You Don't Have to Wait 9 Months to "Call The Midwife: Season One"

There's something about a baby...

The Story:

Nurse Jenny Lee (Jessica Raine) comes to London's East End slums at the end of 1957 to be a midwife.  Imagine her surprise when instead of a hospital, she finds that she will be working at a convent with some nuns with medical training and a handful of other nurses.  These people, while midwives, don't just deal with the babies, but all the tenants of the area.  These stories are recounted by an older Jenny (Vanessa Redgrave) at the beginning, end and sometimes during the quiet moments of reflection as the tales unfold.

And yes, they are based on the true tales from nurse Jennifer Worth who collected her memoirs in a group of books upon which this remarkable BBC series is based.

Naturally, when we're dealing with childbirth in impoverished conditions of the late 50s, I suppose it would go without saying that be prepared for heartbreak for some of the families and the nurses/nuns in the series.

But be prepared for some amazing tales of love and strength to buffer the heartbreak.

The series deftly weaves the ups and downs in life through each episode, of which there are 6 in the first season.

I won't count down what happens in each episode, but if you think that "how boring, they're going to give birth in every episode, same story, over and over..."

Well no, you're wrong.

While babies are going to be born in just about every episode, the stories will be different for every mother the nurses run across.

The cast of nurses is excellent, and it's fun when a new nurse, Chummy Browne (Miranda Hart) arrives to learn the ropes.

And while Jenny is indeed the focal point of the series, each of the nuns and nurses will continue to be fleshed out and grow as characters.

Heck, why else would I be worried that Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) would wander off and die by the end of Episode 6?

Great series so far, and I'm happily watching with my favorite movie date!

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

On to Season 2!!!

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: The first thought is: Yes to both... but it would be hard.  Dramas often lose their punch with repeated viewings.  This would probably have to go unviewed for a good time, and then watch it again so it wasn't fresh and everything would seem new again.