Call the Midwife

[ajk]

Finally got to see this and yes I thought it was very good too. The orphans angle was well written...and we may start to get more of these kinds of other-than-births stories with hospital births starting to be more common as time passes. Except now we lose sister Winifred who's been around for five years. More attrition, I don't get it. Two new nuns coming but this does get tiring.

The clergyman went to New Guinea to do ministry with his late wife's father (also a clergyman). It sort of shot right by in one scene but the mention about the aerogramme from Mr. Hereward, that's him. It's too bad they didn't keep him around and show him recovering from his grief. Same scene, quick mention that the two lesbian nurses are living in Scotland now. Can't imagine how they got there but it was nice to hear them mentioned. Wish we'd get some mentions of other characters.

Gee I like the voiceovers; yes technically she's long gone but it's a nice way to keep the series connected to its beginnings. Well to each his own...Actually I've been thinking for a long time that it would be great if nurse Lee would come back for a visit. But probably won't happen.

Anyway, we've got this season and they're already under contract for at least one more so very likely we'll get well into the 1960s if not entirely through it.

[MTR]

Returns March 31st, with 8 new episodes, and some new characters, and all the tragedy and pathos they can squeeze in .
Back Alley abortions are one of the themes, and we are still in the year 64.

No matter it got great reviews in the UK, it actually aired its final episode up against the Oscars and won.

[ajk]

Thanks--been meaning to look this up. Seems like the wait is always interminable.

[ajk]

Season 8 starts this weekend! In Chicago on Sunday at 7 p.m. on the main WTTW channel.

I'm sure there will be repeat airings and I'd love to post the days and times each week...but of course the WTTW website doesn't have the info posted. (Unless I scroll through their timeline schedules for the whole week; no thanks.) And their link to the main PBS page goes to last season's page. Ugh.

That aside, the good news is that earlier this month commissioned two more years. Which puts us through season 11.

[MTR]

Here is the real history of Nonnatus House and those nuns and midwives, really interesting

www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/9084310/Nuns-from-the-order-that-inspired-Call-the-Midwife-never-miss-a-show.html .

Glad they renewed the series, seems they could if they wished take it up to 1976, means we could easily have another 20 seasons .

For a while it looked like this was going to be the last season, then stories were around that Netflix or Amazon may pick it up, so im guessing the BBC wishing to avoid another Last Kingdom renewed it .

[ajk]

Any BBC exec who seriously considered walking away from this series would be an idiot. Of course there are idiot programming executives all over the planet so it's not unthinkable, (and this is the same network that sold out the soul of Doctor Who for ratings so a pox on them for that,) but still...it continues to get strong ratings and great reviews.

Just watched the second episode and it was one of the best they've ever done. Blew me away. And I've grumbled about a few of their endings but HUGE credit this time for being brave and not taking the easy way out. Won't say any more for fear of spoiling, but bravo. The references to Holloway and the talk of hunger strikes, had no idea what that was about but I found these links in case anyone else wants to learn more.


www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jul/06/suffragette-hunger-strike-protest

www.museumoflondon.org.uk/discover/six-things-you-didnt-know-about-suffragette-hunger-strikes

[ajk]

Well they ran the final episode of the season tonight. Even by the ultra-high standards the show has set for itself, this season was incredible. Best season ever. Could not believe it, every week it was one brilliant monster gem after another. Words don't do it justice.

The reveal in episode 7, there was just enough in earlier episodes that you wondered if somewhere down the road they might cast a little light on who was behind those closed doors. Next season or down the road a ways. But the way it happened was an absolute blindside punch to the gut. Never would have seen it coming. That's probably the most memorable moment but there were so many others. (And Sister Monica Joan getting hooked on Doctor Who, that was hilarious.)

For the life of me I don't understand why this series doesn't get the acclaim it deserves. It's one of the best things I've ever seen on television and it seems to be getting better as it ages.

[MTR]

I enjoyed it also AKJ, it was anther great season .

[ajk]

Merry Christmas guys! Things kind of snuck up on me this year, but wanted to get the local airdates/airtimes posted for the annual CTM Christmas special.

Wed. December 25, 8 p.m.
Thur. December 26, 6:30 a.m.
Fri. December 27, 12:30 a.m.
Sun. December 29, 9 p.m.
Tue. December 31, 8:30 p.m.

All of these are on the main WTTW Chicago channel 11.1 except for the December 26 airing, which is on 11.2. It runs 90 minutes. And fair credit--I've complained about lousy time slots in past years but they're good this year--8 instead of 7 for the first airing and two more in good prime time slots. About time they gave this thing proper respect!

[MTR]

I missed it yesterday, same thing Xmas sort of escaped me, but i hope to catch it on a rebroadcast .

[ajk]

Season 9 begins here in the USA on Sunday, March 29. Eight episodes, as usual.

I don't know how they're going to live up to last season, it was so good, but it's always one of the best things on TV so it can't some soon enough.

[ajk]

Starts this weekend! Sunday evening here in Chicago and I think pretty much everywhere else that has PBS.

I would love to post the weekly episode schedule for Chicago, but of course the WTTW website isn't working properly. Of course it isn't. Of course.

Well I'll post the rerun schedule as soon as I can tease out the info. But it's back! Woohoo!!

[ajk]

I've given up trying to figure out WTTW. You can stream the episodes from the PBS website and that's your better option anyway. They'll each be available for a few weeks and you can watch them when you want to.

www.pbs.org/show/call-midwife/

The first episode was fantastic--kept right up where last season left off. How these people continue to produce work at this level is beyond me.

[ajk]

Just finished season 9; watched the last episode tonight. Not quite up to the level of season 8, although that's just about an impossible bar to clear.

The first few episodes were excellent--the subject matter was more scaled-down than in the previous season but still excellent. But then there were a few wobbles. That business with the young male doctors showing up in episode 4, that felt sort of forced and out of place, especially without more of a backstory to set it up. And then they brought back the one doctor later, seemingly just to tear him down. It was too soon for the storyline about his struggles; he hadn't been with us long enough to feel anything for him other than irritation.

Then that odd business in episode 5 with Sister Julienne suddenly weirding out and going all secular just because an angry woman bitched at her. It gave the whole episode a strange vibe because it just wasn't the kind of thing that you'd expect her to have such a big reaction to. A little out of character.

And what the heck took them so long to get back to Valerie's grandmother? That was the biggest bombshell of the previous season and they absolutely should have done more with her sooner in this one. The final episode, most of it was season-8-worthy and Valerie and her grandma were the main reason why.

But big picture, these weren't major failures at all. It was a good season and this remains the best thing on TV. Still can't believe this series isn't getting more acclaim.  

Seven months to wait until the Christmas special. Ugh.

[MTR]

I really enjoyed it, the seasons go by so fast .