Jasmine Sahu is well suited with this new American drama exclusive to Dave.
The last episode of this series sees Sherlock and Moriarty attempt to solve the final problem with devastating consequences.
With major cast changes afoot, Jacob Martin ponders whether Being Human can live up to its own scarily high standard.
Joanna Starzynski shares her thoughts on Sherlock's latest adventure.
“I could have seen the world, been brave, followed my heart. But I didn't. I side-stepped love for the East End of London, because I thought it would be easier. Madness was the only explanation.”
So intones the older Jenny (magnificently voiced by Vanessa Redgrave) as she introduces us to her younger self, fresh off the train in London to become a midwife. Through her, we are taken into this alien world, where a girl of 23 is an old hand at giving birth and a Spanish woman who doesn't even speak the same language as her husband is so besotted by him that they're on baby number twenty-five. And she doesn't even have any stretch marks.
If the time-slot and description of Call the Midwife make you think “Lark Rise to Candleford but with fewer stamps and more babies”, think again. Already, Call the Midwife has a feeling of authenticity about it that my beloved Lark Rise never quite managed. The harshness of life for working-class women in the 1950s is shown here with surprising frankness, from the indignities of having child after child to the very real possibility of venereal disease. Cosy isn't exactly the word that springs to mind.
This is due in no small part to Heidi Thomas's script. There are certainly moments where it's a bit slower than it could be, but that should hopefully lessen now that these characters have been properly established. Thomas manages to deftly balance the lighter and darker sides of this life; no scene shows that better than the birth of Muriel's baby, which makes the shift between humour and gravity with ease. The women are all individuals, not vessels for stories or a lesson of the week as they could so easily be.
What really makes or breaks this sort of thing is the performances. Thankfully, Call the Midwife has a seriously first-rate cast, aided by some subtle but clear characterisation from Thomas. Pam Ferris as no-nonsense Sister Evangelina, delivering advice and enemas with equal aplomb, is a particular delight, as is Jenny Agutter as the more saintly Sister Julienne. Jenny Parfitt got many of the best moments as the dotty Sister Monica Joan, eating all the cake and generally being amazing. I also enjoyed Helen George as the lovely Trixie, longing for a manicure and flirting with handyman Fred (Cliff Parsi, aka Minty from Eastenders) about her unmentionables.
And it really is lovely to see a female-dominated period drama that isn't all about romance and pretty dresses. The main characters here are all able women just going about their jobs, making a difference to the world in an unfussy way. It was refreshing to see Jenny be shown as uncomfortable in this strange world, but ultimately competent and able to cope; many dramas would have had her completely lose her head at one point, but she gets over her wobbles without letting it affect her job. Jessica Raine seemed a little uncertain at times in the role, but on the whole did a good job of making Jenny believable and likeable.
The first episode of a new programme has to introduce the characters and the world they live in while moving the plot along. Call the Midwife did all this and more with such grace that I'll most certainly be watching again.
See the second episode of Call the Midwife, with added Miranda Hart, at 8pm on BBC1 this Sunday
Trailer: BBC
You must log in to submit a comment.
