The episode opens with Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi) contacting the police about a missing person. Nurse Nancy Corrigan (Megan Cusack) assures Roger Noble (Conor O’Donnell) that she would accept if he asks her out again. He says they should go get their pictures taken at the Funfair. She asks for two minutes before walking away. Elsewhere, Jock McKechnie (John Kazek) chops angrily at a cake. Hearing a knock at the door, he chops his hand and scoops up some letters. Lesley Abingdon (Elle McCloskey) threatens to have Mr. Sarwar call the police. The door swings open, Jock emerges holding his bloody hand, and flees. At a telephone booth, Fred calls Nurse Phyllis Crane (Linda Bassett) to see when she last saw Violet Buckle (Annabelle Apison). She tells him Violet accompanied the brass band to the Seaman’s Mission. Elsewhere, Nurse Joyce Highland (Renee Bailey) and Nurse Rosalind Clifford (Natalie Quarry) help Nancy prepare for her date with Roger. Nancy questions what Roger would think about her having a daughter, Colette Corrigan (Francesca Fullilove). Rosalind assures her that it would matter in the least. Joyce insists on hearing every detail when she returns.

Dilys Shaughnessy (Madelyn Smedley) has a cough. Karen Shaughnessy (Myla Park) asks if she is okay. Dilys suggests she has whatever Pete Shaughnessy (Peter Hannah) has and gives him a drink. She asks Karen to open the corned beef. On a lone road, Reggie Jackson (Daniel Laurie) tries to get a passing motorist’s attention. The car speeds past him. Elsewhere, Cyril Robinson (Zephryn Taitte) says Nurse Trixie Aylward (Helen George) will pick Violet up at the Seaman’s Mission. He suggests Reggie got lost from the coach station. Geoffrey Franklin (Christopher Harper) questions if Reggie left with someone. Pointing at a map, Cyril shows them the routes that Reggie may have taken from the coach station which is five miles away. Miss Millicent Higgins (Georgie Glen) volunteers to drive one of the routes with Phyllis. The others will ride their bikes and walk. At the Funfair, Nancy and Roger enjoy the bumper cars. Elsewhere, Rosalind is looking for Reggie when Jock quickly approaches. After a brief encounter, he runs into a building. Seeing blood on his hand, she pursues him. Elsewhere, Alma Curran (Kristy Rider) struggles to get her baby to drink milk. At the Funfair, Joyce asks around about Reggie when she sees Sid Curran (Kurtis Thompson). She asks how Alma and their baby are doing. He says they are in the caravan. She stresses the need for them to get daily midwifery visits. He agrees to keep an eye out for Reggie.

Rosalind tracks Jock to a room. He orders her to leave. She tells him that she is a nurse and his hand is bleeding. At Funfair, Geoffrey shows Reggie’s photo to a popcorn seller (Natalie Gray). Elsewhere, Rosalind tells Jock that he needs stitches and demonstrates how to apply pressure to stop the bleeding. She recognizes the gift and letters and informs him of Gertrude’s death. He weeps. At Funfair, Nancy and Roger chat while walking around. Elsewhere, Cyril is looking for Reggie when he sees Rosalind’s bike and blood on the side of the building. He goes inside. At Funfair, Roger kisses Nancy. She describes the kiss as lovely. He grunts in pain and falls to the ground. Elsewhere, Cyril finds Rosalind with a distraught Jock. She tells him that Jock refuses to go to the hospital. Cyril sees it is a prison shirt. Jock tries to flee but Cyril stops and arrests him as a citizen. Exhausted, Jock admits to escaping prison and agrees to let them turn him in but only after he opens his Christmas gift. Elsewhere, Trixie explains the uses of tea. Violet weeps while talking about Reggie. Back at the building, Jock opens his gift from Gertrude. He says a “smart” tie like a businessman would wear, Gertrude never gave up hope. He hands the tie to Rosalind and tells Cyril to turn him in.

Fred returns to the shop with Reggie’s luggage and wallet. He tells Violet and Trixie that the police will look at the case again in the morning. Trixie scolds the police constable (Joe Osborne) for not searching for a vulnerable Reggie who calls the Mayor of Tower Hamlets mum. He says there was no mention of it. She argues it should matter and threatens to go to the media. Elsewhere, Jock talks about Gertrude who thought he had enlisted in the Merchant Navy. At an unknown location, Reggie takes off after a cat. Upon returning home, Millicent is pleasantly surprised to see Harry Copra (Eisa Latif). At the police station, Rosalind voices concern about Joke being treated unkindly. Cyril offers to walk her home. Elsewhere, Roger compliments Nancy before she goes inside. The next morning, Sister Veronica (Rebecca Gethings) turns on the radio as the news announcer reports on Jock’s capture and a missing Reggie. Violet and Fred are listening from their house. Nurse Shelagh Turner (Laura Main) serves breakfast to May Tang (April Rae Hoang), Teddy Turner (Edward Shaw), and Angela Turner (Alice Brown). She tells Dr. Patrick Turner (Stephen McGann) that Reggie has been out all night.

Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) finds Sid and Alma’s son, Richard, jaundiced. She insists he sees a physician. Inside a shed, Reggie wakes up alone. Elsewhere, Dilys’s cough persists. Karen tells her that she heard rats last night. Dilys sees crumbs on a table. Elsewhere, Reggie is sitting on a bench when a dog approaches. At the clinic, Patrick assesses Richard and suggests he has fulminant undiagnosed jaundice which can result in brain damage or death. Elsewhere, Reggie starts to eat a flower petal when a woman tells him to put it down. After verifying his name, she promises to help him reunite with his mum. She asks if he likes mince pies. He says no but asks for one. At a shop, Suzy Shaughnessy (Azelea Amzi) reminds Karen that their mum wants some candles. Karen looks at the coins in her wallet. At the clinic, Millicent realizes Patrick has a fever and insists on canceling his appointments. At a church, Suzy complains about being hungry. Karen gives her a slice of bread. Shelagh is helping the children recite their lines for the play. She catches Karen stuffing a handful of candles into her bag. At home, Millicent irons while Harry enjoys his lunch. They join the others in welcoming Reggie home.

Julienne assures Alma and Sid that the pediatrician will do his best for Richard. Sid says they are only promising Richard will live. Alma argues they are promising nothing and questions if the blood transfusion will protect his brain. He recalls how Alma’s mother left her at the hospital. They vow to stay with Richard forever. Elsewhere, Shelagh tells Pete who is struggling to breathe that she will call an ambulance. Dilys says her baby is due soon. At the jail, Cyril tells Jock that he is there as a minister of religion. Jock jokingly calls him a “dark horse.” Cyril says the council is handling Gertrude’s funeral arrangements. Jock expresses his desire to do better for her and see her before he returns to prison. At the Turner house, May suggests Patrick’s temperature has decreased. He coughs and asks her for a mince pie. They both laugh. Elsewhere, Geoffrey and Veronica are making preserves. She says his visits always lift their spirits because he is always happy. He claims to be content there because it is home. She tells him that the paper fortune teller says she will never marry. At the Turner house, Patrick assures Shelagh that he is okay to go to the surgery. He asks if she has seen his car keys. She hands him a Blue Peter parcel to post. He reluctantly takes it and rides his bike to work. Later, Shelagh refuses to let Dilys visit Pete until she is better. Dilys believes she is going into labor. At the Buckle house, Patrick assesses Reggie and finds him in good health. Reggie expresses empathy for people who are hungry all the time.

At Nonnatus House, Trixie receives a call from Shelagh requesting help with a home delivery. Roger arrives on crutches with a bouquet of flowers. Colette answers the door. He asks to speak with Nancy. She yells, “Mummy.” He stares at her in shock. Nancy arrives and shuts the door. He invites her for coffee but she declines and walks away. Elsewhere, Patrick stops his bike and wipes his brow with a handkerchief. May, Angela, and Teddy approach and ask about the parcel. Teddy complains about May putting his best Dinky car in it. Angela says his car keys were an accident as well. Patrick exhales. Nancy is walking to work when Roger pulls up beside her and invites her for coffee or ice cream. She reminds him that it is December. He warns that he will soon tell her that he loves her. At Nonnatus House, Phyllis alerts Julienne of Pastor Robinson’s arrival. Julienne tells her that she will be meeting with the Board of Health. Elsewhere, May, Teddy, and Angela anxiously wait for the mailman. At the chapel, two police officers accompany Jock to Gertrude’s funeral. Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) welcomes him. Rosalind gives him the tie from Gertrude. He thanks them for their kindness. Phyllis helps him with the tie.

Trixie promises Suzy and Karen they will have a baby brother or sister when it is over. Karen hopes for a sister because they only have girl clothes. At the chapel, Phyllis talks about Gertrude. Jock promises to remember the day like Gertrude. He says loving her was the only decent thing he did. He speaks to her and kisses the coffin. Elsewhere, Trixie and Shelagh help deliver Dilys’ baby.

Dr. Threapwood (Timothy Harker) tells Julienne he was probably glad to be rid of it. After all, the building is under a compulsory purchase order. Julienne says the order has not been enacted. She admits they’ll be asking for an increase in fees in June when the arrangements are reviewed. For now, she just needs money to deal with the wet and dry rot and the roof. The building is not fit for medical purposes. Threapwood says its primary purpose seems to be a house of religion. He believes their presence in the community is wholly inappropriate. He says women don’t want nuns talking to them about contraception, venereal disease treatment, and abortions. Threapwood says they wouldn’t be providing anything if he had his way. Dilys tells Trixie she’s worried about giving her germs. Trixie tells her to do as Mrs. Turner says. The baby is delivered moments later. Nancy talks to Roger about becoming a mother at 16.

She could never turn that into a joke so she didn’t tell him. Roger says he wants this to be real. Nancy wonders if this is happening too quickly. Roger says it is but he thinks it’s meant to. Nancy agrees. Roger offers to take Nancy and her daughter out. Trixie washes Dilys’ newborn baby. Cyril tells Rosalind that Jock was taken straight to prison. He went with Gertie as far as the grave in the council cemetery. They talk about putting flowers on Gertie’s grave. Dr. Turner makes the kids return his keys. Shelagh tells Violet that the Shaughnessys are on their books and Sister Veronica’s books. After Christmas, they can apply to be rehoused. They talk about people being left behind. Trixie talks to others at Alcoholics Anonymous. She talks about today and how beautiful it was. She can’t stop wanting that. Trixie says she can’t stop craving the things that make her whole. Later, Trixie and the others talk about loneliness.

Geoffrey says they’ve been offered access to five domestic kitchens. Harry returns with the invitations. Elsewhere, Julienne recommends Epsom salts to dry up Alma’s milk. Alma says the doctor warned them that Richard may be disabled but they will love him regardless. At Nonnatus House, a frustrated Trixie tells Geoffrey her flight has been canceled. Elsewhere, Shelagh assesses Dilys’ baby. Patrick releases a balloon. The children laugh. Karen cannot inflate the balloon. He tells Dilys that he wants Karen to see a specialist at Imperial Hospital where they are working on a new heart surgery called a Potts shunt. At Nonnatus House, Trixie tells Julienne that it will be another year before she and Matthew Aylward (Olly Rix) can call England home. Julienne asks about her career plans. Trixie says it was never her plan to stop being a midwife but America’s regulations are complex. Julienne assures her that work will be plentiful as long as the Order stays in Poplar. Elsewhere, Harry thanks Millicent for introducing her to Christmas. They listen to the Christmas bells ring. He loves it.

The Turner children open their gifts. Dilys and her children unwrap their gifts. Suzy and Karen get matching dresses. The citizens of Poplar arrive at the Nonnatus House to celebrate Christmas. At the hospital, Alma and Sid are with Richard when Julienne arrives with a tray of food. At Nonnatus House, Patrick cuts the turkey. Roger chats with Collette and Nancy. Julienne takes her seat at the head of the table. The episode ends.

 

Call The Midwife Review

The episode drags on for what seems like forever. The dialogue is monotonous and redundant at times. More action is needed to break up the monotony.

The constant jumps between scenes are distracting and alter the story flow. Jock’s story was the highlight of the Christmas special. The episode deserves a 5.4 out of 10.

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