S14.E00 Christmas Special 2024

[Jodithgrace]

I do know those hymn tunes, however, but not with the Christmas Carol words. 

[Suzn]

6 hours ago, marceline said:

Thank you for saying this. I'm used to having the alto parts of Christmas carols burned in my brain from youth but these felt wrong to my ears.

I found it so jarring!  Those songs are burned in my brain, too.  I can "hear" them.

[Notabug]

12 hours ago, caitmcg said:

Sure, but that was the late ‘70s, not 1964.

The show is currently in December 1969, so it's not in 1964 either.  By the early to mid 70's, when I was in high school; Planned Parenthood was well known as a place where teens could go for pregnancy testing, STD testing and birth control.  The prices were low, often free and there was no chance that PP would discuss anything with parents without permission from the client.  

[Sarah 103]

 

On 12/26/2024 at 9:05 AM, tvrox said:

Tim wasn't in this episode right? They mentioned him but am just now realizing I didn't see him. 

That was one of the few predictions I made while watching the episode that was wrong. My guess was that Tim would show up at home at the last minute, but instead he spent the whole episode working at a hospital in I think it was Scotland during the holiday.

On 12/26/2024 at 1:06 PM, amarante said:

I don't know how the nuns will feel about it but at least in the Catholic orders in the USA most nuns had given up the traditional garb and just wore modest regular clothing if they were in the community as opposed to being cloistered. 

I love the idea of this as a plotline for an episode; the different nuns' reactions to having the option to wear something other than the traditional garb.

23 hours ago, Calvada said:

In a classic TV ploy, why don't they recast Lucille and Matthew?  Do a Darrin Stephens on them? 

Because it's not the 1990s and that kind of thing is rarely done anymore with adults or older teenagers. What they should do, since Cyril is a Pastor and divorce may not be an option, is to kill off Lucille. Very few characters return when they have been permanently written off.

13 hours ago, kwnyc said:

Let's make Trixie's brother a recurring character! As written and acted, he is an excellent addition.

I agree with this. He is fantastic.

[Jodithgrace]

I forget. WE know that Trixie’s brother is gay, but do the nuns? They were all making a big deal about the “fortune teller” indicating that he would never get married. Was that just for the benefit of the children present? 

[debraran]

8 hours ago, Notabug said:

The show is currently in December 1969, so it's not in 1964 either.  By the early to mid 70's, when I was in high school; Planned Parenthood was well known as a place where teens could go for pregnancy testing, STD testing and birth control.  The prices were low, often free and there was no chance that PP would discuss anything with parents without permission from the client.  

Yes I went 74-77 and heard this and it was established. Whether free or you paid 3.00 for something, it was something you could afford babysitting etc. It was also for questions many parents wouldn't discuss, many teens only had vague knowledge on anything from VD to pregnancy and even normal bodily changes and what is a "normal" period etc.

6 hours ago, Jodithgrace said:

I forget. WE know that Trixie’s brother is gay, but do the nuns? They were all making a big deal about the “fortune teller” indicating that he would never get married. Was that just for the benefit of the children present? 

I just saw Turner's daughter ask for one and then him, he shrugged, but that's all I took of it. I don't remember a discussion or strange looks.

[Shermie]

10 hours ago, Sarah 103 said:

On 12/26/2024 at 10:28 PM, Calvada said:

In a classic TV ploy, why don't they recast Lucille and Matthew?  Do a Darrin Stephens on them? 

Because it's not the 1990s and that kind of thing is rarely done anymore with adults or older teenagers.

Darren Stephen’s wasn’t recast in the 1990s; Bewitched was a 1960s show. Iwouldn’t want them recasting a main character, but Lucille and Matthew are replaceable.

19 hours ago, marceline said:

Away in a Manger and Little Town of Bethlehem had different melodies than American versions.

Away In A Manger has always had two melodies to choose from - one that starts low, and one that starts high.

I guess I’m the lone voice in the wilderness here, but I enjoyed the episode and was happy to have a double length. Too many plots? Meh, it’s not hard to keep track of when they are  such basic storylines. 

This show is my Christmas comfort TV that I always watch on Boxing Day. Some of it brings back memories of my very simple early childhood in the ‘60s - the clothes, the toys, the activities.

[tvrox]

11 hours ago, Sarah 103 said:

 

That was one of the few predictions I made while watching the episode that was wrong. My guess was that Tim would show up at home at the last minute, but instead he spent the whole episode working at a hospital in I think it was Scotland during the holiday.

I love the idea of this as a plotline for an episode; the different nuns' reactions to having the option to wear something other than the traditional garb.

Because it's not the 1990s and that kind of thing is rarely done anymore with adults or older teenagers. What they should do, since Cyril is a Pastor and divorce may not be an option, is to kill off Lucille. Very few characters return when they have been permanently written off.

I agree with this. He is fantastic.

They did the nuns' clothing storyline already: when the Catholic nuns dropped off Nancy and they were wearing a more modern but still uniform habit. And at the same time Trixie was working in the posh hospital, so there was discussion of needing to update the uniforms, including that of the nuns. They designed a new habit that was a little shorter and more modern, but the mother superior wouldn't let them keep it. I forget what season. But that doesn't mean they couldn't revisit this topic again. 

9 hours ago, Jodithgrace said:

I forget. WE know that Trixie’s brother is gay, but do the nuns? They were all making a big deal about the “fortune teller” indicating that he would never get married. Was that just for the benefit of the children present? 

I think they "know", without really knowing? Like they wouldn't admit it or talk about it, but they understand it in the back of their mind. 

[marceline]

On 12/26/2024 at 7:22 AM, JudyObscure said:

Reggie has been very well brought up by his family and his school and the first thing he would have been taught was his phone number and when to find a phone booth and call home. 

I've noticed that Reggie's condition is treated in a similar fashion as Sr. Monica Joan's dementia. It's a plot point they drag out to heighten the drama.

[zoey1996]

On 12/26/2024 at 8:39 PM, HappyHanna said:

Violet said something about how he can't use a phone without help. But he can take a bus ride for who knows how far from his residential home to Poplar by himself? Which is it?

Why can't it be both? For the bus, someone from his residential home takes him to the bus and makes sure he gets on. The driver checked to see if he was being picked up, and Reggie knew Fred was coming to get him.

He may have had a phone number with him, but he'd left his bag at the station, and didn't have his wallet with him. He may be capable of asking for help with the phone, but for whatever reason, didn't. He found a place to sleep and stay relatively warm over night, until he was found.

I've always loved the Christmas specials, and this was no exception. One omission was the early mention of May and Angela by the Fun Fair couple, that one was white, the other Chinese, but this was never followed up.

[Sarah 103]

15 hours ago, Jodithgrace said:

I forget. WE know that Trixie’s brother is gay, but do the nuns? They were all making a big deal about the “fortune teller” indicating that he would never get married. Was that just for the benefit of the children present? 

I thought the fortune teller said maybe, not no. 

5 hours ago, Shermie said:

Darren Stephen’s wasn’t recast in the 1990s; Bewitched was a 1960s show. Iwouldn’t want them recasting a main character, but Lucille and Matthew are replaceable.

I wrote 1990s because the last television show I could remember (not that there haven't been more recent shows that I'm forgetting or not aware of) that did it was Roseanne with the two actresses who played Becky. 

[Ceindreadh]

48 minutes ago, Sarah 103 said:

 

I wrote 1990s because the last television show I could remember (not that there haven't been more recent shows that I'm forgetting or not aware of) that did it was Roseanne with the two actresses who played Becky. 

 

Interview with the Vampire did it for its second season and just announced at the beginning that the role would be played by a new cast member. 

[Calvada]

I was joking about recasting characters, but I appreciate people thinking I was seriously suggesting that.  As I age, it seems fewer and fewer people take me seriously, so it's nice when it happens. 

Was Olly Rix's leaving the show his decision or a decision made by the show runners?  Do they all sign year to year contracts?  Is that standard procedure for British shows?  

[Notabug]

27 minutes ago, Calvada said:

I was joking about recasting characters, but I appreciate people thinking I was seriously suggesting that.  As I age, it seems fewer and fewer people take me seriously, so it's nice when it happens. 

Was Olly Rix's leaving the show his decision or a decision made by the show runners?  Do they all sign year to year contracts?  Is that standard procedure for British shows?  

From the information we got, it seemed like Rix was willing and able to continue in the role, but TPTB let him go to cut costs.

In the US, most TV shows require a 5 year contract for each main cast member before the pilot is even filmed.  In Britain, it seems like longterm contracts are uncommon and many actors choose to play a role for a year or two and then move on.

[Orcinus orca]

I am so happy that Miss Higgins had her grandson for the holiday.  That was a nice plotline in my opinion.

I admit I had a lot of trouble remember who is who; it seems like years since the last season and I didn't recognize a couple of the newer nurses.

Were we supposed to believe that financially strapped Trixie would fly all the way overseas to spend one day there?  Not sure the point of that unless it is to set us up for a full time return.

The destitute family just depressed the hell out of me, partly because it continues to happen to this day in the US without the safety nets that existed in the UK at that time.  I cannot speak to what happens there today but poor women are kicked out of the hospital in the US without any kind of follow up now. And it I have a so-called, self proclaimed "good Christian" acquaintance that applauds that saying "if they can't afford to feed a kid, they shouldn't have any so let them figure it out" without considering any circumstances.  She even opposes school lunch programs saying it's up to the parents to feed their kids.  Sheesh, nobody chooses to be poor!  And children certainly should not be punished for it!

The prisoner really broke my hearts both for him and for his mom.  When Phyllis tied his tie I admit to a lunge for the tissue box.

I think we are coming to the natural end of the series.  They have been running out of ideas for a while now and it has become pretty predictable.

[caitmcg]

On 12/27/2024 at 7:18 PM, Notabug said:

The show is currently in December 1969, so it's not in 1964 either.  By the early to mid 70's, when I was in high school; Planned Parenthood was well known as a place where teens could go for pregnancy testing, STD testing and birth control.  The prices were low, often free and there was no chance that PP would discuss anything with parents without permission from the client.  

I am well aware, but the discussion here has reached back to earlier times, both on and off the show, and that was the origin of a whole sequence of posts — including  debraran responding to my saying that my mother wore a ring to Planned Parenthood to avoid any issues because my parents weren't yet married, that it wasn't an issue in the late '70s. My point in differentiating is simply that a lot changed (obviously) between the early-mid '60s and the late '60s. As far as Planned Parenthood goes, certainly this was common during my adolescence just a decade after yours, and I imagine it's remained the case.

 

[debraran]

7 hours ago, Orcinus orca said:

I am so happy that Miss Higgins had her grandson for the holiday.  That was a nice plotline in my opinion.

I admit I had a lot of trouble remember who is who; it seems like years since the last season and I didn't recognize a couple of the newer nurses.

Were we supposed to believe that financially strapped Trixie would fly all the way overseas to spend one day there?  Not sure the point of that unless it is to set us up for a full time return.

The destitute family just depressed the hell out of me, partly because it continues to happen to this day in the US without the safety nets that existed in the UK at that time.  I cannot speak to what happens there today but poor women are kicked out of the hospital in the US without any kind of follow up now. And it I have a so-called, self proclaimed "good Christian" acquaintance that applauds that saying "if they can't afford to feed a kid, they shouldn't have any so let them figure it out" without considering any circumstances.  She even opposes school lunch programs saying it's up to the parents to feed their kids.  Sheesh, nobody chooses to be poor!  And children certainly should not be punished for it!

The prisoner really broke my hearts both for him and for his mom.  When Phyllis tied his tie I admit to a lunge for the tissue box.

I think we are coming to the natural end of the series.  They have been running out of ideas for a while now and it has become pretty predictable.

yes not every pregnancy is planned and people had many children they couldn't afford in my mom's day and weren't persecuted like the "Christians" do today. No charity, no medicaid, no help with food, just suffer" is how many do feel but of course not all. Birth control doesn't always work and I know a young woman, who has a 2 year old and found out she is pregnant unexpectedly and it's twins. She is in shock. Daycare is out of reach. We can do so much more in the US.

I know women who are struggling and I tell them where to get help but it's hard, pride should never hurt your children. It isn't a scarlet letter. We have in our city, people living with rodents, holes in the walls, slumlords who get in trouble but it never seems to change. Is someone paid off? The wheels move very slowly.

That family because of what I read in the paper now, made me very uncomfortable. The convict was my slightly "feel good" tear up moment with Phyllis. I get shivers just thinking about the dignity they gave him and his mom.

10 hours ago, Calvada said:

I was joking about recasting characters, but I appreciate people thinking I was seriously suggesting that.  As I age, it seems fewer and fewer people take me seriously, so it's nice when it happens. 

Was Olly Rix's leaving the show his decision or a decision made by the show runners?  Do they all sign year to year contracts?  Is that standard procedure for British shows?  

Gossip last year was it was producer's decision. He said he "might" return but I don't know if that was to keep plot a mystery.

[Notabug]

20 hours ago, caitmcg said:

I am well aware, but the discussion here has reached back to earlier times, both on and off the show, and that was the origin of a whole sequence of posts — including  debraran responding to my saying that my mother wore a ring to Planned Parenthood to avoid any issues because my parents weren't yet married, that it wasn't an issue in the late '70s. My point in differentiating is simply that a lot changed (obviously) between the early-mid '60s and the late '60s. As far as Planned Parenthood goes, certainly this was common during my adolescence just a decade after yours, and I imagine it's remained the case.

 

I actually worked for Planned Parenthood in the early-mid 80's; common moonlighting gig for gyn residents.  We saw all kinds of women including young teens.  Not a wedding ring in sight unless they were actually married. Either things changed a whole lot in just a couple of years or my experience with Planned Parenthood was different than yours.  

Planned Parenthood also sent reps out to the various high schools to talk in health class about contraception.  I was about 16 when they came to my class. After separating the boys and girls into different classes, they gave a lecture about all of their services including contraception; emphasizing privacy no matter what the client's age.  They also brought various contraceptive options and passed them around the class, first time I ever saw a diaphragm.  The rep even did the infamous demonstration of how to use a condom with a banana.  This was 1973.  This was a suburb of a midwestern city, not exactly a hotbed of liberal attitudes.  Since we were all high schoolers, it was pretty obvious that Planned Parenthood didn't have a policy preventing single women from obtaining birth control.

Edited December 30, 2024 by Notabug

[Shermie]

Since Matthew (the actor) wanted to stay, recasting is a moot point since it seems to be a budgeting decision. They should have kept him and Trixie in London with him mostly offscreen “at work” or “away on business” or whatever. He could make the occasional guest appearance in a small scene.

Trixie could continue midwifery while trying to get pregnant. I think it would have been an interesting storyline to have a midwife deal with infertility while still having to deliver babies for other women (some of whom don’t even want another baby or maybe are terrible mothers).

I can’t remember the show covering infertility since it’s all about midwives working with women who are already pregnant or who want to prevent it. And having a midwife be the one dealing with it would add another layer.

[AZChristian]

32 minutes ago, Shermie said:

Trixie could continue midwifery while trying to get pregnant. I think it would have been an interesting storyline to have a midwife deal with infertility while still having to deliver babies for other women (some of whom don’t even want another baby or maybe are terrible mothers).

In the early days of their marriage, Shelagh Turner had infertility problems because of a history of tuberculosis.  Angela is adopted.  Then they got custody of May, and - SURPRISE - along comes Teddy via natural means.  They did touch on the pain of delivering babies when Shelagh could not have one on her own.

[Notabug]

already answered

Edited December 30, 2024 by Notabug

[Straycat80]

I always  look forward to the Christmas special. This was a lot of storylines and it felt disjointed and very fast paced but  I enjoyed it anyway. I wish they would have followed up on whether the carnival couples baby ended up being OK or not. 
I wish they would wrap up the long, drawn out drama with Cyril and Lucille. Just let them get divorced so he can move on with someone else and be happy. 
I also didn’t understand why the destitute family father wasn’t working. 
Do I understand Trixie and Reggie won’t be on the next season? 
Speaking of next season does anyone know when it will air in the US? 

[Salacious Kitty]

It usually airs in March. 

[caitmcg]

17 hours ago, Notabug said:

I actually worked for Planned Parenthood in the early-mid 80's; common moonlighting gig for gyn residents.  We saw all kinds of women including young teens.  Not a wedding ring in sight unless they were actually married. Either things changed a whole lot in just a couple of years or my experience with Planned Parenthood was different than yours.  

I think you misunderstood or misread my post. Planned Parenthood was certainly open to everyone and dispensed the pill to teens and everyone else without judgment when I was in high school in the early-mid '80s. My original reference was to my mother's experience in 1964. Things did, obviously, change a lot within the next several years.

[Ceindreadh]

16 hours ago, AZChristian said:

In the early days of their marriage, Shelagh Turner had infertility problems because of a history of tuberculosis.  Angela is adopted.  Then they got custody of May, and - SURPRISE - along comes Teddy via natural means.  They did touch on the pain of delivering babies when Shelagh could not have one on her own.

Just to nitpick here, Teddy arrived before May was fostered. 

IIRC, the reason for keeping May as a character was so that the actor playing Angela would have somebody her own age on the set for company. 

 

[marceline]

51 minutes ago, Ceindreadh said:

IIRC, the reason for keeping May as a character was so that the actor playing Angela would have somebody her own age on the set for company. 

Honestly, I'm happy seeing less of the kids, Collette included, especially if it frees up money. 

Edited December 30, 2024 by marceline

[AZChristian]

1 hour ago, Ceindreadh said:

Just to nitpick here, Teddy arrived before May was fostered. 

IIRC, the reason for keeping May as a character was so that the actor playing Angela would have somebody her own age on the set for company. 

 

Okay.  I'm 78.  I forget stuff.  LOL.

[Orcinus orca]

37 minutes ago, marceline said:

Honestly, I'm happy seeing less of the kids, Collette included, especially if it frees up money. 

I agree.  Other than Tim, they really don't add anything.  A reference to them occasionally would be fine unless it is a big Poplar event with bunches of urchins.

[Ancaster]

On 12/27/2024 at 7:18 PM, Notabug said:

The show is currently in December 1969, so it's not in 1964 either.  By the early to mid 70's, when I was in high school; Planned Parenthood was well known as a place where teens could go for pregnancy testing, STD testing and birth control.  The prices were low, often free and there was no chance that PP would discuss anything with parents without permission from the client.  

Planned Parenthood is an American thing; this show is set in the UK.  Just because there is a (sort of) shared language doesn't mean values, organizations, standards, mores, etc should be conflated.

[chediavolo]

I forgot how utterly depressing this show can be. What a dismal Christmas special. Poor old woman dying alone, never seeing her son who she thought was busy with work but who was in prison. I think the system failed this poor man. I felt terrible for him. Parents who can’t see their baby has turned yellow and may now be brain damaged. Couple living in squalor with 4 kids and no one talks to them about birth control for starters. Reggie can’t use a phone but can take a long bus trip all alone?! More drama about the status of Nonatus house. Scrooges abound. 
I’m sorry I watched this episode before bed. I even woke up depressed. 

I do like Shelagh and the doctor ( wow he looks so much older now) but a very little bit of the kids goes a long way. Love Trixies brother too. Hope he is on next season. I want to see how the nuns reacts to his being gay. 

[txhorns79]

On 12/27/2024 at 10:26 PM, Sarah 103 said:

I love the idea of this as a plotline for an episode; the different nuns' reactions to having the option to wear something other than the traditional garb.

It would be interesting.  I remember that episode where Sister Julienne wore regular clothes into the community to get an idea of how women her age were seen and viewed by people. 

2 hours ago, chediavolo said:

I want to see how the nuns reacts to his being gay. 

I have to imagine they have some idea (or at least a suspicion), even if it's not discussed.  He's not particularly subtle. 

[Sarah 103]

2 hours ago, txhorns79 said:

I have to imagine they have some idea (or at least a suspicion), even if it's not discussed.  He's not particularly subtle. 

I agree with you about Trixie's brother. On some level, the nuns know or at least have suspicions, but they would never ask him or openly discuss it.

[Ancaster]

18 minutes ago, Sarah 103 said:

I agree with you about Trixie's brother. On some level, the nuns know or at least have suspicions, but they would never ask him or openly discuss it.

You'd be surprised.  My (late) grandmother was a gifted piano player and teacher.  She adored Liberace but homosexuality was not anywhere close to her radar - of course it existed, but for many it belonged in a different world that they absolutely didn't have a part of or know anything about.

[Orcinus orca]

25 minutes ago, Sarah 103 said:

I agree with you about Trixie's brother. On some level, the nuns know or at least have suspicions, but they would never ask him or openly discuss it.

Since it wasn't until 1967 that private sex acts between men were no longer illegal in England, I doubt they would discuss it.  However, I am absolutely certain they know he is gay - these are women who have seen it all.  Recall the episode with the incestuous siblings that Sr. Julienne handled so compassionately.  A gay individual would hardly be a shock.

[txhorns79]

27 minutes ago, Orcinus orca said:

Recall the episode with the incestuous siblings that Sr. Julienne handled so compassionately.  A gay individual would hardly be a shock.

I think they've had at least one or two episodes where the person they were helping was gay, and they responded compassionately.  And while I know they didn't know about Patsy, I think Phyllis did and she had a "seen it all, not a big deal," attitude about it. 

[Notabug]

1 hour ago, Sarah 103 said:

I agree with you about Trixie's brother. On some level, the nuns know or at least have suspicions, but they would never ask him or openly discuss it.

Most people handled it that way back in the late '60's-early 70's.  Virtually no gay people were 'out' even to family and friends.  Even the press skirted the issue; publishing stories describing people like Jim Nabors and Rock Hudson as 'confirmed bachelors' just waiting for the right woman to come along when everyone knew it was code for the fact that they were not attracted to women in the first place.

There is no way anyone, but especially the nuns, would ever think to ask Trixie's brother about his sexuality.  That was not a subject for conversation even amongst close friends and family in that era and 'don't ask, don't tell' was the order of the day.

We've also seen the nuns at Nonnatus are very accepting of those whose lives do not conform to the tenets of their faither and don't think they'd say or do anything differently if they did know Trixie's brother was gay.  They might say an extra prayer or two for him, but they seem to work hard at being nonjudgemental.

Edited December 31, 2024 by Notabug

[marceline]

On 12/30/2024 at 3:15 PM, Orcinus orca said:

I agree.  Other than Tim, they really don't add anything.  

And Tim's not a kid anymore which is why I think he would make an excellent addition to the practice and the show full-time.

I think it's unrealistic for Patrick to still be Poplar's only physician. Timothy joining the practice makes sense.

[Sarah 103]

39 minutes ago, marceline said:

I think it's unrealistic for Patrick to still be Poplar's only physician. Timothy joining the practice makes sense.

I love this for the potential storylines. The two of them clashing over treatment options or a diagnosis.

[Dr.OO7]

On 12/26/2024 at 12:33 AM, Notabug said:

think they are setting up a divorce from Lucille and Cyril entering an interracial romance with the woman from the church.

I saw that coming from last season 

[chitowngirl]

Could Cyril get a divorce on the grounds that his wife abandoned him? I felt so bad for him when he was reading the letter from Lucille and she’s writing like she’s on holiday and not like someone who is never coming back.

[Dr.OO7]

On 12/26/2024 at 10:00 PM, Suzn said:

Something I noticed and was surprised by was that the songs Away in a Manger and Little Town of Bethleham had different melodies than American versions.

I grew up knowing the American style,  but my parents, who are from Jamaica (which used to be a British colony) recognized them immediately.  I had heard them myself the few Christmases I spent in Jamaica,  but it had been a long time. 

[Ancaster]

.

Edited Thursday at 08:17 PM by Ancaster

[marceline]

I'm rewatching and I just feel the need to say that I still remember when Sister Veronica came on as a pathological liar and I will never accept her.

[JudyObscure]

12 hours ago, marceline said:

I'm rewatching and I just feel the need to say that I still remember when Sister Veronica came on as a pathological liar and I will never accept her.

I don't forget those things either, I took a dislike toward Nancy from her rather entitled days when wearing all the latest fashions seemed more important than being with her daughter. 

The writers haven't managed to make me really love a character for a long while now.  At least I still have some of those older ones I care about like the Turners,  Nurse Crane and Miss Higgins.

[jah1986]

2 hours ago, JudyObscure said:

The writers haven't managed to make me really love a character for a long while now.  At least I still have some of those older ones I care about like the Turners,  Nurse Crane and Miss Higgins.

This! I couldn't put my finger on it until reading your post. But yes, I don't really love any of the new characters. I have a hard time remembering Nancy's name or her daughter. I haven't warmed to her. The new midwives (that were allowed to speak), I think the one whose husband was blackmailing her is Joyce (?) but I dont' know the other ones name. And I still don't like that new nun that was lying when she first came.

It has to be the writing. I still remember and love Chummy, Cynthia, Sister Evangelina, Barbara (who came later but managed to fit in). I liked Patsy and the nun that was gone way too soon. They came on later but still made me care. I don't are about these new midwives. I wish the show would just wrap up while the can still have some dignity. 14 seasons is remarkable, we don't need to see Angela and May become midwives themselves.

[Sarah 103]

3 hours ago, jah1986 said:

14 seasons is remarkable, we don't need to see Angela and May become midwives themselves.

The series has been renewed for another year, so we will get at least 15 series/seasons. Putting the idea of Angela and May becoming midwives (or doctors if the timing works) out there in the universe seems like tempting fate to create a sequel series focusing on the next generation.

[kaygeeret]

I truly didn't understand Reggie's descent into being unable to get himself out of trouble.

In past episodes he has seemed quite competent and able to function at a fairly high level.

I was shocked to hear that he needed help with a telephone in this episode.

[Orcinus orca]

20 minutes ago, kaygeeret said:

I was shocked to hear that he needed help with a telephone in this episode.

Not well thought through.  They could have just said he didn't have change for the phone or something like that.  But I guess they were aiming for high drama without remembering that we know his history.