The biggest difference this season compared to the others is that Jenny (Jessica Raine) is no longer there. But it is quite odd that her older self (Vanessa Redgrave) narrates the show.
The season starts out strong, conquering issues such as homosexuality with grace and ease. But then, everything just got jumbled.
Though Chummy (Miranda Hart) appears in the Christmas episode, she disappears from the season opener because she has to go run the mother and baby home as it wasn't functional while the nuns (not the same as the nuns at Nonnatus) were in charge. Also of note, Cynthia (Bryony Hannah) has finally decided to become a nun. That decision seemed to come from left field, but ultimately, it works, she is stronger as a nun than she was before.
The plot lines from the episodes include a horrific child neglect scene where the baby suffers from extreme diaper rash, a mother struggling to carry a baby until full term, a mother who delivers twins but one is stillborn, a father who can't stand the fact that his wife had a daughter, a prostitute fighting off syphilis, a foreign woman who gets diphtheria, a man struggling to connect with his young daughter who wants her deceased mother back, a deaf woman who worries whether her child will love her and understand that and a Christian Scientist family whose baby is born with a rare brittle bone disease.
The plot line where the father can't even look at his perfect daughter did anger me. His father and two brothers were all killed in World War II and he promised their graves that he would give them a son to carry on the family business. I thought he would prefer a daughter just so she wouldn't have a chance at getting drafted. He eventually comes around after some wise words from Dr. Turner (Stephen McGann).
Then come the controversial plots. First, the plot line where the mechanic husband turns out to be homosexual and has to appear in court where, fortunately, thanks to Dr. Turner's testimony, avoids jail time but is put on a gross regiment of hormone treatments. His wife, miraculously stands by him, though she is devastated and should have listened to her now deceased mother when she announced that he was too clean. But everything will work out and he loves his little girl.
Abortion wasn't truly illegal in Britain in 1960. A seventeen-year-old girl has Type I diabetes, dependent on insulin daily and she is pregnant. Nurse Crane (Linda Bassett), a new character whom I'll describe later, is on the case and she and Dr. Turner prescribe a medical abortion. This is probably for the best as the girl struggles with her insulin levels and her boyfriend has a record. They try to run away to get married and will raise the baby regardless but she goes into diabetic shock and eventually has the abortion. I am not a fan of abortion and yes, she shouldn't have had sex in the first place and should have been painstakingly careful, but this abortion was probably for the best. I've seen Steel Magnolias where Julia Roberts's character has severe diabetes and risks her life to have a baby, has a kidney transplant and later dies because of her actions. So, yes, this was almost without a doubt the best way to a make a miserable situation better, but that doesn't mean I'm happy with it.
Then came the switched at birth plot line where Sister Evangelina (Pam Ferris) accidentally hands two babies off to the wrong mother. I thought the error would have been realized when one baby either lost or gained weight mysteriously but instead, it was because of a birth mark. Of course the results were disastrous as one baby had a life-threatening heart defect. In the end, despite the one mother's misgivings, the babies are returned to the proper parent and hopefully, the tags will be applied to the babies immediately after birth so this never happens again.
In the season finale, a mother suffers from extreme morning sickness and Shelagh (Laura Main) can't stand this and asks her husband if something can be done and he gives her some thalidomide. Of course, it wasn't known at the time, but this drug is especially harmful to a developing fetus so this will probably come into play next season when it is finally time for the mother to have the baby. This will have heart-wrenching consequences for both families.
Now for the characters.
There are two new characters introduced, Nurse Barbara Gilbert (Charlotte Ritchie). She is a little clumsy but is trained and devoted, utterly devoted to her job. She bicycles back and forth twice a day to deliver breast milk to a premature baby and turns an elderly man with bed sores every two hours to improve his condition among others. She can't hold her liquor and thus doesn't really drink. Unfortunately, her social life is nonexistent but she is loyal and does cover for Trixie (Helen George) that one time.
Nurse Phyllis Crane (Linda Bassett) is also new. She is different from the others because she is a spinster and drives a car. She is also used to doing things her way and clashes immediately with Sister Evangelina and there truce never really lasts. She is also illegitimate and isn't proud of it. This is only 1960 and that would still be painfully embarrassing.
As for the old characters, they also have plenty to do. Trixie becomes engaged to the Reverend Herewald (Jack Ashton) but it is an up and down relationship. Sure, she does truly love him and he truly loves her but she likes frills so much more and will always come after the people he serves. The engagement ends and Trixie turns to her ever reliable friend: booze. She is an alcoholic though it takes until the season finale when she can't stand it anymore and with the help of Sister Mary Cynthia (Cynthia's religious name) starts attending Alcoholics Anonymous so hopefully she will get better.
Patsy (Emerald Fennell) is lesbian. Her lover is Delia (Kate Lamb) another nurse she knew from the hospital. Naturally, they have to keep the relationship hidden and manage to succeed. Everything is ruined when they give Delia nasty amnesia after being struck by a car. Delia can't remember Patsy or her own mother. She returns to Wales with her family to recover. I would have wondered what would have happened if those two have been allowed to continue their illegal relationship.
Shelagh and Dr. Turner are still happy though Shelagh misses nursing and returns part-time when Dr. Turner suffers from exhaustion though her kids also keep her busy. They are one of the most in love couples on this show and Shelagh has put her devastation over not being able to have her own child behind her and is moving on.
Sister Evangelina has to have a hysterectomy and is absent from a couple episodes.
Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) has a past where she very nearly got married. Her former beau is dying but donates a lot of money to the house so they are finally able to get a new roof.
The handy man, Fred (Cliff Parisi) finally has love interest. Violet Gee (Annabelle Apsion) owns a cute little store and is a widow. They each need someone though their courtship isn't all sunshine and roses either, but the season ends happily, with the two getting married in a simple ceremony. Even Fred's stubborn daughter finally comes around.
Chummy gets closure and dumps her mother's ashes into the river.
Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) and Sister Winifred (Victoria Yeates) are still there, with Sister Monica Joan always having something witty and important to say.
This season, again, was good as these are truly good characters doing good and important work for the community but for whatever reason, I just couldn't completely connect to the second half of the season. Still, every episode is watchable with the excellent acting even from the countless guest stars. The editing is flawless and the sets, costumes, hair and make-up and music are brilliant. This is still one of those hidden gems. People need to watch this show. Grade: B+ (finale); B+ (Season)
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