<p>I’m delighted by the character of Chummy and the fact that she’s not just a character played for laughs. It’s also refreshing to see the religious women shown as caring, competent people, without being mawkish and sentimental, the way they might be on American TV.</p>
<p>“I’m watching Upstairs,Downstairs too”</p>
<p>Glad to see I’m not the only one. I am really enjoying it even though I’m puddling up quite a bit. </p>
<p>Booklady, I love the Chummy character.</p>
<p>I’m watching U/D as well, and while it’s fun on its own, it doesn’t hold a candle to the original (which H and I are currently rewatching on DVD). Mr. Pritchard is no Mr. Hudson!</p>
<p>Booklady, I know it doesn’t compare but considering what other shows are on TV it’s close to the top of my list!</p>
<p>Saw Midwives the other night while waiting for U/D. Liked Midwives, but could have done without the graphic labor and delivery scene. I’ll probably watch it next week.</p>
<p>emilybee, so true. It’s a vast wasteland out there.</p>
<p>At the end of either the first or second episode of CTM, there were interviews w/ some of the actresses. They discussed the birth scenes and how moving it was for them as actors to sort of relive what women went through back then. They said the babies shown are live 5 day old babies except for the actual birth scenes (like the breech birth) when a very realistic looking mannequin is used.</p>
<p>I love Chummy too. The scene when she delivered the breech baby was great. As a former nurse, I can relate to the nervousness/ fright when doing scary procedures that you’ve never done before. I actually fainted once :)</p>
<p>I read that they are asking the woman who plays Jenny Reed (adorable!) for an 8-season commitment to the series before they start a second season. Which is pretty unheard-of. So she may have to marry Jimmy.</p>
<p>EDIT: Weird. My CC clock seems to be 40 minutes behind, so I am posting ahead of a message that was there before I posted.</p>
<p>My book group buddies are huge Anglophiles so have been watching this. ( one also lived in the UK till she was 30 so she gives background information that makes it more interesting)</p>
<p>Most of book group didn’t show up last week, so we watched a tape of the episode with the the uber dedicated father. ( stacks of birthing books)
I loved Rosemary & Thyme ( gardening detective duo) so I was happy to recognize Pam Ferris ( Sister Evangeline) but I’ve seen Jessica Raines ( Jenny) in something and it wasnt anything that’s listed on imdb. 
</p>
<p>I love this show. I introduced my dd to it but told her she could only watch it if it wouldn’t prevent her from giving me grandchildren in the future.</p>
<p>I love this series too! It’s an interesting mix with the nuns and the young midwives and the 50s fashions. I love the characters of Jenny and Chummy. I’m glad to hear there might be a 2nd series. I am enjoying Midwives much more than Up-Down. That series is really lacking in the writing and pacing.</p>
<p>I’ve marathoned the eps today and I’m loving it so far! It’s helping to fill the hole in my heart left by Downton. It just makes me want a baby even more!</p>
<p>I’m enjoying it, and so is my husband…its the first show since Friday Night Lights that he reminds me to get ready to watch. Interesting history and culture, and endearing characters.</p>
<p>I’ve been watching them both either when Sunday night they are on or on DVR–I think Upstairs Downstairs is better than some of the reviews had indicated, just depressing because of the era it depicts. Midwife has been a wonderful surprise–both thoughtful and entertaining.</p>
<p>I love the clothes in Call the Midwife.</p>
<p>Did anyone besides me think the swimming scene in last Sunday’s episode was unrealistic to point of being unbelievable? </p>
<p>Apparently a group of young men and women, most of whom work together in a highly respectable profession, strip to their underwear in broad daylight and dive into a swimming pool due to some spontaneous outburst of youthful exuberance. Such behavior would be very unusual even today; back in the 1950s it would have been outrageous and probably grounds for firing the lot of them. </p>
<p>Plus, there are the practical problems of getting dressed again after their swim. Are they really going to put their dry street clothes back on over their soaked underwear? At first I though maybe they had worn bathing suits under their street clothes, but as the swimming went on it continued to look like 1950s-style underwear and not swimming suits.</p>
<p>We seem to watch more shows from the UK in our house than anything else and we’re all hooked on “Call the Midwife”. Engaging, accurate, terrific acting and ensemble work, it’s got it all and the character development has been wonderful. And yes, I love the new “Upstairs, Downstairs” too and appreciate how the different era sets it apart from the original- I wish they had continued it and not stopped after the two seasons.
I’ve always loved “Cadfael”, starring the great Derek Jacobi, and have been working my way through all 4 seasons again now that they’re all up on Netflix . Of course, there’s “Doctor Who” and “Torchwood” for marathon viewing and let’s not forget “Merlin” -season 5 can be seen on line and on SyFy in January! Another show which will help fill in the gaps until “Downton Abbey” begins again is “Land Girls”- you can catch the first season, for now, on Netflix and the rest is available on line.</p>
<p>coureur, I had the same thoughts regarding the swimming scene. Did notice that they were all drinking when they set off on the trip so maybe by the time they got there, they just didn’t care!
I feel sorry for Jimmy. He loves Jenny so much and she just doesn’t feel the same. I think she’s tried to make herself love him but it’s just not there. Wonder who the other guy is that she just can’t get over? </p>
<p>Loved Chummy in her “date” dress jumping in to help deliver the little piglets. </p>
<p>Peggy and her brother dying was so sad.</p>
<p>I love this show!</p>
<p>Mezzo’sMama…Thanks for all the Netflix recommendations.</p>
<p>The swimming scene didn’t phase me at all, this isn’t Victorian England. I think we all think our parents generation were saints.</p>
<p>Sundays, my PBS station is now showing Downton Abbey Season 1. I assume they’ll rebroadcast Season 2 also.:)</p>
<p>I enjoyed this week’s episode very much. I hadn’t realized the work houses were still such a sad part of early 20th century. I think young people in the 50’s had their share of “fun”, so the swimming scene worked for me. I loved the baskets of flowers on Jimmy’s jalopy. Refreshing show all round.</p>