Farnon, revealed that he literally cried during Callum's acting.
But with the news of Tristan's departure for the war, there is no word on whether the actor will return in Season 4. Fans are now speculating whether Callum Woodhouse's character will reappear in the upcoming season, although no one seems to have high hopes.
'I could even envision some storylines from Tris' POV at the front, but that may take us too far away from the source material and James' perspective, so I wouldn't put money on that,' one Redditor said.
Although the series does not follow the book in every detail, it is worth noting that Tristan did not die in the war. The real Tristan, Brian Sinclair, joined the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in 1944. He cared for military animals and wasn't involved in actual combat. He and Alf Wight corresponded extensively during that period, so we may see at least a recitation of his letters in the series.
Hopefully, the series' creators won't write Tristan off for good because fans believe that, without him, the ensemble won't seem as complete. Filming for the fourth season of All Creatures Great and Small began in March 2023 and is scheduled for release this fall.