This month, the midwives are celebrating an extraordinary feat: 100 years since the Order of St Raymond Nonnatus arrived in Poplar. Yes, a century! And to think that after all those years and dedication to the community the Department of Health tried to run them right out of the neighborhood. SMH #neverforget. A centenary party to honor the Order is in store as this week’s episode begins, but already the events are in disarray when lead party planner, Sister Julienne, falls ill with an ear infection. Forced to take bed rest (doctor’s orders!), the task must be handed down to one of her friends. After all, the show must go on!

On the Way to Stardom

As Sister Julienne determines who she’ll pass the baton to, a young singer on the rise, Julie Haig, is getting ready for a show of her own. Living her dream, Julie performs for clubs all over Poplar, and has even signed a contract with a label to record her first single. Yet when one of her performances ends with a dizzy spell on stage, she’s forced to face a secret she’s been hiding for months: she’s pregnant.

Though she’s been able to keep mum both to her manager, Mo, and the baby’s father, Jeff, Julie’s unable to manage the pain any longer and finally seeks out medical advice. Along with her mother Thelma, Julie pays a visit to Dr. Turner only to discover that she has a water infection. Her plans to continue concealing the pregnancy are squashed when she realizes she won’t recover in time for an audition Mo has scheduled for her on Associated Television. When the news is finally unveiled, Mo tells both women that the record label will likely drop the contract with Julie when they learn she’s an unmarried mother. Worried for her daughter’s well being and having her dreams come crashing down, Thelma does what she thinks is best and reaches out to Jeff, who’s enlisted in Germany.

A Party to Remember

At Nonnatus House, Sister Hilda eagerly offers her assistance for the centenary celebrations, but Sister Julienne doesn’t seem too keen on putting her in charge. Perhaps too much punch from parties past and Lucille’s pre-wedding black eye is to blame? Instead, she calls on her longtime friend and former sister of the Order, Shelagh, to do the honors, trusting her to put on an event that represents the Order and all that its done without being too showy. (Don’t worry, Sister Hilda, we’d still have you organize our parties any day.)

Nancy and Bernard

Though the Order is fortunate enough to have made it to 100 years, not everyone in Poplar has been so lucky. As building demolitions continue across town, homelessness has begun to escalate and with it the presence of meths drinkers who have been evicted from their homes. Many of the other locals are quick to show their prejudice against them, but some like Fred Buckle show more empathy for their circumstances. When Violet and Nancy mock one man’s odor when he walks into the Buckle’s store seeking alcohol, Fred scolds them for their reaction and follows after the man to offer him free cigarettes and a soda.

After this incident, and feeling guilty for her harsh judgment, Nancy visits the man where he’s been spending time in the community garden near Nonnatus House. Noticing his limp from prior interactions around the neighborhood, she brings him a walking stick. The two become better acquainted and Nancy learns that the man’s name is Bernard and that like herself, his mother was originally from Ireland. In an act of redemption, Nancy offers to look at Bernard’s foot at Dr. Turner’s surgery, but he refuses, downplaying the severity of his condition.

The Community Grievances

Despite warming up to Bernard and coming to acknowledge the challenges of his life and that of his peers, Nancy still remains one of the few who doesn’t mind their presence around town. The tension between some of Poplar’s residents and the meths drinkers heightens, and at a town hall meeting before the council, many community members question the ongoing demolition projects, which have resulted in meths drinkers relocating to the streets. Trixie and Matthew ask Violet about additional funding to keep Nonnatus House in the area without having to rely on charity and private donations, but their request is overshadowed by the others’ frustrations.

A Meeting with the Minister

Following a somewhat hostile meeting to hear out her constituents, Violet promises to take their concerns to Lord Stonham and the House of Commons. Both excited and sweat-behind-the-knees nervous to bring Poplar’s issues forward, Violet returns home after a 40-minute meeting with the Minister frustrated with his plan of action. She tells Fred that rather than helping those who have been displaced find accommodations during the demolitions, one councilor convinced the Minister that they should increase police arrests and dispersal of the meths drinkers to different areas outside of Poplar.

Difficult Decisions for the Future

Over at the Haigs’ where meths drinkers are the last thing on their minds, Phyllis stops by to talk through Julie’s labor preparations. Their appointment is soon interrupted by Mo, who informs Julie that he’s taken it upon himself to research residential nurseries where mothers can house their babies year-round. Naturally, money and fame trump children for Mo, and he urges Julie to take him up on his offer or lose her chance at a singing career forever. Though Phyllis promptly asks him to leave, another surprise visitor makes his way to their home to complete the impromptu gathering. After learning that Julie is pregnant, Jeff has made the trek back from Germany to help care for their baby.

Passing Down Duties to an Old Friend

As Julie battles with a choice between her family and career (wow are we glad times have changed), important decisions are also being made at Nonnatus House. Shelagh brings her party plans for the centenary event to a bedridden Sister Julienne, and much to Sister Hilda’s dismay, she receives Sister Julienne’s stamp of approval on every part. With decorations to gather and even a special surprise in the works for the Order, Shelagh dives into her party planning while Dr. Turner takes on a separate task of his own - perhaps one of the most challenging of his career. (Challenging for us to watch at least.)

Bernard’s True Conditions

After his conversation with Nancy, Bernard has a change of heart and visits Dr. Turner’s office to meet with her to have his foot examined. However, he’s quickly met with hostility when a waiting patient exclaims that having him in the building is unsanitary. Miss Higgins only shames him further by asking him to wait outside while she consults with the doctor. Embarrassed by the interaction, Bernard leaves.

Later that night, Dr. Turner, Fred and Nancy travel to an old bomb site where they think Bernard might be with other meths drinkers. When they find him, they’re initially met with some resistance, but Nancy encourages him to let them help. When she removes his shoe so they can take a better look at what’s bothering his foot, the actual worst thing imaginable happens. His foot comes off with it. Really, the whole foot. The entire trio is SHOOK by the removal but Bernard isn’t bothered at all, claiming that he didn’t even feel it. After a quick examination of the foot 😭 Dr. Turner confirms that Bernard wouldn’t have sensed it because he has gangrene. Not the hopeful patch up job they were expecting that evening, they call in an ambulance to take Bernard to the hospital where he’ll have part of his leg amputated. Oof- this one has traumatized us for life.

Wedding and a Baby

Meanwhile, after the day’s chaos at the Haigs’ home, Jeff and Julie finally have a chance to talk about their future one-on-one. Jeff proposes with a garnet ring and reveals he’s applied for a special license that will allow them to get married within the week. As it turns out, he’s also gone AWOL from his service in Germany to return to Poplar and start their family. Yikes. Nothing screams romance quite like that.

Despite some hesitation, Julie agrees and the two have a small ceremony, which also happens to be the same day that she goes into labor. Celebrations all around! Seeing her daughter for the first time is all she needs to confirm that she’d rather be with her child than have her put up in a nursery, even if that means sacrificing her music career.

Taking Care of Poplar’s Own

Meanwhile, following his deeply upsetting evening with Bernard, Fred returns home to Violet who’s torn as she tries to find a way to appease all of her constituents’ needs. After being an unfortunate witness to Bernard’s troubles, Fred reminds her that despite the majority voice concerned with meths drinkers on the streets, people like Bernard are her constituents too.

At the hospital, Nancy keeps Bernard company while he recovers following his surgery but unfortunately his battle doesn’t end with his amputation and pneumonia sets in. During their time together, the two continue to bond and they reflect on how they both lost their mothers when they were young. With each passing year becoming more difficult after his mother’s death, Bernard recalled how he joined the navy when he was 14 and started drinking when he was 16. In Bernard’s final moments, Nancy is there for him until he passes.

Later, when Nancy meets with Dr. Turner and Violet to discuss Bernard’s burial, Violet makes a promise that she and the council will do better to protect others like him. Like the hostels that have been set up across Poplar to help ailing TB patients, she vows to fight for similar arrangements for people who suffer from alcohol addiction. Though she admits it will take time, if they’re granted funding at all, it’s a step in the right direction. Ready for a pick-me-up? We are too.

A Centenary to Remember

Though this week’s patients have really tested the midwives - Nancy, mostly - we end on a high note as the group moves forward with Nonnatus House’s centenary event. Just like their care for Poplar locals like Bernard, it’s an important moment to mark their long history with the community.

Everyone makes an effort to help pull the party together and perhaps one of the house’s biggest supporters, Matthew, joins for the commemoration. After so much time bonding together in the year following his wife’s passing, Nonnatus House’s private donor finally opens up to Trixie about his feelings for her. His proclamation ends with a kiss (!!!) and really, while we would’ve been satisfied with ending the episode there, the weather clears up just in time for Shelagh’s surprise. A choir made up of Poplar’s locals arrives to sing for the house and balloons are released into the sky. It’s a perfect moment to honor the womens’ hard work and to wrap up this week’s gut-wrenching episode.

Forgot how we got here? Catch up on “Call the Midwife” with the Season 11, Episode 2 GIF Recap.