Season 15 Now Streaming
Modern Midwives Blog
We’re over halfway through Season 15 of Call the Midwife, and the suspense continues to build. So many of our favorite characters are at a crossroads, along with the future of Nonnatus House itself.
At times, the weight of their struggles feels too much to bear. But as the voice of mature Jennifer Worth reminds us in episode six, “There is no good harvest if there’s been no rain.”
What happened this week? Read on to discover more about this week’s episode.
“I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream”!
But Tony Bianchi isn’t focused on sales when his ice cream truck screeches to a stop in front of the maternity home — he’s worried his wife, Tina, is in labor.
While the mother-to-be is still weeks out from her due date, she’s having contraction-like pains. Fortunately, Joyce assures Tina that she’s actually experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions, “practice contractions,” which help prepare the body for the actual birth.
Later that night, the couple discuss their excitement over becoming parents soon and how they’ve built a “proper grown up life” together. For Tony, he’s always felt a need to prove himself to his older brothers. As the youngest and only one to not follow in the family business, he worries his siblings view him differently.
As the couple prepares to go to sleep, however, Tina notices one of Tony’s nipples is bleeding and inflamed. While Tony tries to shrug off the ailment, Tina insists he see a doctor.
Later, Dr. Turner examines the area and concludes that the best course of treatment is antibiotics and the removal of the cyst. In the meantime, though, he refers Tony to a specialist just to make sure everything else looks healthy.
There are always unexpected pockets of Poplar to discover, and this week, Trixie stumbles across one of its more unique corners: the (illegal) women’s wrestling scene.
While attending an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in the same building, a referee rushes in looking for a doctor, and Trixie jumps into action. One of the wrestlers sustained a head injury and requires immediate medical attention.
Trixie rushes to Harmony’s aid. While she appears lucid and responsive now, Trixie still advises further medical treatment the next day to be safe. In the meantime, Trixie drives Harmony and her son, Carl, home, learning in the process that her real name is actually Gwen.
The next day, Gwen stops by Dr. Turner’s clinic. Fortunately, the she exhibits no signs of brain damage. However, she does have a different ailment — a rash on her back.
Later, Trixie drops by Gwen’s flat to drop off an iodine preparation to help with her skin condition. When she does, she notices Gwen showing more signs of light-headedness and also learns of the wrestler’s chronic fatigue.
Trixie reviews the results from Gwen’s blood work, and everything appears normal. However, when she looks at her previous medical records with Dr. Turner, they discover Gwen has reported joint pain and fatigue for more than five years.
They’re stumped by Gwen’s case. What exactly are they missing?
Over at St. Cuthbert’s, Mr. Penwarden examines Tony’s cyst. The specialist informs Tony that he has the option to just drain the cyst. However, he would prefer removing the entire thing.
Later, a solemn Dr. Turner and Shelagh arrive at the Bianchis’ flat with some difficult news: Tony has breast cancer. At first, Tony is in firm denial, as “it’s a women’s disease” that his mother died of. How could he, as a man, have breast cancer?
Together, Shelagh and Dr. Turner explain that both men and women possess breast tissue. While this form of cancer is more rare in men, it’s not unheard of. Fortunately, there are new treatments and surgical approaches for Tony to consider.
But for Tony, his concern lies with how people will perceive him. While he’s willing to undergo the necessary treatments, he tells Tina that they can face it together, but he doesn’t want anyone else to know.
He tearfully tells her, “I need to feel like a man!”
As last week’s episode suggested, Sister Monica Joan’s health appears to be declining. And after running some tests, Dr. Turner now knows the cause — Sister Monica Joan has chronic kidney disease.
Upon learning the news, Sister Julienne and Nurse Crane are devastated. While chronic kidney disease typically takes “old people gently, but kindly,” as Sister Julienne notes, it also tends to progress to end stage renal failure quickly.
Despite her grim diagnosis, Sister Monica Joan appears at peace with her diminishing health, even if her colleagues refuse to accept it.
Meanwhile, Rosalind has a predicament of her own — her period is late. While Joyce gently suggests taking a pregnancy test, Rosalind is reluctant to do so. After all, “The Pill was supposed to be foolproof!”
The next morning, however, Rosalind wakes up nauseous. Both Rosalind and Joyce exchange a look. It’s decided: she needs to do a test. Joyce promises to handle all of the testing logistics herself. For now, no one needs to know anything, especially Cyril.
When the results arrive, they reveal Rosalind’s biggest fear: POSITIVE.
What will she do now? To Rosalind, abortion is out of the question. And despite the push for evolving gender expectations in the workplace, she’s still certain she’ll lose her job. Plus, her parents already aren’t speaking to her. And what about Cyril? How will she tell him, and what will it mean for their relationship?
Before Rosalind can spiral even further, Joyce reminds her that Cyril “is a good man” who will support her with whatever she decides to do. It won’t be an easy conversation, but Rosalind knows it can’t wait.
As Tony struggles with his cancer diagnosis, Tina urges him to turn to his brothers for support. But he refuses again, continuing to feel humiliated by his diagnosis. For now, he will handle all of this on his own.
Later, when Tony goes to St. Cuthbert’s for a follow-up consultation, his uneasiness continues to grow as Mr. Penwarden explains his treatment options. He needs a full mastectomy, along with removing breast tissue, lymph nodes, and the pectoralis major muscle.
When Tony tells Mr. Penwarden that he doesn’t want to do any of that, the doctor only makes matters worse. He reassures Tony that his scarring would be minimal, but adds he won’t “be having to deal with foam rubber falsies like my lady patients.”
Tony bolts.
Meanwhile, Gwen’s fatigue and chronic pain reach an all-time high. After accidentally oversleeping one morning, she wakes up in a panic only to realize Carl is nowhere to be found. Gwen jumps into her car and races to his school, where she learns Carl is safe and sound.
Fortunately, Trixie arrives on the scene and discovers an important clue, thanks to the incident. There’s a distinctive butterfly-shaped rash on Gwen’s face, usually covered with makeup.
Dr. Turner can now confidently diagnose Gwen with lupus, an autoimmune disease. While there’s no cure, Gwen can manage her symptoms by minimizing stress in her day-to-day life.
But with an upcoming wrestling match on the horizon, will Gwen forfeit the competition? Or will she still participate, despite her poor health?
Following Sister Veronica’s departure last week, most of the Nonnatus House residents believe their colleague has gone on retreat to the Mother House.
But while searching Sister Veronica’s room for an extra pair of pinking shears, Sister Catherine stumbles across a peculiar sight — Sister Veronica’s cross and shoes left behind. Confused, Sister Catherine turns to Sister Julienne for answers, who finally reveals the true whereabouts of their colleague. And that she’s struggling with her vows.
Sister Veronica has left Nonnatus House as “Beryl,” her name before taking her vows, and without her habit.
Sister Catherine is both shocked and devastated to hear that Sister Veronica is alone, without any friends to support her. As the one who “emits the most love,” Sister Veronica is the one who undoubtedly “needs the most love,” especially during moments like these.
Fortunately, Geoffrey takes matters into his own hands. And there’s no mistaking the utter joy on Beryl’s face when he surprises her at the Olivet Christian Retreat Centre.
Over cups of tea, Beryl regales Geoffrey with tales of her daily indulgences — eclairs, cream splits with cherries on top, eating fish and chips in the streets in broad daylight! But she also admits her struggles.
She came to the center to pray, or decide what to pray for, but she hasn’t done so once.
Geoffrey suspects this is due to her current situation still being too similar to the convent. In essence, she’s still living the same sort of “half-life” as she did in Poplar. But never fear! He has the perfect solution. Beryl should lodge with him while she sorts out some of the bigger questions in her life.
While Beryl initially hesitates, she knows it’s the perfect option.
In Poplar, Trixie walks past the bulletin board where a man is putting up advertisements, including a new flyer announcing the upcoming wrestling match between Demolition Debbie… and Harmony (Gwen) Savage. TONIGHT.
Alarmed, Trixie makes her way to the event hall and finds Gwen backstage. While she does her best to persuade Gwen to walk away from the fight, the wrestler’s mind is made up. She needs the money from this match, even if it means risking her health.
Unfortunately, just as Trixie feared, Gwen struggles during the match, and soon falls to the ground — and she doesn’t get back up. Trixie rushes to Gwen’s side and instructs the referee to call for an ambulance.
At St. Cuthbert’s, Trixie begs Gwen to stop wrestling. She was lucky she didn’t sustain more serious injury this time, but she was on a dangerous path if she continued.
Gwen counters that she doesn’t have another choice.
Meanwhile, as Tina and Tony try to turn in for the evening, they get the ultimate surprise: Tina’s water has broken.
Tony scrambles to call Nonnatus House for assistance, but Tina’s contractions continue to advance significantly. Before the couple has time to fully react, Tina begins to give birth to their child.
With Joyce’s guidance over the phone, Tony safely delivers their healthy baby boy into the world. And just like that, the Bianchis become new parents.
In the aftermath of Tina’s birth, the Bianchi brothers gather to celebrate the arrival of their new nephew, with Dr. Turner and Shelagh also dropping by to check in on Tina’s recovery.
Before leaving, Dr. Turner addresses the Bianchi crew and admits that not all fathers would be able to deliver a newborn on their own, single-handed, like Tony did. All of Tony’s brothers enthusiastically agree, and one even chimes in, “This man, hmm, he’s a proper man.”
Realizing his brothers respect him the way he hoped, Tony takes a leap of faith and confesses there’s something that he can’t handle single-handedly. As expected, his siblings are devastated to learn of the breast cancer diagnosis. But together, they will help Tony through his treatment.
Elsewhere, thanks to Trixie’s recommendation, Gwen has found new and better prospects. Gwen and Carl have packed their bags, and they’re heading to Blackpool where Gwen will start a job at a gym, training other women wrestlers.
Most importantly, though, she won’t have to worry about being exploited again and can finally give her body time to recover.
Finally, Rosalind arrives on Cyril’s doorstep to share her unexpected news.
Although he’s initially a little shocked, Cyril takes the news in stride. He assures Rosalind he has no regrets. And yes, while the pregnancy has perhaps happened “a little out of order,” he confesses he never would have taken Rosalind to bed if he didn’t mean to marry her.
To Cyril, building a life with Rosalind means “more than just rings and mortgages and bricks and mortar.” When Rosalind asks him if he has ever envisioned their children, he replies, “I see our children every day, with my eyes wide open.”
Together, these two could take on anything.
For years, Mr. Threapwood, the Chairman of the London Board of Health, has been waging war on Nonnatus House. Just earlier this year, he announced all medical service provisions across the country would be taken out of Council hands by 1974 and given directly to the National Health Service.
This week, Mr. Threapwood drops his latest bombshell. As he tells Dr. Turner, the Board of Health has decided not to renew the license for the maternity home. Although Dr. Turner will be able to continue as a general practitioner, his maternity clinic will close.
Dr. Turner is too stunned for words. The license has always been renewed as a formality, what’s changed? However, as Mr. Threapwood articulates, “This is the brave new world, Turner. There is no always any more.”
Considering the current license runs out in a matter of weeks, Dr. Turner and his staff will have to scramble to put plans in place, not to mention what this means for Nonnatus House. But if there’s one thing that’s clear: the patients will not benefit from all of this.
And both Dr. Turner’s clinic and Nonnatus House will go down together….
Forgot how we got here? Catch up on “Call the Midwife” with the Season 15, Episode 5 GIF Recap.
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