'Call the Midwife' Recap: Season 9 Finale
Welcome to the final recap of Call the Midwife Season 9. And a lot is packed into this episode. There’s the compulsory patient story, but this week we have a 2 for 1 situation. In addition, several plotlines are resolved, some more hopefully than others but always with compassion and grace.
As the episode opens, November has arrived and the many of Poplar’s residents are making preparations for Bonfire Night. But others have more pressing issues on their minds.
Two Mothers, One Daddy
Petra Bevan (Kitty Archer) has an exciting few months ahead of her with a wedding and a baby to plan for. She and her mum are moving full-steam ahead with a stop at Mrs. Buckle’s shop for dress patterns and fabric and a check up at the ante-natal clinic Meanwhile her fiancé Eddie Tannerman (Thomas Howes) is content to be ordered around and doted on by his fiancée and future mother-in-law.
On the same day, another new expectant mother arrives to register for her first exam at the antenatal clinic. Bonnie Medlar (Ruby Thomas) couldn’t be more different than Petra. A bohemian woman with less traditional ideas about marriage, she and her boyfriend aren’t hung up making their union official. Bonnie’s done plenty of research on birthing options and, like Nurse Crane, is a vegetarian.
At home, Bonnie encourages her boyfriend to listen to an empowering natural childbirth recording she borrowed from the library and - SURPRISE- Eddie is her boyfriend too.
We learn from Bonnie that shy Eddie Tannerman is an orphan who has a hard time letting people in. So Bonnie figures that having him present at the birth will help him make a connection with his child right from the beginning. Nurse Crane suggests the couple start by attending Sister Hilda’s relaxation classes.
Meanwhile, a mix up with a fabric order is about to bring Eddie’s double life crashing down. Incensed about the mistake, Mrs. Bevan marches her daughter down to the community center where Violet Buckle is holding one-on-one meetings with her constituents. And yes, it just so happens the relaxation session Bonnie and Eddie are attending is going on at the same time. The Bevan women burst in as Sister Hilda guides her group through a calming visualization and they spot Eddie with his arms around Bonnie. Mrs. Bevan begins her handbag assault, the two stunned young women come face to face and Eddie runs off wordlessly into the night.
Bonnie’s first concern is for Eddie. She knows he’s scared of hurting other people. On the other hand, Petra’s mom is formulating what Eddie must do to make amends. Petra has more immediate concern. She’s started to bleed.
Which sets things up for a second meeting of Eddie’s girlfriends. Bonnie shows up at the surgery complaining of a severe headache and is admitted to the maternity home for observation. Petra arrives shortly thereafter and Dr. Turner thinks she should stay for some peace and quiet until there is a bed for her at St. Cuthbert’s. By mistake, the women end up in neighboring beds on the ward and the sparks fly. Nurse Crane steps in and sternly advises both of them to concentrate on their health rather than their personal circumstances. In an even worse case of timing, Eddie pops in to visit Bonnie. Petra throws a pitcher at him and again he scurries off - this time to the waiting room.
Nurse Crane is surprisingly kind to the young man afterwards when he explains the security he hoped to find with Petra and the utter surprise that was Bonnie. Now he’s not sure what to do. Phyllis says he’ll have to wait for the women to make up their minds.
In the middle of the night, Petra and Bonnie meet in the hallway. They have calmed down and Petra offers an olive branch saying she loves Eddie but she won’t fight Bonnie for him. Soon after, Bonnie goes into labor. With Nurse Crane’s expertise and Eddie’s calming reassurances of her strength, Bonnie delivers a healthy baby girl.
All the while, Petra has been standing outside the delivery room and looks relieved as Bonnie’s baby is born. Shelagh informs her there is a bed for her now and the ambulance is coming to take her to St. Cuthbert’s. Petra has started bleeding again and Shelagh comforts her. We later learn that Petra has miscarried and the wedding has been called off.
The Fall of Dr. McNulty
Last week, we saw Dr. McNulty struggling with a narcotics addiction that could endanger his patients and had driven him to steal from the drugs cupboard. This week, we see an acceleration of his downward spiral as he returns to his room after an upsetting call. The marks on his arm are proof that his dependency has only gotten worse.
And just in case he thinks no one is missing a vial here or there, Miss Higgins informs Kevin that they will be refreshing the rules relating to the drug cupboard. Discrepancies have been discovered in both Dr. Turner’s surgery and at Nonnatus House.
When the records on pethidine prescriptions don’t match up yet again, Miss Higgins badgers Dr. McNulty who promptly proceeds to pass out on the floor right in front of her. The Turners rush to treat him and find the marks on his arm. (I guess Sister Frances doesn't have to report him after all.)
Once Dr. Turner has informed Nonnatus House, he tells Kevin there is a lot of distress over patients who could have been in danger and concern for him as well. McNulty says he’ll leave Poplar because he has broken their trust, but he still thinks about the people he couldn’t help. Patrick tells him the world is full of fragile people and when we try to mend them, it can break us. But it can make you a better doctor. Kevin says there’s hope for me yet then, but the Turners don’t look too hopeful.
The Dyer Reconciliation
Last week, we saw that Valerie visited her grandmother in prison and was concerned about Elsie’s weight loss and troubling swallowing. This time while registering to visit, Nurse Dyer learns that her gran is in the hospital wing. Her granddaughter tries to point out that she is clearly not well, but Elsie keeps downplaying the seriousness of her condition and making excuses. Unfortunatley, Valerie's fears are confirmed when Mrs. Dyer is transferred to St. Cuthbert’s and her chart confirms in black and white that she has cancer of the esophagus.
Valerie consults with Dr. Turner who tells her the prison is releasing her grandmother into her care. She's surprised that Elsie has named her the next of kin on all her documentation and is overwhelmed by the responsibility. Lucille and Sister Julienne assure Valerie she will be given leave and all she needs to do is care for her gran. They will handle the nursing duties.
