(Monday 4^th – Friday 15^th May 2020)

I always love a week that starts with lots of Zara Carmichael!  Monday 4^th began with Zara stepping up to support Ruhma at her hearing regarding her suspension from work.  Ruhma and her somewhat pointless advocate attempted to explain what happened.  While Ruhma does have an exemplary record, apparently some ridiculous people have jumped on the bandwagon and claimed that she was too tactile with them.  Firstly, Ruhma is Call the Midwife worthy so anyone that complained, quite frankly, how dare you?  Secondly, how hands-off do people want their midwife to be during labour?  Do they expect her to stand at the other end of the room and yell out instructions or something?  Anyway, Zara was told to keep her mouth shut but let’s face it, this is Zara.  When does she ever stay quiet, especially when it comes to standing up for those she cares about?  So she said exactly what she thought.  Unfortunately, the decision was made to investigate further (how, exactly?) and keep Ruhma’s suspension in place.  Ludicrous!

She didn’t, of course and when she received an urgent call from one of her pregnant Mums who was being abused by her husband, she felt she had no choice but to rush to her aid, bringing the vulnerable young woman, Tanya to her home to stay.  Zara proved herself to be truly fabulous when she discovered what Ruhma was up to and opted not to roll over on her.  In fact, she even provided a prescription for Tanya when she needed it.  The moment that Daniel caught Ruhma and Zara together at the surgery and Zara declared that Ruhma had chronic thrush in order to scare him away was pure gold, warning him not to waylay a woman with ‘burning plumbing’!  Hilarious.

Unfortunately, Tanya’s husband successfully tracked her down and there was an incredible showdown at the house, thankfully resolved by Shak, although Ruhma really held her own.  The scenes were really intense and brilliantly shot.  My only criticism is Ruhma’s assertion to Zara that Tanya wouldn’t be eligible for housing support.  She’s pregnant and fleeing domestic violence.  She would be considered priority need.  But that doesn’t take away from a really gripping and emotive story.  And the good news is that the police were called so hopefully she can get the help and support she needs.  But I do worry that Ruhma is going to get into more trouble at work now…

Speaking of trouble…  Rob came home from a bad day at work (he failed his unconscious bias test, suggesting he has racial bias!) to find foster kid, Jay smoking weed in the garden.  Hitting the roof, he decided that Jay had to leave despite his explanation that cannabis controls his epilepsy and he doesn’t have entitlement to CBD oil on the NHS.  Rob eventually gave in on the promise he wouldn’t smoke but after his fits began again and she failed to get any support from her colleagues over the CBD oil, Karen did possibly the most stupid thing she has ever done, which is to go and by weed from a dealer and supply it to Jay.  Firstly, it’s obviously illegal.  Secondly, she’s married to a policeman.  Thirdly, it’s completely disrespectful, knowing Rob’s position on the matter.  And lastly, it’s completely irresponsible to supply marijuana to her foster child, regardless of her good intentions.

Of course, Jay goes through the supply extremely quickly, sending her back to ‘Big Red’ for more.  On her way out, she bumped into one of Rob’s colleagues where she completely messed up and got caught with the drugs.  Making up a story about chronic back pain, the police officer took pity on her and let her off on the promise that she wouldn’t tell anyone she hadn’t reported the offence.  But let’s face it, there’s no way this isn’t going to come out and have serious consequences.  I like Karen a lot but she is making a big mistake here.

Sid and Valerie conspired to get Bear and Ayesha together for Ayesha’s birthday but it didn’t quite go to plan.  For starters, while nobody but Jimmi and Emma turned up to the party, Valerie pulled and Ayesha got very drunk.  But Sid and Bear didn’t make it at all, as they were pulled over by a disgustingly racist police officer.  She had no reason to stop them.  She assumed they were up to no good for one reason only and when she couldn’t find them doing anything wrong, she held them at the side of the road ‘doing checks’ for an excruciatingly long time.  She wavered when she found out Sid’s occupation and finally let them go when he name-dropped Sergeant Rob Hollins.  It was so uncomfortable to watch, as it should have been.  To know that this actually happens.  And for what reason?  She could have been out, catching actual criminals, instead of good, hardworking men off to a party.  Both of them ended up too shaken to go to the party but Bear implored Sid to make a complaint.

Ayesha woke up completely confused in unfamiliar surroundings, which understandably sent her into a spin after the last time she didn’t remember the night before.  Thankfully, what happened this time was she lost her keys and kind Jimmi took her back to his, where she threw up and he had to get her changed and put her to bed.  Ever the gentleman, he went out the next morning and got breakfast.  You’ve just got to love Jimmi Clay!

Later in the week, Ayesha suddenly did a full 180 and decided she did like Bear after all when at the beginning of the week, she absolutely hated him.  And I genuinely cannot fathom that anything at all happened to make that change.  But anyway, they go to the wildest club night consisting of about six people including the DJ ‘DJ Smithy’, who is a friend of Bear’s, at around lunch time on a weekday.  I mean, is that what people do now?  Clubbing on a Wednesday afternoon?  (I mean, not now, obviously, everyone’s at home, watching Doctors, shielding from Covid-19).  Or did a night shoot not fit with the interconnecting storylines?

Ayesha supported a family whose father was waiting for a kidney transplant and whose son has offered himself as an anonymous living donor, having been rejected by his Dad for being gay.  Wow, that’s a complicated family situation.  With her encouragement, Bear made a statement against the racist police officer from last week.  I am so relieved!

Emma’s new found fame as an LGBTQ+ advocate puts her in touch with a woman who has kept her sexuality hidden all her life.  Mother and grandmother, she was married for years but fell in love with a woman, who she nearly ran away with but couldn’t abandon her daughter, who she now has a difficult relationship with.  She has spent her life longing for this woman to come back for her.  It’s a really sad, complicated, well written story.  I love that from this radio interview and Emma’s bravery has come an influx of questions and people needing advice, to the point that Al has ended up setting up an ‘Auntie Em’ advice website for her!  Another string to her bow!

Al spent a day trying to help a woman battling with her memory, trapped in the past on the night when her daughter was murdered, resulting in her attacking a man by mistake.  It’s a truly haunting and at times, confusing story, really well written and put together, capturing the sheer bewilderment and distress this woman is experiencing.  The following week, he got caught up with an old friend that he clearly fancied who had been sucked into working for the DWP and was manipulated into signing off a patient as being fit to work, as he wasn’t provided with all the information.  The man was desperate not to sign on and Al’s friend had quotas to meet.  Al stopped fancying her pretty quick.

Next week, despite Doctors ceasing filming due to the Coronavirus, the show does appear to still be airing every weekday on BBC1 at 1:45pm