What happened to Barbara on Call the Midwife season 7 episode 7?

Is Charlotte Ritchie leaving Call the Midwife, and did Barbara Hereward die at some point during Sunday’s new episode? This was the primary question that had many freaking out before the episode even aired on the BBC Sunday night. There was no clear response as to what was going to happen to the character after being stricken ill.

For much of the episode, as well, those questions persisted. The character was not seeing her condition worsen; however, at the same time she did not get better, either. We saw some of the sisters start to descend into desperation, with one even saying that they wish they were taken instead of Barbara. She still has most of her life ahead of her and recently got married to Tom. We hoped very much throughout that she would find a way to survive!

Most of this episode was about prayer, about support, and about finding a way to keep Nonnatus House going in the midst of the medical crisis for Barbara. One of the more emotional moments of the episode came midway through, when we saw Tom do everything that he could to be at her bedside.

Related – Be sure to preview the next new episode of Call the Midwife

The breakthrough came around halfway through the episode, when Barbara awoke for the first time to put her hand on her husband’s face — while also joking with him that he needed to shave. The news of her recovery started to spread throughout Poplar, but there was still some bad news: Some of Barbara’s fingers were still badly damaged and it wasn’t clear if she would be able to use them for her job. This was going to be a challenge for her … or at least it would be.

This is where things got devastating

Right when it started to appear as though Barbara was going to make it through and start a new life Tom, things took a turn for the worse. The disease worsened, and in the closing minutes it was clear that nothing more could be done.

We’re writing out the rest of this in the midst of tears, and we imagine that many out there reading are doing so, as well. This seems to be it for Ritchie as Barbara, and that is a very difficult thing at the moment to accept. One of the show’s best characters is now gone.

What did you think about the Barbara storyline on Call the Midwife season 7 episode 7? Be sure to share in the comments!

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