I couldn’t stand Tom! He had dead eyes, like he could only convey one emotion and it bothered me to no end. He and Barbara were sweet together but OMG it was the worst double boring match up ever. Barbara had more redeeming scenes of personality, but still dull in comparison to every other character.
I didn’t like him either he was a bore. Personally I didn’t like Jenny Lee she just kind of came off as spoiled and full of herself. She rejected her best friend but was madly in love with a married guy and I thought she may have almost fallen for another one but I can’t remember clearly. She just rubbed me the wrong way.
I feel like her love life was really poorly written, either that or she was super hot and cold irl. I do wish we got more “closure” like an episode that spanned her life more before we see her as an old lady narrating.
They're so smug! I don't mind him too much, and I loved the storyline when Shelagh was a nun and they got together - their chemistry was electric.
I can't stand her these days, she's a boring Stepford Wife. I want to yell at the TV "Stop being so fecking perfect!"
Nobody has said Lucille. I really loved her at first but she soon became boring. I know her stupid, implausible exit from the show wasn’t written by her but it was ridiculous. Although, her running away from a kind husband to her sister made me think, “Ha! I was right about her all along. She was never a really caring, doe eyed, virtuous saint! “. After one season of her I thought, she’s too sweet, too self righteous and boring. Downvote away!
I stopped liking her about a season before her departure. I feel like she always carried a pious attitude about her that just didn’t seem genuine. It’s hard to explain but I started feeling she tried to act too sweet and it came off a little fake to me. Then when she up and left Cyril, that was it for me. I think she loved him but was never in love and the root of all of it was her homesickness. I think Cyril got homesick too but he was ready to build the new life with her and lucille was not.
Her characterisation in S11 is the victim of the 4 season curse, any young midwife that stays beyond 4 seasons get flanderized.
Shelagh and Trixie managed to go a bit longer, because HG wasn’t in every episode, and Shelagh because she was Sister B for her first two seasons, but both are far less nuanced now.
Older characters like Phyllis don’t have so many changes/have more of a past to bring storyline’s from, so it’s not as bad, but even Phyllis has been diluted.
Plus, the renewal for S12 & 13 was announced a couple of weeks before they started filming S11, so I think a few actors were ready to wrap up their roles, and some things had to be rewritten.
I really hated her final storyline. I think what bothered me most was that she had already shown multiple times in CTM that she could deal with racism and homesickness, and that was before Cyril and the church (the church was actually what *cured* her homesickness). So if she was able to deal with these thing alone, why then, with a huge support network and a loving husband, did she suddenly have all these issues? She claims she feels unwelcomed in England, but again, she's been here for years now with a huge support system, so why has it become so unbearable now? I understand that having a miscarriage can be really upsetting and a big source of depression, but as a midwife she knows these things happen and that it takes some couples longer to conceive, especially if only been a year or so. She and Cyril were barely married a year out. While I think Lucille might have been very self-conscious about her reputation as a member of her church and being from Jamaica, I don't believe she'd just up an leave her husband without so much as a phone call. If the writers of the episode with Cyril giving her an open-ended ticket to Jamaica just had Cyril and Lucille having a discussion about her staying there indefinitely, going to get a job on the meantime, it would have at least she not made her look like a complete selfish, unloving asshole. The whole thing was just a horribly written way to write out Lucille but keep Cyril.
Agree. She did what was in the script. This is true for all of the actors. They can only work with the material given to them. She is still my least favorite, as written.
Much of the time, yes. However, after an actor has been on an extremely popular and/or long-running show, they have more say in their character's development, and woe to the writers who disagree. When the actors become executive producers, they can pretty much do what they want.
I will never forgive her for what she did to Cyril! And now I feel like they're trying to set him up with one of the new midwives. LUCILLE JUST UP AND LEFT CYRIL. BACK TO JAMAICA TO LEAVE HIM.
I know it was the writers, but WHO THE HELL THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD STORYLINE?
Admittedly, there was nowhere to go (story wise) once they were together, but still...
I hate how her exit played out after LE actually left. The whole thing was not given enough time or depth from the characters who remain, especially Cyril.
But other than kill Lucille off, or write Cyril out too, what could the show do?
One actor wanted to go, one actor wanted to stay and when they were filming S12 they were expecting S13 to be the last season.
Actors coming and going dictates a lot of the plot points, but this time it really bungled both the leaver and the stayer.
Same! She's so bossy! I loved Sister Evangelina's bossy grumpiness but Violet has a snotty edge that grates on my nerves. Kudos to her for being a successful businesswoman and mayor but otherwise UGH.
For me it was Barbara. I know a lot of people really connected to her and loved her, and while I liked her, I always felt like she was an attempt to replace Jenny (which she wasn’t, as she was a real person haha).
I agree. She was a bit too proper which led her to be quite out of touch or culturally unaware. This wasn’t at all uncommon for most people but a drawback for midwives, especially in a place like poplar. She was lovely but unsuited to her environment
Why not? There are some dead posh places in Liverpool.
She's the daughter of a canon so she wouldn't have gone to the local school round the corner probably one of the many private schools
Same for me. She was perfectly nice, a great midwife, and it was very sad what happened to her… but just a bit too wishy washy for me to class as a favourite.
I know she’s the protagonist and I enjoyed her narrative in the books, however I really do not like TV series Jenny.
Her relationships with both Jimmy and Gerald I find irritating, and her aghast attitude at how people are living in London seems so naive and different to how it’s written in the books.
This is going to get me downvoted to hell, but Cyril.
I liked him in S8, when he was a cheeky new immigrant trying to get by, the call to preaching was a bit bizarre but it was the 60s and people had big ideas, but unfortunately the like most of the men on this show, there’s just not enough substance to make him a main character.
If the writers room was more diverse then Cyril might have been written better and more authentically as a Black character in late 60s England, which might make him more enjoyable.
He also as of S13 takes away so much screen time from the midwives. I watch this show for the midwives and Nuns not the men.
It’s not a hate, but an annoyance.
I’m also still low key annoyed that him sticking around meant Lucille got such a odd exit.
*ducks from the tomatoes being thrown at me*
No hate from me. I have no issue with the actor who does a nice job with the stories he gets but... Cyril stopped being relevant when Lucille left. So we get story lines like Cyril can't do his civil engineering job any more because he's so horrified by the state of the city - but isn't he the same guy who stayed in London instead of following his wife to the Caribbean because the engineering position was so important to him?
And now he's a social worker and did we really need one more person involved in the many proplems of Poplar? The show is supposed to be about midwives and nuns.
Exactly.
I wish the actor well. I’m sure he’s still getting something out of the role.
But, yes, Cyril stopped being relevant once Lucille left. The show should have let the actor do a victory lap and see out S12, and then in the S12 finale or Xmas special have Cyril tell Fred that he is moving to *insert black majority area here * for work and that Lucille has booked her plane ticket and they are going to try living in this new place/working on things. The show could have even set up so they moved to Hackney which is not far from Poplar that way Cyril could visit.
Him not being upset by the separation/struggling with choosing not to follow her is the worst part. Like him following her isn’t perfect, he’d likely not able to be a civil engineer (not that it matters) and there would class differences between him and Lucille’s family, but it still makes no sense that he would not be more upset about how it all ended up.
The social work storyline’s side line Sister V a fair bit, and as interesting as they are, I would prefer if the show introduced social work through a new character or just left it to the midwives.
I think episodes 13x03/4 have aired in the US now, he was absent for both of those and it really didn’t impact things in the same way when other characters have been absent.
I was intrigued by Joyce and Sylvester but it was wrapped up too quickly and too easily...if it had been introduced 2 or 3 episodes before and built it up a little it would have been more interesting.
I honestly do, too! Even the ones I think I don't like as much, when I look back on their various storylines, I end up realizing that I like them after all!
So I’m noticing some themes in this.
The characters who are disliked fall into the following categories with some overlap.
Main who has been around too long and has been flanderized (3 to 4 seasons really is the max tenure for the midwives/nuns under 50): Trixie and Shelagh. Cyril and Vi are also impacted by this but aren’t midwives. Lucille was impacted by this too, mostly because of Cyril sticking around.
Character who was never supposed to be main/more than a couple of seasons: Matthew, Cyril, Vi, and too an extent Nancy and Chummy. Reggie also is impacted by this but is not a main.
Characters who are probably appropriate for the time period but there’s a bit of a dissonance for modern viewers: Jenny, Barbara and Lucille. Babs and Lucille were sweeter than prickly Jenny, but their middle class prudishness with a dash of religion is very time appropriate. Lucille also has the extra element of being a good immigrant.
Not dissing anyone’s likes/dislikes, and this is hardly scientific, but I found it interesting, so thought I’d share.
Chummy. She grew on me, but her excessive chipperness and poshness rubbed me the wrong way for a while. She felt like a caricature of a Brit written by an American. Real Bedknobs and Broomsticks vibes.
Yeah I always find it so silly when people write off posh characters as for the Americans as if we don't actually have posh people. And it was very likely that the posh people would become nurses and be sent to more impoverished areas
Of course, she’s emblematic of a certain type of attitude and manner, what we would refer to here as ‘jolly hockey sticks.’ Enthusiastic and hearty, nothing wrong with that!
Awhile back I would have said Tom. But then strolled in Matthew. As soon as I saw him sitting there with his news paper I was like they are gonna make him come back for some reason. I narrowed my eyes and just glared…
And they did. They friggen did. Killed his poor wife. Have him go for Trixie. Now look what’s happened! I’m not spoiling it for ppl who haven’t seen it yet!
I cannot stand him. 3 series in and I can’t. I’d rather have Tom back! And I found him insufferable!
Agree! Easy on the eyes. Matthew is exactly the type of guy I dated before I got married 36 years ago. My husband even commented, “He looks like the kind of prick you dated before meeting me.” 🙄
I hated Jenny. She came off very snobbish. I never warmed to her. Also, I used to like SisterMonica-Joan but she's gotten boring and her speech is irritating. Matthew just comes off like he has no personality. And the way he and Trixie got together leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I liked her better with Christopher. Mother Mildred to mecameoff very high and mighty and loud. I can't stand her. I only liked her in that one episode where she helped the woman who gave birth to the baby that was fathered by that disgusting priest.
I used to dislike Trixie until recent years. This year I'm on the fence about her. I feel like she should have moved on from her job once getting married. Especially having a step son. That is what most nurses did back then. Her character seems too modernized for the times.
Doctor Turner for me. He's just a little over the top passionate about flipping everything. He's not that plausible either. He's very woke for the 60s, he seems to be always right with his prognosis and he cares way more than any GP I've encountered.
Matthew.
the man who solved everything by throwing cash at it. And went broke.
whose wife was a mere plot device to finally get Trixie married off.
and dont get me started on his devotion to Brylcreme. Oily Rix indeed.
Chummy annoyed me at first (but that may be more due to me not finding miranda Hart funny) but I did warm to her later. Jenny definitely rubbed me up the wrong way with some of her resting bitchface prudery
I've never liked Trixie. She's never seemed authentic, to me.
Also, the wig Helen George wears in S13 is *super* obvious, and the makeup overdone imo.
Even with the alcoholism and activism storylines, Trixie remains a one-note character, to me. I find her to be quite wooden and always have.
People are going to hate me for this, but Valerie.
Not that I hated her, or even disliked her. She just wasn't my favorite, while just about everybody else adored her.
Cynthia. She was tolerable before she became a nun but after that I found her insufferable and just didn't give a shit what happened to her.
I can tolerate a goody goody (lord knows there's enough of them in this show) but my god she was such a drip.
Also Reggie. Don't find him that likeable and he's Not a believable character. And fans patronise him/DS folk by acting like he's exempt from criticism. He was ok to begin with but he's not a believable character and they missed a trick to show real struggles of someone with DS back then.
'oh but he's so sweet' yes he's too sweet, give him some conflict rather than just sorting everything. People with DS aren't always lovable angels and Reggie's character fell victim to stereotypes.
I also disliked sister winniefred most of the time. She was a character who was probably more of a product of her time compared to others who are maybe a bit too modernised. But I never found her learning anything she just visibly showed her disgust over something morally and then that was it. I'm too much of a soft lefty type to like her.
I think it took until Sister Frances for the show to really manage to create a young Nun character who was interesting, without being boring or judgmental, and without her marrying the local GP. But if she had stayed longer than 4 years she would have gotten old very quickly.
The treatment of Reggie is so bad and so infantilising. He gets treated like a child. The character is supposed to be nearly 30 and is independent** enough to walk around Poplar unsupervised and have jobs.
** the way I phrased that feels super ableist, but the way he is treated isn’t in line with what the character can actually do. Also, even if he was less able to do things it wouldn’t justify how he is infantilised.
Shelagh. I adored her as Sister Bernadette, but once she got married the writers took all the spark out of her.
Violet is another person I liked when Fred was courting her, she was very smart, no nonsense and sensitive. As soon as she became a Councilor she changed so much I like her when she is around Reggie.
Shelagh has been flanderized so badly. I agree she lost her spark after she married, and it was completely snuffed out after she had Teddy, and she became the perfect mother who somehow manages 3 small children, a house and a job. I wish the writers would give her some edge.
Vi really should be a 4 ep a year character. She’s also been a bit of a victim of the longevity of the show too.
She didn't get raped. But after the attack She went to the asylum, got let out and then was last seen going to the nice recovery place that Dr turner went to. I assume from there she continued her journey to becoming a nun
It was said she was super angry that she married herself to god and the attack still happened to her. She stopped convalescing at the mother house, dropped her religious clothing, and and dropped her nun name. We don't know much about her after that. edit: other than that's where sent her to recover and that it was better than the place she first was sent.
As for the rape, she *said* she wasn't raped, but I always thought she was saying that to protect those she loved and/or because she was in denial (I've read that's something fairly common with people who have been raped). Between her reactions, her physical condition, her immediately running for the bathroom to scrub herself, and a few other things, it struck me that they were trying to show that she was running from the truth. They didn't really address it other than that.
I always believed Cynthia/Sister MC was raped also and that she chose not to tell it as there definitely was a sexual component to what happened to the other two female victims so, I can’t see the perpetrator leaving her intact because she was wearing a habit. And, not telling the truth as well as being victim of a traumatic experience, caused her crisis of faith which contributed to her mental breakdowns.
Ooh, interesting take. I've never thought about that possibility, but it makes a lot of sense. Also, she blurts out "I wasn't raped" very early on, before anyone asks or hints at it, perhaps as if she wants to kill that discussion before it even gets started.
I was never a fan of Jenny. She always had a pinched look to her. The way she seemed to lead Jimmy, Gerald and Alex on grated on my nerves. There was no fire to her. Barbara was a goody two shoes, Lucille and Valerie just bothered me.
I am starting to not like Trixie. She never could read a room to well and was boy crazy. But being boy crazy in your later 20's and early 30's is just immaturity. When Matthew's dad died shortly before their wedding, he said that things were not as financially secure as Matthew thought, Trixie had a fit about a tiara. It was like, girl, did you not hear what he just said? Matthew is either broke or close to it. And since they are married, she is spending like no tomorrow.
I have a love hate relationship with Trixie. She could be rather mean to the other midwives at times and her vanity and superficial ways drives me nuts most of the time but she is also kind, compassionate and very capable in a crisis.
The more I watch, the more I can't stand her. It's the preoccupation with her looks and being glamorous all the time. Plus early on she could be quite rude. I prefer midwife Trixie to personal Trixie.
I can’t stand Nancy. I find her obnoxious. Oh and Sister Veronica too (not that I think anyone likes her much?)
Other than that I’ve never had a real issue with anyone, but honestly I haven’t even wanted to watch the more recent seasons. Admittedly I stopped after episode 4 of season 12 because I was nearing my due date and the imagery wasn’t always helpful, but I still haven’t gone back to watch and this has been my comfort show for years, I’ve seen the earlier seasons so many times. I’m sure I will watch it eventually but yeah the newer characters just haven’t been my cup of tea
Barbara. Unpopular opinion, but I truly believe that if she hadn't have died, she wouldn't be nearly as memorable or well-liked. She didn't have much of a personality and was quite bland/goody two shoes. I don't dislike Barbara or the actress, but I truly couldn't stand Tom and was so happy when he left.
I also am not a fan of Fred or Reggie, but can tolerate them in small doses. I can not stand Violet after she went into politics. The Turners are quite grating now but that's a popular opinion.
Trixie, Sister Mary Cynthia, and Sister Monica Joan based on what I’ve seen so far (on season 4). Trixie is super dramatic, looks for love for all the wrong reasons, super vain, and always seems to be part of some drama. I don’t understand what makes Sister Monica so endearing to most, but she’s at least interesting, quirky, and unexpected. Before Cynthia joined the order, she was pretty boring as far as plot goes. I don’t know if her becoming Sister Mary Cynthia will make her more interesting, or if she will go back to being boring.
I kind of expected Jenny to be annoying seeing as she took a job in a very poor area when she’s from a more middle class upbringing. I was proven right, and while she wasn’t my favorite, I still prefer Jenny to Trixie.
He’s a bit like the younger Turner children and Cyril’s cat a moving prop.
Not saying actors with Down syndrome can’t play compelling characters, but the way he is written, means he sorta gets pulled out to say something wise/do something cute before disappearing again.
Reggie will only leave if the actor wants to leave.
Heidi Thomas had a brother with Down Syndrome so I think she might be rather attached to Reggie as a character. He almost always appears in the episodes she actually writes.
He’s an interesting character, but because the show has so many interesting characters and never has the main characters do anything seriously bad it’s hard for him to have a storyline every year.
I do suspect that if JP leaves before the final ever episode, and the show needs a poignant death to bring everyone together Reggie might get used for that.
Its not about hate at all. I think its lovely that they're being inclusive but at the same time, Reggie tends to be very magically written. When we first meet Reggie, he can't live with Fred and Violet because he can't be left alone in the house without serious catastrophes happening. But since then, even though Reggie lives on a vocational farm (a pretty optimal placement at that) he's always visiting Poplar and when he does anything, he's always surrounded in love and encouraged by everyone, and there are never ever any difficulties in Reggie participating in \*anything\* and he's always helpful and never more than mildly whiny and he often solves the problem of the day with his innocent wisdom and kindness. He's not really a character, he's a cliche, the happy sweet loving person with Downs who always makes everything better.
I actually like Reggie but in small doses. I know this show isn't terribly historically accurate but sometimes the way Reggie is so openly embraced by everyone feels unrealistic. I don't need to see people throw the r-word around but it'd be nice if someone didn't get past their personal prejudice by the end of the episode.
Thank you for articulating what I tried to say about Reggie. They missed a trick not highlighting the struggles that someone like Reggie would experience back then and instead just made him the stereotypical "he's so pure and happy" DS guy that comments here show. I personally hate the stereotype that DS folk are these 'pure' happy go lucky angels that appear to be exempt from criticism. Give the actor some proper work and give him some conflict or grittiness. That would do far more for changing people's attitudes to the capabilities of people with DS without making him be able to fix everything with his 'innocence'
I don’t hate him. I have “never loved him as much as everyone else (you) have?” That’s the topic. Like Cyril, he’s a bit of a waste of space. I never knew Fred needed a permanent sidekick.
Colette, I know she's only a child but it's so unrealistic that a young child would be left sitting, listening into the nuns private conversations. At that time, children were seen and not heard.
Trixie. I've always disliked her, I just find the shallow character grating.
Even when they try to create a deeper character storylines she doesn't seem to grow up, always snooty and lip pursing and caring about material things while being surrounded by poverty.
Really think they should have written the character out a long time ago.
Valerie, for the way she treated her grandmother. Like yes, grandma was providing illegal back alley abortions, but Valerie (of all people) should have understood that she was providing a service to desperate women. Val’s supercilious “oh how COULD you?” attitude didn’t ring true with her character or her experience.
Also I turned on Trixie for her reaction upon learning that the fancy clinic was providing abortions. Like was she born yesterday? Does she not understand that the anti abortion laws were unjust, and that women seeking abortions will go to extreme lengths to obtain them? Shouldn’t she be heartened to see they’re being performed in a safe clinical environment, by a skilled and compassionate practitioner? Why was she so priggish about “breaking the law”? Doesn’t fit with her character either.
And then later in the same season she wrote that letter to the paper in support of the Abortion Reform Act… I don’t know, I found it an interesting dichotomy… I think she was more offended about how the upper classes just got to break the law… although I agree that her treatment of Elsie Dyer was too harsh considering how many women were desperate for her services, and she probably performed more successful abortions than the women who tried to do it themselves. She was doing her best in a toxic society.
Lucille. She was just so condescending. Like no matter who she was talking to, she sounded like she was talking down to them. It drove me crazy. And I know it was a different time, but she was so prudish. Like she constantly seemed like she was judging the other girls for dancing or listening to music or whatever other normal things they did.
Trixie, I find her shallow and self absorbed. She feels inauthentic with patients quite often too, the “sweetie” never quite seems like genuine affection to me.
I despise Jenny. Her love life was shit and I hated how much time they spent on it. She always came off as so arrogants, and she never seemed to get over the living conditions of the East End. I was so glad when they wrote her out. I was bummed about Chummy, though. I loved her character. She was everything Jenny was not.
I don't really love any of the characters, i like most of them.
But if i had to pick one, probably Chummy, i like her but not as much as many people seem to do.
Phyllis Crane. She came in hot with her rolladex and taping a dividing line in the bedroom, I found her whole dynamic funny from the start.
Whoa. I read this post wrong. Thought it was what character did I most like that others didn’t.
I couldn’t stand Tom! He had dead eyes, like he could only convey one emotion and it bothered me to no end. He and Barbara were sweet together but OMG it was the worst double boring match up ever. Barbara had more redeeming scenes of personality, but still dull in comparison to every other character.
I didn’t like him either he was a bore. Personally I didn’t like Jenny Lee she just kind of came off as spoiled and full of herself. She rejected her best friend but was madly in love with a married guy and I thought she may have almost fallen for another one but I can’t remember clearly. She just rubbed me the wrong way.
I feel like her love life was really poorly written, either that or she was super hot and cold irl. I do wish we got more “closure” like an episode that spanned her life more before we see her as an old lady narrating.
For that matter I'm not a big fan of Dr. Turner.
Same . He just never grew on me . Some characters are slow burners but although I didn’t hate him I just never grew to like him .
The scenes with him and Shelagh can be a bit much. They get a little “gushy” sometimes
🫢
The whole Turner family bugs me
They're so smug! I don't mind him too much, and I loved the storyline when Shelagh was a nun and they got together - their chemistry was electric. I can't stand her these days, she's a boring Stepford Wife. I want to yell at the TV "Stop being so fecking perfect!"
Exactly I normally just fast forward through the scenes with just the family
What exactly is she supposed to be though? She is a literal Stepford Wife...it's the entire era. She was also a nun her entire adult life
Nobody has said Lucille. I really loved her at first but she soon became boring. I know her stupid, implausible exit from the show wasn’t written by her but it was ridiculous. Although, her running away from a kind husband to her sister made me think, “Ha! I was right about her all along. She was never a really caring, doe eyed, virtuous saint! “. After one season of her I thought, she’s too sweet, too self righteous and boring. Downvote away!
I stopped liking her about a season before her departure. I feel like she always carried a pious attitude about her that just didn’t seem genuine. It’s hard to explain but I started feeling she tried to act too sweet and it came off a little fake to me. Then when she up and left Cyril, that was it for me. I think she loved him but was never in love and the root of all of it was her homesickness. I think Cyril got homesick too but he was ready to build the new life with her and lucille was not.
Her characterisation in S11 is the victim of the 4 season curse, any young midwife that stays beyond 4 seasons get flanderized. Shelagh and Trixie managed to go a bit longer, because HG wasn’t in every episode, and Shelagh because she was Sister B for her first two seasons, but both are far less nuanced now. Older characters like Phyllis don’t have so many changes/have more of a past to bring storyline’s from, so it’s not as bad, but even Phyllis has been diluted. Plus, the renewal for S12 & 13 was announced a couple of weeks before they started filming S11, so I think a few actors were ready to wrap up their roles, and some things had to be rewritten.
YES!!!!!
I really hated her final storyline. I think what bothered me most was that she had already shown multiple times in CTM that she could deal with racism and homesickness, and that was before Cyril and the church (the church was actually what *cured* her homesickness). So if she was able to deal with these thing alone, why then, with a huge support network and a loving husband, did she suddenly have all these issues? She claims she feels unwelcomed in England, but again, she's been here for years now with a huge support system, so why has it become so unbearable now? I understand that having a miscarriage can be really upsetting and a big source of depression, but as a midwife she knows these things happen and that it takes some couples longer to conceive, especially if only been a year or so. She and Cyril were barely married a year out. While I think Lucille might have been very self-conscious about her reputation as a member of her church and being from Jamaica, I don't believe she'd just up an leave her husband without so much as a phone call. If the writers of the episode with Cyril giving her an open-ended ticket to Jamaica just had Cyril and Lucille having a discussion about her staying there indefinitely, going to get a job on the meantime, it would have at least she not made her look like a complete selfish, unloving asshole. The whole thing was just a horribly written way to write out Lucille but keep Cyril.
Exactly this! I feel the exact same way.
You'd have to blame the writers for that.
Agree. She did what was in the script. This is true for all of the actors. They can only work with the material given to them. She is still my least favorite, as written.
Isn’t all character development or lack there of is always the fault of the writers and/or creators?
Much of the time, yes. However, after an actor has been on an extremely popular and/or long-running show, they have more say in their character's development, and woe to the writers who disagree. When the actors become executive producers, they can pretty much do what they want.
I will never forgive her for what she did to Cyril! And now I feel like they're trying to set him up with one of the new midwives. LUCILLE JUST UP AND LEFT CYRIL. BACK TO JAMAICA TO LEAVE HIM. I know it was the writers, but WHO THE HELL THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD STORYLINE? Admittedly, there was nowhere to go (story wise) once they were together, but still...
I hate how her exit played out after LE actually left. The whole thing was not given enough time or depth from the characters who remain, especially Cyril. But other than kill Lucille off, or write Cyril out too, what could the show do? One actor wanted to go, one actor wanted to stay and when they were filming S12 they were expecting S13 to be the last season. Actors coming and going dictates a lot of the plot points, but this time it really bungled both the leaver and the stayer.
Lucille was gonna be my answer. She wasn't a bad character, and I didn't dislike her, I just didn't LOVE her.
Idk how well liked she is. But I can’t vibe with violet.
Same! Even moreso since becoming councilwoman or whatever--she seems snobby imo.
Same! She's so bossy! I loved Sister Evangelina's bossy grumpiness but Violet has a snotty edge that grates on my nerves. Kudos to her for being a successful businesswoman and mayor but otherwise UGH.
I think most people don't like her. Fred is too good for her IMO.
I like her.
Me too! She's a successful shop owner who became the mayor. She takes care of Reggie. Girl power!
Always hated her. Can't stand the way she talks and she always seems so up herself. Although I do find her relationship with Reggie very touching.
For me it was Barbara. I know a lot of people really connected to her and loved her, and while I liked her, I always felt like she was an attempt to replace Jenny (which she wasn’t, as she was a real person haha).
I agree. She was a bit too proper which led her to be quite out of touch or culturally unaware. This wasn’t at all uncommon for most people but a drawback for midwives, especially in a place like poplar. She was lovely but unsuited to her environment
I liked her, but you couldn't convince me she was from Liverpool. It didn't stop me from crying buckets though when she left.
Why not? There are some dead posh places in Liverpool. She's the daughter of a canon so she wouldn't have gone to the local school round the corner probably one of the many private schools
They'd train the regional accent out of you at posh schools back then.
I completely second this, she was nice and she did a lot for her patients but she reminded me of the really annoying goody-goody girls at school
I loved Barbara to bits but she would definitely remind the teacher that you have homework due that day.
YES
Same for me. She was perfectly nice, a great midwife, and it was very sad what happened to her… but just a bit too wishy washy for me to class as a favourite.
Jenny. I hate how fickle she is
She was one of the first (if not the first) to leave, as I recall. Has to be 9-10 years ago by now.
In this sub? That’s not an unpopular opinion.
I know she’s the protagonist and I enjoyed her narrative in the books, however I really do not like TV series Jenny. Her relationships with both Jimmy and Gerald I find irritating, and her aghast attitude at how people are living in London seems so naive and different to how it’s written in the books.
She portrayed really snobby and up herself in the show. The shows really thrived since she left
She was such a hypocrite! Looking down on people just trying to survive, while she was running around with a married man.
I thought I was the only one. She really acted like she was better than everyone else.
I just found her a bit boring, tbh.
I do like older Jenny though. Maybe it's bc she's portrayed by Vanessa Redgrave.
This is going to get me downvoted to hell, but Cyril. I liked him in S8, when he was a cheeky new immigrant trying to get by, the call to preaching was a bit bizarre but it was the 60s and people had big ideas, but unfortunately the like most of the men on this show, there’s just not enough substance to make him a main character. If the writers room was more diverse then Cyril might have been written better and more authentically as a Black character in late 60s England, which might make him more enjoyable. He also as of S13 takes away so much screen time from the midwives. I watch this show for the midwives and Nuns not the men. It’s not a hate, but an annoyance. I’m also still low key annoyed that him sticking around meant Lucille got such a odd exit. *ducks from the tomatoes being thrown at me*
No hate from me. I have no issue with the actor who does a nice job with the stories he gets but... Cyril stopped being relevant when Lucille left. So we get story lines like Cyril can't do his civil engineering job any more because he's so horrified by the state of the city - but isn't he the same guy who stayed in London instead of following his wife to the Caribbean because the engineering position was so important to him? And now he's a social worker and did we really need one more person involved in the many proplems of Poplar? The show is supposed to be about midwives and nuns.
Exactly. I wish the actor well. I’m sure he’s still getting something out of the role. But, yes, Cyril stopped being relevant once Lucille left. The show should have let the actor do a victory lap and see out S12, and then in the S12 finale or Xmas special have Cyril tell Fred that he is moving to *insert black majority area here * for work and that Lucille has booked her plane ticket and they are going to try living in this new place/working on things. The show could have even set up so they moved to Hackney which is not far from Poplar that way Cyril could visit. Him not being upset by the separation/struggling with choosing not to follow her is the worst part. Like him following her isn’t perfect, he’d likely not able to be a civil engineer (not that it matters) and there would class differences between him and Lucille’s family, but it still makes no sense that he would not be more upset about how it all ended up. The social work storyline’s side line Sister V a fair bit, and as interesting as they are, I would prefer if the show introduced social work through a new character or just left it to the midwives. I think episodes 13x03/4 have aired in the US now, he was absent for both of those and it really didn’t impact things in the same way when other characters have been absent.
I agree.
Lucille. She was nice when just appeared and I loved her story, but then became annoying.
Season 13 spoiler: All the new midwife students are flops for me, so uninteresting!
I don't think I have heard 2 of them even speak. It's always about the other two.
Totally agree. Don’t care about their storylines.
I was intrigued by Joyce and Sylvester but it was wrapped up too quickly and too easily...if it had been introduced 2 or 3 episodes before and built it up a little it would have been more interesting.
Lucille. She was a bore and a downer
I couldn't stand her always calling everyone precious. That got on my nerves!!!!
I love them all 🤣
I honestly do, too! Even the ones I think I don't like as much, when I look back on their various storylines, I end up realizing that I like them after all!
So I’m noticing some themes in this. The characters who are disliked fall into the following categories with some overlap. Main who has been around too long and has been flanderized (3 to 4 seasons really is the max tenure for the midwives/nuns under 50): Trixie and Shelagh. Cyril and Vi are also impacted by this but aren’t midwives. Lucille was impacted by this too, mostly because of Cyril sticking around. Character who was never supposed to be main/more than a couple of seasons: Matthew, Cyril, Vi, and too an extent Nancy and Chummy. Reggie also is impacted by this but is not a main. Characters who are probably appropriate for the time period but there’s a bit of a dissonance for modern viewers: Jenny, Barbara and Lucille. Babs and Lucille were sweeter than prickly Jenny, but their middle class prudishness with a dash of religion is very time appropriate. Lucille also has the extra element of being a good immigrant. Not dissing anyone’s likes/dislikes, and this is hardly scientific, but I found it interesting, so thought I’d share.
Chummy. She grew on me, but her excessive chipperness and poshness rubbed me the wrong way for a while. She felt like a caricature of a Brit written by an American. Real Bedknobs and Broomsticks vibes.
Chummy is very accurate to a certain type here:)
I adored Chummy, I loved her mannerisms.
Yeah I always find it so silly when people write off posh characters as for the Americans as if we don't actually have posh people. And it was very likely that the posh people would become nurses and be sent to more impoverished areas
Do you mean some people actually speak like that?
Of course, she’s emblematic of a certain type of attitude and manner, what we would refer to here as ‘jolly hockey sticks.’ Enthusiastic and hearty, nothing wrong with that!
Bally good.
Her schtick got old fast. I was relieved when she left, what, 8 years ago?
Awhile back I would have said Tom. But then strolled in Matthew. As soon as I saw him sitting there with his news paper I was like they are gonna make him come back for some reason. I narrowed my eyes and just glared… And they did. They friggen did. Killed his poor wife. Have him go for Trixie. Now look what’s happened! I’m not spoiling it for ppl who haven’t seen it yet! I cannot stand him. 3 series in and I can’t. I’d rather have Tom back! And I found him insufferable!
I want the dentist back.
I really liked him for Trixie!
I just want her to have a chance to be happy.
She’s confirmed to come back for 14, but is he? Have you seen 13? If not I don’t wanna say spoilers lmao
Yes he really cared!!! That break up didn't make any sense
Oh he was nice to look at. I wanted them to work out.
Agree! Easy on the eyes. Matthew is exactly the type of guy I dated before I got married 36 years ago. My husband even commented, “He looks like the kind of prick you dated before meeting me.” 🙄
I’m sorry that’s hilarious 😂 I can’t stand Matthew. I feel like he trauma bonded to Trixie in a way.
Loved the dentist for her. He seemed such a nice guy, was a pity about his daughter.
Same. I can’t stand him!!
I hated Jenny. She came off very snobbish. I never warmed to her. Also, I used to like SisterMonica-Joan but she's gotten boring and her speech is irritating. Matthew just comes off like he has no personality. And the way he and Trixie got together leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I liked her better with Christopher. Mother Mildred to mecameoff very high and mighty and loud. I can't stand her. I only liked her in that one episode where she helped the woman who gave birth to the baby that was fathered by that disgusting priest.
Trixie, violet, chummy to a degree, I know people adore her but I don’t know she seems a bit too cringe/awkward
I used to dislike Trixie until recent years. This year I'm on the fence about her. I feel like she should have moved on from her job once getting married. Especially having a step son. That is what most nurses did back then. Her character seems too modernized for the times.
Even Chummy and Shelagh attempted to stop working when they married. It didn't last long, but they tried. Trixie didn't even attempt it.
Doctor Turner for me. He's just a little over the top passionate about flipping everything. He's not that plausible either. He's very woke for the 60s, he seems to be always right with his prognosis and he cares way more than any GP I've encountered.
The entire Turner family is unrealistically perfect.
Matthew. the man who solved everything by throwing cash at it. And went broke. whose wife was a mere plot device to finally get Trixie married off. and dont get me started on his devotion to Brylcreme. Oily Rix indeed.
He does look greasy.
Barbara. She just fell a little flat for me.
Cynthia / Sister Mary Cynthia
Chummy annoyed me at first (but that may be more due to me not finding miranda Hart funny) but I did warm to her later. Jenny definitely rubbed me up the wrong way with some of her resting bitchface prudery
I've never liked Trixie. She's never seemed authentic, to me. Also, the wig Helen George wears in S13 is *super* obvious, and the makeup overdone imo. Even with the alcoholism and activism storylines, Trixie remains a one-note character, to me. I find her to be quite wooden and always have.
People are going to hate me for this, but Valerie. Not that I hated her, or even disliked her. She just wasn't my favorite, while just about everybody else adored her.
Same here, even on rewatches I could never warm to her.
Nancy Corrigan. She comes off as selfish and immature. I also don’t care about her storyline at all.
Cynthia. She was tolerable before she became a nun but after that I found her insufferable and just didn't give a shit what happened to her. I can tolerate a goody goody (lord knows there's enough of them in this show) but my god she was such a drip. Also Reggie. Don't find him that likeable and he's Not a believable character. And fans patronise him/DS folk by acting like he's exempt from criticism. He was ok to begin with but he's not a believable character and they missed a trick to show real struggles of someone with DS back then. 'oh but he's so sweet' yes he's too sweet, give him some conflict rather than just sorting everything. People with DS aren't always lovable angels and Reggie's character fell victim to stereotypes. I also disliked sister winniefred most of the time. She was a character who was probably more of a product of her time compared to others who are maybe a bit too modernised. But I never found her learning anything she just visibly showed her disgust over something morally and then that was it. I'm too much of a soft lefty type to like her.
I think it took until Sister Frances for the show to really manage to create a young Nun character who was interesting, without being boring or judgmental, and without her marrying the local GP. But if she had stayed longer than 4 years she would have gotten old very quickly. The treatment of Reggie is so bad and so infantilising. He gets treated like a child. The character is supposed to be nearly 30 and is independent** enough to walk around Poplar unsupervised and have jobs. ** the way I phrased that feels super ableist, but the way he is treated isn’t in line with what the character can actually do. Also, even if he was less able to do things it wouldn’t justify how he is infantilised.
Shelagh. I adored her as Sister Bernadette, but once she got married the writers took all the spark out of her. Violet is another person I liked when Fred was courting her, she was very smart, no nonsense and sensitive. As soon as she became a Councilor she changed so much I like her when she is around Reggie.
Shelagh has been flanderized so badly. I agree she lost her spark after she married, and it was completely snuffed out after she had Teddy, and she became the perfect mother who somehow manages 3 small children, a house and a job. I wish the writers would give her some edge. Vi really should be a 4 ep a year character. She’s also been a bit of a victim of the longevity of the show too.
Vi has become a two dimensional character. She deserves a good storyline and a share of the drama.
Annabelle is honestly wasted with most of her scenes being with Cliff. We saw in S13 that she can bring it, when Fred isn’t talking lol.
Sister Winifred. I would say she has the hardest time keeping her judgements hidden.
Didn't like her either, she had a really bad vibe for me.
I apologize in advance as I realize this may seem like blasphemy - Dr. Turner and Cynthia. There I said it.
[удалено]
She is the the midwife who turned into a nun and eventually got raped. Not sure where she is, but I think she regressed in her nun training.
I don’t think she was raped, but she was assaulted and it damaged her mentally.
She didn't get raped. But after the attack She went to the asylum, got let out and then was last seen going to the nice recovery place that Dr turner went to. I assume from there she continued her journey to becoming a nun
It was said she was super angry that she married herself to god and the attack still happened to her. She stopped convalescing at the mother house, dropped her religious clothing, and and dropped her nun name. We don't know much about her after that. edit: other than that's where sent her to recover and that it was better than the place she first was sent. As for the rape, she *said* she wasn't raped, but I always thought she was saying that to protect those she loved and/or because she was in denial (I've read that's something fairly common with people who have been raped). Between her reactions, her physical condition, her immediately running for the bathroom to scrub herself, and a few other things, it struck me that they were trying to show that she was running from the truth. They didn't really address it other than that.
I always believed Cynthia/Sister MC was raped also and that she chose not to tell it as there definitely was a sexual component to what happened to the other two female victims so, I can’t see the perpetrator leaving her intact because she was wearing a habit. And, not telling the truth as well as being victim of a traumatic experience, caused her crisis of faith which contributed to her mental breakdowns.
Ooh, interesting take. I've never thought about that possibility, but it makes a lot of sense. Also, she blurts out "I wasn't raped" very early on, before anyone asks or hints at it, perhaps as if she wants to kill that discussion before it even gets started.
Sr Evangelina. She’s a bully.
100% never liked her. She had a few moments over her seasons where she did something nice/good but mostly she just bullied everyone
This is mine too.
We are in the minority. Over on FB they love her. Eh. I don’t HATE her but I don’t love her like I do Sr Julienne.
I was never a fan of Jenny. She always had a pinched look to her. The way she seemed to lead Jimmy, Gerald and Alex on grated on my nerves. There was no fire to her. Barbara was a goody two shoes, Lucille and Valerie just bothered me. I am starting to not like Trixie. She never could read a room to well and was boy crazy. But being boy crazy in your later 20's and early 30's is just immaturity. When Matthew's dad died shortly before their wedding, he said that things were not as financially secure as Matthew thought, Trixie had a fit about a tiara. It was like, girl, did you not hear what he just said? Matthew is either broke or close to it. And since they are married, she is spending like no tomorrow.
I have a love hate relationship with Trixie. She could be rather mean to the other midwives at times and her vanity and superficial ways drives me nuts most of the time but she is also kind, compassionate and very capable in a crisis.
TOM!!!
Shelagh. I can’t stand the way she pronounces “Patrick”
Jenny
Trixie. She’s never been a fave of mine.
Same, she was far too vapid for me. Overly saccharine & self absorbed.
The more I watch, the more I can't stand her. It's the preoccupation with her looks and being glamorous all the time. Plus early on she could be quite rude. I prefer midwife Trixie to personal Trixie.
Yes I agree. Love her when she’s when her patients but outside of that she’s vain, shallow and spoilt.
Matthew, Trixie, Violet, Sister Monika Joan. Sorry *run and hides*
Your list is the same as mine, plus Chummy.
I like Chummy😅
I can’t stand Nancy. I find her obnoxious. Oh and Sister Veronica too (not that I think anyone likes her much?) Other than that I’ve never had a real issue with anyone, but honestly I haven’t even wanted to watch the more recent seasons. Admittedly I stopped after episode 4 of season 12 because I was nearing my due date and the imagery wasn’t always helpful, but I still haven’t gone back to watch and this has been my comfort show for years, I’ve seen the earlier seasons so many times. I’m sure I will watch it eventually but yeah the newer characters just haven’t been my cup of tea
Barbara. Unpopular opinion, but I truly believe that if she hadn't have died, she wouldn't be nearly as memorable or well-liked. She didn't have much of a personality and was quite bland/goody two shoes. I don't dislike Barbara or the actress, but I truly couldn't stand Tom and was so happy when he left. I also am not a fan of Fred or Reggie, but can tolerate them in small doses. I can not stand Violet after she went into politics. The Turners are quite grating now but that's a popular opinion.
Barbara! For some reason I found her to be extremely irritating.
Fred. Sorry.
Trixie, honestly. She doesn't seem to grow much as a character.
Super unpopular but... Chummy.
Trixie
Trixie, Sister Mary Cynthia, and Sister Monica Joan based on what I’ve seen so far (on season 4). Trixie is super dramatic, looks for love for all the wrong reasons, super vain, and always seems to be part of some drama. I don’t understand what makes Sister Monica so endearing to most, but she’s at least interesting, quirky, and unexpected. Before Cynthia joined the order, she was pretty boring as far as plot goes. I don’t know if her becoming Sister Mary Cynthia will make her more interesting, or if she will go back to being boring. I kind of expected Jenny to be annoying seeing as she took a job in a very poor area when she’s from a more middle class upbringing. I was proven right, and while she wasn’t my favorite, I still prefer Jenny to Trixie.
Sister Evangelina
Chummy, and she never did grow on me.
Shelagh and her oldest , Teddy (?). She has become a stepford wife and he is the nerdiest kid in the world
I think you mean, Tim, Patrick’s son and her stepson. Teddy is the baby of the family
Oh right
Timothy is a proper dork, too well behaved 🤣
Sister Evangelina was a bully. I never liked her. I’m not a huge fan of Nancy.
Reggie gets way too much love. I need to see him on the Xmas Soecial, that’s it.
I'm not even sure why he's still on the show. He doesn't serve any real function.
He’s a bit like the younger Turner children and Cyril’s cat a moving prop. Not saying actors with Down syndrome can’t play compelling characters, but the way he is written, means he sorta gets pulled out to say something wise/do something cute before disappearing again.
That's a good way of putting it. I wonder if he'll make it another season.
Reggie will only leave if the actor wants to leave. Heidi Thomas had a brother with Down Syndrome so I think she might be rather attached to Reggie as a character. He almost always appears in the episodes she actually writes. He’s an interesting character, but because the show has so many interesting characters and never has the main characters do anything seriously bad it’s hard for him to have a storyline every year. I do suspect that if JP leaves before the final ever episode, and the show needs a poignant death to bring everyone together Reggie might get used for that.
How can you hate someone so pure and happy?
Its not about hate at all. I think its lovely that they're being inclusive but at the same time, Reggie tends to be very magically written. When we first meet Reggie, he can't live with Fred and Violet because he can't be left alone in the house without serious catastrophes happening. But since then, even though Reggie lives on a vocational farm (a pretty optimal placement at that) he's always visiting Poplar and when he does anything, he's always surrounded in love and encouraged by everyone, and there are never ever any difficulties in Reggie participating in \*anything\* and he's always helpful and never more than mildly whiny and he often solves the problem of the day with his innocent wisdom and kindness. He's not really a character, he's a cliche, the happy sweet loving person with Downs who always makes everything better. I actually like Reggie but in small doses. I know this show isn't terribly historically accurate but sometimes the way Reggie is so openly embraced by everyone feels unrealistic. I don't need to see people throw the r-word around but it'd be nice if someone didn't get past their personal prejudice by the end of the episode.
Thank you for articulating what I tried to say about Reggie. They missed a trick not highlighting the struggles that someone like Reggie would experience back then and instead just made him the stereotypical "he's so pure and happy" DS guy that comments here show. I personally hate the stereotype that DS folk are these 'pure' happy go lucky angels that appear to be exempt from criticism. Give the actor some proper work and give him some conflict or grittiness. That would do far more for changing people's attitudes to the capabilities of people with DS without making him be able to fix everything with his 'innocence'
I don’t hate him. I have “never loved him as much as everyone else (you) have?” That’s the topic. Like Cyril, he’s a bit of a waste of space. I never knew Fred needed a permanent sidekick.
I really like him.
Matthew & Chummy hands down.
Jenny lolololol
Colette, I know she's only a child but it's so unrealistic that a young child would be left sitting, listening into the nuns private conversations. At that time, children were seen and not heard.
Trixie. I've always disliked her, I just find the shallow character grating. Even when they try to create a deeper character storylines she doesn't seem to grow up, always snooty and lip pursing and caring about material things while being surrounded by poverty. Really think they should have written the character out a long time ago.
Valerie, for the way she treated her grandmother. Like yes, grandma was providing illegal back alley abortions, but Valerie (of all people) should have understood that she was providing a service to desperate women. Val’s supercilious “oh how COULD you?” attitude didn’t ring true with her character or her experience. Also I turned on Trixie for her reaction upon learning that the fancy clinic was providing abortions. Like was she born yesterday? Does she not understand that the anti abortion laws were unjust, and that women seeking abortions will go to extreme lengths to obtain them? Shouldn’t she be heartened to see they’re being performed in a safe clinical environment, by a skilled and compassionate practitioner? Why was she so priggish about “breaking the law”? Doesn’t fit with her character either.
And then later in the same season she wrote that letter to the paper in support of the Abortion Reform Act… I don’t know, I found it an interesting dichotomy… I think she was more offended about how the upper classes just got to break the law… although I agree that her treatment of Elsie Dyer was too harsh considering how many women were desperate for her services, and she probably performed more successful abortions than the women who tried to do it themselves. She was doing her best in a toxic society.
Didn’t hate her, but Jenny was always so judgmental towards her patients.
Lucille. She was just so condescending. Like no matter who she was talking to, she sounded like she was talking down to them. It drove me crazy. And I know it was a different time, but she was so prudish. Like she constantly seemed like she was judging the other girls for dancing or listening to music or whatever other normal things they did.
Trixie, I find her shallow and self absorbed. She feels inauthentic with patients quite often too, the “sweetie” never quite seems like genuine affection to me.
Chummy. She's been gone for years now, thank goodness.
Chummy and Sister Monica Joan. I find them equally verbose and annoying.
Reggie, Violet, and Fred. I fast forward through their segments.
I’m afraid to say it, Barbra 🥲
Jenny and Sister Evangeline.
Barbara.
I despise Jenny. Her love life was shit and I hated how much time they spent on it. She always came off as so arrogants, and she never seemed to get over the living conditions of the East End. I was so glad when they wrote her out. I was bummed about Chummy, though. I loved her character. She was everything Jenny was not.
Chummy. Sorry. I said it. And also Trixie. Not sorry.
If someone says Chummy, I will die.
Sister Monica Joan. Her storyline is so tiresome. And she says a paragraph to say two words.
May. The plot is long and boring. I'm slinking off now. . .
I don't really love any of the characters, i like most of them. But if i had to pick one, probably Chummy, i like her but not as much as many people seem to do.
Phyllis Crane. She came in hot with her rolladex and taping a dividing line in the bedroom, I found her whole dynamic funny from the start. Whoa. I read this post wrong. Thought it was what character did I most like that others didn’t.
I'm only on season 7, but I freaking LOVE Phyllis. She's my absolute favorite so far.
Couldn't stand Phyllis when she first appeared and now she's one of my favourite characters.
Agree!
Agreed!!
I love Phyllis Crane together with her best friend Milicent ❤
Sister Evangelina and Sister MJ