Call the Midwife’s Christmas special made one avoidable and disappointing blunder

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This year, the Call the Midwife Christmas special is taking viewers to Hong Kong instead of Poplar for a two-part holiday story – a first for the show outside of the UK.

The show has moved its production before, swapping London for locations with different cultures, but this is the first time it’s really failed to capture the right mood or feel.

It’s immediately clear something sad is happening early in the episode. We find out Fred and Violet are traveling to Hong Kong to see their son, who works as a police officer.

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As Sister Julienne prepares a shipment of medical supplies for Fred to send to their clinic in China, he notices she’s written the address in English and asks her about it.

She explained to him that Hong Kong was a British colony, and added with confidence that she believed everyone present was fluent in their native language.

She probably made that comment for the viewers, not Fred. It seems she was trying to explain why the characters in Hong Kong were mostly speaking English, anticipating that some people might question it.

Despite seeming harmless, the response comes across as dismissive and a little impatient, almost as if Fred’s question wasn’t worth asking. This creates a subtle sense of unease that grows stronger as the story unfolds.

The story begins when the midwives and nuns of Nonnatus House are called to help a sister clinic after a devastating landslide destroys the building. Many people are hurt or left homeless, including pregnant women, mothers, and children.

Sister Julienne and the nuns immediately jumped into the midst of the confusion, providing medical care and working to find a new home for the clinic.

It’s definitely not simple for them when they encounter a dangerous local Triad gang with a strict code of conduct.

Shelagh and Dr. Turner receive troubling news about Esther Tang, the birth mother of their adopted daughter. Esther has become involved with a dangerous criminal organization known as the Triad.

Esther has two children with the gang leader, known as The Cormorant. After reluctantly leaving her baby daughter, she goes into hiding, terrified he’ll take their son, Christopher, and raise him to be part of the gang. The Turners risk everything to save Esther from this desperate situation.

Both films are emotionally powerful, filled with dramatic and touching scenes. However, Call the Midwife falters by presenting a significant power imbalance between characters.

It’s common to see the characters confidently taking the lead, believing they know best. We see this when Sisters Julienne and Hilda try to reason with a dangerous gang about a property deal, putting themselves and others at risk. Even when things become perilous, they’re reluctant to back down before finally accepting they’ve been outmatched.

The Turners are making the same mistake, believing they can bring Christopher to the UK for surgery that could dramatically improve his life. Their failure to think through the logistics or consider the difficulties Esther might encounter afterward shows a lack of awareness.

If that plan fails, Patrick and Fred are kidnapped and brought to The Cormorant. There, Patrick tries to make a deal with the Triad leader, offering to return Christopher once he recovers – even though he doesn’t actually have the power to make that promise.

The team behind Call the Midwife has repeatedly demonstrated their ability to handle sensitive cultural issues with skill and understanding.

During the 2016 Christmas special, the team from Nonnatus House found their trip to South Africa to be a real eye-opener. The intense heat – so much so that Trixie’s makeup melted – and the differences in medical practices and patient needs quickly showed them that things were done differently there.

The Poplar team grew from their experience, both sharing what they knew and gaining new insights themselves.

The 2019 Christmas special had a similar effect. While it only took the group to the Scottish Outer Hebrides, it significantly broadened their cultural understanding. Even a seemingly small moment – like the mild controversy over a Christmas tree being called a “pagan monstrosity” – was valuable, as it highlighted the importance of being considerate when sharing traditions.

It’s even more confusing why they didn’t use the same successful method for this year’s Christmas special.

I think the Poplar nurses really mean well, and things do ultimately get better because of them. But honestly, it sometimes feels like they’re parachuting in to ‘fix’ things without really understanding the community, and that’s what makes the Nonnatus House team come across as if they’re the ones ‘saving’ everyone – and that doesn’t sit right with me.

Mrs. Ma, played by Patra Au, tries to offer local insight and help, but her opinions are often overshadowed by the determined efforts of the Nonnatus team, leaving her perspective unheard.

Mrs. Ma’s arrival doesn’t help balance out Esther’s story. Bringing Esther back just to face more hardship, and then relying on the Turners to rescue her – putting her in their debt again – feels needlessly cruel and further strengthens the power imbalance between them.

The film consistently focuses on the difficulties faced by the local people, portraying them as solely victims without showing any moments of happiness or a fuller picture of their lives.

Despite some issues, the episode does have touching moments. The bond between Phyllis and a young, expectant mother named Yue Chan feels genuine and sweet. Similarly, Sister Monica Jones provides comforting companionship and care to a man nearing the end of his life, which is truly heartwarming.

The show Call the Midwife consistently and beautifully demonstrates that experience remains valuable, as Sister Monica Jones’ expertise and insight continue to guide the team in Poplar.

We only wish there were more wins for the team abroad.

Call the Midwife airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer.

Read more Call the Midwife news on our dedicated homepage

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2025-12-27 00:51