call the midwife part 2

[NimbleHiker]

I am setting up the next thread before i forget.

Me too.

I don't think it's actually got worse, as in declined in quality. I think it feels it’s followed the same path that a lot of long-running series do where the plot focus gradually shifts toward the core cast. So we theres fewer patient-centred storylines and more ongoing arcs about the regular characters. Biggest issue is a few characters (like the Turners!) have become exaggerated—like caricatures of their earlier selves.

But I still enjoy watching - just these days, a big part of my enjoyment is poking fun at it - it's possible I'd have stopped watching if it wasn't for these threads to do that in.

The main issue is that it’s still called “call the midwife” but recently has very little to do with midwives or midwifery. If there had been a Turners spinoff about being a local GP in the 60s/70s that would make more sense.
While home births reduced over the 1960s in favour of hospital care, midwives still did a lot of community work with young children and pregnant women, and Poplar had social deprivation issues that were dealt with by community nurses/social workers.
Moving the show away from focusing families, and especially from women’s issues, was the biggest misstep the show made IMO.

@InMySpareTime that was pretty much Sister Juliene's reason for wanting to close down their services.
They were Missionaries essentially and that need had gone.

But the need hadn’t actually gone. Women still needed regular monitoring throughout pregnancy and postpartum care in the community.
Women have always helped other women with the business of childbearing, and moving births to hospitals and GPs did not remove the need for community midwives/nurses for “women’s issues” or things you didn’t want to tell Dr Turner (because he’d give you the waggy finger and tell you it was your own fault).
You wouldn’t guess that from watching CtM lately though.

@InMySpareTime no the need hadn't gone but the nuns weren't officially NHS employees (I think - not entirely sure how it worked) and their roll was gradually being reduced.

I think the nuns were essentially highly trained volunteers delivering NHS services without drawing a wage, but the (secular) midwives were NHS staff.
CtM storylines could (and should) have continued focusing on health and social issues within midwifery and community nursing.
The switch to dragging the Turners into every storyline really detracts from the vibe of the earlier series, and I would have preferred a spinoff to allow the Turners to shine without stealing spotlight from midwives.

@InMySpareTime yeah....it is a bit The Turner Show. It should be called "Oh Patrick".
I actually want a spin off when the girls are teens and they start rebelling against matching homemade clothes 🤣
Fred and Violet feel like bad 60s/70s sitcom characters (without the funny).

The nuns had to go really if nursing and midwifery was even going to move forward as a profession. The nuns perpetuated that belief that nursing should be a vocation done for basically no money.

It was used as another way to exploit women and justify low wages.

Shouldn’t Violets term as mayor be up now?

Wasn't she re-elected at some point?

I think that someone else was meant to take over as mayor in series 14 but Violet ended up continuing.

Yes. He was called Tom and he got married to Barbara. He went with Barbara's dad after her death in series 7.

Handy plot device 😁

I always poke fun at doctor Turner lol.

Same. I still enjoy it

Me too with the bobble hat.

I was born in 71 too. I preferred the 60s fashions in CTMW

Was just telling The Family not to disturb me at 8pm then remembered it’s not on tonight. 😤

I enjoyed deptq on netflix. There is only one series at the moment but there will be a second series later this year or early next year. Happy valley is good too.

Akram Salim is IMO the best character to hit TV in a very long time. Counting the days until it comes back.

So am i.

I got the deptq books for Christmas. I haven't got far yet as i am rubbish at reading in the winter. I am a fast reader in the summer. Okay i have gone off topic but i am not interested in the baftas.

I know it’s incredibly twee these days, but I do still rather enjoy it.

Thanks for new thread. Boooo at no episode tonight.