Does Fred Buckle die calling the midwife? Cliff Parisi’s Character Fare Explained

Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi) has been a Call the midwife mainstay since the show’s first season, but season 13 saw Fred experience his worst health, leading many to question whether he would even make it to season 14. Call the midwife is a British period drama series that follows the nuns and midwives of Nonnatus House, a nursing convent serving the lower-class English town of Poplar in the East End in the 1950s. Fred Buckle is the house’s constant handyman. Nonnatus House, and although he has had some rather unscrupulous jobs in the past, he has a heart of gold.

Fred began the series as a widower, having lost his wife in World War II. Father of two adult daughters from his first marriage, Fred finds love again with Violet Gee (Annabelle Appison), the city’s haberdasher, whom he marries in season 4. Although Fred has a lot of love in his life, having also adopted his second cousin, Reggie (Daniel Laurie), he doesn’t always ask those around him for help when dealing with physical ailments that increase as he ages. When Fred faces his scariest story in Call the midwife season 13, it looks like the beloved caretaker won’t survive.

Fred Buckle survives a near-death case of tetanus in Call The Midwife season 13

This leads to aspiration pneumonia, but Fred makes a full recovery

In Call the midwife season 13, episode 3, Fred cuts his hand trying to fix a lawnmower. Reggie runs out to find help and Fred finds himself at Nonnatus House, being attended to by Trixie (Helen George). She asks Fred if he is up to date on his “jabs” (vaccinations), but Fred is so distracted by Violet’s upcoming run for mayor that he responds in the affirmative, even though he has not been vaccinated since his time in the army.

Not long after, Fred passes out. His injury worsens and Trixie diagnoses him with tetanus. Things only get worse from there, which is heartbreaking, because if Fred had realized that he was, in fact, behind on his “jabs,” Trixie might have given him the vaccine he needed. But even after a round of penicillin, Fred continues to worsen and ends up being placed on a ventilator after his condition develops into aspiration pneumonia.making it difficult for him to breathe.

Violet visits and opens her heart to Fred, who doesn’t respond, and it really feels like it’s time for him. Call the midwife is coming to an end. However, on a visit to Reggie and his sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt), Fred is able to move his hands and feetopen your eyes and speak. Sister Monica Joan gives the good news to Nonnatus House that “The Lord expressed his gracious will and Fred regained physical health.“To cap off the episode’s happy ending, Violet wins the mayoral race.

Although some criticisms have been made Call the midwife as by rarely, if ever, killing off its main characters, Fred’s departure would have left an unfillable void in the series. The series is a serious medical drama, but it’s also uplifting and hopeful, and a big part of that is thanks to characters like Fred.

What’s Next for Fred Buckle In Call The Midwife Season 14

He will probably continue his happy life with Violet and Reggie

Although Fred was the center of attention in his health scare episode, he sat in the backseat of the other Call the midwife main characters throughout the rest of the season. However, he had a touching moment at the end of season 13, in the storyline centered on Poplar’s Mother of the Year competition. Reggie shows the town his miniature garden, consisting of ivy for his biological mother and violets for Violet. When he becomes too emotional to continue his speech, Fred replaces him.

Although a large part Call the midwife season 14 will likely revolve around what happens with Trixie and Matthew (Olly Rix), and if they return from New York, the stalwart Fred will definitely be present. Even though Season 13 showed that he wasn’t always happy about having to attend his wife’s mayoral functions – especially when there are fireworks to see – Fred will always be there for Violet and Reggie. And hopefully he’ll stay up to date on his scams.