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MATERNAL ITV MON 9pm. TV PACE. NO SPOILERS

282 replies

Blondeshavemorefun · 12/01/2023 16:58

One of the recent shows in the slate of new dramas is also Maternal, a six-part medical drama that centres on three women who are not only juggling their lives as new mothers, but also the post-pandemic world of frontline medicine.

We follow Maryam, a paediatric registrar, Catherine, a general and trauma Surgeon, and Helen, a registrar in acute medicine, who are played by Parminder Nagra (DI Ray), Lara Pulver (The Split) and Lisa McGrillis (King Gary) respectively. It's a stellar cast with an important plot line.

Maternal tells the stories of the three leading doctors as they each attempt to balance their increasingly demanding jobs in post-pandemic frontline medicine with their lives as new mothers. It's a series concerned with motherhood, as much as it is about the NHS and the intense demands of working in it.

According to the synopsis: "Maternal explores working motherhood with wit, warmth and humour and offers a unique perspective on our beloved, overstretched NHS, and the people who hold it together. Sometimes."

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Blondeshavemorefun · 09/02/2023 21:08

A few days but R.E.M. she signed something in foreign language

Silly lady

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Xmasbaby11 · 09/02/2023 21:21

I think childcare in Sweden is hugely subsided so I can believe it's that cheap.

I'm surprised at the doctors in this series all using the hospital nursery - The people I know with higher salaries have had nannies even without taking into account shiftwork. I suppose they need it for the drama! It was clearly never going to work relying on a nursery with hospital shifts.

I do love Helen's home - it's so grand and grown up! They all have nice houses!

diddl · 10/02/2023 11:09

Only just realised that Lara Pulver (Catherine) is married to Raza Jaffrey (Jack).

She used to be married to Josh Dallas who was Prince Charing in Once Upon a Time!

SydneyCarton · 10/02/2023 12:12

And Josh Dallas is now married to Ginnifer Goodwin who was Snow White in Once Upon A Time!

Wonder if it's easier or harder doing, um, "couple scenes" with your RL spouse?

Chickenvoicesinmyhead · 10/02/2023 12:35

And Raza Jaffrey was married to Miranda Raison who was also in Spooks👍

thing47 · 10/02/2023 14:57

Loved Maz having her moment of release in the kitchen.

@mum2jakie – or anyone else – do you know the song Maz was dancing to in the kitchen? Have tried to track it down but no luck…

diddl · 10/02/2023 16:19

thing47 · 10/02/2023 14:57

Loved Maz having her moment of release in the kitchen.

@mum2jakie – or anyone else – do you know the song Maz was dancing to in the kitchen? Have tried to track it down but no luck…

According to subtitles it's Free by Florence & the machine.

Blondeshavemorefun · 10/02/2023 16:29

@thing47

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thing47 · 10/02/2023 18:14

Thank you both very much! Didn't think I was a particular fan of Florence + The Machine, but I love that song.

hanka · 11/02/2023 11:21

And the gorgeous dress Maz is wearing for the dance night! Anyone has any idea where is it from?

Blondeshavemorefun · 13/02/2023 19:23

E5 motherhood throws everything at Catherine as she fights jack for the job

Helen makes a shocking discovery

Hope she isn't preg as hasn't had sex with hubby so can't say it's his ....

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Crumpetdisappointment · 13/02/2023 22:12

That was eventful

KohlaParasaurus · 13/02/2023 23:16

My DH spent that entire episode saying, "Men are bastards, aren't they?" I almost found myself reassuring him that NAMALT. I'm also a little bit bewildered that Catherine and Helen haven't arranged better childcare.

purpleme12 · 14/02/2023 00:50

Fucking hell

Crumpetdisappointment · 14/02/2023 06:27

i loved her daughter yelling for hot milk, brought back memories
and the baby with actual tears, how did they manage that ?

mum2jakie · 14/02/2023 10:32

Bloody hell, that was a stressful and emotional episode! Think this is one of the best series that I've watched recently.

All three of them have such stressful lives, never mind Helen and the closing scene!

I did think Catherine's mum came across a bit better and more empathetic in this episode. I wonder if she'd advised Catherine against going ahead with her pregnancy as a single parent and that is why she was so resistant to helping out?

PrincessScarlett · 14/02/2023 13:19

Poor Helen. What a shocking final scene.

ilovebrie8 · 14/02/2023 15:56

I missed last night's episode as I was watching Better on BBC1. What happened at the end with Helen? thanks

diddl · 14/02/2023 16:45

I dislike Catherine so much I was glad she didn't get the job😊

diddl · 14/02/2023 16:46

ilovebrie8 · 14/02/2023 15:56

I missed last night's episode as I was watching Better on BBC1. What happened at the end with Helen? thanks

Went back to the house & found Guy in bed unresponsive after taking an overdose.

Echo40 · 14/02/2023 22:20

So we think guy died just watched it on record but can't download next episode.

XanaduKira · 14/02/2023 22:23

I'm late to the party but have recently been watching this (at TV pace, so no spoilers from me!)

Think it's great - fab show and feels like it truly shows the stresses of working & motherhood!

Blondeshavemorefun · 15/02/2023 14:09

Omg. Just seen Mondays. Been a manic week with bbc 1 drama same time Monday and vd yesterday

Avoided thread till now

The lady was rooting for Catherine in the panel with covid instead of ml

Poor maz. Assume Layla was the mum of her eldest and the baby they may adopt

Programme shows the hell of single parents and work and I'll kids

999 took ages to answer. Must have rang 6 times and no answer

I feel for Helen and guy. She had to dob him in.

Hopefully he isn't dead as she did roll him onto his side and just unconscious

He needs help with drinking and affairs

Glad she told him about jack

If anyone has binged e6 I don't want to know what happens and will wait till Monday

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diddl · 15/02/2023 14:20

Programme shows the hell of single parents and work and I'll kids

I think where it went wrong for Catherine was that they heard Elis crying so kew that she had no childcare.

It made me livid the way she just dumped her kid with the receptionist.

I really wished that she had just handed her back!

Also thinking that no matter what childcare costs you're surely fucked when you're on call or need to do nights?

Blondeshavemorefun · 15/02/2023 15:56

Guessing a temp nanny is out of the question

Wouid be easier if Elis is jacks so can share the care in same country

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