Call the Midwife season 14, episode 2 spoilers below.
This week's episode of Call the Midwife saw the return of Olly Rix's character Matthew… in the form of a letter. (Call the Midwife seems to be making a thing of spousal mail this season).
In the penned correspondence from Trixie's (Helen George) long-distance beau was a lock of her step-son Jonty's (Archie O'Callaghan) hair, causing her to well up with emotion after working a particularly rough case.
The case in question led to the temporary separation of a mother, Arlene (Abigail Hood), from her child because of mental illness. At least we hope it's temporary.
Matthew's words came at just the right time and no doubt had Trixie longing to be with her family. Yet while she (and we) are anxious for the pair to be reunited, their separation has been one of the best things for Trixie's character arc.
In fact it's birthed a Trixie we've never seen before, at least not wholly.
What to Read Next
Although initially painted as the dedicated yet vivacious, bubbly midwife, there was always a flip side to Trixie marred with darkness owing to her troubled upbringing.
The character struggled with alcoholism relatively early on in the show's history. Her battle with sobriety over the course of Call the Midwife has had its peaks and troughs and peppered in between those was a turbulent love life which resulted in one too many crushing heartbreaks for Trixie.
These storylines have created a character with a rich tapestry full of depth and colour both in darkness and light but admittedly it's been hard to disassociate Trixie from either her quest for a fulfilling love (least we forget her godmother's marriage bureau 'assistance') or her struggles.
Related: Best film and TV tours for 2025
Even when she finally 'got her man', Trixie's drive for self-realisation and career growth was viewed through the lens of her romance and how her quest for progress would affect her relationship.
Last season, while she soared and Matthew secretly floundered, the emphasis for the viewer became the fear of her losing the love and the personal life that she'd worked to have.
Once the truth of Matthew's problems was revealed their marital spats worsened, putting strain on their relationship. The further they grew apart, the more Trixie struggled with low moods that seeped into her efficiency as a midwife.
News of Rix's possible exit also created the same panic amongst the Call the Midwife community: 'Is this the end of Matthew and Trixie?' and 'How will she fare without him?'
Just fine as it turns out. In fact, she's thriving. The recent case of the labouring mother is proof of how far she's come from season 13's unfocused chaos and she's approaching midwifery with a renewed passion.
The devastating outcome for Arlene and Trixie's inability to help the mother because of the lack of resources available has spurred her desire to advocate for vulnerable pregnant women struggling with poor mental health.
More central to Trixie's season 14 story arc will be her actions against the board of health.
As one of the most senior midwives Trixie has been enlisted into Sister Julienne's (Jenny Agutter) mission to fight back against the board of health, who are putting pressure on Nonnatus house to make drastic changes to their way of nursing and midwifery.
All these are part of the things that make Trixie whole (as she alluded to in the Christmas special) and they are shaping her into a more well-rounded, interesting character.
This version of Trixie is one we've never seen before. She's the strongest she's ever been, the most secure and the most confident.
Related: Why everyone quit Call the Midwife
That's not to say Matthew made her lesser or that the character shouldn't come back (please come back Rix). In fact, it's even likely that her marriage – one that fulfils her romantically but still allows her to honour her needs – becoming strong again is part of the reason that she is thriving.
It's also fantastic and exciting to see what Call The Midwife is doing with her in his absence.
Instead of having Trixie pine and lament over the state of their relationship, or making their separation the crux of her storyline this season, the showrunner Heidi Thomas is busy giving Trixie more layers. She's making her even more colourful than the woman who danced in Nonnatus kitchen singing Ella Fitzgerald 'Embraceable You' with a wooden spoon.
However, if you're craving a bit of Nonnatus romance, there's always Cyril (Zephryn Taitte) and Rosalind (Natalie Quarry) to keep an eye on. As complicated and heartaching as it seems to be unfolding, that peck on the cheek suggests there's more to come from these two.
Call the Midwife airs weekly on BBC One on Sundays at 8pm and streams on BBC iPlayer.
Read more Call the Midwife news on our dedicated homepage
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.
