Call the Midwife season 7 episode 1 review: Meet Lucille Anderson

Call the Midwife season 7 episode 1 arrived on BBC One Sunday night with much of what you would have expected in advance. This is a show that loves to make you get emotional, and there were certainly emotional stories aplenty over the course of the hour.

Let’s start here with what was, at least to us, the most emotional patient storyline this week. We’re speaking about Nadine, an exotic dancer who was struggling to keep her career going in the midst of her pregnancy. She was also facing a great deal of pressure when it comes to trying to figure out just what she wanted to do with her child after the fact. Was it the right move for her to give the child up for adoption? That was one of the questions that she had to ponder.

Nadine eventually did give birth late in the episode, and we got a chance to meet who was a very healthy new baby. Yet, that was not the end of the road when it comes to her struggle. She found a way to bounce back and move forward with her life rather than finding herself stuck dealing with a club that did not respect her beyond just a token person to go on stage and strip.

Related – See what is coming on Call the Midwife season 7 episode 2!

Elsewhere, Nurse Crane found herself at the center of her own struggle — one that had to deal with an elderly woman named Ruth, an elderly Jewish woman who first came to Poplar thirty years before. She was getting set to die, and as a result of that Nurse Crane wanted nothing more than to make her final hours and days a little more peaceful. She did that by figuring out a way to convince the police to allow her to die in peace without fear of her losing her home. Nurse Crane stayed with her, and by the end of the installment we saw Ruth meet her in … in peace. This is the Call the Midwife way — death and sadness are a part of the story, but they are far from the only part of the story.

As for the midwives themselves…

Eventually, our new midwife in Lucille Anderson arrived, albeit a couple of days late. Much of the premiere episode was spent allowing us to get an opportunity to meet her — and, in turn, to see some of the world through her eyes. She’s instantly likable as a character, and she brings a lot of heart alongside a new perspective.

Meanwhile, Trixie found her own issue when she realized just how much Christopher’s ex disliked her, referring to her as a “tart” when she wasn’t around. That is painful, mostly because Trixie is still trying to find her place within this blended family.

Final Verdict

The Call the Midwife season 7 premiere felt both familiar and yet new. We met new characters and saw new stories play out. This was a meaningful way to start off the season, and while we wouldn’t say that there was a flurry of big revelations, there also really didn’t need to be. The story was powerful just the way that it was.

What did you think about Call the Midwife season 7 episode 1? Be sure to share some of your thoughts right now in the comments! Also, like CarterMatt on Facebook in the event you want other updates on Call the Midwife and other shows we cover. (Photo: BBC.)