Call the Midwife

Call the Midwife
Season 1
My Rating: *** (out of 4)

Television shows like Downton Abbey and Mad Men have inspired numerous other period dramas. What makes those shows work so well is not only the meticulous attention to period detail but also character development and good storytelling. While no American series has lasted long enough or been popular enough to match the success of those two shows, a new British series looks like it may have what it takes to be the next Downton.

Set in the late 1950s, Call the Midwife tells the story of a young woman just out of nursing school who goes to work as a midwife in London’s East End . She is not a very religious person and is surprised to discover her post is at a nursing convent. Nevertheless, she is eager to help the women in one of London’s poorest districts. As she gets to know the nuns and her fellow nurses, she is often startled by the living and working conditions of the women there and encounters all manner of pregnancy related situations. The show is a testament to the hard work of the midwives of the era.

For the most part, Call the Midwife is compelling, emotional drama. Several episodes have riveting childbirth scenes as one or more of the midwives tries to help a woman deliver a baby, often in difficult circumstances. These scenes feature a combination of real babies and some very realistic special effects. You may find yourself holding your breath waiting for the baby to be delivered.

Some parts of the series do not work as well. The later episodes of the first season have more conventional stories. The main character, Nurse Lee, is not given much to do and spends way too much time in a romantic subplot that isn‘t very interesting. Thankfully, there’s Nurse “Chummy”, played by Miranda Hart, who steals every scene she’s in. Chummy was raised in an upper-class home but decides she would rather be a midwife. She’s self-conscious about both her background and her size but that doesn’t stop her from using deadpan humor and self-deprecation as only the British can do.

The show has been extremely popular in both Britain and the U.S. The first season (or series if you prefer UK terminology) is available on DVD and through streaming services. The second season has already aired in Britain and PBS will air it in America beginning March 31.

Age Level: In general, Call the Midwife is the equivalent of a PG or PG-13 movie depending on how well your kids can handle the harrowing childbirth scenes. One episode deals with a sex education class and one storyline involves incest.