Devoted viewers of the long-running BBC drama Call The Midwife have unleashed a wave of criticism online, with many branding the latest instalment the 'worst episode ever'. The intense reactions follow a series of deeply distressing scenes that aired during the show's fifteenth series.
A Traumatic Birth Sparks Viewer Distress
The second episode of the new series, set in 1971, featured a particularly harrowing storyline involving a pregnant woman named Hope, played by actress Mimi Joffroy. After arriving at Nonnatus House, Hope's labour took a dangerous turn when her baby's shoulder became lodged during delivery.
In a tense sequence, midwife Trixie Franklin (Helen George) called for Dr. Patrick Turner (Stephen McGann), while Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) was forced to take immediate action to save the infant's life. This resulted in the baby boy's collarbone being broken to facilitate the birth. The scene was made more agonising by an initial, worrying silence from the newborn before he eventually began to cry.
Taking to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, fans expressed their exhaustion and heartbreak. One viewer wrote: 'Good grief, I'm exhausted watching Hope give birth. This is intense.' Another added: 'My god, I hate it when the babies don't cry... it's so intense and heartbreaking to watch.' A third simply stated the episode was 'so distressing'.
Rabies Scare and Animal Death Add to Gloom
The episode's sombre tone was further deepened by a secondary plotline involving a potential public health crisis. During an Easter egg hunt for local schoolchildren in Poplar, a distressed dog was found foaming at the mouth behind a dustbin, raising immediate fears of a rabies outbreak.
Dr. Turner rushed to investigate, but arrived to find the canine had already died. This subplot proved equally upsetting for a segment of the audience. 'The poor dog omg,' one fan tweeted, while another pleaded, 'NOT A SICK DOG PLEASE.' A third commented: 'I get more upset when an animal dies than a human. I'm so sad for that poor dog.'
Fans Voice Broader Disappointment
Beyond the specific distressing scenes, some long-time followers of the show voiced broader criticisms about the series' direction. One disheartened viewer opined: 'This might be the worst Call the Midwife episode ever. And that breaks my heart to say. Time for a break.'
Another agreed, suggesting the show was becoming repetitive: 'To be honest, aside from Sister Monica Joan... and the issues with the Board of Health, it's getting pretty boring.' This criticism follows last week's episode, which also shocked audiences with a 'distressing' storyline depicting child abuse within a family.
However, not all feedback was negative. Some loyal fans defended the programme, with one calling it an 'amazing ctm ep tonight as always' and another praising it as a 'staple on a Sunday night'.
Call The Midwife continues to air on Sundays on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
