Call The Midwife

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Season 1
Season #: 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
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Critic Reviews

  1. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Hank Stuever
    Sep 14, 2012
    100
    The cast is marvelous, the gritty, post-war set pieces are meticulously recreated and, even with all the warm-water enemas and splattered afterbirth, the story always has its eye on uplift and good cheer.
  2. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Dorothy Rabinowitz
    Oct 26, 2012
    90
    This immensely absorbing drama is worth any trouble it takes to catch up with its singular pleasures.
  3. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    Sep 21, 2012
    88
    This BBC hit is the soppily tender story of '50s midwives in London's East End. [1 Oct 2012, p.38]
    All this critic's reviews
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Sep 21, 2012
    83
    The show is a scrubbed-clean soap. [28 Sep 2012, p.66]
    All this critic's reviews
  6. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Neil Genzlinger
    Oct 1, 2012
    80
    The advice here is to forget the politics and enjoy the performances and the trip back in time.
  7. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    Sep 28, 2012
    80
    Despite the blood and the labor, Call the Midwife is filled with heart.
  8. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Mary McNamara
    Sep 28, 2012
    80
    You will laugh, you will cry and if it seems a bit treacly, it is.
  9. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Sep 28, 2012
    80
    Once again, PBS delivers the goods--and while it may be too harrowing at times to describe as a bundle of joy, the heart-tugging Call the Midwife is a delight to watch.
  10. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Sep 28, 2012
    75
    Loss is the birthright of every life, and no one can refuse it. Yet we go on, buoyed by hope and love. Not exactly an original message, but it is one that Midwife delivers convincingly.
  11. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Oct 1, 2012
    70
    The first episode offers a somewhat overwhelming dose of midwifery, to the point that some viewers may wonder how Call the Midwife won't grow tiresome with repetitive birthing stories. The addition of Chummy to the cast in episode two and a broader role for the midwives--in episode three Jenny simply spends time with an elderly man--allows the series to avoid growing stale.
  12. The Huffington Post
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    Sep 27, 2012
    70
    If you can accept Midwife for what it is--and at its core, it's a pleasant, even romantic period piece about divergent people who learn to take care of their own--there are quite a few pleasures to be found here.
  13. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Sep 27, 2012
    70
    Midwife delivers enough poignant moments to be worth the investment.

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best TV Season of 2012
31
#31 Most Shared TV Season of 2012

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 43 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 43
  3. Negative: 6 out of 43
  1. JBM
    Oct 27, 2012
    10
    The only thing negative I have on this show is the title. But the characters are engaging and you quickly find yourself cheering for them. TheThe only thing negative I have on this show is the title. But the characters are engaging and you quickly find yourself cheering for them. The settings are outstanding as are the costumes and details. A solid drama with just enough small bits of comedy to keep it digestable.… Full Review »
  2. LittleDancer
    Dec 1, 2017
    7
    Call the Midwife is a very intriguing show. It discusses topics that are hard to talk about in today's society without shoving it down ourCall the Midwife is a very intriguing show. It discusses topics that are hard to talk about in today's society without shoving it down our throats. My understanding of poverty, abortions, and other topics has greatly increased. I would recommend this show for women and teens, NOT for younger audience!… Full Review »
  3. HealingToolbox1
    Oct 18, 2016
    10
    Nothing like it on USA TV. I think little if anything as good on BBC TV either, tho I am neither a big fan nor an expert on BBC fare.
    What's    Nothing like it on USA TV. I think little if anything as good on BBC TV either, tho I am neither a big fan nor an expert on BBC fare.
    What's unique is:
    - The scripts. I'm watching on DVDs from my library. In first season and 1/2, not a one plot is recylced form anything else I can think of. The standard good nuns and eccentric nuns are present but I welcome them if my choice is serial killers, ersatz policemen and laughtrack humor,

    - The amount of learning thru empathy. No show I can think of can match Call the Midwife for this, I think. Many long shots of characters simply allowing events to move them, visibly move them, internally. Not over-long either, not early dragged-out Bergman. All shots and editing well-timed for modern audiences.

    - Most realistic birthing scenes I've seen. These go on but not too long. I cried at one of them recently. If you can imagine being a writer on this show, each new birth has to have a new outcome in the lives of midwives and parents. Not any easy task to write to, even with a real midwife memoir to follow.

    Acting, production design are top drawer. If you like Doc Martin, you really should give this a chance, even tho it's not a comedy. It's real life.    … Full Review »
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