Wednesday, October 30, 2013

The Midwife Delivers



The other day I reviewed a new medical reality television show called "Scrubbing In." I didn't like it very much.

A loyal reader, robertl39, commented that an antidote to "Scrubbing In" might be a show called "Call the Midwife."

It's about a midwife in the East End section of London in the 1950s. Fresh out of training, she joins a group of religious and lay midwives providing care for the indigent population.

The National Health Service had just been established, which led to improvements in the care of pregnant women.

I have watched the first two episodes. The show is everything that most medical TV shows are not. The story lines are compelling and tell a lot about the social climate of postwar England. The characters are interesting, engaging, and complex. You will laugh, and you will cry.

The midwives are heroic.

I can't say enough good things about this series. It's available online, and the first season is currently being rerun on PBS.

Since the episodes are in chronological order, it's best to start with Season 1, Episode 1.

Enjoy.

4 comments:

Margaret said...

I agree! Call The Midwife is by far the best, most realistic medical show I've ever seen. The characters are real, the storyline is real and the results are a really GOOD show that's not to be missed. Every bit as good as Downton Abbey (in some ways even better!)
I have already pre ordered season 3!

DD said...

I also enjoyed 'Call the Midwife' with it's interesting characters and compelling story lines. Can't wait for the new season.

Read an unfavorable review of "Scrubbing In" and did not bother to watch.
DD

artiger said...

Hmmm...Could it be that the show is on PBS have anything to do with its redeeming value, as opposed to network reality television?

Skeptical Scalpel said...

Margaret, DD and Artiger, thanks for commenting. It could be PBS or that the show is from England where a lot of grown-ups watch TV.

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