Is JB a crow? Because he’s very easily distracted by shiny objects. Case in point, this episode opens with our guy paying a visit to the artisan he mentioned last week, and proving once and for all that he really is a huge nerd for craftsmanship. He compliments the artisan on his talent, and points out details for Captain Sideburns like such a dork that you can tell the artisan is about ten minutes away from falling in love with our dashing hero. But he’s not quite there yet...

Welcome back to Beecham House, where we’re kicking things off with what I have to assume is Bindu’s literal worst nightmare: she’s trying to give Mom Beecham a bath, and Mom Beecham is throwing a fit. Her complaints: the water is brown, the towels are thin, and she thinks she’s going to slip. Baadal bustles in on hearing her shrieks to try and troubleshoot, but she just seems determined to be unpleasant. He's not gonna stick around for that, so he heads out to get new towels and abandons Bindu to deal with Mom Beecham, who’s insisting that this isn’t how ladies bathe. Before she can explain her personal cleanliness standards, a scorpion trudles through the bathroom. Bindu casually shoos it away because a) she’s clearly seen a few scorpions in her day and b) she’s a boss. Mom Beecham and PTF Violet freak out, and loud enough that Baadal, Ram Lal, and several other folks run in.

Every season, the Drama After Dark team gathers ‘round the conference room table to watch the latest and greatest in British dramas. This summer, we’re incredibly excited to bring you coverage of MASTERPIECE’s new show Beecham House. Beecham is a delight: sensual and sumptuous, it features an attractive and diverse cast, a historical setting that encourages reflection, and absolutely to-die-for costumes. I’m here to recap the season as it happens just in case you, dear reader, miss an episode and haven’t yet been able to catch up on WGBH Passport.

Cold weather is coming to Poplar, and as with every seasonal change in Call The Midwife land, there's a celebration 'a brewin'. I don't know what it is yet, but let's go ahead and assume that's what Fred will be up to for the majority of the episode. At Nonnatus, Baby Doctor offers to make Trixie and Val a cuppa. Since Trixie is fancy, and Val is rushing off to visit Gran, they decline, but not before Val Tom Sawyers Baby Doctor into packaging up her latest baked good offering for Gran, the minx. Clearly Baby Doctor hasn’t been informed about the whole “Gran is in jail” situation, but since he's pretty new that seems fair. What’s he doing this fine afternoon? Well, he's On Call, i.e,. hoping to stay home and watch wrestling on TV with Phyllis. Huh? You ask. Well apparently, Phyllis LOVES to watch wrestling, and thinks she's kept this hobby secret from everyone. Unfortunately for her, there are no secrets in Nonnatus, so they all know. Fortunately for her, they're all sweethearts, so they pretend not to.

My new favorite best friends, Baby Doctor and Sister Frances, kick off this episode by tag-teaming a slightly complicated forceps delivery, while proud papa Dr. Turner looks on. Good job, junior! Let me tell you, Dr. Turner is loving life as a doc of (relative) leisure. Pretty great to have Baby Doctor around to take over sometimes! And speaking of babies (how's THAT for an applicable Call The Midwife recap phrase??), we have a special delivery: the much anticipated incubator! Everyone is on hand for the unveiling, including a Cub Scout advance guard. This is a hugely positive development for our pals: premie babies can now stay in Poplar with their families. Vi, in full on Councilor Buckle mode, prepares for the unveiling with her special ceremonial scissors, and kind of snubs Shelagh in the process. Lucky for her, Shelagh doesn't seem to mind. VI cuts the ribbon with great aplomb, and everyone poses for a photo in the paper.

I missed Fred last week, and apparently so did the writers, because he's back with a vengeance, engaging some local youths in a water gun fight out in the garden. Never change, Fred. One welcome change? The return of Baby Doctor! He presents himself to Miss Higgins, and we find out that his train got in a day early and he thought he might as well show up for Tuesday clinic. Miss Higgins is annoyed that he's here and in the way, and assumes Dr. Turner will be on her side, but he's too busy being OVERJOYED to have a sidekick. Miss Higgins obviously doesn't take that lying down, and snipes at Baby Doctor to move his luggage and get out of the way before he's allowed to go see patients.

This episode opens on a death bed so… strap in guys, this week might be a lot (that is, on the show... let's be honest, I already know this week has been a lot in real life 🙃). As always, the Nonnatus sisters are the helpful calm in the storm, comforting the family through grief. While Sisters Julienne and Monica Joan head back from this pretty intense morning (which doesn't seem to mess them up too much; after all, it’s kind of their job), back at the house, the nurses chat about an exciting new film: The Sound of Mother Freakin' Music. Phyllis somehow missed the memo about the new movie, but she saw the musical years ago. It’s a classic Phyllis saga: the gal she went with fell asleep and the woman next to her was knitting despite Phyllis's TUTTING. Shameless. Trixie informs her that they turned the play into a movie and it’s great. You know who else is stoked? Sister Monica Joan, obviously!

Welcome back to Poplar, where Sister Julienne just can't catch a break. As if the "we're knocking your house down AGAIN" memo from the council wasn't bad enough, she's also received a note from Mother Mildred. Apparently Mildred's missive is so important that Julienne runs out into a torrential downpour to speak with Dr. Turner, and looks so wide-eyed and bonkers that even Miss Higgins backs off of her questioning. Here’s the deal: Mother M is concerned about the order’s position in Poplar, and so is Sister Julienne.

It's spring in Poplar, and you know what that means: it's time for Phyllis to visit the school to see its community garden and check on their vaccinations. It's kind of cool that they can just make every student follow a heavily tested life-saving protocol; makes you think! Today we meet two new students: brothers called Rahul and Jalal. These adorable scamps just recently emigrated from Sylhet in East Pakistan, and have a great grasp of English thanks to their mom. Their vaccination records are a little funky, and while Phyllis can see that they've got scarring consistent with vaccinations it's impossible to say what for. Thankfully, Phyllis LOVES to follow up on things, so they should be all set.

It's Lent in Poplar (and according to Google, in real life as well!) so everybody is going without. Once again I am forced to say TOO REAL, Call The Midwife! In typical fashion, many of our favorites are struggling with their Lenten resolutions, including Fred, who nearly gets away with sneaking an eclair before Violet catches him. Lucille, who has an impressively iron will, gets Trixie and Val to throw out their cigarettes. Hopefully this will encourage them to quit; I don't want any of my television children indulging bad habits.