Season 1 – Call the Midwife

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David F Call The Midwife is a period drama that hits all the familiar beats of the genre, both in charm and cliché. The first episode sets the tone with gleaming vintage vehicles, perfectly mid-1950s decor, and meticulously era-appropriate clothing. However, these visual delights are paired with the usual historical drama pitfalls: characters spouting modern English, advocating 21st-century values, and delivering prescient lines like, “One day, someone will invent a potion that will stop people having baby after baby.” Despite these narrative missteps, the show remains enjoyable. Placentas and umbilical cords, syphilis and forceps all share the screen with cockneys, dockers, and nuns. Jessica Raine shines as the lead, bringing a youthful grace reminiscent of a young Princess Elizabeth. By the second episode, comic relief arrives in the form of Miranda Hart, playing her role with shades of Joyce Grenfell. The script subtly reminds viewers that upper-class folk aren’t inherently better than the working class, while a finger-wagging doctor praises the advent of the Welfare State. Meanwhile, a nun casually makes a golliwog, and there’s an oddly modern-feeling discussion about “consent” with a Catholic priest. The babies are, predictably, born clean as whistles and suspiciously robust for newborns. It’s only a matter of time before the show tackles its first stillbirth or miscarriage. The formula continues through the series, but the quality of the acting keeps it afloat. Roy Hudd delivers a standout performance as an old soldier whose leg wounds require care from Nurse Verity Lambert, offering one of the series' true emotional highlights. In the background, Miranda Hart’s Chummy continues to fall over in posh fashion, her mother embodies upper-crust snobbery, and one of the older nuns quietly battles dementia. All in all, Call The Midwife is formulaic but undeniably watchable—reliable Sunday evening comfort television with a talented cast and just enough emotional heft to keep you engaged. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/23/24 Full Review D L Charming show. Interesting to contemplate what life was like back then, in a not-too-distant past. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/22/23 Full Review Richard L This season of CALL THE MIDWIFE was as sensational as all the preceding seasons. It is to their credit that the episodes producers have not compromised traditional standards and incorporated into the series' script bad language, blasphemy, bad manners, violence, and gratuitous sex. As sister Julienne remarks in the book on which the series is based, "Jesus Christ is our strength and guidance here"(28). And indeed He is for the nuns and midwives of Nonnatus House. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Good lessons in how best to live. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Pretty Good , I'm watching season 7 now , but , I still think this season is the best one . It will soon become more predictable. The characters development is so complete that some of you will be unable to recognize the same characters from season one. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review april w I adore this show. I've started binge watching it on Netflix. I find myself tearing up at the tender moments and words of wisdom. It is easy to become attached to the individual characters and then not want to see any of them depart the story lines. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Call the Midwife — Season 1

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