Call the Midwife, Series One – Emotional Stories of Hope

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Call the Midwife, Series One (2012) TV Show Review

Anything based on a memoir or a “true story” is usually something worth paying attention to. I had higher expectations for Call the Midwife than even I realized, some of those expectations paid off. During its six-episode run, there were poignant delights but did they outweigh the disappointments?

Call the Midwife, Series One
Determined to sidestep love and a normal life, Jenny Lee (Jessica Raine) decides to put her nursing career to a good purpose. She becomes certified in midwifery, and agrees to a position working with a clinic in the lower east side. She arrives at the small convent, Nonnatus House where the nuns provide free clinics and make house calls to expectant mothers. Efficiently run by sister Julienne (Janny Agutter), Jenny is unprepared for the challenges of this job.

Barely settled, she learns to adjust to midnight calls and the peculiar personality of Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt). She quickly finds confidants and friendship with her fellow co-workers, Trixie and Cynthia (Helen George, Bryony Hannah). The first delivery Jenny attends alone opens her eyes to the ignorance and depravity of her patients. Meanwhile newcomer Camilla “Chummy” Browne (Miranda Hart) shakes up the household with her cheerful outlook even as Jenny’s own past – one she is trying to forget, finds her again.

Making an effort to distance their name from Jane Austen-esque era period pieces is a small way the BBC seems to reinvent itself. It’s a decision that made me sad but in retrospect seems wise. In fact, it has produced a series of fabulous productions such as Call the Midwife. Based on the gritty memoir of Jennifer Worth and her experiences as a midwife, this series was born. (The talented Heidi Thomas – Upstairs, Downstairs, Ballet Shoes – adapts this one.) To say that this production is for everyone isn’t honest, because truth is, it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. Where something like Ballet Shoes is a wonderful portrait of family bonds and finding one’s identity, Call the Midwife is a dark, gritty piece of realistic life in the 1950’s.

It takes more than one episode for the show to finds its stride. The premiere is “tense” and forgets to ease its audience into this world. Instead, we are immediately swept into the whirlwind of Jenny’s new life as she attends calls. Never is there invitation to “meet” her character or past. Even by the end, though our curiosity is piqued, we still know little about Jenny or any character. In the third hour, writers finally learn to pace things. By then, we do love each character. From Trixie’s flirty, fun-loving personality; to the stern nature of Sister Monica Jean; or the earnest suit of Jenny’s childhood friend, Jimmy, each of characters is fabulous. Included in that cast is the voice of British great, Vanessa Redgrave and Ben Caplan as a smitten constable.

Even in darkness, glimmers of good delight and surprise us in equal measures. Once I knew what to expect of the series, I become increasingly drawn into the stories. To see people live in such squander is jarring; but more startling is that they don’t want to better their lives. Jenny is an empathetic, quiet leading character, and Raines shoulders the responsibility well. But it’s Chummy who is the biggest surprise of all. She gets an adorable love story, which wraps up in the best possible way.

If potential viewers go into this knowing it’s not the usual British fare, you may surprise yourself in realizing how entertaining this can be. It has heart and seems to recognize its error to focus strictly on new life but also the tragedy at the last breath, and everything that happens in the chasm between in this thing called life.


(Parental concerns: Every episode has at least one scene of childbirth [episode one has two or three]; some more “graphic” than the others [including one visual, prolonged breech birth]. Various themes are dealt with including prostitution [a girl is seen half-dressed lying in bed demanding full payment, she also recounts her “first time”]. Implications reveal that a woman engaged in an affair with a married man, another woman suggests she is no longer a virgin leading up to her wedding. There’s a troubling case involving incest and out-of-wedlock children in addition to various childbirth complications. A demonstration on birth control involves the use of condemns.)

About Rissi JC

amateur graphic designer. confirmed bookaholic. bubbl’r enthusiast. critical thinker. miswesterner. social media coordinator. writer.

19 comments

    1. British dramas are AWESOME! I love nearly each one I've seen but this is really different from the norm. It's "gritty" in ways that British drama usually isn't save for perhaps Charles Dickens. That being said, it was still very good.

      Hope you enjoy if you see it, Jack. :)

  1. I have this show already ordered from Amazon, although sadly it's on back-order until January. But I can't wait until it gets here! Thanks for the review!

    1. Oh, noes! That's no fun, Kellie – I like it when I get fun, "guilty pleasure" things like that to enjoy over the holidays. (I say they're the gifts I buy for myself. :D) Hope it comes in before that. You could also purchase it from a seller – mine came from Amazon but I think I'd had it pre-ordered so it was probably one of the first "batches."

      Hope you enjoy – let me know what you think!

  2. Just watched this the other day. I finished feeling conflicted by it.

    There were parts I just adored, and the "interesting" factor was super high. I just finished nursing school, and learning how medicine has grown over the past 100 years is fascinating to me. Watching "Chummy" deliver the breech baby made me want to cheer.

    However, as the series went on, I wanted so much to love it, but became discouraged. I understand it is a memoir, and all truth isn't beautiful. "Gritty" is the correct word to describe it. But I just couldn't shake the nausea in my stomach after the "brother-sister" story, and it just felt like every episode had something a bit worse than the last.

    In the end, I thought, "Well, I watched it, and I enjoyed some of it, but I'm pretty sure I won't watch any second series."

    Good to hear your thoughts on it! Not many seem to know much about it yet, as it is so new.

    By the way, how do you watch your films? You seem to see most everything (even the hard to find stuff). Do you use Netflix, or BBC America, or?

    1. Your opening sentence in a nutshell sums up my opinions, Camille.

      As the series progressed, I admired much about it once I knew how everything would play out. The characters are compelling but not the stories in every instance. (Knowing you are a nurse makes sense that you'd be able to relate – I'm not a medical person so I don't always "enjoy" dramas that get too intense that way.) I liked Chummy a great deal and am intrigued by what Jenny's story really is. Also I wish we knew more about her fellow midwives.

      The whole brother-sister plot was disturbing. Who write's things like that!? It's… bothersome in more ways that one. You have an excellent perspective on this series – I like what you say about all truth not being beautiful. That is so right: It's not. Call me a softy but generally I do like my entertainment to be happy. :) We live every day in truth that's not always a bed of roses. That cannot be argued.

      I'll watch the second series but don't know beyond that as its already being touted as being "darker" than the first. *Sigh* What could that mean?!

      All right, I'll just confess: My weakness is British drama and DVD's in general, so… I buy them. No I don't use any type of rental service though I did watch a couple of episodes of BBC's newest jewels on line. However, until then, I purchased what series I was interested in – through one of Amazon's branches.

      Glad you stopped in, Camille! :)

    2. Ohhh, that's too bad they are advertising it as "darker" . . . sniff. If you see it, tell me how it is. I know about buying movies. Since I started using Netflix, there almost seems to be no point to buying movies anymore, but I still love to "own" them. I dunno . . . probably always will.

      Thanks for always being so welcoming, it always brings a smile to my face!

    3. In all likelihood, I will see the second series, Camille – and will be glad to let you know what I thought. If it progressively gets "worse," I may stop watching it but as it stands now, I liked it well enough to watch the second set.

      Thank you for visiting my blog! I really appreciate all your comments and opinions! :)

    1. Thank you, Juliet – as I've said before: It shouldn't be that much fun! :)

      It's made in a digital studio program my parents bought me as a gift a while back. Recently the company (Stampin' Up!) just upgraded it and it's even more awesome plus I've learned how to use it better. Parts of it were done in the free editing service, Pic Monkey also – like the font. Hope this answers your question. :)

  3. Watched all 6 episodes in one afternoon. :) I really LOVED it, minus the brother/sister story-line in Ep. 5, the fact that Chummy was "not eligible" to wear white at her wedding and Jenny's back story that was alluded to. Other than those three things, I loved it and don't regret having bought it sight-unseen. Hopefully Jenny will see how amazing Jimmy is in the next season. :) I'm becoming quite the British tv fan myself here lately, can't get enough of those accents. ;)

    1. Wow! Talk about marathon-ing, Kellie. LOL! Love that you did that: My family still remembers when we first saw 'Horatio' (A&E) – we couldn't stop watching it! Some things deserve that much attention.

      There were some disappointments – mainly in the brother-sister story. Ugh! That was gross. Other than that, I could live with everything else. I loved Jimmy – thought he was just adorable and so good to Jenny. It's sad that she is fixated on a married man (or that is my assumption). She doesn't have to be nor should she be. Hopefully S2 will see her getting her priorities straight!

      Super glad you shared your conclusions – in spite of everything I'm looking forward to S2 this spring. :)

  4. I saw the complete series one at the library the other day and took a chance on it. Oh. My. Word. I was enamored with the show by the end of episode one. My sisters and I could hardly watch *just* one episode at the time. Sister Monica Joan is so crazy! :-)

    1. Rosie, yay! I'm so glad you and your sisters are enjoying. Someday I must revisit the series from the beginning – especially now as I'm going to be watching S3 soon! Makes me feel nostalgic about its origins.

      Sister Monica Joan is a VERY fun character. ;)

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