We’re back, and this week’s episode is kicking off with a twin delivery: a relatively unusual occurrence here in Call The Midwife land, but nothing our friends haven’t handled before. While most of the squad works on that, Miss Higgins greets a new mama in the waiting room. Is she here for an appointment? No: her sister is the one having twins at this very moment, and she’s come to check in.

Reader, as I sat down to write this recap, I won’t lie to you: I absolutely did briefly forget about the part where Clara just showed up all disgraced and grimy at the end of last week’s episode. What the heck?? Alas, we’re going to have to wait to find out what that’s all about: Mystery Dad’s morning aesthetic ride over the hills is being interrupted by soldier practice. And across town, Charlotte’s sleep is being interrupted by Hurricane Heywood’s Disney Princess energy. We all have our cross to bear, is what I’m saying.

This week, things are starting off on a not great foot in Poplar… literally. Boots puts on her uniform to discover that all of her stockings have massive runs. As everyone prepares for the day, the group goes in on Boots’ stocking problem.

So. Where were we? Well, Charlotte is on the beach (jealous!) making her way to her spiffy new governess job, when she runs into a few of the town soldiers, including Colonel Skins, to whom she was kind of rude the last time they saw each other. Fortunately for everyone involved, he accepts her apology almost instantly, because he likes honesty. TBH his reaction SHOULD be very charming but for some reason I’m just not feeling it, and neither is Charlotte, who uses the new job as an excuse to get out of this convo lickety split.

You know that thing where you wake up before your alarm clock and it’s super annoying? Well that’s how this episode starts, but unlike you and I, Sister Frances is SMILING about missing out on those extra seconds of precious slumber. I honestly don’t understand her, but I sure do appreciate her sunny disposition. Anyway, all around Poplar, our friends wake up and go about their morning routines, which for Lucille includes a visit to her first patient of the day, who lives in a building with a LOT of nosy neighbors. Inside, Lucille chats with maybe the most unbothered mum we’ve seen in all these 11 seasons of Call The Midwife.

Every season, the GBH Drama staff sit down to watch the latest and greatest in British dramas. And now, after years of waiting, it is my great pleasure to…

I’m not going to lie to you: spring isn’t my favorite season (I’m from New England: I like the cold! I'm not here to apologize!) but the adorable outfits sported by children and adults alike at the start of this season of Call The Midwife might just change my mind. Yes, we have the usual floral explosion, but our friends are also sporting crocheted bunny and chick costumes! Phyllis is even wearing some kind of flower covered hat? It’s outrageous, is what I’m saying.

The second season of All Creatures Great And Small draws to a close with a Christmas special that nonetheless includes a year round message about finding love and support from a chosen family or the greater community. Fun fact: the MASTERPIECE tradition of airing Christmas specials after the holiday is because of the staggered airing schedule between the UK and the US. Let’s find out what happens.

Final episode? Say it ain’t so! Alas, it is so, and we return to good old NYC where our friends have finally landed after their eventful visit to the American west. A scrum of reporters surround the trio and start asking them personal questions.

Around The World In 80 Days Episode 7 reintroduces historical racism as a pivotal plot point. Earlier in the season, I examined how the series handled racism and imperialism in the first 5 episodes - you can read that here. As our protagonists reach America, the territory west of San Francisco is filled with natural hazards and people with ill intentions. The episode highlighting the dangers of Confederates and Ku Klux Klan members on the run from the law had the unintentional benefit of airing during Black History Month. Although the amount of input from Black historical experts is still unlcear, Episode 7 forces the characters to confront white supremacy in a way previous episodes did not. Unfortunately, it also leaves out how British imperialism influences their views on Reconstruction Era America.