The seventh and final series of the beloved All Creatures Great and Small, based on the autobiographical tales of Yorkshire veterinarian James Herriot, ended with the warmhearted humor and sentiment that marked the show's entire run. As ever, James (Christopher Timothy) wrestles with the illnesses and injuries of cows, horses, pigs, dogs, and occasionally more exotic animals, as well as the quirks and moods of the eccentric farmers and the bickering of his fellow vets, the brothers Siegfried (Robert Hardy, best known as Cornelius Fudge in the Harry Potter movies) and Tristan Farnon (Peter Davison, Doctor Who, Campion, returning to the show after an absence). Series 7 moves into the 1950s, even featuring the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Though the episodes feature all three vets, much of the fun comes from the escapades of Tristan, who's as prone to frivolous obsessions and harmless scrapes as ever. Romantic tangles are his specialty: The series starts with James playing a prank on Tristan, leading him to believe he'd drunkenly proposed to someone two years earlier; later, he becomes smitten with the pretty owner of a pet tortoise. But the show's heart lies with James himself, whose warm relationship with his wife Helen (Lynda Bellingham, Second Thoughts) mirrors his passion for the animals in his care--be it an enormous sow or a neglected dog. And of course, Mrs. Pumphrey and her pekingese Tricki Woo put in an appearance. The Complete Series 7 Collection includes 12 episodes, plus the 1990 Christmas special and--a must for fans--an interview program from 2004 that reunites Timothy, Hardy, Bellingham, and the original Helen, Carol Drinkwater. Though it's the show's last series, newcomers will find it easily accessible and will swiftly grow fond of the well-developed and engaging characters. --Bret Fetzer