SERIES 6, EPISODE 6

Please feel free to comment on my review.

This is another ‘Call the Midwife’ episode where I have mixed feelings about it. This concerns a very difficult pregnancy as well as the departure of one of our regular characters who I’m sad to see leave.

In the episode, the Cuban missile crisis dominates the news. John F. Kennedy is the President of the United States of America in that time and this was a year before his assassination in November 1963.

Cliff Parisi as Fred Buckle, who is a civil defender in Poplar, is determinate to put the area on nuclear alert. This is something that some of the people of Poplar have divided and worried reactions about.

Whilst all of this is happening, Jennifer Kirby as Valerie Dyer cares for a pregnant Somali woman – Yusra Warsama as Nadifa Ghedi Jama. Valerie is greatly shocked to discover something about Nadifa.

Apparently, Nadifa has been subject to genital mutilation, which she sees as normal to her culture. My Mum has informed me that genital mutilation like this is something that still happens to this day.

Like Valerie, I don’t understand why this has happened and why the Somali culture would consider this as acceptable. It makes it difficult for the birthing process of a mother to be easy when it occurs.

Thankfully, through Valerie’s army nursing experience, she’s able to help Nadifa deliver her baby. She has to stop an ambulance on the way to hospital in order to do this, but it becomes successful. 🙂

Sadly, even though Nadifa has been lucky with having her baby through difficult circumstances, she still considers the ‘genital mutilation’ acceptable when she has her younger sister sent away for it. 😦

Valerie is clearly angry about this especially when she and Charlotte Ritchie as Barbara have been getting to know the younger sister who wishes to be a nurse. But Nadifa is adamant on the decision.

I wish I could understand why the Somali culture would allow women to go through genital mutilation like this as it seems very wrong and so painful, especially for potential expectant woman.

Meanwhile, Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne secures the release of Bryony Hannah as Sister Mary Cynthia from the grim mental hospital run by Jemma Churchill as Sister Ramsey. But all is not well. 😦

Despite being back home with people who can love her, Sister Mary Cynthia is still fragile and unsure of her faith. It seems that her mental illness has not been fully cured whilst at the mental hospital. 😦

I feel bad for Sister Mary Cynthia. She’s had a rough time of late in the past few seasons. She can’t feel at ease with herself and it’s a pity that the mental attacks she’s had have brought her down greatly.

I liked it when Cynthia was happy in Series 1-3 compared to when she was Mary Cynthia in Series 4-6. Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan is greatly concerned for Sister Mary Cynthia being in this state. 😦

It was nice when Helen George as Trixie and Sister Mary Cynthia had a scene together in the episode. I feel that the friendship Trixie and Cynthia had once has been lost partway in the series. 😐

Eventually, Stephen McGann as Dr. Turner brings Cynthia to a hospital where she can recuperate. She no longer wears the sister’s habit anymore. And this is where we say goodbye to Cynthia here. 😦

I don’t know if this is the last we’ll see of Cynthia in the series. I wouldn’t like to think so as she could return to regain her confidence. At present, it doesn’t seem likely and it’s shame how she has exited.

Thankfully, the Cuban missile crisis is averted and everyone is happy in Poplar. The Turner family, including Dr. Turner, Laura Main’s Shelagh, Max Macmillan’s Timothy and little Angela, also move house!

The move has its problems, especially when the furniture gets sent to the wrong house and there’s no gas or electricity. The Turner have to sleep in sleeping bags until the following afternoon here. 😀

Trixie also progresses in her relationship with Jack Hawkins as Christopher Dockerill. She even allows him to kiss her on a date they have together. I’m hoping this romantic relationship will blossom well.

This ‘Call the Midwife’ episode does have sad endings to it, especially for the Somali woman Nadifa and for Bryony Hannah’s Cynthia. There are touches of happiness, but I wish it was more cheerful. 😦

‘Series 6, Episode 6’ rating – 7/10

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