For ten seasons, Call the Midwife has quietly established itself as one of the most important shows on television by tackling issues relating to women's health, poverty, and race head on. Set in London's East End in the 1950s, the series follows the lives of a group of nuns and midwives who have dedicated themselves to helping the people in their community in any way they can.
Over the years, the cast has seen numerous new additions and exits, but the warm heart of the series never wavers. Somehow Call the Midwife has found a way to be hard-hitting without compromising the humanity of its characters or giving up on the idea that people are basically good. In short, it is a triumph, and it's easily one of the greatest shows, period or otherwise, to ever grace our screens.
Watch Call the Midwife on BBC iPlayer.