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Call the Midwife - Christmas Special

181 replies

Maireas · 26/12/2020 10:47

I have loved CTM for years, great characters and stories. Some nice parts last night, but is anyone getting tired of Sr Monica Joan? We jokes in another thread about how much teal there was, so I did laugh at Phyllis having a teal trapeze outfit!

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 26/12/2020 20:36

Also gutted that Valerie has left. She was an awesome character

TheFormerPorpentinaScamander · 26/12/2020 20:41

Its not as it used to be but I still love it. One thing I did notice though was when Gloria was getting ready to give birth, the young nun (can't remember her name) laid the name band out ready. It said "gender" on it. Surely in the 60s it was referred to as "sex" especially in a medical setting?

Trixie was born somewhere between 1935-38 so she's late 20s-30 currently.

williowrosenburg · 26/12/2020 20:44

Just watched and personally thought it was well done considering!
Valerie leaving "off camera" is annoying and out of character... hate it when programmes do that!

The distancing didn't become obvious till about half way through... but again I think considering they did well.

Lovely story lines..... I've always loved CTM such cosy viewing.

ChristmasinJune · 26/12/2020 20:48

I thought they managed the two metre thing quite cleverly on the whole. I wondered if they'd cast families together so that they didn't need to distance. The Turner kids were hardly in it to solve that problem I suppose. I was surprised to see Monica-Joan there, how old is the actress? She must be quite vulnerable surely? I expected that she'd have a hasty trip to the mother house written in for her.
Gutted about Val leaving, she was my favourite and hasn't really been given much of a chance to develop..... beyond the grandma storyline obviously. I wonder what was behind her leaving?

StanfordPines · 26/12/2020 21:15

I thought it was better than most of the other Christmas specials.
I didn’t notice the social distancing.

stumbledin · 26/12/2020 21:37

I watched this by accident as for some reason I couldn't get iPlayer to load to carry on with my binge watching of an old serial.

It is such sentimental tosh now with that loathsome music droning on in the back ground. It used to be more realistic and a bit gritty.

But like TheFormerPorpentinaScamander I notice that huge historical error by the BBC. Of course they wouldn't have had "gender" on a form.

I know the BBC is keen to seem in touch with young people, but you cant change history.

Pathetic.

Was only too glad with iPlayer got going again and I could submerge myself in Gaelic drama.

Seriously BBC, high time to Call the Midwife and say it is past its sell by date.

LyndaSnellsSniff · 26/12/2020 22:05

I agree it’s probably past its best now. I recently went back and watched from the beginning and i think the “jump the shark” moment was the Christmas special set in Africa. It just doesn’t work when they take them out of Poplar and send them A-Team style off to save the day elsewhere.

Having said that, I really enjoyed this year’s special! I didn’t notice the social distancing and it was great escapism. The Gloria storyline was very emotional and I liked Shelia’s part in that.

Sister MJ is a bleeding liability. The irritating way of never using one word when 25 will do drives me crackers.

Excited101 · 26/12/2020 22:06

It’s been really dull For about 3 years now. This episode was unsurprisingly disappointing.

Tigresswoods · 26/12/2020 22:15

People didn't notice the distancing?!?!?! Really!?

It was when Timothy was talking to the Turners & it was VERY obvious they weren't all there at the same time. After that I couldn't watch it without noticing it everywhere.

Agree with everyone else. We have the usual Sister MJ is super old & frail storyline. yawn

EternalOptimist7 · 26/12/2020 22:17

I always feel very emotional at Christmas anyway so CTM made me cry loads. I felt quite drained afterwards. Lost 2 babies myself so was sobbing at the Gloria storyline. Reggie always makes DH cry, bless him.

LyndaSnellsSniff · 26/12/2020 22:20

People didn't notice the distancing?!?!?! Really!?

I genuinely didn’t! Which I think is a tribute to the programme because I could forget about three current holy shit show for a while.

ChristmasinJune · 26/12/2020 22:24

Everybody's so down on the African Christmas special!!! I loved it Confused

LyndaSnellsSniff · 26/12/2020 22:30

I miss Barbara. Had to brace myself for her death when rewatching. But she did go on to Ghosts, so all’s well that ends well!

Tigresswoods · 26/12/2020 22:38

And while I'm at it, how many years has Sister Julienne been saving Nonatus house for now?

katy1213 · 26/12/2020 22:41

I suppose they'll have to drag it out until Trixie finds a man.
Kill off Monica Joan! She needs to go and bore her maker.

Toddlerteaplease · 26/12/2020 22:41

The South Africa special was better than the one to the outer Hebrides. Sr MJ just takes off as if she's off to Oxford Street. Not a difficult journey even today.

KenAdams · 26/12/2020 22:48

I really didn't notice the distancing at all

ByTheStarryNight · 26/12/2020 22:48

I'd be happier if Sister Julienne, Shelagh and the incredibly annoying Dr Turner stopped talking in that saccharine, patronising way. All three of them do it and it's so annoying.

StylishMummy · 26/12/2020 23:36

Sister MJ needs to meet her maker in this upcoming season.

Trixie needs a fella

More of the nuns and their plans

I want to see more of the district rounds and the actual mother's/babies/births than the lives of the Turners (although I don't mind them mildly in the background)

ApolloandDaphne · 27/12/2020 04:20

I watched it yesterday and really enjoyed it. It was just what I needed. I didn't really notice the distancing. I'm not sure it can go on much longer though. We need a series that resolves all the issues and ties up all the loose threads.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 27/12/2020 08:37

Loved the Gloria and Shelagh storyline... Although I was crying. Miscarriage needs to be talked about more, not hidden.
Phyllis at the circus... Quite liked. Silly, but everyone has dreams.
Phyllis and the secretary... More of it.

Really dislike the Buckles. Reggie is ok, but Fred's wife has annoyed my for ages. And I preferred Fred doing more wheeling and dealing.

Sister MJ.. agree, a bit monotonous now.

Cyril and Lucille... Dragged out too long

Social Distancing... Really noticeable in last scene, not too bad in the others. I was just impressed they managed it.

Groovinpeanut · 27/12/2020 10:03

I love CTM usually.... This Christmas special was awful. SMJ is just boring beyond words.. She needs to go!

Sheilas horrible patronising sickly sweet expressions are almost as bad as Dr Turners... His mouth annoys me, he has this really bizarre expression and his teeth/mouth are just weird.
I think it's run its course now. Shame, but as with all things everything must come to an end.

AnneBoleyn1536 · 27/12/2020 11:28

I don't want CTM to end yet... but it's certainly not what it used to be. Unfortunately I don't think it will be going much longer, bearing in mind it's now supposed to be the mid 60s.

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 27/12/2020 11:41

I think someone nailed it up thread. When Sister MJ shuffles off this mortal coil, Trixie finds a man, and Nonnatus House is set to close (finally), the end will be nigh.

Reallybadidea · 27/12/2020 11:56

Dd wanted to watch it with me so we did, but it's absolutely dreadful now and has been for some time. The dialogue is shockingly bad and the storylines utterly unbelievable. Having read the books and enjoyed the first few series which were based on them, the rest are just a poor imitation.