Call the Midwife
~ Written for the Period Drama Challenge at Old-Fashioned Charm ~
Call the Midwife series
5 is showing on the BBC at the moment, and although I’ve seen a few episodes here
and there over the course of the show (and always enjoyed it) it’s never been
something I’ve watched religiously. I’ve not seen a single episode of
the new series, so I thought it was about time I caught up – I’ve gone right
back to the beginning, with the joy that is Netflix, and started watching from
the very first episode of series 1.
Call the Midwife, based
on Jennifer Worth’s memoirs of the same name, tells the story of a group of
young midwives working in the East End of London during the 1950’s. (I know – I’m
breaking the challenge rules, but I still think 50’s and 60’s counts as period
drama.) It begins as nurse Jenny Lee comes to stay at Nonnatus house, an
Anglican convent (who knew you got Protestant nuns?) and home for midwives. Jenny
soon finds that her job isn’t going to be easy, but inevitably it’s also hugely
rewarding, and it’s this conflict that sets the tone of the show.
Despite the cosy title music, period setting and dreamlike
narration from Vanessa Redgrave at the beginning of each episode, Call the Midwife is definitely not for
the squeamish. It might be broadcast at the Sunday teatime slot, but it’s not
always an easy watch. I’ve cried at pretty much every episode so far - some of the stories
are so sad, but there are also a lot of happy moments and plenty of humour. It's a good balance. The show tackles some
huge issues – obviously birth, death and relationships – but also religion,
poverty, disease, family, society, prostitution, even incest at one point. The
midwives’ own stories are usually secondary to that of the patients and their
families, so each story is usually seen from an outsider’s perspective. But
the characters involved are always treated with empathy, as real people, not
stereo-types. There’s a real warmth to the show and the kindness shown by the
primary characters on a regular basis is one of the things that makes it so
special. It’s a nice show, that depicts
the best of human nature in some of the most difficult circumstances. In fact, the
nuns in particular are so non-judgemental that I’d find it hard to believe – if it
wasn’t that way in the book too.
There are a few Call
the Midwife books (I’ve read most of the first one…) and a lot of
the stories (from the first book anyway) do make it into the show, especially the
first series. Obviously a lot of new plots have been created, as have new
characters and story-lines for existing characters. Some main characters –
Cynthia for example – are also a bit different in the book. The tone of book
and series is very much the same, although I’d say the show has more
happy stories than the book does. The book’s a pretty easy read, but even more intense than the show.
I love the friendship between the midwives, although
they’re all so different, and even in later series when the line-up changes a
bit, the new characters fit in great. My favourites are Trixie (the glamourous
one) and Chummy, played to perfection by Miranda Hart in her first ‘serious’
role. There’s a few other famous faces too: Jenny Agutter (Bobby from The Railway Children) plays the reverend
mother, Sister Julienne and Pam Ferris (Miss Trunchbull from Matilda) is the no-nonsense Sister
Evangelina.
As it’s a show about midwives, we do always get a
childbirth scene. Sometimes more than one. Like I say, it’s not for the squeamish. There might be sugar
coating elsewhere, but the birth scenes are always realistically messy. I do wonder, though, who exactly puts their tiny babies up to play the
new-borns? Someone’s pushing their acting careers very early.
The midwives aren’t always on duty though, which is good,
because it means we get some light relief, and also some lovely costumes. I
especially love Jenny’s clothes – those fifties skirts and little jumpers. I hadn't though about it but she wears a lot of yellow. Trixie always look fab too. I think her white dress (below right) is one of my favourite outfits.
Overall, I would really recommend Call the Midwife. If you like a good weepy, a good laugh, and can
cope with a lot of grim medical realities and poverty, then this is for you. It’s
a got a real old-fashioned feel, although it doesn't shy away from the
hard-hitting stuff, and the characters are easy to relate to. The only
thing I’d say is that every episode is quite similar, so you can’t really
binge-watch. You have to leave yourself a bit of a breather - or at least time to dry your
tears and compose yourself anyway.
LOVED this review, Catherine! This is one of my mum's favourites.
ReplyDeleteI really want to watch this... one day; maybe when I'm a little older (because I AM, as you call it, 'squeamish.' Rather.) I LOOOVE the look of it - and the gorgeous costumes.
~ Naomi
Thanks! Yeah, maybe wait a bit if you're squeamish haha, it can get a bit much! Definitely worth watching at some point though :)
DeleteOh my...this definitely looks like a good series, thank you for the wonderful review, Catharine! Popped over from Old Fashioned Charm and going to look around your lovely blog a bit!
ReplyDeleteMuch love...
Thanks!
DeleteGreat review! I'm a big fan of Call the Midwife and am looking forward to watching the newest episodes soon. I like how you wrote about how balanced the show is and also about the warmth and positivity of the show, these are the things I really love about it too!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I can't wait to catch up to the new episodes, I've been hearing good things :)
Delete