Call the Midwife’s Christmas special is a heartfelt crowd-pleaser – review

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If the pre-Christmas preparations and their related tasks have left you feeling drained and tired, be grateful: you didn't willingly choose to arrange a traditional nativity scene that involves live animals and a crying infant. However, this is exactly what the nuns and nurses of Nonnatus House decide to take on in the holiday episode of the popular television show, Call the Midwife. As if they didn't already have their hands full with assisting expectant mothers in the East End.

Why do they put so much effort into making special mangers and creating costumes? Well, there is a very important reason. Sister Monica Joan, who is already in her nineties, has declared that this Christmas will be her last on earth. Even though she may not live to see the space race outcome, she is not looking forward to her final days. The doctor believes that she is feeling down. In order to cheer her up, her loved ones decide to recreate some of her favorite Christmas memories from her childhood in the Victorian era.

Certainly, this ninety-minute episode has numerous storylines interwoven. Anyone can revel in the yearly Christmas special of Call the Midwife irrespective of whether they watch the show regularly or not as it is the crown jewel of BBC's holiday timetable. Nonetheless, be ready for an abundance of plotlines and a multitude of characters (when will I finally learn to differentiate the nuns? It has been over ten years since the program started but yet I struggle from a severe condition of not being able to recognize their hair).

The events in the show are partly related to current issues, such as the Turner kids' fixation on Apollo 8, which grounds the story in the 1968 winter and references advancements in fertility technology. The story also tackles topical matters, like the eviction of a tenant who refuses to vacate their flooded home. Call the Midwife has a history of highlighting housing problems, and its exploration of the past sheds light on present-day problems.

The blog mentions that there are several comic subplots included in the show. One involves a young boy named Teddy who is hoping to receive a tortoise for Christmas, which leads to confusion about whether the tortoise is hibernating or dead. Another subplot involves Nurse Phyllis, who has been sent away for training in preparation for new recruits next season. She frequently calls Nonnatus HQ to share strange and unusual tales, including her thoughts on enemas. However, the reason for her absence during the nativity preparations is never explained, and her phone calls are not quite amusing enough to make the subplot worthwhile.

The recently married Trixie is preparing to celebrate her initial Christmas with her spouse, Matthew, in a joyous manner.

The blog section can be rephrased in simple English as follows: This picture, taken by Laurence Cendrowicz, depicts the partnership between the BBC and Neal Street Productions.

Continuing the story from the last season's ending, Trixie and Matthew, who recently got married, are facing some interference from their in-laws. They are also trying to establish their own Christmas traditions as a couple, which sounds lovely - except that Trixie's brother, Geoffrey, shows up unexpectedly and invades their happiness. Despite only appearing twice in the show, Geoffrey has the potential to become a regular on Call the Midwife, especially if Trixie is okay with him staying a bit longer and invading her personal space. While he sets up his osteopathy clinic on Harley Street and sources nativity costumes from Ealing Studios, Geoffrey reads Tatler magazine and lounges on Trixie and Matthew's sofa.

In contrast to past episodes, this one is not very emotional, but it does have a touching story about two old classmates who become mothers and learn to reconcile their differences. Despite its lack of tear-jerking moments, it's still a great choice for a feel-good show that will appeal to everyone in the family with its mix of sincere and lighthearted moments. After all, who wouldn't want less conflict during the holidays?