Ep 1. Episode 1

Call the Midwife season 6 episode 1 takes viewers back to East London in the late 1950s, where the midwives of Nonnatus House are facing new challenges and changes to their community. The episode introduces new storylines and characters while continuing to follow the lives of familiar characters from previous seasons.

As the episode opens, Nonnatus House is preparing for the arrival of a new midwife, Valerie Dyer (played by Jennifer Kirby). Valerie is a headstrong young woman who is eager to start her new job in Poplar, but she quickly learns that life in East London is not always easy. She struggles to adapt to the different cultural and social norms of her new neighborhood and has to work hard to win the trust of the women she serves.

At the same time, the midwives are dealing with the aftermath of a major change to the National Health Service (NHS) system. The new administration has introduced a policy of "care in the community," which means that patients are being discharged from hospitals before they are fully recovered, leaving the midwives to care for them at home. This puts a strain on the midwives' resources and means they have to work harder than ever to provide the best possible care for their patients.

The episode also introduces a new storyline involving Sister Ursula (played by Harriet Walter), who has been brought in to replace Sister Evangelina as the head of Nonnatus House. Sister Ursula is a strict and uncompromising leader who is determined to modernize the house and improve its efficiency. However, her strict rules and lack of empathy cause tension among the midwives and make it difficult for them to do their jobs.

As the midwives deal with these new challenges, they continue to care for the women and families of Poplar. One of their patients is a young woman named Linda (played by Erin Doherty) who is pregnant with her first child. Linda's pregnancy is complicated by her epilepsy, which puts her and her baby's life at risk. The midwives work hard to manage Linda's condition and provide the support she needs to have a healthy pregnancy.

Another patient is a woman named Mary (played by Lynne Pearson) who is struggling with the loss of her husband. Mary's grief has left her isolated and she is struggling to connect with her daughter, who is also pregnant. The midwives work with Mary to help her come to terms with her loss and prepare for the arrival of her grandchild.

Throughout the episode, the midwives also deal with smaller stories and challenges, such as helping a young couple who are struggling to conceive, caring for a woman with a painful leg ulcer, and dealing with a woman who is frightened of giving birth. These stories remind viewers of the important and varied work that midwives do and the impact they have on the lives of the women and families they serve.

Call the Midwife season 6 episode 1 is a powerful and engaging start to the new season. It introduces new characters and storylines while continuing to explore the lives of the midwives and their patients in East London. Fans of the show will be delighted to see their favorite characters back in action, while newcomers will be drawn in by the warmth and authenticity of the storytelling. It promises to be another emotional and memorable season of one of the UK's most popular dramas.