Call the Midwife series 12 episode six spoilers follow.
Of all the characters in Call the Midwife, Trixie (Helen George) has arguably undergone the most growth throughout the show's 12-series run.
The fun-loving party girl has had to face her burdensome childhood, where she was made to care for her shell-shocked veteran father. She's battled with alcoholism and come out stronger for it on the other side, able to support others going through the same thing.
All this is to say that series 12's Trixie is not the same girl who held fag-and-tipple parties in her bedroom for the midwives after hours.
She's grown up quite a bit over the years and while her dancing shoes may not come out quite as often, her fashion-forward views, zest for life and bold, outspoken opinions thankfully remain.
It's frustrating then, that this new, more mature Trixie's growth is occasionally stunted by shallow views that don't seem to align with the woman she's become. You may not have noticed this trivialisation, or neglect of her growth. Or maybe it niggled at you while you were watching but you weren't quite sure why.
The first sign was when Trixie casually explained why she chose her bridesmaids.
"Cousin Polly's Twins," she exclaimed brightly as Nonnatus nuns and midwives sat having lunch. "They're blond, six and look like me. It'll give a wonderful symmetry to the wedding photos."
At first impressions it doesn't seem like much. Her pickiness can be chalked up to her tendency to be particular about aesthetics. But the more the thought sits – Trixie, this fiercely warm, compassionate, person – picking her bridesmaids purely for the 'symmetry' doesn't quite match up with her true nature.
One can well believe she'd be exact when it came to the right hair ties, the type of shoes – satin or patent – but it becomes trivial when attributed to people and that's not Trixie.
Her eyebrow-raising admission can be forgiven, as she even later recognises it as a blunder when her bridesmaids don't show up for their fitting. She is then forced to reconsider who she'd like there to support her on her big day.
Upon reflection, she realises that Colette (Francesca Fullilove), the daughter of her fellow midwife Nancy (Megan Cusack), would be a much better fit, stating: "I realise that I only want bridesmaids who I care for deeply." Now that's more like Trixie.
If this was the episode's only Trixie transgression then maybe it wouldn't matter so much, but it wasn't.
Her character development is thrown into question yet again when she laughs at Nancy for pronouncing "haute couture" as "haughty couture".
It takes her a beat too long to register her snigger as unkindness.
Trixie does eventually accept Nancy's suggestion for an alternative designer when her chosen person falls through, and she does so with gratitude and humility but not before embarrassing Nancy. It's an odd scene. One that directly juxtaposes Trixie's supportive, kind personality.
Sure she appreciates luxury and this is reflected in her very put-together appearance. She's also been known to correct a faux pas or two in the past. However while she may jest with her friends and steer them in a more knowledgeable direction, it is always in lightness.
The degrading note to her dismissive laugh insinuates a lack of maturity and an absence of consideration of another's feelings, however momentary. Again not Trixie.
Her lapse of judgement can easily be argued away by fans as wedding stress. After all she is a fan favourite for a reason. Her bright personality, fearsome protectiveness and vulnerability has earned her that.
Avid watchers will also know that finding love has been no mean feat either. Trixie has been Call the Midwife's poster girl for 'unlucky in love' and while marriage is not the gold standard of success for a woman, there's also nothing wrong with wanting to find a fulfilling love.
This is something nurse Franklin has been passionate about from the start and it's finally happening.
After her false start with ex-fiancé Reverend Tom Hereward (Jack Ashton), she's found her ideal match, so fans know how much this wedding means to her.
However it would be preferable if the stress didn't manifest in distasteful ways that don't sit with who Trixie is. After all, she's anything but distasteful.
Call the Midwife airs on Sunday nights on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer.
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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
