This week on Call the Midwife, every character with a penis was the absolute WORST. For real though, I hate every guy on this show except for Fred, and he lit a troop of boy scouts on fire. That’s the rubric we’re grading on here, folks.
We open with another busy day at the Poplar clinic, as the midwives rush to tend to all the mums and children. Trixie is running late and Phyllis tells her to pull her socks up, metaphorically speaking. Trixie is all aflutter because the bishop is coming to visit Tom, and she assumes that he’ll want to meet her as well. Oh Trixie, when you assume…
Sister Monica Joan is giving a bloody history lesson on beheadings to a group of small children, and one of the mums is upset. MJ feels like she’s outlived her usefulness, which is bonkers because she’s obviously the best part of this show.
Sister Winifred examines Miss Cole, a sex worker who expects Wini to be all judgy. Wini assures her that she’s just there to help, but I detect a note of side eye. Across town, Barbara calls on the Robbins family, who are expecting their first child. The family runs a successful rope making company, and Frank Robbins tells Barbara to make sure the baby is a boy. Um, I think that’s already been decided, bro.
That night at Nonnatus House, the midwives are having pajama cocktail hour and Barbara is giving Trixie clergy etiquette lessons. They talk about polite conversation topics, which apparently include the weather and Africa. Best of luck, Trix.
Wini goes to the brothel where Miss Cole aka Midge lives. Wini doesn’t think that a brothel is the best place to raise a child, but Midge is defensive, telling her that all the girls look out for each other like family. An older sex worker named Dora injures her hand, but refuses to let Wini see it. Midge cares for her, and we find out that Dora is in the advanced stages of syphilis.
Barbara visits Susan Robbins, whose nursery is filled with blue baby clothes. She assures Susan that it’s okay to want a girl, but is told that Frank needs a boy to carry on the family business. She is worried that if she doesn’t produce a male heir, Frank will leave her for a younger woman. Barbara complains about this sexist bullshit over dinner, and Patsy says that girls are better than boys. Preach. The women have a surprisingly modern conversation on the roles of women, and Phyllis references the women workers who ran the country while the men were fighting wars.
Dr. Turner and Wini visit the brothel, where they tell Midge that she has syphilis. She needs to move into the clinic and be treated, and there may be some health risks for the baby. Midge seems shocked that peroxide douche didn’t prevent the disease, and Wini is upset that none of the sex workers are practicing safe sex.
Barbara sees Frank Robbins laying a rope wreath at a war memorial. We learn that his father and brothers died in the war, and that he made a promise to his dad to carry on the Robbins and Sons business. It’s sympathetic back story, but this guy is still an ignorant douche.
Midge checks into the clinic, which Shelagh adorably calls the Poplar Ritz. We find out that Midge almost had an abortion, but had a change of heart, and now wants to give the baby the love she never had. Wini is upset that none of the sex workers are using sheaths aka condoms, but they all refuse because the clients don’t like them. Wini asks Sgt. Noakes to introduce her to sex workers in the hopes of teaching them safe sex. They hit up Poplar’s red light district, and are unanimously rejected by clients and sex workers. No one is interested in not getting syphilis.
Barbara tells Trixie that the bishop is a tee-totaler, and makes fun of Trixie for drinking so much. It’s light ribbing, but we see Trixie taking it personally. Does Trixie have a problem with booze? Spoiler alert: YUP.
Sister Julienne finds MJ looking at old suffragette photos of herself. MJ remembers being young and vital, but now she feels useless. Julienne assures her she is still a valued member of Nonnatus house, but MJ feels more like a relic of days past.
Midge receives penicillin injections from Patsy, and they talk about options. Patsy recommends that she move to the young mother’s house that Chummy is running, but Midge doesn’t want to leave the only family she’s ever known. Midge’s friend stops by and tells her that Dora is upset, and she sneaks Midge out of the clinic.
Trixie serves tea to Tom and the bishop, who congratulates Tom on his great work in Poplar. He offers him a parish in a dodgy area of Newcastle, and Trixie balks at raising her family in an impoverished neighborhood. She was hoping for something more rural, but the bishop and Tom make it quite clear that they don’t give a shit about her opinion. Tom chastises Trixie for talking out of turn, and questions whether a life in the church is something she’s suited for. A sad Trixie finds solace in a bottle, and starts drinking the night away.
Meanwhile, Midge has returned to the brothel, where a disoriented Dora is dancing for some cruel sailors. She tries to tend to her until her water breaks. Looks like this baby is getting born in the brothel. Wini and Phyllis arrive to assist with the birth, and they call Dr. Turner. A baby girl is born, and she seems to be healthy.
Back at Nonnatus House, Sister MJ is interrupted by a pregnant woman banging on the door. The woman is in desperate need of medical help, but Trixie is passed out. It falls on MJ to tend to her, so she walks the pregnant mum to the clinic through the pouring rain. Shelagh is there to greet them and she and MJ proceed to help deliver the baby. A healthy girl is born, and the mum is so grateful for MJ’s help that she names the girl Monica in her honor. A teary-eyed MJ is honored and I start crying. She feels useful again, you guys!
Barbara comes home after delivering a baby and is ready to go off shift. When she finds Trixie passed out, she tucks her in and goes off to see to Susan Robbins. It’s three for three on girls, and Susan cries with disappointment. Frank is desperate to know what the child is, but he is sent to call the doctor when Susan has a retained placenta. Susan is taken to the hospital, and Frank finally finds out the baby is a girl. He refuses to look at his newborn daughter, and Barbara has had enough of this misogynistic bullshit and shames him for treating his wife and baby like garbage.
Barbara goes home and finds Julienne looking after Trixie. They agree that no one else has to know, and tell the midwives that Trixie was sick. After a long night, the women tally up the births to a record-breaking ten in one night. It’s raining babies in Poplar! Barbara gets congratulated for delivering three on her own.
Shelagh tells Dr. Turner that she miss being a midwife, and feels less useful as his receptionist. They cuddle, and Turner’s son makes fun of them for being mushy.
Trixie feels terrible about sleeping through Babypalooza, and tells Julienne that she feels lost and unsure about her life. We find out that Trixie’s dad was an alcoholic. Julienne urges her to talk to Tom about her drinking, but Trixie has bigger problems with her intended.
Frank still hasn’t seen his daughter, and Susan is devastated. Dr. Turner goes to see Frank at work, and reminds him that his dad would be more concerned for his happiness than his promise. Besides, women can do things now, and maybe his daughter can run the shop. Frank realizes his daughter needs him, so he takes the baby girl in his arms and walks her around the rope shop. Looks like this dick is finally coming around.
Tom and Trixie talk about their relationship, and Trixie breaks off the engagement, Tom is devastated, but Trixie returns her ring and walks out. This is sad, but Trixie was never meant to be a clergyman’s wife. Also, Tom is kind of a tool, so good riddance.
Wini visits the brothel, where Midge is holding her baby. She’s healthy so far, and Midge urges Wini to keep spreading the word about safe sex. Good luck with that, sister.
What did you think of last night’s episode? Hit me up @chelseaprocrast and tell me all about it!
