As this episode of Call The Midwife begins, Jennifer Worth (Vanessa Redgrave) talks about July of 1969. Phyllis is glad the pupil midwives all remembered to turn in their casebooks for the mid-course review. They’ll be spoken to later about any areas of concern. Violet Buckle (Annabelle Apsion) reminds Fred (Cliff Parisi) that he is still convalescing from tetanus. Fred is worried about Arthur not being experienced, but he seems capable to Violet. Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) speaks to Phyllis and Nurse Shelagh Turner (Laura Main) about the pupils. Trixie Aylward (Helen George) and Joyce visit Prue Stanton (Lucy Thackeray) who missed her last two appointments. Sister Veronica (Rebecca Gethings) gets the students in line so they can be tested for TB.
Dr. Patrick Turner (Stephen McGann) tells the students what will happen. Prue Stanton speaks to the midwives about having her baby at home against the doctor’s wishes. Trixie argues she needs to do her routine tests regardless. Prue says she can’t do it today because she has so much to do before Ronnie gets back from the warehouse. She takes three pills in front of them. Dr. Turner is introduced to Samuel Chdozie (Dereke Oladele) who gets his shot. Then, Esther (Brielle Olaleye) gets her shot. Esther says she wants to be a nurse although she wanted to be a vet last week. Fred complains to Monica about Violet keeping such a close eye on him. Monica is glad to be there to witness the Apollo 11 launch. Felix Chidozie (Dimeji Ewuoso) picks up an apple from the ground before being joined by Samuel and Esther.
Felix tells them he’ll see them at home when he finishes his work. Later that night, Rosalind and Joyce study. Rosalind (Natalie Quarry) knows that Nurse Crane has noticed she is never confident. Next, Veronica finds out that Samuel is positive for TB. They sent a letter home with Esther and Samuel. Turner wonders if they should visit since they’re newcomers. Nancy Corrigan (Megan Cusack) agrees to fit it into her schedule. Julienne tells Monica they’ve had a donation of toys and books. Prue Stanton drops off a sample. She is also smoking and suggests smoking makes babies smaller. Nancy speaks to Ngozi about her children who might be sick. Felix returns and learns that the children will need X-ray tests.
When Felix coughs into his handkerchief, Nancy asks if she can look at it. Once she does, she decides to send for the doctor. Stanton gets a check-up and learns what to do when her water breaks. Turner arrives to check on Felix. Nancy worries he may not be eating properly. Felix explains how it is different being there and how it was portrayed in the newsreels. He wanted to be a proper Englishman. Turner believes he has TB, but there is still plenty they can do. Turner tells him about the prescription medication which costs two shillings and sixpence. Violet instructs Fred how to use his eating utensils. Nancy speaks to Phyllis about the Chdozie family having TB and what it was like when she got her test.
Felix tells Ngozi that he was dismissed from his job today because he sweeps too slow. He tries to be optimistic about the situation anyway. Julienne checks on Monica who hasn’t touched her breakfast. Monica is worried about the astronauts. Prue’s water breaks. She asks Lynette to make them a pot of tea before doing anything. Nancy tells Ngozi now would be a good time to start weaning. They’ve brought the family school dinners. Ngozi tells them how she’d feed others when they were in need in Nigeria. She is ashamed. Felix blames himself for bringing them there. Ngozi says he saved them by getting them away from the war. The family is transported away. Rosalind and Nancy talk about what it’d be like if your entire family had TB.
Joyce and Shelagh have a difficult time dealing with Prue Stanton. Fred and Monica watch the Apollo 11 launch. Miss Higgins (Georgie Glen) tells Turner she had an urgent call from St. Cuthbert’s regarding the Chdozie family’s tests. Turner finds it is worse because the father has lung damage, swollen lymph nodes, and cavities in his lungs. They need to find him a bed in an isolation ward. Nancy tells Phyllis she thinks her mother had TB although the nuns never told her. Phyllis is confident it’d be possible to find out more about her mother. Turner checks on Felix and tells Ngozi what is going on. He is confident that they’ll get their daughter better. Joyce tells Stanton she’ll see her tomorrow. Phyllis and Miss Higgins try to get information about Nancy’s mother.
Matthew (Olly Rix) gets upset with the baby and yells for the nanny to look after it. Monica and Fred continue hanging out. Fred can’t focus on space with all this mayor malarkey going on. He worries Violet has too much going on. Monica gives him encouragement. Rosalind rushes over to tell Trixie that she needs to call her husband right away. Once she calls him, Matthew complains about his day and having a headache. Trixie thought it was an emergency. He reminds her that she has other responsibilities. Trixie is more concerned about the woman in labor. Once she gets back, Joyce admits she isn’t sure what she is feeling but it might be a mouth. Trixie believes they need Dr. Turner. Nancy tells Colette about her mom and shows her pictures of her.
Turner begins helping Prue Stanton. Once she gives birth, Turner says he is here and he’s really good looking. Trixie leaves Joyce Highland in charge of the afterbirth. She tries to call Matthew but he doesn’t answer. Once Trixie returns, Turner asks if she’ll stay with Nurse Highland. She agrees. Joyce says she wants to take her time with the placenta because it’s dark and gritty with many tiny clots. Trixie thinks it is normal because Prue smokes so much. She goes home and checks on Matthew. Nancy is upset that Miss Higgins got information about her mother without her permission. Phyllis admits she did. She reveals that Higgins tracked down Sister Agnes Mary. Nancy remembers her in court and that she was from the London branch.
Phyllis says she goes by her original name Kathleen Flanagan now. Turner visits Felix to tell him they’ve found a bed for him. Felix is thankful for him looking after his family. When he begins coughing, Turner yells for an ambulance. Joyce and Shelagh learn that Prue is having problems as well. Shelagh decides she needs to go to St. Cuthbert’s. Dr. Turner learns there are two ambulances, but he worries they’ll be too late anyway. Nancy tells Higgins she would like to speak to Flanagan. Higgins has her address but she’d like to drive Nancy there. During dinner, Monica says she is not going to consume this because it’s not congruent with her thinking. She means that the astronauts are consuming sealed patches of paste. She is going to do the same until they return to Earth.
Monica will make do with porridge. Turner tells Shelagh that Prue had a sizeable piece of placenta removed. He wonders if Nurse Highlands checked it well enough. Joyce tells Rosalind about it and blames Trixie. Rosalind urges her to tell. They visit Julienne. Rosalind tells her that she should be speaking to Trixie instead of Joyce. They explain that Trixie declared the placenta complete. Higgins offers to speak to Flanagan for Nancy since she might not be strong enough for an interrogation. Julienne questions Trixie who admits she made her home life her priority. Julienne says the most important thing is to find out how to minimize the damage to Pupil Highland. Higgins and Nancy speak to Flanagan who remembers Nancy’s mother. Mrs. Corrigan had sisters but they predeceased her.
Flanagan learns about Nancy’s life and her little girl. Trixie calls to ask about Prue. She speaks to Phyllis and blames herself. Then, Nancy returns and tells Phyllis about her conversation with Flanagan. Nancy gives Colette a test. She tells Veronica and asks if she can have a vaccination if necessary. Veronica says she isn’t in the right age group. She explains it may be okay as long as the paperwork is properly filed. Joyce returns to Julienne who says Stanton is improving. Julienne says Joyce’s case notes should be written to make it clear Trixie declared the placenta complete. Phyllis says Trixie is willing to admit to her mistake and doesn’t want Joyce penalized. They doubt anything will happen to her.
At home, Trixie complains about what she did. Matthew thinks she should talk to his mother about Meals on Wheels. Trixie reveals she has decided to stay at Nonnatus House three nights a week so she can put the patients first. When she is at home, she can be devoted to Matthew and Jonty. Matthew wants to know if she is a wife or a midwife. When she asks if she can be both, he says only she can answer that. Phyllis learns that they’re not using the television because Monica doesn’t want it breaking before the moon landing. Violet helps Fred carry the newspapers because she declares they’re too heavy. Nancy takes more medicine to Ngozi for the children and learns they’re going to do a ritual for Felix. Everyone gathers to watch the moon landing.
Joyce and Trixie learn that Ronnie wants to name the baby Neil after the spaceman. Ngozi says goodbye to her daughter. She tells Nancy it is like she is losing them forever. Turner insists they’ll be back before she knows it. Nancy offers to help find her friend who came before they did so she’ll have support. The episode ends with a narration by Jennifer.
Call The Midwife Review
This episode of Call The Midwife was very slow and drawn out with very little happening despite all the hoopla. While there is a lot going on, the show really only skims the surface and doesn’t complete any of the stories. A lack of conclusion on some of these stories is very disappointing since viewers will never know what actually happens to the side characters. As a result, this makes the stories lifeless, emotionless, and purposeless.
Even worse is the fact that this episode made some of the characters very unlikable. In particular, Monica was portrayed as an annoyance with her over-the-top obsession with the moon landing. One of the other midwives should’ve slapped some sense into her.
The series also made Prue Stanton look like a fool so there was no chance viewers would be able to sympathize with that character. There is so much being juggled here, but none of it really hits the desired target.
The rest of the writing is cheesy. The series has already run its course, yet there will be multiple more seasons coming. Overall, this was a frustratingly weak episode that did little to breathe life back into the flailing series. It scores a 4.5 out of 10. Recaps of Call The Midwife are available on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn about advertising with us here. See what others are saying about Call The Midwife on the Reel Mockery Forum.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
