I missed Fred last week, and apparently so did the writers, because he's back with a vengeance, engaging some local youths in a water gun fight out in the garden. Never change, Fred. One welcome change? The return of Baby Doctor! He presents himself to Miss Higgins, and we find out that his train got in a day early and he thought he might as well show up for Tuesday clinic. Miss Higgins is annoyed that he's here and in the way, and assumes Dr. Turner will be on her side, but he's too busy being OVERJOYED to have a sidekick. Miss Higgins obviously doesn't take that lying down, and snipes at Baby Doctor to move his luggage and get out of the way before he's allowed to go see patients.

This episode opens on a death bed so… strap in guys, this week might be a lot (that is, on the show... let's be honest, I already know this week has been a lot in real life 🙃). As always, the Nonnatus sisters are the helpful calm in the storm, comforting the family through grief. While Sisters Julienne and Monica Joan head back from this pretty intense morning (which doesn't seem to mess them up too much; after all, it’s kind of their job), back at the house, the nurses chat about an exciting new film: The Sound of Mother Freakin' Music. Phyllis somehow missed the memo about the new movie, but she saw the musical years ago. It’s a classic Phyllis saga: the gal she went with fell asleep and the woman next to her was knitting despite Phyllis's TUTTING. Shameless. Trixie informs her that they turned the play into a movie and it’s great. You know who else is stoked? Sister Monica Joan, obviously!

Welcome back to Poplar, where Sister Julienne just can't catch a break. As if the "we're knocking your house down AGAIN" memo from the council wasn't bad enough, she's also received a note from Mother Mildred. Apparently Mildred's missive is so important that Julienne runs out into a torrential downpour to speak with Dr. Turner, and looks so wide-eyed and bonkers that even Miss Higgins backs off of her questioning. Here’s the deal: Mother M is concerned about the order’s position in Poplar, and so is Sister Julienne.

It's spring in Poplar, and you know what that means: it's time for Phyllis to visit the school to see its community garden and check on their vaccinations. It's kind of cool that they can just make every student follow a heavily tested life-saving protocol; makes you think! Today we meet two new students: brothers called Rahul and Jalal. These adorable scamps just recently emigrated from Sylhet in East Pakistan, and have a great grasp of English thanks to their mom. Their vaccination records are a little funky, and while Phyllis can see that they've got scarring consistent with vaccinations it's impossible to say what for. Thankfully, Phyllis LOVES to follow up on things, so they should be all set.

It's Lent in Poplar (and according to Google, in real life as well!) so everybody is going without. Once again I am forced to say TOO REAL, Call The Midwife! In typical fashion, many of our favorites are struggling with their Lenten resolutions, including Fred, who nearly gets away with sneaking an eclair before Violet catches him. Lucille, who has an impressively iron will, gets Trixie and Val to throw out their cigarettes. Hopefully this will encourage them to quit; I don't want any of my television children indulging bad habits.

Every season, the Drama After Dark team gathers ‘round the conference room table to watch the latest and greatest in British dramas. We're thrilled to be bringing you coverage of perennial PBS favorite, Call The Midwife. This show has everything: hard-working nurses, sassy nuns, and gut-wrenching emotional trauma that somehow keeps you wanting more. I’m here to recap the season as it happens just in case you, dear reader, miss an episode and haven’t yet been able to catch up on WGBH Passport.

PBS’ Call The Midwife returns in just about a week, which means that unless you’re VERY dedicated and have the week off, you won’t have time to binge the…

They tell me this is the final episode of the season. Am I ready to acknowledge that fact? Absolutely not! Charlotte takes to the beach to process Sidney’s declaration from last episode — and maybe in hopes of "gathering some shells"? No judgments here! She gets back home in time to see an awkward-looking Sidney and Tom, who is positively thrilled that everything is finally going so well with Sanditon. Undeterred, Charlotte stops by to visit Georgiana and tries to convince her to reconsider her whole "I'm the founding member and president of the I Hate Sidney Parker Club" thing. Charlotte's evidence: he’s nice, he bought out Otis’ debts, and he’s tender!

We're back in Sanditon and Charlotte is looking real sad. Why? Because she’s watching Lady D’s VERY still body. But don't panic, gentle reader: she's not dead yet! Per Dr. Fuchs, Lady D's condition is still very serious and she likely won’t last the night. Clara starts sobbing crocodile tears, Folgers Bro goes to “pay his respects” i.e. hover creepily by the bed hoping to get a last dig in, and Folgers Sister actually looks legit upset. The Parker family heads out, with Mary suggesting that they might want to postpone the regatta, given the situation. Tom's not into that plan: if Lady D dies, they'll be without an investor and fully bankrupt. This is obviously a bitter pill for Mom Parker to swallow, but she asked for honesty, so swallow she does.

Episode 6 opens with Charlotte waking up JUST as her carriage arrives in London, which belies a level of public transportation napping skills of which I am extremely jealous. The city is just as inhospitable as you’d expect it to be for our country mouse. Charlotte tries to get directions to the street where Otis lives only to be ignored by her fellow passengers and a string of almost comically terrible Central Casting Slum People, who sneer and barf in her general direction. Charlotte gets to Otis’ address and SURPRISE, he doesn’t actually live there. Maybe if Charlotte had bribed the proprietor she would have had more success, but as it stands, he's not super helpful. She does find out that the guy is essentially functioning as a PO box for Otis, and thus has no idea where Otis is.