Call The Midwife

I didn't see it coming either but should have done with such a high profile casting for the grandmother.

It is hard to question the sincerity of the show but it can sometimes be a little too message-y. This has been handled pretty well, that being said.

As it was the last episode, I thought it was a very well written episode to conclude the series and to wrap up the various ongoing stories.

Overall, I’ve enjoyed the series and I’ve been impressed by the high quality of writing in the whole of the 8 series. Sometimes I find in long running shows, the writing quality can be a bit hit or miss, but in CTM, this hasn’t been the case and has always tackled the both the social and medical issues with respect.

Good news - the BBC have announced that the programme has been renewed for series 9 to 11. So we will be able to follow the stories of Nonnatus House and the residents of Poplar for another 3 years.

Generally I agree but last Sunday’s episode was a bit pointless - some great performances though, especially from the guest stars.

The only bits I don't like are the meaningless drivel spouted by Vanessa Redgrave at the top and tail of each episode. Totally pointless and just irritating.

Last night's storyline about aversion therapy was hard to watch but it is good that it was featured

I agree about that but it's usually over something that is visually interesting so it's easy to tune out.

I didn't like it when they replaced having a song over the end with their own theme. But other than that I really enjoy it. There was a point where we had several very miserable episodes in a row and I did wonder whether I was going to stick with it, but then I got back into it. I really like the costumes and the music, and the way the houses are decorated.

(I don't know if any of you watch Ghosts, but I constantly call Alison "Barbara".)

There is something very comforting in this programme, you know what to expect and it delivers. I wander away but always end up coming back. I particularly like Nurse Crane no nonsense approach and the comedy entertainment we now have from Sister Monica Joan, Sister Hilda and Sister Frances.

It rather lacks in subtlety when it comes to nurse romance though, sign posted like nobodies business, I mean we knew from the moment we met Olly Rix that Trixie had met her future husband right?

So, with the final episode of the current series  we say goodbye to Tim Turner (I really do hope they bring him back for the very last series so he can take over as the Poplar Dr which I think would be a nice touch), as TallPaul says in the difficult times of trying to record the programme with social distancing and the issues that brings, the editing of this series has been fantastic and the cast and production team have worked wonders to get it done.

At least with the delayed airing of this year's series, we won't have to wait too long for the Christmas special. For me, Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan is always a delight to watch and has really had a good story arc in this series with her questioning her faith journey.
As always, the writing has been superb tackling both the social and medical issues of the time with the gravitas that they deserve.

It was really only Sister Julienne who reacted badly - the statistic Sister Hilda quoted said it all really, that even before the war they were dealing with 10% unmarried mothers, so they have to practice compassion with all of them. And Sister Monica Joan has long been more insightful than the rest of the nuns put together, despite her advancing age, and she immediately understood Nancy's viewpoint and what they should do.

With society at the time starting to become more liberal around that time (e.g. the abortion reform storyline and Trixie's views on that), it gives a different dimension to the plot, which is no bad thing.

I like Nancy a lot and hope we get to see her get to be a mother as well as a midwife, it would give a different perspective to their work as well that only Shelagh currently has. I hope she sticks around. My mother's guess is that the Turners become her daughter's foster carers now they have a spare room - I would like to see that.

Have only watched the Christmas episode so far but yes noticed the socially distanced thing, sometimes it's very office (people sat in hall at the nativity all miles apart, distanced round the room listening to Dickens) and then suddenly aren't and not just in the scenes where it would be practically impossible.

I found Mrs Turner's hand wringing that she hadn't been around for their adopted daughter at birth rather much, it seemed more about her than the child as how on earth could she have been there, but I find the character generally irritating I think simply because she is nearly always nice and positive and good and doesn't seem to have human flaws other characters do like being grumpy now and again.