‘Call the Midwife’: 9 Burning Questions After the Emotional Season 15 Finale
The finale of Season 15 of Call the Midwife has come and gone, and with it comes a wave of unanswered questions as the future of Nonnatus House hangs in the balance and Poplar’s beloved midwife team faces the possibility of being scattered for good.
Filled with weddings, heartbreaking passings, emotional goodbyes, closures, and unexpected opportunities, the finale ushered in major changes for nearly everyone connected to Nonnatus House. Longstanding relationships evolved, careers took surprising turns, and several characters found themselves standing at emotional crossroads that could permanently reshape their futures.
Though the fate of the maternity house itself remains uncertain, one thing is clear: life in Poplar is changing faster than ever before, and the women and men who have dedicated themselves to serving the community may soon be forced to find new paths forward. But where? Here are a few questions we have after that Season 15 finale of Call the Midwife. Warning: Spoilers ahead for Call the Midwife Season 15.
Call the Midwife, Season 15, PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS app
What will happen to Nonnatus House?
When Central Supplies requested the return of its medical equipment, including every bed, kidney bowl, and set of clamps, it marked the beginning of the end.
Nonnatus House was facing a major crisis as National Health Service (NHS) restructuring forced the closure of the maternity home. Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) gathered the others and explained that Nonnatus House would become a house of prayer and charity while they considered their next steps. While there were three potential medical missions available, each would require at least a year abroad. She pleaded with the midwives to remain with them for the journey ahead. “All will be well, I promise you,” the sister said, though few seemed convinced.
In the final shot, Nonnatus House bore a handmade sign reading: “Nonnatus House Temporarily Closed.”
Has Trixie found a place outside Nonnatus House?
The Lady Emily Clinic offered Trixie (Helen George) the role of matron at the private hospital, and in the finale, Mr. Scarisbrick (Richard Dillane) attempted to bring her in as a partner, hoping she would also provide access to the funds from the Aylward estate. However, Trixie did not have control over the money, as her mother-in-law, Lady Aylward, oversaw the family finances.
That quickly changed when Trixie learned that Lady Aylward had suffered a sudden stroke and died, a development that dramatically altered the course of her future.
With financial control of the Aylward estate now firmly in the hands of Trixie and her husband, she was offered a seat on the board. Trixie then made a bid for 55% of the clinic, ensuring she would be the one in charge. Her newfound status gave her control over her own future for the first time in years. And with it, she appeared to have firmly left the Order behind.
Will Sister Veronica be happy with her decision?
Sister Veronica (Rebecca Gethings), or Beryl, struggled with her faith throughout the season as her desire to become a mother began to outweigh her calling to serve God. After moving in with Trixie’s brother Geoffrey (Christopher Harper), she found a new lease on life, experimenting with fashion, embracing independence, and discovering entirely new sides of herself.
But it seemed her decision to pursue motherhood had come too late, as menopause reared its ugly head and took the choice from her. “I’ve been beaten by my own biology,” she admitted heartbreakingly.
“If I go back, I can hold babies every day,” Sister Veronica said. “I know the things I dreamed of weren’t meant for me.” Alongside Geoffrey, she said goodbye to Beryl and the brief taste of freedom and possibility she had allowed herself to experience, seemingly accepting that her path still lay with the Order, even if part of her heart longed for something more.
Will Rosalind's parents ever accept Cyril?
Rosalind (Natalie Quarry) and Cyril (Zephryn Taitte) may have married in a civil ceremony, but they were still surrounded by the people who loved them most as they exchanged their vows. Well, almost everyone, as Rosalind’s parents were notably absent after refusing to support the relationship due to Cyril being Black. While their absence was noted, the day was full of joy.
The couple even received a blessing from a dying Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt), who gifted them a teddy bear for their unborn child in one of the finale’s most heartbreaking moments.
The people of Poplar came out to celebrate the newlyweds, cheering as Rosalind and Cyril were whisked away to begin their honeymoon and the next chapter of their lives together. They are off to a happy start, but will Rosalind’s parents ever accept their new son-in-law?
What will happen with the Turners?
Dr. Turner (Stephen McGann) and his wife, Nurse Shelagh Turner (Laura Main), became synonymous with Nonnatus House, serving as the steady heart of Poplar for years. But with Nonnatus House closed and the future of its midwifery services uncertain, where the couple would continue their work became another question entirely. Dr. Turner did what he could to keep the clinic open, but alas, his efforts were not enough. And while he will clearly continue practicing in the community, where and how remains unclear. What the finale did make clear, however, was that the Turners’ commitment to the people they serve had not changed. And his son will join him by his side, having finished his medical training.
What will Nurse Joyce Highland return to the midwife team?
Joyce (Renee Bailey) admitted to Phyllis (Linda Bassett) that she had applied for an acting Sister position at St. Cuthbert’s Hospital and had been invited in for an interview. During the meeting, she was candid about her reluctance to return to a district-run hospital, explaining that she needed structure and order to provide the best possible care. Joyce spoke passionately about wanting to work in an environment where standards could still be upheld and where she could help patients to the best of her abilities. Needless to say, she got the job. But does that mean goodbye to Nonnatus House?
What will happen to Sister Catherine?
Call the Midwife Sister Catherine (Molly Vevers) had quite a trying year, especially considering it was her first year as a fully professed nun and midwife at Nonnatus House. Faced with overwhelming responsibility, emotional setbacks, and moments of self-doubt, she was forced to grow up quickly as she learned what it truly meant to serve the community of Poplar. Between tending to the final moments of Sister Monica Joan, the near-death of premature baby James, and the kidnapping of baby Colin, she has been tested emotionally, spiritually, and professionally at nearly every turn. She has grown all the more because of it, but where will she go from here?
Will Nurse Phyllis and Millicent Higgins ever start that detective agency?
Looking for new employment, Miss Higgins (Georgie Glen) floated the idea to Phyllis of starting a detective agency inspired by the novels of Dorothy L. Sayers. Miss Higgins would investigate suspicious characters while Phyllis, armed with her nursing credentials and no-nonsense attitude, would trail suspects or “even give chase!” They even came up with a suitably snazzy name: The Miss-Adventures Agency. Or perhaps The Miss-Demeanors. They were still workshopping it.
The pair shared a good chuckle over the idea, but honestly, these days, the BBC would probably buy that pitch in a heartbeat.
Is this the end of Call the Midwife?
No, though it may seem that way, the show is not ending. Instead, it is heading into an extended hiatus. The next chapter of the story will continue in the upcoming Call the Midwife film, which is expected to be set in 1972, though no official release date has been announced just yet.
And while Season 16 has already been renewed, fans may be waiting a bit longer for its return, as a prequel series is also currently in development. At this point, the bigger question is not whether the series will return, but when audiences will next step back into Poplar.
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One of my favorite series. I was moved by the loss of Sister Monica. It was wonderful to see Sister Maude again albeit ever so briefly. Hers was another tragic loss when she died in the series a few years back. I also loved the retrospective of photos of past characters but they missed a few from the earlier years.
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Sister Maude? Do you mean Evangelina?
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