The finale of All Creatures Great and Small Season 6 delivered an emotional punch that viewers will not forget anytime soon. Titled “Our Hearts Are Full,” Episode 6 brought the people of Darrowby together to celebrate VJ Day, marking the end of World War II. But beneath the surface of the village festivities, Tristan Farnon (Callum Woodhouse) faced the darkest moment of his journey home as he finally confronted the trauma he carried from the battlefield .
The episode, which aired on October 30, 2025, on Channel 5 and PBS, masterfully balanced the joy of peace with the painful reality that for some soldiers, the war does not end when the fighting stops . As bonfires lit up the hillsides across Yorkshire, Tristan sat in a quiet church, wrestling with memories that refused to stay buried .
Tristan’s Sudden Breakdown During a Routine Call
The episode began with what looked like a happy scene. Tristan was enjoying a picnic with Charlotte Beauvoir (Gaia Wise) , the woman who had captured his heart during his leave. They talked about his time away almost being over, with Tristan preferring to focus on the present rather than think about returning to service .
But the trouble started when Siegfried Farnon (Samuel West) took Tristan along on a call to see a local farmer, Elijah Wentworth (Bernard Wrigley) . Elijah had a shire horse named Weissmuller with a swollen, hot hoof that Siegfried suspected was an abscess . Siegfried, always the teacher, asked Tristan to go to the horse’s head to keep the animal calm during the examination .
That was when everything changed. Tristan froze. He could not focus. He could not respond to his brother’s voice. Without warning, he turned and ran, leaving Siegfried confused and alone with the horse .
The moment was brief but devastating. Something about the horse, the situation, or perhaps the pressure of the moment triggered a flood of memories that Tristan had tried so hard to keep locked away .
Siegfried Searches for His Missing Brother
Back at Skeldale House, Tristan apologized to Siegfried, saying he felt peculiar and had to get out of there . Siegfried, though clearly worried, did not push too hard. But later that night, everything changed for the entire village.
Prime Minister Clement Attlee addressed the nation. Japan had surrendered. The war was finally, officially over . The people of Darrowby celebrated as crowds gathered and fireworks lit the sky. But when morning came, Tristan was gone .
Siegfried discovered his brother’s bed empty. Mrs. Hall (Anna Madeley) suggested checking with Maggie (Mollie Winnard) , who ran the local boarding house. Maggie mentioned she had seen Tristan at the church earlier when she went to light a candle for her late husband, Arthur .
Siegfried and Mrs. Hall headed to the church. They found Tristan sitting alone in the quiet space, unwilling to talk. Tristan asked why people could not leave him alone. Mrs. Hall, wise as always, told him that people care about him and encouraged him to speak with Siegfried before stepping outside to give the brothers privacy .
Tristan Opens Up About the War and Billy
Alone with Siegfried, Tristan finally broke his silence. He revealed the truth about why he received the Military Cross (MC) . During the war, Tristan and his unit were moving camp when they came under fire. He was with Billy, a soldier he had been inseparable with since training .
“There was a noise and Billy just goes up,” Tristan said, his voice heavy with emotion. Billy was badly injured, but when Tristan tried to help, Billy yelled at him to stop because the field was mined. The horses pulling their equipment went berserk. There was no medic available, so Tristan did what he could to help the horses and save a few men .
Billy did not survive. Tristan believes the medal should belong to Billy because Billy saved him, but Tristan could not save Billy in return . The guilt has haunted him ever since. He has not been able to put it out of his head and worries that the war will never truly be over for him .
Siegfried sat with his brother and comforted him. In a moment of raw vulnerability, the two brothers cried together in the church . It was a powerful scene that showed how far their relationship has come.
Siegfried Helps Tristan Face His Fear
After their conversation, Siegfried knew what had to happen. Tristan needed to go back to Weissmuller, the horse that triggered his breakdown. Tristan resisted, saying that Siegfried would make things worse because he associates him with pain .
But Siegfried did not give up. He got help from Butch Fielding (Walt Bedford) , Richard Alderson’s new farmhand, to assist with the horse. Tristan refused to wait outside. He moved in cautiously, managed to keep the horse calm, and watched as Siegfried drained the abscess .
It was a small victory, but an important one. Tristan took a step toward facing his trauma, with his brother right there beside him.
The Village Celebrates VJ Day Together
While the Farnon brothers worked through their personal battle, the rest of Darrowby prepared for the VJ Day celebrations. Mrs. Hall helped organize the party, and Grace Chapman (Cat Simmons) dropped off scones to contribute. Grace mentioned that her son Tom (Lamin Touray) , recently discharged from the army, was finding it difficult to adjust to civilian life .
James Herriot (Nicholas Ralph) had his own challenge. He discovered that Richard Alderson’s cow had given birth to a calf that went missing. With the help of Tom, who agreed to work as a farmhand, they followed the mother cow and found the newborn safe . Tom’s willingness to help marked a turning point for the young man struggling to find his place after the war.
Back at the party, Elijah Wentworth, the quiet farmer who rarely spoke, surprised everyone by making a speech about the end of the war. He said they have to keep the fires burning . Siegfried told Elijah he finally found the words that everyone else felt.
Later, the whole village gathered on the hill to light the beacon. Siegfried let Tristan start the fire. As the flame caught, they looked out and saw other fires burning in the distance, a chain of light spreading across the countryside . It was a simple but powerful image of hope and connection.
Tristan and Charlotte’s Honest Conversation
At the party, Tristan found a moment alone with Charlotte. He admitted that he has not been himself for a while. Charlotte responded with understanding, saying that no one has been themselves lately .
She wondered if the last few months had been a distraction to avoid thinking about what comes next. Charlotte admitted that they had been for her, but those months still meant something. Tristan worried that he may never be the same chap he was. Charlotte’s reply was simple and kind: she is okay with that .
Their conversation left the door open for whatever comes next, without offering easy answers or false promises.
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A Fitting End to a Powerful Season
All Creatures Great and Small Season 6 Episode 6 brought the series back to its emotional core. While some viewers feel the show has become less about animals and more about people, this episode proved that approach can still work when done well .
The episode dealt honestly with the psychological impact of war on soldiers like Tristan and Tom. It showed that healing is not quick or easy, but it is possible with the support of family, friends, and community .
For the Farnon brothers, this episode marked a new level of understanding. Siegfried finally learned the truth about what his brother experienced. Their bond, always complicated, grew stronger through shared pain and honesty .
For the people of Darrowby, the bonfires on the hill represented more than just the end of a war. They stood for resilience, hope, and the quiet determination to keep moving forward together.
All Creatures Great and Small continues to air on Channel 5 in the UK and PBS in the United States, with episodes available for streaming on My5 and the PBS app . The series has been renewed for another season, so viewers can expect more stories from Skeldale House in the future.
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