Call the midwife 2!

[Toddlerteaplease]

Wow. I've never filled a thread before!

If only Doctor Turner had invented space travel earlier he would have seen the oh so subtle signals that there would be a train crash coming from the moon. That was less signposted that a man in Casualty picking up a chainsaw and saying he just needed to do a quick chop.

I'm actually really annoyed with that cliffhanger and the ludicrous special effect, it's a total change of mood from the show and feels really cheap drama rather than the careful plots of before. I love Sister Frances though and am rather fond of Sister Hilda too. I wish we knew their lives before they took their vows

ICP... I couldn't remember the name!

(I'm caught up to Nancy going to the bathroom - keep having to pause as DD1 has a stomach ache and can't sleep!)

Have the scriptwriters from Casualty joined the team?

I think there is a lot of evidence that they are trying to move the show along by developing the characters so with Phyllis (she's a great actor) and Trixie (she's tedious) out the way, Sisters Frances and Hilda are being pushed forward as is Nurse Corrigan. Even Tim is being developed. Frankly, much as I like Jenny I wouldn't miss her if she was written out - she doesn't really have much of a role IMHO. Sister Monica Joan is still great!

I am loving Sister Frances and Nurse Corrigan's relationship - the easy banter and comeraderie reminds me of the early series'.

I am finding I'm not liking Sr Julienne this series - tonight when she was so disapproving of Sr Frances for trying to help Carol by taking Dean for the evening when she had nobody else and was clearly struggling - no they aren't babysitters but it's not like she's handed out flyers to the entirety of Poplar and plans to open a creche in the parlour and interrupt Sr MJs Doctor Who marathons

@AtlasPine

The actor who played the very young mother Carol was so good. I wanted to give her a big hug. I hope she hasn’t lost her second baby. Someone hot bread asked where her son was during this - I’m guessing he went back to the foster mum for Carol’s hospital stay. I my head I hope so anyway as he would have known her.

I’m over invested I know.

Also think sister J is casting off her mortal coil. Unfortunately I do think Dr Twee is going to live, otherwise who would invent the CAT scan, IVF, heart transplants and ECMO ?

She's also in Dodger, CBBC's Sunday teatime drams.

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Its 1967 right?

I thought such a big occurrence was very un CTM as it follows history. But... the 1967 Hither Green crash was 5th November. Obviously they've changed the details a bit.

Used to live near there so googled it. Turns out Robin Gibb of the BeeGees was among the survivors!

I'm not an East Londoner (in fact, I've never been to Poplar) but wouldn't that be the line into Fenchurch St, not Liverpool St? Hmmm...

Finally got DD to sleep and managed to finish! That young mum definitely has ICP. I was wondering if they were going to ever do an ICP storyline, since Helen George talked about it a lot after her experience with it...

Agreed about Sister Frances and Sister Hilda - I really like them both. Nurse Crane is a good character, but I feel a little like they have gone as far as they can with her...

BTW, Heidi is the writer for next week's episode. Maybe she is bumping off the husband after all! He was moving though. Ugh, that poor woman with the tea urn...

@melj1213

I am loving Sister Frances and Nurse Corrigan's relationship - the easy banter and comeraderie reminds me of the early series'.

I am finding I'm not liking Sr Julienne this series - tonight when she was so disapproving of Sr Frances for trying to help Carol by taking Dean for the evening when she had nobody else and was clearly struggling - no they aren't babysitters but it's not like she's handed out flyers to the entirety of Poplar and plans to open a creche in the parlour and interrupt Sr MJs Doctor Who marathons

Sr Frances should have discussed it with Sr Julienne beforehand though and ultimately it should have been Sr Julienne's decision.

Ultimately if the nuns/midwives go rogue with helping out due to social (dances etc) rather than emergency situations it wouldn't be fair on their other patients. It might have been a one-off but Sr Julienne was still making the point more as a reminder.

I think we (as viewers) have all become so accustomed to nuns/midwives being totally nice in every way possible that we are somewhat affronted when there is any tiny thing that isn't deemed as nice as could be. However it's that sort of detail that prevents the show becoming utterly twee. There has to be some light and shade or it would be just too saccharine. Sr Julienne has to be realistic as well as kindly. I thought it was a good reminder of the fact they are running a medical facility and Sr Julienne is the boss.

*to THE nuns/midwives (in the show, that is!)

Dr T will regain consciousness and save multiple trapped passengers, I feel sure.

On a separate note, I am constantly annoyed by Nurse Corrigan's hat-wearing. No one wore those pillbox things, outside of fashion shoots.

I haven’t noticed Nurse Corrigan’s hats as anything special, but my school hat in the ‘60s was a pillbox. Navy blue felt, and had to be worn at all times on the journey to and from school. This was still true on hot summer days when you might also be wearing a short sleeved summer dress with no blazer or cardigan.

What about all the odd shots this week passing baby Dean around? Different people 'rocking' him so low they were almost at their knees! I suppose the baby wasn't allowed to be held by the actors and they redid close up shots with his mum in various garbs e.g. a habit.

Also think the shop/flat will explode. The scene with Cyril helping the church woman felt too lingering and ominous!

I don't think it is based on the Hither Green crash because the details of that are really different.

It's a shame they felt they needed drama like the crash. The strength of the programme used to be in the relationship and story of each woman they worked with as midwives.

Total soap opera now. Ridiculous.

A doctor, a midwife and a nun are in a train crash sounds like the starter of a really bad joke

I must say, I’m not enjoying it like I used to. It just doesn’t have that grip on me anymore.

Shame, as it was such a good program.

@BoreOfWhabylon

Dr T will regain consciousness and save multiple trapped passengers, I feel sure.

On a separate note, I am constantly annoyed by Nurse Corrigan's hat-wearing. No one wore those pillbox things, outside of fashion shoots.

I thought nurse Corrigan was very fashionably dressed for a single mother with little money! It’s ludicrous.

It can't go on much longer, surely. The real order of nuns that Jennifer Worth worked with left Poplar and moved to Solihull - in the early 70s? Maybe that could be the ending of the next series, assuming there is one.

PS The Turner children wear a very elaborate and formal school uniform. Are they at a private school?

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

PS The Turner children wear a very elaborate and formal school uniform. Are they at a private school?

Of course they are! Turner children can’t mix with the plebs now can they. They might get messy hair

Timmy used to go to the Grammar school, they're definitely lining up the others for that path too.

No way would a train from Chelmsford to Liverpool Street go that far 'east' (to Poplar). That is surely wrong?

It seemed entirely incongruous that the Turner children would go to a private school, given how enmeshed in the community they are.

But the Turners don't live directly in Poplar (ie "the community") though. They live in a naice local burb in a new build semi detached house and a garden, with all the mod cons of the 60s, like a fully fitted kitchen. I think The children would not be attending a school in the heart of Poplar itself. Dr Turner is firmly Middle Class.

Gasp0de I think it's been said that the series has been decommissioned until 1969 or 1970. I think it may be that they continue into the early 70s (73 maybe) when it will reach a natural ending to follow the move of the order to the midlands.

Of course, if they wish to they can continue it as long as it's popular. Or they could move with it to Solihull. It's fiction (after the Jennifer Worth stories ended, which is probably the last 7 or 8 series). There's no rule to say it has to stop because the original Nonnatus House staff moved cities in real life.

Comissioned, not decommissioned!

@Whatdayisitnow

I haven’t noticed Nurse Corrigan’s hats as anything special, but my school hat in the ‘60s was a pillbox. Navy blue felt, and had to be worn at all times on the journey to and from school. This was still true on hot summer days when you might also be wearing a short sleeved summer dress with no blazer or cardigan.

We had a felt one with a brim and a turn up at the back in winter and a straw one in the summer. We also had to wear them to and from school. The kids from the Secondary Modern used to snatch them off our heads and throw them over walls.