Just an American girl dreaming of living within BBC period dramas! Currently obsessed with Call the Midwife, but also known to major ship River Song + any Doctor :-)
I fully understand that there were likely a lot of behind the scenes moving parts that led to her exit ending up like it did, but it hurts.
It hurts that we last saw the character being desperately distressed. It hurts that the character essentially did exactly what Enoch Powell wanted by repatriating herself. It hurts that her exit was dragged out because they had to factor in Cyril.
To be clear Iām not blaming anyone, especially not the actress who plays Lucille, because sheās gotta do what sheās gotta do, and itās clear she loves the character. Iām not blaming the writers because they probably tried their best with various limitations.
But, a part of me will always wonder what S12 would have been like if weād gotten a full season of Lucille and if the producers/writers had been willing to explore the reality of race relations in 1968 in the East End beyond the two episodes, or if the actor who played Cyril had also wanted to leave at the same time. Maybe, one day when this show is over, Heidi will reveal in an interview all the storylines she would have done if all the actors were magically available or any other limits.
S12 was so hit and miss for me (mostly miss). I think I just need to accept that the show I loved, has descended into a soap set in the 1960ās with the occasional bit of social commentary that is as much about the year itās set as the year it airs.
Even though Barbara wasn't explicitly mentioned in this episode it felt as though there were echoes of her all around. I loved Sister Monica Joan's reading for all the contexts it worked in.
Shelaghās dark blue and lighter blue wedding suits reflect her journey and connection to Nonnatus House in an even stronger way than Trixieās āsomething blueā (12.8)
weāve heard about the āWedding, birth and deathā formula for Call the Midwife series finale episodes and though it is certainly working in terms of making everyone cry, a lot, Iād like you to know that actually no one in this fandom is too keen on the death-part of the pattern. So if you should be inclined to leave that out in the future, Iām fairly confident there wonāt be any complaints.
My suggestion would be to replace it with a cameo from a former member of cast. Those usually make people happy.
Trixieās something blue is unique, special and very personal. A gift of love that represents the life and work of Nonnatus and Trixieās part in it. (12.8)
So, Call the Midwife has been renewed up to the 15th series, in 2026.
Iā¦can I honestly say, as a massive, obsessive, long-time fan of the show, that Iām actually a bit sad to hear this?
What started as a drama based in real peopleās stories, pulsing with heart, has become a sort of stilted soap in which random train accidents create cliffhanger drama and ten-year relationships canāt even hug regularly.
I love, LOVE this show. I have hung upon every scene and every word for years. Butā¦will there ever be a time to gracefully let it go? Have we reached that point already? Perhaps even several years ago?
I just canāt fathom what narratives will really get better from hereā¦now that we assume Trixie is finally happy š.
Nothing like sitting in the Emergency Department of the hospital for 5 hours before they'll give your husband a scan to determine if the agonizing pain in his right side is appendicitis š¤¦š¼āāļøš¤¦š¼āāļø
Meanwhile the only reason he even had a bed after *only* 2.5 hours is because he passed out in the waiting room and was unresponsive for several minutes. Some of the scariest moments of my life...
The medical system is broken here, y'all.... It was sick before the pandemic began, but it is full on broken now. Not to mention that we probably all caught covid just by coming
Nothing like sitting in the Emergency Department of the hospital for 5 hours before they'll give your husband a scan to determine if the agonizing pain in his right side is appendicitis š¤¦š¼āāļøš¤¦š¼āāļø
Meanwhile the only reason he even had a bed after *only* 2.5 hours is because he passed out in the waiting room and was unresponsive for several minutes. Some of the scariest moments of my life...
The medical system is broken here, y'all.... It was sick before the pandemic began, but it is full on broken now. Not to mention that we probably all caught covid just by coming
I know most people are probably over it or sick to death of hearing about it and some just wondering what all the fuss is about. But, I keep hijacking everyone's posts. So I'm just going to say what I thought and be done with it.
Series 12 Ep 5 under the bar just in case anyone has skilfully managed to avoid spoilers.
Yesterday I received a very kind comment on the first fanfic I ever wrote. I remember at the time, because it was my first attempt and I didn't know if there would be another, I plunged every single idea I'd had about that period of the show into it. I didn't hold anything back for another time. That's what Series 12 Ep 5 felt like to me.
In the first five minutes we are introduced to six storylines even though Mrs Wallace opening a dry cleaners doesn't have much mileage. Apart from a bit of foreshadowing spotted by @ctmwidower
The most positive storyline is that of the Barkelys. I think is the first time we have seen a positive portrayal of a hospital birth. Yes, Phyllis is on hand to offer support, but the cardiologist and the obstetrician are actually quite human. There was something that got my hackles but I don't think this is an error because this kind of situation still arises today. Dr Turner tells Mrs B she mustn't risk another pregnancy because of her heart condition. When she suggests getting her tubes tied, he tells her she is too young. Now if he had added, I'm not ruling out they may find a treatment for your heart condition in the future, that was a different conversation.
Spencer's story. I imagine was to show how difficult it was to obtain psychiatric support. As a GP he was left without adequate resources trying to do his best. I also get the punchline is waiting times for mental health referrals are much worse today. But, I don't get why an experienced GP handled it so badly. "Are you hearing voices?" "No" "Oh, OK then". Followed by here is a pill from out of my pocket (that did used to happen) you can spit it out when I walk away before I watch you swallow it.
Jill knew he was hearing voices, his mother knew, Nancy knew, Cyril knew, probably even Mrs Wallace knew. All he had to ask was, "Does Spencer sometimes think the TV or radio is on when it isn't?" I really didn't see the point of the stabbing other than sensationalism. It was a pretty drastic measure just so Cyril could be gifted a phone call to Jamaica.
Which brings me to my next point. This was an episode of stories that went nowhere. We'll never know what happens to Spencer, the stabbing wasn't an exit story and Cyril was discharged pretty swiftly. Unless he suffers from PTSD or it brings Lucille back, not sure what the point of that was. We don't know what metod of contraception the Barkley's chose that story just fizzled out. Shelagh isn't pregnant. Sir Brigham was introduced just to kill him off and maybe to send Trixie on a cardiac refresher course because it was pretty obvious what was going to happen in 'the little boys room' and she can update her CPR training. I do hope we are not starting to trade medical accuracy for dramatic effect.
There was also an outbreak of characters acting out of character. The positive being MORE angsty, overwhelmed, telling it like it is Shelagh, please! Well over due. That takes us back to Patrick, who isn't having the best of episodes tbh. All I can think is Heidi and Stephen had a bet on how many meaningless cliches Dr Turner could say in one episode. Why there wasn't any physical contact between the two? Well we've been wondering that for ten years now. I still think the door frame scene was filmed with each actor separately. Otherwise I'm bewildered.
Two of the original characters who have been at Nonnatus well over a decade, maybe two, suddenly forgot how to deal with authority. Fred, who was supposed to protect Poplar from a nuclear attack and against Russian spies, seems to have forgotten that 'loose tongues cost lives'. One slip would have been forgivable, but why is he telling him confidential information about salaries and how does he even know that information?
Sister Julienne meanwhile turned into Auld Jenny, wittering on about love. I hate to admit I had to agree with Mr Threapwood there. "It is 1968, love is no longer a legitimate currency." Did make me laugh. Meanwhile, Lucille's personality transplant is almost complete in Jamaica.
To end on a positive note and to cut Dr T some slack, Patrick's facial expressions were spot on during the talk. I found the Chuckle Brothers (thank you again @ctmwidower ) bathing shenanigans funny and also quite nice to see an aspect of 1960s social care. But did we really have time for it in such a full episode?
"All thoughts, feelings and understanding are broken into pieces and cannot be made to connect in the usual way." Was a great description by Sister Veronica. I just wondered if she was talking about the episode.
Thank you, Al. This is very thoughtful commentary with history and your classic humor woven throughout. š I agree with almost everything you've said here. Let's just hope this was a one off and not a trend. š
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