All Creatures Great and Small season 5 episode 2 ending explained: Did James lose the baby?

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 episode 2 brought the first look at the young local vet James Herriot's return to Darrowby. However, it wasn't only his first day back as the local veterinarian after returning from RAF Abingdon—it was also his first day on dad duty to little Jimmy.

James, however, struggled with juggling his vet rounds and taking care of the baby. He forgot the baby bag and James also lost baby Jimmy as he and Carmody drove away from Mr. Dowson's farm. It took him several minutes to remember that he left Jimmy with Elsie. The error made James feel terrible about his capabilities of being a father.

In All Creatures Great and Small season 5 episode 2, James wasn't the only one who had to ease into new dynamics. Mrs. Hall also had to adapt to her new job, which included dealing with the tension between Siegfried and her new boss, Mr. Bosworth, while Helen learned to ease up on her growing sister.

Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for All Creatures Great and Small season 5 episode 2. Reader's discretion is advised.

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James forgot the baby on his first dad duty in All Creatures Great and Small season 5 episode 2

As seen in All Creatures Great and Small season 5 episode 1, James Herriot was back in Darrowby from RAF Abingdon following his diagnosis. Helen was especially happy about his return along with everyone else at Skeldale House, including his roster of local clients. James couldn't wait to embrace getting back in action, and was eager to get back to working as the local vet.

James brought Jimmy along (Image via PBS)

However, with everyone else busy in All Creatures Great and Small, season 5 episode 2, James had to perform daddy duties. Baby Jimmy was set to join him and Carmody on one of their rounds for the day, so Helen gave him a crash course in taking care of the baby, which James took in stride. The new dad was confident that he could handle it, but juggling his work and taking care of an infant turned out harder than he initially realized.

James' errors started just as they were leaving the house to go to Mr. Dowson's farm to tend to his calf. James put the baby bag on top of the car as he got ready to put Jimmy inside the car. Unfortunately, he forgot all about the bag after securing the baby, so when the car drove, the bag fell to the ground without him noticing—and there goes Jimmy's nappies and other essentials.

James only noticed the missing baby bag at Mr. Dowson's place when Jimmy needed changing. Thankfully, the farmer's daughter, Elsie, was able to fashion a makeshift diaper out of tea towels. But like he told Helen at the end of All Creatures Great and Small season 5 episode 2, the bag wasn't the only thing he forgot.

James left Jimmy behind (Image via PBS)

James also forgot about baby Jimmy. He and Carmody were tending to the calf and trying to get to Helen in time for Jimmy's breastfeeding. After they were done working, they drove off the farm. He forgot that Jimmy was still with Elsie, who was tending to him while they were working. It wasn't until they had driven off a considerable distance and Carmody mentioned Jimmy in their conversation that James noticed he had left the baby behind.

While Jimmy was safe with Elsie, forgetting his son even for a while was something James didn't forgive himself for. Helen was more gracious towards him when he admitted his error, saying that she had made mistakes and that James would get used to taking care of Jimmy soon enough.

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All Creatures Great and Small season 5 episode 2 saw more of Siegfried and Mr. Bosworth drama

Early in All Creatures Great and Small season 5 episode 2, it became increasingly obvious that there was tension between Siegfried and Mr. Bosworth, and Mrs. Hall was stuck between their drama.

Siegfried was opposed to Mr. Bosworth telling farmers to paint their cattle because he said that lead wasn't safe for the animals. But, as the air raid warden, Mr. Bosworth said that painting the animals made them visible at night, which meant fewer accidents where the citizens were concerned. Siegfried also accused the warden of monopolizing Mrs. Hall's time.

Siegfried and Mr. Bosworth (Image via PBS)

However, they got to a truce when Mrs. Hall and Siegfried tried to help a poisoned dog, which turned out to be Mr. Bosworth's. While the dog still died in the end, Mr. Bosworth was thankful for the two because they were there for his dog during the last moments of its life.

Unfortunately, the truce was temporary because, during Mr. Bosworth's patrol, he fined Siegfried one euro for failing to observe a blackout. Mrs. Hall, however, knew better than to intervene with their bickering because, as she previously told Siegfried, he and Mr. Bosworth are "practically twins"—they both had their particular ways and didn't like change.

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The drama at Heston Grange in All Creatures Great and Small season 5 episode 2

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 episode 2 introduced a new character, Doris, a young woman from Leeds who left the city to join the Women's Land Army to work on a farm in the Dales. She became a friend to Jenny, but her arrival was less welcomed by Jenny's older sister Helen.

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Helen is concerned with Jenny's new friend Doris

Helen and Jenny (Image via PBS)

Helen discovered in All Creatures Great and Small season 5 episode 2 that Jenny found a new best friend in the new girl from Leeds called Doris. She also discovered that Jenny wanted to go to the city with Doris and possibly work at the department store where the other girl was working.

Thinking that Doris was trying to influence Jenny, she didn't accept the other girl warmly. However, Helen and Jenny had a heart-to-heart conversation, where Jenny said that her decision was inspired by what Helen told her before.

She shared that she hadn't seen much of the world enough to decide to stay at the farm and that the world was bigger than Darrowby. She said that she understood what Helen meant then and it was what she was going to do—see the world out there then decide.

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Carmody gets smitten with Doris

Carmody meets Doris (Image via PBS)

If there were one person who was happy about Doris, it would be Carmody, who was visibly smitten with the Leeds local the first time they met. He would trip over his feet and stumble over his words when talking to her, and it didn't help that she praised his vet skills.

All Creatures Great and Small season 5 episode 2 brought suspense as to whether fans can expect a deeper connection to develop between Doris and Carmody in the upcoming episodes.

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Catch All Creatures Great and Small season 5 episode 2, now streaming on MASTERPIECE on CBS. Seasons 1 through 4 of the British show can also be watched online or via the free PBS app with PBS Passport.