Ep 5. Episode 5

It is the fifth episode of the first season of Call the Midwife, entitled "Episode 5," and it continues to captivate viewers with its engaging portrayal of life in 1950s East London. The show follows the experiences of a group of midwives and nuns who work at the Nonnatus House, an Anglican convent, vowing to serve the community with empathy and compassion.

The episode opens with the midwives grappling with a measles outbreak that is sweeping through London's impoverished neighborhoods. The team is stretched thin as they race against time to vaccinate as many people as they can before the disease takes hold. Amidst all this chaos, the midwives are introduced to Maggie, a young Irish girl left nursing a baby on her own after her brother is hauled off to prison. Though the baby is healthy, it emerges that Maggie is suffering from a severe bout of tuberculosis, and the midwives are forced to quarantine her until they can get her the medication she needs.

Throughout the episode, the midwives are confronted with the harsh realities of life in poverty-stricken neighborhoods. They witness young children left to fend for themselves in rickety, run-down buildings while their parents work long hours in factories and mills. They witness the toll that hard work takes on bodies and minds, as women fall gravely ill and succumb to sickness and disease while trying to eke out a living in difficult circumstances.

One of the highlights of the episode is a visit from Jenny's nephew, Freddie, who has been sent down from his posh boarding school for misbehaving. Freddie is initially dismissive of his aunt's work, seeing it as a lowly profession for women who don't have much else going on in life. However, as he accompanies Jenny on her rounds, he begins to see the value and importance of the midwives' work, and his experiences help him develop a newfound sense of empathy and compassion.

Perhaps one of the most poignant moments of the episode is when Chummy and her husband, Peter, try their hand at adopting a young girl named Jane. The couple is faced with their own set of struggles as they navigate the adoption process, which is fraught with bureaucratic hurdles, societal prejudices, and heartbreaking emotions. Through it all, Chummy and Peter remain committed to giving Jane a loving and supportive home, despite the many obstacles they face along the way.

As always, the episode is filled with moments of tenderness and humanity that make Call the Midwife such a beloved and enduring fixture of British television. From the midwives sharing a joke over tea to the nuns offering a listening ear to troubled souls, the show depicts a world in which kindness and compassion are the ultimate currencies, even in the face of overwhelming hardship and despair.

In summary, Call the Midwife season 1 episode 5, "Episode 5," continues to offer viewers an engaging and heartwarming portrayal of life in 1950s East London. From grappling with a measles outbreak to confronting the harsh realities of poverty, the midwives and nuns of Nonnatus House remain steadfast in their commitment to serving the community with care and empathy. The episode also touches on themes of adoption, parental love, and the enduring power of human connection, making it a must-watch for fans of the show.