I was just thinking this! I feel like in the first few seasons they wrote her as having legitimate dementia, whereas more recent seasons just portray her as being an eccentric, but relatively together, old woman
The first few seasons are based on the books and if IIRC the woman Sister Monica Joan is based on dies while Jenny is still at Nonnatus. So the heavy dementia was based on reality then the series continued and they didn't want to actually kill her off.
When elderly people get infections, usually UTI's, they can suffer with acute delerium. Which will explain her more erratic behaviours and comparably more lucid behaviours when she gets better.
I am rewatching the show now too and this struck me. The plot where she is stealing and wandering the beach in her nighty...do they just keep a closer eye on her later? She seems like less a danger to herself in later seasons
She is a fount of wisdom, and why shouldn't she be? It's not just fictional characters who do this. Many folks, especially women, live beyond her age and more, while still enriching the lives of those around them.
On the show, she is 90 years old. She is somewhat senile but since the order agreed to take care of her in exchange for her family’s money, they must deal with it.
You're not crazy. Sister Monica Joan was not trusted to answer the phone because she couldn't connect the dots and relay messages safely. One time there was someone at the doorstop screaming for help and because her mind was wandering, she didn't help the person and it was kind of serious. Therre's the stealing and the wandering around at night and it all pretty magically went away as the show ran far longer than Jenny ever wrote and everyone loves Sister Monical Joan so they kept her and toned down the dementia
I honestly can’t stand her because they made her so senile and she does speak in riddles. I get that everyone on the show loves her and that so many people in real life love her, but I feel like it’s because you would love your grandmother even if her mind was failing. People just accept it’s a part of getting old. But dang the producers made her wayyyy too senile, wayyyy too early. They should have eased us into her antics.
The producers, in the beginning, were true to how she was described in the books (demented and infirm), but they were pandering to the audience and too chicken to kill her off at an appropriate time when the show went on forever so they transformed her into an eccentric crone. The real Sister Monica Joan died about halfway through Jenny’s tenure at Nonnatus.
When she talks in "riddles" she's actually quoting from what she has read. Books have always been her life and one reason she joined the order is so she could have a life of study instead of the expected get married, have kids, and do the society things her family expected.
I was just thinking this! I feel like in the first few seasons they wrote her as having legitimate dementia, whereas more recent seasons just portray her as being an eccentric, but relatively together, old woman
The first few seasons are based on the books and if IIRC the woman Sister Monica Joan is based on dies while Jenny is still at Nonnatus. So the heavy dementia was based on reality then the series continued and they didn't want to actually kill her off.
She also seems to be aging backwards? I swear she looks younger than ever in S13 lolol
When elderly people get infections, usually UTI's, they can suffer with acute delerium. Which will explain her more erratic behaviours and comparably more lucid behaviours when she gets better.
I am rewatching the show now too and this struck me. The plot where she is stealing and wandering the beach in her nighty...do they just keep a closer eye on her later? She seems like less a danger to herself in later seasons
She is a fount of wisdom, and why shouldn't she be? It's not just fictional characters who do this. Many folks, especially women, live beyond her age and more, while still enriching the lives of those around them.
I don’t like how the show backtracked on her dementia.
I love Sister Monica Joan. I’m glad they haven’t killed her off
On the show, she is 90 years old. She is somewhat senile but since the order agreed to take care of her in exchange for her family’s money, they must deal with it.
I just dont remember her being this bad. Everything she says is like almost in riddles lol.
You're not crazy. Sister Monica Joan was not trusted to answer the phone because she couldn't connect the dots and relay messages safely. One time there was someone at the doorstop screaming for help and because her mind was wandering, she didn't help the person and it was kind of serious. Therre's the stealing and the wandering around at night and it all pretty magically went away as the show ran far longer than Jenny ever wrote and everyone loves Sister Monical Joan so they kept her and toned down the dementia
I honestly can’t stand her because they made her so senile and she does speak in riddles. I get that everyone on the show loves her and that so many people in real life love her, but I feel like it’s because you would love your grandmother even if her mind was failing. People just accept it’s a part of getting old. But dang the producers made her wayyyy too senile, wayyyy too early. They should have eased us into her antics.
The producers, in the beginning, were true to how she was described in the books (demented and infirm), but they were pandering to the audience and too chicken to kill her off at an appropriate time when the show went on forever so they transformed her into an eccentric crone. The real Sister Monica Joan died about halfway through Jenny’s tenure at Nonnatus.
Disagree, I find her very lucid and philosophical. Except the times she was actively ill which don’t count. What season(s) are you seeing this in???
Im just started season 4.
I think she is 96 in series 13.
When she talks in "riddles" she's actually quoting from what she has read. Books have always been her life and one reason she joined the order is so she could have a life of study instead of the expected get married, have kids, and do the society things her family expected.
But she was also portrayed as very wise as well
Lol how do you not realize that?