As the beloved BBC period drama Call the Midwife makes its anticipated return, viewers are transported back to the pivotal events of its fourteenth series. Set in the new decade of 1970, the show delivered emotional storylines, medical crises, and significant changes for the residents of Poplar's Nonnatus House.
A New Decade Brings New Challenges
The series ushered in a fresh era as Nurse Trixie Aylward, played by Helen George, returned to Poplar to maintain her midwifery skills while her husband Matthew remained in New York. Her homecoming was quickly overshadowed by a grave threat. Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) delivered the alarming news that the Board of Health was threatening the future of Nonnatus House itself, propelling Trixie into a battle to protect their vital community services.
Meanwhile, Poplar was plunged into a public health crisis due to a dustmen's strike, leaving streets overflowing with refuse and creating unbearable living conditions. This backdrop of decay set the stage for a serious medical emergency when Rosalind Clifford (Natalie Quarry) returned to Nonnatus House visibly unwell. Rushed to hospital, tests revealed she had contracted the serious bacterial infection Weil's disease.
Heartbreak, Racism, and New Beginnings
The series did not shy away from profound personal loss. In a tenderly heartbreaking moment, Cyril Robinson (Zephryn Taitte) was forced to say goodbye to his beloved cat, Nigel, burying him in Fred Buckle's garden. As Cyril grew closer to a recovering Rosalind, he confirmed the painful conclusion of his marriage, revealing that his wife Lucille would not be returning and they were getting a divorce.
Nurse Joyce Highland (Renee Bailey) faced a harrowing professional and personal ordeal. She experienced devastating racism from a pregnant patient, Mrs Midgely, who made it clear Joyce was unwelcome despite her needing urgent care. Joyce's trials continued when she was caught in a sudden and chaotic gas explosion that left multiple people injured.
The medical drama also poignantly explored care and chronic illness through Shelagh (Laura Main) and Dr Turner's (Stephen McGann) patient, Owen Desmond, who lived in an iron lung after polio. The storyline took a tragic turn when his dedicated wife and caregiver, Betty, was discovered to be jaundiced and later died with Owen at her side.
Love and Departure in the Finale
Amid the turmoil, there was cause for celebration as Nurse Nancy Corrigan (Megan Cusack) married Roger Noble (Conor O'Donnell). The series finale saw the happy couple, along with Nancy's daughter Colette, leaving Poplar behind to start a new life in Surrey, marking a bittersweet farewell for the Nonnatus House family.
With Nonnatus House under threat, beloved characters facing life-altering circumstances, and the community grappling with the realities of a new decade, series 14 set a compelling stage for the drama's continuing journey in Poplar.
