Doc Martin - General Discussion

[David T. Cole]

Please discuss the characters and stories of Doc Martin here. 

[peanutbunny]

Quote

Mrs Tishell finds herself falling in love with Martin all over again. Al receives a visit from two military policemen who are trying to track down Baby James's babysitter, Mike Pruddy. Martin becomes convinced that something is wrong with him following a conversation with his mother, and Louisa's attempts at getting him to open up about the loss of his father prove futile.

So glad to see a Doc Martin thread.

Just watched tonight's ep, and hate Louisa.  It's changed from irritation to outright hatred.

[random chance]

I hate her so much that I was actually happy when that car hit her because I thought they were killing her off.  No such luck though.

[mayahouse]

I didn't like Louisa so much in season six either, but I can't be so hard on her. She has issues too although not nearly as extreme as Martin. People don't come out of her type of childhood without some damage too.  She really tried to reach him when he started pulling away from her, but he wouldn't or couldn't let her in. She just became so angry that she was unable to see how much pain he was in, and she gave up trying to help.

 

This is my favorite show, and I'm happy to see it here. I'm so fond of Martin!!! I think I have a bit of crush on him although he has some serious problems.

[peanutbunny]

Did she really?  James Henry isn't even a  year old, so how hard could she be trying?  I feel badly for Martin - his father dies, his mother descends, and his wife abandons him.  Louisa knew what she was getting when she agreed to marry Martin.  I couldn't tell if she really had discussed field day with him, but she to have known that asking him to speak off the cuff, and extoll the virtues of physical activity wouldn't be easy for him, and that she'd get a dose of reality.  Why does she continue to expect him to behave only the way she wants him to, instead of himself?

[mayahouse]

Louisa really did try to help Martin. She was very concerned about him... I can't rewatch episodes, but I remember her trying lavender oil to help him sleep although that wasn't a good idea. She tried fixing breakfast for him. She took into his office and sat down to eat with him. He told her he wasn't hungry... and wouldn't talk. She asked him if the house was too small... or if it was her. He told her no. He completely shut her out, and a saint couldn't have lived with him at that point. I heard somewhere that he thought at some point she would leave him, so he wanted to push her away first. It took her leaving for him to realize that isn't what he wanted. Doc should have gone into therapy a long time ago. They love each other so much, I'm sure it will all be worked out sort of... Doc Martin will always be himself, but I think he'll be able to express himself much better. He might even feel happy sometimes!! He sure came out way better than he could have considering the parents he had. There aren't enough negative words for them.

[random chance]

I think if someone tries to help, but what they do doesn't work so they get all pissy and take it personally, it's not really help.   

[photo fox]

Interesting article about the slowly growing popularity of Doc Martin in the U.S.

[photo fox]

I know this show airs at different times and seasons all over the world.  Even in the U.S., it seems like everybody is on a different schedule.

 

My own PBS station has only shown through Season 3, but they've shown those about ten times.  :-/

 

Anyway, with that in mind, I wanted to lay out kind of "how this forum works", for the purpose of trying to best accommodate posters from different locations.

 

• I'm going to go ahead and create episode threads for every episode through Season 6, which is the most recent aired in Britain and is now airing in much of the U.S.
• Air dates will reflect the original air date in Britain. Considering everyone in the U.S. is on different schedules, that just makes sense.
• Discussion in the episode topics should only be about things that have aired up through that episode. Discussion in Season 1 Episode 1, for example, should not mention
  who would have thought when they met that Martin and Louisa would eventually have a baby

  . Not even under spoiler tags.

• For all other topics (character, media, etc.), if it has aired in Britain, it is not considered a spoiler. So if you're a true spoiler-phobe, I would stay out of those topics.
• If you're not sure which episode you're on, and you want to be sure you're reading and posting in the correct topic, I recommend this wiki of episode titles and descriptions.  They're not particularly spoilery, for each episode, but they do mention characters coming and going.  So if you really don't want to know, scroll slowly so you don't go beyond where you've watched.

 

Happy posting!

[photo fox]

Martin attends an interview for the post of GP. Having unwittingly offended local teacher Louisa Glasson, he spontaneously diagnoses her glaucoma. Although pleased to renew his acquaintance with his Auntie Joan with whom he spent holidays as a boy, he is less than enamoured of the other locals he encounters and the state of his predecessor's surgery. He also inadvertently uncovers an affair between a teenager and the wife of the Lieutenant Colonel, leading to a divorce, a reconciliation and then a punch on his nose. Disillusioned he decides that he has made a mistake and will return to London

[photo fox]

Martin's surgery officially opens for business, but patients continue to treat it as a drop-in cafe. Former teacher Roger Fenn is hoarse and has a lump on his neck, so Martin refers him to a specialist for a biopsy. He is diagnosed with cancer and must have surgery which may cost the former singer his voice. Martin also sacks Elaine as his receptionist for her general attitude and incompetence after she inaccurately takes down the name or phone number of a boy with suspected appendicitis.

[photo fox]

Louisa buys two tickets to the Portwenn Players Dance and invites Martin. He doesn't want to go so Louisa offers the ticket to Mark instead. Peter Cronk, a boy at Louisa's school, causes trouble on a wildlife trip and Martin meets the Park Ranger Stewart, who believes he lives with a 6 foot squirrel named Anthony.

[photo fox]

John Slater, an old flame of Joan's, returns to the village hoping to rekindle his love affair with her, but Martin discovers he has a life-threatening heart condition. 15 year old Melanie Gibson has a crush on the doctor after he mends her dislocated shoulder.

[photo fox]

Martin is forced to confront his fear of blood, both when the town plays a prank on him involving ketchup as a fake injury, and when Peter, a young lad of the town suffers a ruptured spleen that needs to be urgently operated on.[

[photo fox]

Louisa's old flame, Danny Steel, comes to Portwenn hoping to rekindle their romance. He is furious with Martin for interfering with his mother's move to a nursing home. A man who has a habit of inexplicably injuring himself consults Martin. Elaine has resigned and moved away with her boyfriend Greg and has been replaced by her cousin, Pauline Lamb.

[photo fox]

Louisa interviews for a position as headmistress and crosses Martin by insisting that children with a highly contagious disease should still come to school against the doctor's wishes. Peter stays with Martin after Peter's mother suffers serious burns. Bert Large steps in to maintain the chip shop whilst Mrs Cronk is hospitalised, only to find his "experience in the catering trade" is a little wayward.

[photo fox]

An old man, inexplicably emanating a horrible stench, consults Doctor Ellingham; and the local radio host, Caroline, seems to have a serious drinking problem. Julie Mitchell arrives in Portwenn and immediately catches the attention of PC Mark Mylow.

[photo fox]

Martin examines Helen Pratt, but she collapses and dies. Her husband, Phil, is angry with the doctor and blames him for his wife's death. A feud develops between Phil and Helen's long-time friend Joan after Phil becomes convinced that Joan knew something secret about him. Joan encourages Martin to explain the circumstances of Helen's death to Phil, having previously been extremely cold and insensitive following her death. Pauline begins training to become a member of the lifeboat crew, flirting with her instructor, Ross, in the process, causing Al to become jealous.

[photo fox]

Martin learns that he is under investigation for rude and condescending behaviour with the end result that he may have to go on a 2 week course to improve his people skills. Pauline advises him that he will have to find a new receptionist as she is returning to university to study nursing. Bert Large thinks he's struck gold when word gets out that a rare bird is nesting in the local cliffs so he borrows the police van to offer guided tours. Louisa Glasson's father Terry suddenly re-appears in the village accompanied by his bi-polar friend, Jonathan. Terry had left the village under a cloud when he was accused of stealing money from the lifeboat fund but he has always maintained his innocence and Louisa remains his staunchest defender. Things get serious when Jonathan stops taking his medication and takes Martin, Louisa and Pauline prisoner.

[photo fox]

Bert Large abandons his plumbing business in favour of running a restaurant. Following the restaurant's opening, several cases of food poisoning occur with Louisa being one of the victims. Titled The Morning After in American release.

[photo fox]

Hotel owner Carrie Wilson has her sights on Martin much to Louisa's chagrin. Joan has an admirer in painter Edward Melville, who is 30 years younger than she. Titled The GP Always Rings Twice in American release.

[photo fox]

Martin and Louisa go out on a date, but it is ruined by an inappropriate remark, and Louisa ends their relationship. Louisa's friend, Holly (Lucy Robinson), injures her back while walking in Portwenn. The episode ends with Martin proposing to Louisa, telling her he can't imagine life without her. Titled Breaking Up Is Hard to Do in American release.

[photo fox]

On the day of their wedding, Louisa's bridesmaid is hit in the eye with a party popper; the local florist gets arrested and his shop shuttered. Bert Large has to make contingency plans for the wedding party. Martin suggests the vicar has a drink problem and later catches him with a bottle of whiskey. The vicar ends up in hospital after falling over and fracturing his hip. Martin has to find a replacement, and pays a high price for his services. Louisa's maid of honor has another emergency. Titled In Sickness and In Health in American release.

[photo fox]

Life in the beautiful Cornish village of Portwenn has become ever more infuriating for Dr. Martin Ellingham since his and Louisa's heart-wrenching decision to call off their wedding. Louisa has left the village, and Martin has begun to question what keeps him in Cornwall. It's certainly not his relentlessly annoying patients. Mrs Tishell's husband Clive returns to his wife and concerns the doctor with his lack of hearing. Martin's ex-girlfriend Dr. Edith Montgomery aids a patient of his, and the pair immediately come to a disagreement over the patient's need for an operation.

[photo fox]

PC Joe Penhale has an unexpected visitor in the shape of his ex-wife Maggie, who appears to have completely forgotten that they split up a couple of years ago. Joe takes her to Large's restaurant, where fellow diner Martin quickly spots that Maggie is showing symptoms of amnesia. Louisa's mother Eleanor catches up with her old school friend Paul, a local fisherman, who takes her out on a date. Morwenna arrives at the surgery with an injured foot and the doctor grimaces at the sight of the blood as he treats the wound. Ellingham notices that Morwenna avoids having an injection and realises she is frightened of needles. PC Penhale warns Martin and Louisa that if they do not register a name for their baby soon, the state will be forced to step in. In the end they name their son James Henry Ellingham.

[photo fox]

In an effort to get Maggie to stay in Portwenn after she gets the all-clear, PC Joe Penhale tries to prove that he is the man for her – and even engineers situations where he can show off his macho side to impress her. Maggie does eventually leave but she and PC Penhale part on good terms. Martin steps in when school caretaker Mr Coley becomes confused after breathing carbon monoxide and puts the children of the school at risk. Tensions mount between Martin and Louisa as they find themselves unable to agree on anything, from schooling for their son to what to have for dinner. Feeling that things will never change, not wanting to move to London and that Martin is incapable of showing affection Louisa takes James and moves in with her mother.

[photo fox]

Bert Large's restaurant business is in financial trouble. He can't even afford the food and drink for a charity event to raise money for Florence Dingle's cat sanctuary. Mrs Dingle is distraught. She desperately needs the money to continue to look after the cats and kittens in her care. Bert is also being chased by loan sharks Alastair Tonken and his son Norman for the repayment of £1,000 they gave him to clear his debts, warning of repercussions if he doesn't pay up. Mrs Tishell's infatuation for Martin increases, encouraged by his continued separation from Louisa. Martin, assisted by Morwenna, performs an emergency hernia operation on Louisa's mother Eleanor and saves her life when the ambulance's arrival is delayed.

[photo fox]

Wedding bells are ringing for the Doc and Louisa. But will the marriage finally go ahead? The Doc is irritated by PC Penhale, who wrongly presumes he is best man, plus Louisa is late. The Reverend has his doubts as to whether she will turn up, putting Martin on edge. Meanwhile, Ruth is having a rough time looking after James. He refused to eat his dinner and he won't settle, crying continuously. To make matters worse, they have a power cut.

[photo fox]

Louisa wants Martin to engage more with James, so she arranges for him to take their baby to playgroup, where he has to pair up with a mother and daughter and sing songs. Meanwhile, Al signs up to a dating website, Bert is suspicious when he catches Jennifer in the bathroom with a needle, and Ruth moves into a cottage in the village, but soon has a spot of trouble with her grumpy new neighbour.

[photo fox]

Mrs Tishell returns to the village, and her affection for Martin quickly disappears when he refuses to pass her fit for work. As if he didn't have enough on his plate, Martin must also face his fear of blood when tests show that Lorna has a high level of ferritin, which is placing a strain on her heart and liver. Meanwhile, Penhale hopes to be selected for an elite police squad by taking part in a survival training course, which goes horribly wrong when he shoots himself in the foot.

[photo fox]

Bert pops the question to Jennifer, and Ruth finds fault with Al's business proposal. Hypochondriac Malcolm Rayner is struggling with his breathing and Martin asks him if he has ever worked with asbestos. Penhale then spreads pandemonium by putting up warning notices about the substance's harmful properties throughout the village.

[photo fox]

Louisa decides to leave for Spain with baby James and says an awkward goodbye to Martin, but when he finds the scan of her brain, he spots a malformation and realises she could suffer a haemorrhage if she gets on the plane. Will the doctor make it to the airport in time? Meanwhile, disaster strikes at Bert and Jennifer's engagement party.

[CoderLady]

Anytime I want.

 

I got a Roku player and a one-year subscription to Acorn TV as a PBS pledge gift. Best entertainment money I ever spent! I've burned through nearly all six seasons and am starting to rewatch a few before I hit the end. Good times.

Edited April 26, 2014 by CoderLady

[mayahouse]

It started watching on PBS during Season 4, and I have seen up through Season 6. I've since been able to read about or see some of the earlier seasons and episodes. I hope to buy the series later since I'm completely addicted to Doc Martin. I like how you have divided the seasons and episodes for discussion! I'll try to write about some of my impressions on them because I really do enjoy DM discussions. DM airs on Saturday evenings in my location. They are repeating Season 6.

Edited April 27, 2014 by mayahouse

[mojito]

Is this the last show of the series?

[photo fox]

Is this the last show of the series?

It depends if you mean in the American sense or the British sense. ;-)

It's the last episode of series/season 6, but there will be a series/season 7. That will be the end, according to Martin Clunes.

[mojito]

I was being veddy British with my question. I was aware that there would be another season but wasn't sure if this one had ended.

 

I think it's great, these limited season programs (Doc Martin, Downton Abbey). It's nice to be left wanting more than wondering if it's about time to quit watching a show because it's getting tired.

 

Thanks for your response.

[mayahouse]

I think this was probably the very best episode. Doc Martin talking to Ruth and having a break through was great, I loved how he got the truth from his mother, and I approved of him telling her to go. I must say that Claire Bloom was outstanding playing that role... it had the desired effect of making her so loathsome! There was just so much to like about this one. I think Louisa was right in deciding to leave and think things over. She was getting so out of control too. She was so angry and frustrated... but I kind of fault the writing about this too. I don't think Louisa would have acted that way under any circumstances. I don't think Doc would have almost run over kids on the playground either. I loved Ruth and Al getting together and Al and Mowenna too. So anyway... I think those were the highlights for me.

[k2p2]

I really liked the story arc Joe had over this episode and the next, with the arrival of his ex-wife. It was nice to see him be something other than a buffoon. I thought Marquez did a great job of moving between the Joe we know, the one his ex knows, and the one who still remembers how to be a good cop.

[k2p2]

I also watch on PBS. I came in at the end of Season 3, then saw all of 4, 5 and 6. Mr. K2P2 discovered it, and convinced me I needed to check it out. He doesn't watch much TV, but this one is TV Date Night for us. We just started reruns of season 6, and then this summer, they are supposed to start showing the episodes from the beginning. Hooray!

Edited May 10, 2014 by k2p2

[k2p2]

I picked up on the symbolism of the mantle clock early on (broken clock = broken relationship with father; fixing clock = fixing relationship with father, and by extension, everything else that is wrong with his life). When his mother showed up the airport with the clock, I just about winged a shoe at the TV, until I realized "not gonna have the clock, and not gonna have your father in your life." I also enjoyed Martin busting her chops with logic re: how his father died.

 

After the show had danced around the Al and Morwenna thing all season, I thought it was brilliant to get them together by having them work together, calmly and efficiently, in an emergency.

 

Is it official that there will be a Season 7?

[mbutterfly]

I just saw it and must admit I was big time shipping Martin and Louisa especially when they were working on the old guy with the gun and they kept standing up for each other. But, omigosh the blood on Louisa's wedding dress. Macabre. Loved it. 

[mayahouse]

My PBS station is rerunning Series 6, and I saw this again yesterday. There was so much going on. Poor Martin sure had a difficult time of it. He seemed to be trying to please Louisa by taking James to the play group although he pretty much knew he wouldn't like it at all. I'm sure Louisa knew he wouldn't like it too. I wondered why she would force the issue, but maybe she was mostly thinking of the baby. I liked the way Ruth talked to Mr. Mosley and got him the help he needed. I also liked Bert trying to find out what was going on with Jenny. He was quite charming.  I'm not sure what was going on with Louisa in this episode. She seemed to be trying to assert herself. Martin came in the kitchen after surgery and went over and turned the radio off. Seems like he would have said he needed a bit of quiet and asked to turn it off or down. Louisa was upset at him just turning it off and turned it back on. It seemed like a power struggle with each wanting their way. I really think the writer went over board with them because it seemed too weird and out of character to me.

[mayahouse]

This was a good one!! I don't know why Doc doesn't just go along sometimes... I guess it's just the way he is used to handling things. I was sorry to see him tear up the corsage... hahaha. It would have been very nice of him to have Penhale as a best man sort. I thought he looked quite dashing when they were dancing... oh yeah... he cut a fine figure. I'm sorry they don't communicate very well because I'm sure a real honeymoon would have been great.... well as good as it could have been considering. What an awful evening they had, but they got through it. Poor Ruth had quite a time too with baby James too, but she handled it well.

[mayahouse]

I too liked this story arc for Joe! He is such a good guy, and he went to lengths not to take advantage of Maggie in that situation. He still loved her, and tried his best to impress her. hahaha. I sure hope they will stop with so much of the buffoon Joe and give him a love interest. There has to be someone who could love him as he is now.

 

I sure don't know about Doc... it doesn't seem reasonable to me that he would go ahead and do the baby's name legally without having Louisa participate. Even when it's obvious she doesn't like it and it's not the right thing to do, he does other things like it. He had the London flat painted all white when Louisa said she would move there. He set the christening date without consulting her either. Doc has a long way to go, but I love him anyway. hahaha

[k2p2]

Mr. K2P2 and I both had a problem believing that Martin would go traipsing off into the countryside so close to dusk. He loves control, and that situation is all kinds of uncontrollable. Open the house to air it out, take a blanket from the bed out to the porch, finish dinner, watch the stars, go back inside. Problem solved, with no injuries or buckets of blood, just some sooty clothes.

[mayahouse]

I agree.... so out of character for the Doc to do that! I also found it odd that he would give Louisa her shoes and then go storming off without her. When she complained that she couldn't keep up... he told her to take his arm and take bigger steps or something. It was just weird. I can't imagine any man treating a woman like that... and certainly not his new bride.

[k2p2]

And for that matter, when Bert realized he still had the luggage, couldn't someone have driven it back out to them and left it on the porch? But then we wouldn't have had the blood-spattered bride vision in our minds for the rest of series 6.

 

We would have a little more time to look at that fine automobile, though. If I could drive up to the series 5 castle in that car, I would be quite happy.

[k2p2]

I absolutely love it when Martin tells his mother, "I have a family. I have a wife, I have a son, and I have Ruth." Bravo!

[marys1000]

Somehow I missed nd keep missing season 6!  My PBS station has Doc Martin reruns but no season 6 yet:(