‘Call the Midwife’ season 3, episode 2 review (PBS): A step up for Jessica Raine

The second episode of “Call the Midwife’s” third season aired on PBS Sunday night, and odds are, you may have been moved a few times by a heartbreaking story of a woman who gave birth to a child her husband would not accept. Why is that? This child was born to another man. (Spoilers ahead!)

What we are here to discuss this time is the matter of social change on the show … and sometimes the lack thereof.

What was fairly interesting about this episode is that while it touched on a pregnancy that would be relevant today, it also didn’t really address too much when it comes to the actual history of the era. Sometimes, “Call the Midwife” feels almost like a show that could take place at almost any era with different equipment. That can be a valid critique of the show, as can the fact that there are episodes where only a few important things seem to happen in the long-term.

One of these interesting things that took place on the show this week was Jessica Raine’s Jenny getting a figurehead sort of promotion among her group of midwives, but this is far from being the only substantial plotline you are going to see from Jenny this season. Her story is a pendulum that will continue to swing from one place to the next.

So while it feels at times that “Call the Midwife” does tend to rest on its laurels and not try altogether hard to be revolutionary, it’s still an engaging series. Some of the more important stories will be apparent in the coming weeks; just don’t expect the writers to hurry along when it comes to telling them.

What did you think about this “Call the Midwife” episode? Share some of your thoughts below.