[Flubber.]

I'm very happy they've done a depressing episode, I'm a communuty midwife and its not all smiley babies and happy mothers at all. So for anyone watching this and getting upset that they havnt been left with a fluffy feeling then be grateful your experiencing a programme that is based in realism rather than entertainment (though there is plenty of that)

I'm also very relieved that i'm allowed to drive a car to my appointments

[seejay63]

Originally Posted by kadylou

yes but thats all the had them days! and tape measuring isnt much better two midwives can have two differant readings- thankfully we go off dating scans now for dates but measurements are still significant of the wellbeing of the baby x

My dating scans weren't much more accurate to be honest.

[winenroses]

Originally Posted by Abbasolutely 40

It was upsetting tonight , but having been a nurse for 300 hundred years ( or so it feels ) you get weeks like that .Thats life I am afraid .I loved tonight, not becuase I like being dpressed but because its just so good .
I loved the dance , loved the girls getting ready and I love Chummy .

Me too.

Originally Posted by Mint

It's based on actual events. Some happy, some depressing.

Quite. It is what it is, though perhaps two depressing stories in one episode was a bit of an overload compared to spacing in the books.

The voice over at the end showed the fine writing style of the midwife Jennifer Worth, despite the fact that I personally don't think using Vanessa Redgrave's voice as the older Jenny suits.

Interesting that she became a music in later life and her two daughters didn't know while growing up she had been a midwife and written about her experiences.

My OH and I love it though we both cried a little tonight. That's what drama is though after all, comedy and tragedy, and some people 'enjoy' a bit of both. Look at Brief Encounter, hardly a bundle of laughs, though there were some 'low comedy' characters, and that film is a classic which people enjoy having a cry to.

[happy tv]

Originally Posted by teresagreen

It was heartbreaking tonight. Poor Mary.

I only just tuned in tonight but wasn't convinced by the acting

[winenroses]

Originally Posted by happy tv

I only just tuned in tonight but wasn't convinced by the acting

The dog was good! Was it the dog do you think? (Midsomer , ads, etc.)

[habby]

Originally Posted by Hollywood1989

Just watched this, What a load of crap!

Possibly you're the wrong age group to appreciate it. And its based on a true story very unlike Crapenders & Coronation Street which you seem to have for your 'services'!!!!!

But well done for your very well thought out point about the programme.

[Mint]

Originally Posted by kadylou

didnt recognise the abduction storyline from call the midwife, was it in another book?I thoughts tonights was very interesting, but sad.

There is a mention in the book of Mary going to prison for abducting a baby. But this was something that Jennifer Worth heard about. She didn't actually see Mary again after being unable to help Mary keep Kathleen. Bit of dramatisation here I think to get the plight of Mary across.

[smartie 33]

Originally Posted by kadylou

didnt recognise the abduction storyline from call the midwife, was it in another book?
I thoughts tonights was very interesting, but sad.

It's in the Call the Midwife book, but happened about seven years after Mary had her baby, and Jenny hadn't had any contact with her in that time. By then Jenny was married with a couple of kids and read about Mary in the papers - I think she had left London for Liverpool, but was still a prostitute. In her book she states that she didn't contact the judge, and I don't think she ever knew what happened to her after that. This episode actually gave a more cheerful ending than actually happened.

[wildbenji64]

Originally Posted by Terry Wigon

Well, humour is very personal but

Spoiler

a baby being born dead, her mother slowly dying of toxemia in front of her distraught husband, and a baby being abducted by a mentally ill prostitute who took her back to starve in damp slum,

didn't tickle my funny bone!

Obviously I didn't mean that, I meant the lighter hearted scenes, with the midwives at the house and the dance.

[Hollywood1989]

Originally Posted by habby

Possibly you're the wrong age group to appreciate it. And its based on a true story very unlike Crapenders & Coronation Street which you seem to have for your 'services'!!!!!

But well done for your very well thought out point about the programme.

No need to bring EASTEnders and Coronation Street into it, they both fantastic programmes, beautifully written, better than that midwife nonsense.

[happy tv]

Maybe I tuned in on the wrong night but it was the girl-Mary I think-who abducted the baby...I wasn't convinced by her acting.. Sorry

[Terry Wigon]

Originally Posted by wildbenji64

Obviously I didn't mean that, I meant the lighter hearted scenes, with the midwives at the house and the dance.

I see. Come to think of it now, I did miss about 10 mins close to the beginning so I must have missed those parts. Maybe that's why I felt there was NO lighter scenes when it sounds like there was...just not later on.

[Fayecorgasm]

Originally Posted by Flubber.

I'm very happy they've done a depressing episode, I'm a communuty midwife and its not all smiley babies and happy mothers at all. So for anyone watching this and getting upset that they havnt been left with a fluffy feeling then be grateful your experiencing a programme that is based in realism rather than entertainment (though there is plenty of that)

I'm also very relieved that i'm allowed to drive a car to my appointments

Actually Im not grateful for a programme based on reality and not fluffiness I like fluffy Sunday nights I miss heartbeat and the royal I have more than enough grinding realism in my job and at home to not want to have grinding realism on my telly as well

[happy tv]

Originally Posted by winenroses

The dog was good! Was it the dog do you think? (Midsomer , ads, etc.)

Some may have different viewpoints to yours, it doesn't make them wrong, it is just a difference of opinion. I did not think the girl playing Mary was convincing, it is just my opinion. I respect that others may think differently.

[researchshirley]

Originally Posted by happy tv

Some may have different viewpoints to yours, it doesn't make them wrong, it is just a difference of opinion. I did not think the girl playing Mary was convincing, it is just my opinion. I respect that others may think differently.

But you are wrong though

[Christa Ellen]

Originally Posted by winenroses

Me too.



Quite. It is what it is, though perhaps two depressing stories in one episode was a bit of an overload compared to spacing in the books.

The voice over at the end showed the fine writing style of the midwife Jennifer Worth, despite the fact that I personally don't think using Vanessa Redgrave's voice as the older Jenny suits.

Interesting that she became a music in later life and her two daughters didn't know while growing up she had been a midwife and written about her experiences.



My OH and I love it though we both cried a little tonight. That's what drama is though after all, comedy and tragedy, and some people 'enjoy' a bit of both. Look at Brief Encounter, hardly a bundle of laughs, though there were some 'low comedy' characters, and that film is a classic which people enjoy having a cry to.

I was in tears by the end as well.

[tennisman]

By the viewing figues this programme is clearly up many 'people's streets' but of course, it isn't going to please everyone. What ever does?

But although Jennifer Worth's recollections are often about the hard, grinding reality of life at the time, I think it is only seeing half the picture to concentrate on the dark stuff.

The books as I remember them as well as these dramatisations are to me, full of morsels of wonderful human spirit rising up with people dealing with huge adversity by today's standards and somehow getting on with it.

Jenny Worth herself must have had a big heart and there are numerous examples in the books of where she went an extra mile for people (like with Roy Hudd's Mr Collett and Mary for example).

We may look at some of these things as if they are just Sunday night TV but how often do we actually do anything even remotely like what she did in our daily lives, even with little touches of care for the young, elderly or sick while we are out and about?

And of course, these acts were made out of her work situation and yes, we are all busy in our own daily lives but all I'm talking about are the little things like helping an old person in the Post Office or opening a door for someone who might well appreciate a little help; I'm not suggesting we all turn into Jenny Worth. However busy we are, we've all got 10 seconds and that's all it often takes.

I found it hugely moving when the mother whose baby had been take by Mary ran out and asked the nuns what they wanted to tell the police (even though actually, this was one of the adapted parts of the storyline).

I am not a religious man but the nuns come across as quite amazing and inspiring; Jenny Agutter's ability to portray sensitivity with unswerving strength to keep getting the job done is marvellously put across.

The poverty, depressing conditions and some very unhappy endings indeed are definately an integral part of this series but therein lie the opportunity, for me at any rate, for appreciation of other human qualities which these situations throw up and these are the gems that come out of Jenny Worth's work and this wonderful TV series.

[Auramystic]

Originally Posted by habby

Possibly you're the wrong age group to appreciate it. And its based on a true story very unlike Crapenders & Coronation Street which you seem to have for your 'services'!!!!!

But well done for your very well thought out point about the programme.

I totally agree this is a great programme and as far as EastEnders and Coronation St go I cannot bear either of them EastEnders makes me laugh and Coronation St drives me batty. I think Miranda Hart is fantastic in this programme. Been away for 2 weeks and just caught up with 2 episodes in a row and I was in tears at her wonderful performance delivery the breech baby.

[happy tv]

Originally Posted by researchshirley

But you are wrong though

In your opinion you are right and I am wrong. Doesn't mean it is true though. Anyway, it was unconvincing imo.

[Tourista]

Originally Posted by tennisman

By the viewing figues this programme is clearly up many 'people's streets' <snipped for space>

Excellent post tennisman.

And well worth ten seconds (a bit longer for me, I am a slow reader) of anyones time.

To the episode now.

For a drama to be highly enjoyable, while heartbreaking at the same time is hard for a programme to do, but CTM has managed it consistently throughout its run, and this week was no different. The story of the Toxemia woman was trully sad, and the baby kidnap too, but was well balanced by the trully hilarious sight of Miranda Hart dancing.

[AoibheannRose]

Maybe I'm just a sucker for misery, but this was actually my favourite episode so far! As far back as a being a young child I've often thought about how brave/foolish you have to be to really let yourself love someone (something I've yet to be brave enough to do in my own life) as you are opening yourself up to the possibility of great sadness and heartache, so that theme in tonight's show really touched me.

I was in tears during the final scene when Cynthia received the note from the man who lost his wife, which said 'There are as many forms of love as there are moments in time'.

Although I did really enjoy the show, if anything it has made me more sure in my belief that you're better off knowing and loving as few people as possible, so that going by the law of averages, you'll encounter the minimum amount of loss, heartbreak and suffering possible.

And with that cheery Sunday night thought, I'm off to bed to await the crapness of another Monday morning!

[geogchick]

I like this programme and yes, tonight was sad - but it was still good..

Just one question, and I'm not trying to be pinickity (it didn't ruin the drama) but isn't the piece of music 'The Swan' a cello piece and the lady that died a violinist.......or I might be wrong - it's just annoying me now!

[Abewest]

Originally Posted by AoibheannRose

Although I did really enjoy the show, if anything it has made me more sure in my belief that you're better off knowing and loving as few people as possible, so that going by the law of averages, you'll encounter the minimum amount of loss, heartbreak and suffering possible.

But that minimum heartbreak and suffering may turn out to be scant compensation for a life that, by the law of averages, may have been far more fulfilling by giving and receiving love more openly and freely.

[cylon6]

Originally Posted by winenroses

Me too.



Quite. It is what it is, though perhaps two depressing stories in one episode was a bit of an overload compared to spacing in the books.

The voice over at the end showed the fine writing style of the midwife Jennifer Worth, despite the fact that I personally don't think using Vanessa Redgrave's voice as the older Jenny suits.

Interesting that she became a music in later life and her two daughters didn't know while growing up she had been a midwife and written about her experiences.

My OH and I love it though we both cried a little tonight. That's what drama is though after all, comedy and tragedy, and some people 'enjoy' a bit of both. Look at Brief Encounter, hardly a bundle of laughs, though there were some 'low comedy' characters, and that film is a classic which people enjoy having a cry to.

Actually all of the voiceover bits for each episode are written by Heidi Thomas. Jennifer Worth only wanted Heidi to do her lines. Call The Midwife showed tonight why I've always said it isn't the typical Sunday "chocolate box" drama. It's not light & fluffy all the time which is probably why I can watch it.

[tennisman]

Originally Posted by Tourista

Excellent post tennisman.

And well worth ten seconds (a bit longer for me, I am a slow reader) of anyones time.

To the episode now.

For a drama to be highly enjoyable, while heartbreaking at the same time is hard for a programme to do, but CTM has managed it consistently throughout its run, and this week was no different. The story of the Toxemia woman was trully sad, and the baby kidnap too, but was well balanced by the trully hilarious sight of Miranda Hart dancing.

Thanks Tourista.

Although I actually meant 10 seconds to help someone, not to read my post - the length I write, I demand hours of other FMs' time - much more than 10 seconds usually!!!