Call the Midwife - a step too far?

I didnt watch the first few series but caught up after reading the excellent books. I think its strength is it's often gentle portrayal of what is important in life combined with nostalgic information on relatively recent history.
There have been times when it has covered hard hitting issues brilliantly. There was a Christmas special a few years ago where I did feel a little bit played when a baby died but then came back to life as hadn't really died!
The circus? I would have been four at that time and remember going to a circus with lions. The trapeze scene I did wonder in reality how she wouldnt have fallen off!
Despite all of that I was amazed and grateful that they managed to film it at all under covid restrictions. I did read afterwards how they did it and it would be interesting to watch again in that light.
I've never really minded Vanessa Redgraves voice lovers as they always feel in tune with the programme. It can be syrupy but that often balances out some gritty storylines. It felt right for this Christmas. No one died which after a year in which we've all at times felt vulnerable was a good decision. Syrupy yes but a timely reminder that it is often those little acts of love and kindness that hold things together.

I don't criticise Call the midwife for being far fetched. So many things we watch are far fetched in the extreme. I worked in a Maternity unit on the 60 s . it was certainly very different from now. Maybe no flying elderly midwives but you certainly wouldn't want to have babies in them now.

I've always thought Call the Midwife was far fetched. I had my daughter in 1970 and most of the midwives were horrible. I was just 20 and had to go into hospital due to high BP.
They told me they were going to induce me. I was terrified. The staff were unhelpful and unkind.

I actually liked the circus storyline (apart from Nurse Do-dah on the trapeze). We used to have circus children register at the school where I worked when they were in town and they always brought a bit of glamour with them. Their parents would join them in school for an impromptu tumbling and magic tricks show.

It was the only thing i watched on tv yesterday. Yes the circus scenes were a bit unexpected, but it was Christmas when dreams can come true.

I thought the storyline re the trapeze was far fetched for such a sensible shoes character.

I can't quite remember but didn't she get up to a bit of mischief with the policeman a couple of years ago?
Maybe she is a rebel underneath? It's always the ones you suspect the least!

Possibly. I enjoyed Call the Midwife last night - although I was in tears at the Mum who’d lost seven babies; again at the Mum nearly dying after having her third baby and, yes, I cried when Phyllis sat on the trapeze! Peter Davison fulfilled her dream - wonderful (and didn’t she have great legs?!). The cast member I’d like to slap is Trixie - she is so picky and irritating

I was not impressed either. Last year it was a a fair, and this year a circus. A bit formulaic.

Indeed - middle aged nurse on trapeze was a joke! How very silly.

Maybe that storyline was a bit far far fetched, but I found it quite delightful.

I actually love the programme. It takes me back in time, which is nicer than the one we are in at present.

Although times were hard then, life seemed much simpler and straight forward.
No, I can’t help liking it.
Were people more kind and caring then? I like to think so.

I’m not a fan of circuses but this was set in the sixties when attitudes were different. Like you, I thought the storyline re the trapeze was far fetched for such a sensible shoes character! Yes, the inclusion of the dating agency was awkward but then Trixie doesn’t really seem like a typical nurse, then or now!
Overall the episode was too long and could have been fitted into an hour with the omission of the more fanciful aspects.

I was enjoying it till the trapeze bit, which was just ludicrous, imho. I nodded off due to the mulled wine and chocolate surfeit soon after that, so am going to be rewinding today.....