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Best Medicine Season 2 Episode 6 Reaction: Can’t Stop The Healing · Podcast Portwenn: Doc Martin & Best Medicine

• Mel: What I thought was interesting is and you talked about this a little bit, Doug. he's getting a little bit of his of karma, like everything he was talking about, like his kid is at college theoretically, His wife is gone. And, he's he's alone and sad. And I just thought that was kind of ironic because it's like, do you realize that that's what you were bullying Martin for? Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Gabriela: But the difference is Martin understands that feeling, so he's not going to bully him for it. Mel: Right. Chesla Wechsler: I was thrilled at how happy folks were to see the two podcast episodes on Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow, with the season two and season one panels. I may try crossing the streams later this season. let's get started. Here to discuss Best Medicine Season 2, Episode 6, Can't Stop the Healing. are Mel, Doug, Carol, and Gabriela, come through and welcome back to Podcast Portwenn. We just ended this great episode with Martin hugging Louisa, having a breakdown. And we get into this episode. What the heck happened to the breakdown? Carol: Yeah, they left us hanging on that, didn't they? didn't think about it, but it was a little disappointing. Mel: Mm-hmm. Carol: They didn't follow up with that. Chesla Wechsler: Why do you think that was missing? Carol: I was hoping they'd have a conversation. of what led him to break down. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. Mel: Mm-hmm. it almost seemed like they were trying to take him back to his season one personality where he, he was really brusque and he didn't listen. Because he's, he's showed in some of the prior episodes of season two that he can listen, like how how closely he listened and comforted Louisa when she was having her her emotional issue with her IVF. And then last week's episode. When he was talking, and again, initially he was, a little bit unfeeling with not understanding the nature of that, the man's grief. But once he understood it, he, he he was very compassionate. He was he listened. and then even in the first episode with the pizza lady, is it Gina? Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Mel: he listened to her. He's he meant took time to figure out what what was going on. So it just seemed like they were trying to kind of ram this aspect of his character into this episode that doesn't really fit him anymore. And it seemed like they were trying to do it as a contrast to Savannah. So it felt forced. Chesla Wechsler: Contrast to Savannah, interesting. I was thinking along the lines of what you're saying that the theme of this was he doesn't listen, he's not easy to talk to, he doesn't like people, he's the opposite of Parker. Gabriela, you're nodding your head. Gabriela: Yeah, think the theme was definitely focused on Martin not being a people person. I don't know, I think what with what Mel said think it is his personality still. I think it was just amplified because of the Parker and Louisa situation. Like obviously he was more upset with everyone because of what he saw. it wasn't like too like backtracking I guess for me but. It was definitely meant to amplify him being the opposite of Parker and Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Gabriela: to show that Parker is the type of person that Port Wenn wants Martin to be or wanted Martin to I think is really interesting because... don't know, Martin likes the way he is, but I think with Aunt Sarah. said that like, yeah, he wants to change to like make connections with people, but he doesn't know how to do that. Yeah, I think it's complicated, don't think it was too out of character for him. Chesla Wechsler: Doug, you seem to be agreeing. Doug B.: Yeah, I I I agree. I do think so the first half of last night's episode seemed to retrograde back into the season one. And I didn't really like it. it was the really the second half that kind of brought things back together for me. and and we we headed back in the direction of what I want Martin to be. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. it seems like at the very beginning he immediately gets derailed, right? Because he sees Louisa and Parker kissing. And that like sets the tone for the whole episode where he's just angry. Even when Parker laughs at his joke about, if little country doctors are veterinarians, what does it make the patient? Parker thought it was funny, laughed, and Martin and the patient tell him to shut up, right? So he's just pissed. Carol: Yeah, he didn't have a good night last night. was. He had the biggest Mel: Yeah. I Carol: chip on his shoulder. Chesla Wechsler: Agreed. Doug B.: He had a bad day. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Mel? Mel: Yeah, I was finding it somewhat hard to feel bad for him being, pissed about that. I I get that he is, but at the same time, it was a situation of his own making. Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Mel: when they came back from the hospital, Louisa had invited him in and he said, No, I want to forget this never... So I mean, I as mad as I was with Louisa for stopping him, the next week when he tried to read her the love letter. At the same time, I get it. he was the first one that said to put the brakes on things. So, to get mad at her for moving on is a little it it didn't sit well with me. Chesla Wechsler: Little hypocritical. Gabriela: Hmm. Mel: As much as we all say we want Parker to be gone so sh those two of them can get together and maybe this this this is what he needs to, move things forward. But at the same time, it's like you're you're you're upset that she's with somebody else, but you Had the chance. Chesla Wechsler: Boy, did you have the chance. Carol: he also picked up with Eden. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. I wrote a topic to myself as a question and I wrote it as What's Parker got over Martin? And it has two meanings to it, 'cause it's like, what does Parker offer to the relationship more than Martin does? And does he have something like that he's ha that's hanging over Martin? Something like a dirty trick or something like that. What do you think, Carol, about what's Parker got over Martin? Carol: I don't know exactly, but he's getting so shady. Chesla Wechsler: You think? Carol: Yeah. yeah. I mean, he comes off like this really nice guy and, he's working his way with Louisa, but there's something going on that he's working and weaseling his way in get through her to him somehow. That's what I've got a feeling of. just, I do not trust him. Just, Chesla Wechsler: Hehehe. Don't Carol: I rewatched last week's and it's like, yeah, he's kind of like a stalker kind of guy. And this week it's like, yeah, he's just up to no good. Chesla Wechsler: Interesting. Doug, you you seem to you had some thoughts, I could tell. Doug B.: I've heard that his English accent and his good looks go a long way. But yeah, he doesn't seem nefarious to me. I he he has Carol, he has me fooled. For sure. He Carol: I just... Chesla Wechsler: He gives me Doug B.: sounds like he he seems like a guy you'd wanna have over to a party. Chesla Wechsler: It's I'm wondering if there's a male-female thing here. Because objectively if I step back, I don't see anything wrong with Parker. But he does give me the ick. And I don't Carol: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: know why. Gabriela: Yes. Yes. Chesla Wechsler: Gabriela, was that a yes? Yeah? But I but there's nothing, there's no evidence of it. Go for it, Gabriela,. Carol: Cause he's shady. Gabriela: Yes, he gives me... There's... since we met him, I'm like no, this is just... there's something about him that is like icky. Like he's the perfect, picture perfect Parker, but it's so off-putting. It feels very performative. Like... like he's trying to be the perfect... guy and it's like that's weird Doug B.: We do really try hard at the very beginning to make, give us our best odds. Gabriela: Yeah, but he's just too Hallmark. It's not. Chesla Wechsler: Same S Mel: Mm-hmm. Gabriela: It's not right. Doug B.: I like that. Carol: It's too good to be true. Chesla Wechsler: Ha. So you're saying the very beginning. Guys try very hard. Doug B.: this guy did, but that was a long time ago. So maybe times have changed. Chesla Wechsler: Hope not! Although I haven't dated anybody Doug B.: Mm. Chesla Wechsler: in in forty years. Yeah, there's something too Doug B.: Interesting. Chesla Wechsler: smooth about him. I almost feel and this gets back to the English accent it's very, very posh. It's almost too Gabriela: It is very posh. Chesla Wechsler: s it's almost too perfect. Gabriela: Mm-hmm. Doug B.: Well, I'm gonna withdraw what I said about having him over a a good guy to have over to a party because I don't wanna be in that icky group. Chesla Wechsler: Ha ha ha. Mel: Well, I'll I I'll I'll back you up on that, Doug. You can invite him to a party and I'll come. Doug B.: All right. Mel: because I actually am gonna be a little bit of an outlier with him. just because I legitimately don't get the ick with him. I mean, I think he's a little with Louisa he was a little bit awkward, but kinda that's to Doug's point. he liked her. And she also flubbed up the first thing she said to him. So I think he was also trying to kind of make her feel comfortable. and then also just was probably a little awkward himself. and I could see him being a little, even the sister thing, like if he does have sisters, I could see him being nervous, especially if he hasn't had a date for a while and being like, I really don't, I really want to make a good impression, what would you suggest? to me that's not completely weird. I know last time we were talking about how, Louisa was having second thoughts about the date and he just, he kept trying to push her to go. And Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Mel: yeah, that's a little, like, okay, yeah, she's not comfortable. And instead of asking her why she's not comfortable, so that is that is icky. but overall I don't I don't get like I don't get an ick from him. I don't know. Maybe maybe I just don't have a good radar when it comes to this kind of thing. I don't know. it's been a while since I had to, kind of put those like those those feelers up. Yeah. So it's been a little Chesla Wechsler: Feelers. Mm-hmm. Mel: while, so maybe they're a little rusty, but he doesn't give me the ick. Gabriela: don't find Parker awkward, to Mel's point. I find him overly confident in a way that's likeshaky Like Martin has an awkwardness that's natural, and so it makes it charming versus Parker, who's just trying so hard to be this like... stereotypical guy that's like... It's just offputting. I don't know how to explain it. But I don't find him awkward. think he's... pretty confident in himself, I think. Chesla Wechsler: He's Hugh Grant without the stammer. Mel: Yeah. Gabriela: Yes. Chesla Wechsler: Right? he's he's he's got that, brav bravado and and confidence, but the self effacing catching himself talking is not there and he's just completely smooth. I dunno. I did not have the ick originally, but in this episode I started getting the ick. So maybe he does have something over Martin, which could be related to the fact that He had him in med school? Which makes Martin significantly Gabriela: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: older than I thought, because if that was ten years ago, Martin would have had to have been a doctor ten years ago and Parker wasn't. Right? So it just seems like I don't know. I was trying to do some math and I don't know if that really means anything or not. Gabriela: I didn't think of like Martin is older than I think. think it's Parker is younger than we think. I don't find it that crazy. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Gabriela: yeah, he was his teacher. So that's interesting. He Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. And he didn't Yeah. Gabriela: didn't remember him, which of course he wouldn't. Chesla Wechsler: Right. He doesn't pay attention to people. We're gonna go back to the idea of Martin as as teacher. but I wanna finish up the comment of what does Parker have over Martin? Carol, do you remember? Carol: let's see. He is in touch with his feelings. He's easy to talk to. She feels like she could go to him with just about anything. And I guess that's the basic gist of it. So. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Carol: I could understand why she would gravitate to him because at that point, you mean, she took up with him. And as far as she knew, Martin was still with Eden. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mel: Mm-hmm. Carol: So, he seemingly moved on, so she was moving on, too. So assuming Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Carol: now she knows that they are no longer a couple, but. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. And Doug, what does what did Parker have to say about Martin when he was in med school? What the feedback was. Doug B.: It wasn't great. Chesla Wechsler: Mm mm. Doug B.: I think it just reiterated him not being a people person, very disconnected from personal interaction. one of the one of the professors that you really You wouldn't care for. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. He didn't listen. If you made a mistake he was down your throat. And he didn't seem to enjoy people. So it was like everything Parker is, Martin's not, or at least wasn't in med school. And this whole episode seems to be focused on you don't listen. Right? there were so many people who told him that. And so much demonstrating of that. Yeah. Go ahead. Doug B.: but it is interesting, so his the the the premise is that he doesn't listen, but he always, there's always there's usually a medical issue that requires some in depth analysis and he has to listen for that. He has to collect data. He's not interested in in someone venting. He's in he he likes to listen to questions he asks so that he can do his engineering analysis. Spoken in a Mel: He he doesn't like like small talk and just the little back and forth type of interactions. but what I find it funny and interesting too is like last season there was this whole theme of the townspeople not listening to him. Like he would give them advice and give them something to take and they wouldn't listen Doug B.: Mm. Mel: to him. So for them to say you don't listen, well, you weren't listening to me. So I mean, again, it's that this this kind of weird push and pull he seems to have with the towns people sometimes where They, I sometimes think they're just inordinately mean to him. and he really He doesn't he hasn't really done anything to deserve it other than be, somewhat, aloof. And there's a reason for that. Chesla Wechsler: I thought it was interesting how he actually tried to incorporate the feedback. one one comment we got from the last episode from L K S C was wondering whether Mark and Martin could still be friends after Mark basically had a little fling with Eden. And we see Mark finally able to talk to Martin about it. Martin not seeming to mind. Right. he says to Mark, something along the lines I'm glad you felt you could tell me. Which is I think him responding to the feedback that he's been getting this whole thing, that he doesn't listen and he's not approachable. He's trying. Mel: Mm. Carol: Yeah, he was towards the end when he was interacting with Glendon, he was really putting himself out there. Even if it made him nauseous, he was trying. Mel: I found it interesting that he picked the most difficult person to try that with. of everybody in town, he did it with Glendon. Chesla Wechsler: That kinda go to Doug's point on Martin trying to be a good doctor, right? You're Mel: Mm-hmm. Right. Doug B.: Yeah, although it is interesting, I I agree, of of all the people in town to do that with, he'd be the last person on the list. Especially because he's the last person on the list because he made it that way. Glen Glendon made his own bed. Very Mel: Mm-hmm. Doug B.: clearly, right? Why Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Doug B.: is his wife gone? I don't know, because you're a jerk. Chesla Wechsler: Yes! Doug B.: Why why do your kids not come home? I don't know. Because you're a jerk. Mel: Mm-hmm. Doug B.: So, Mart Martin was a better man than I Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Doug B.: For sure. I like throw in the lake. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, but the guy's got testicular cancer and he's not treating it. Mel: Mm-hmm. And Martin's always been able, even when, Glendon, even throughout all the last season, Martin's been able to and and as a doctor, you have to be able to do this. You can't let your per your your feelings for somebody dictate how you treat them. He's always kind of been able to set that aside and be like, look, I don't like you, but here's how I'm gonna treat you. Chesla Wechsler: Right. Yeah, the Norwegians spring to mind. Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: Right? Doug B.: Always the professional. Chesla Wechsler: Yes, always Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: the professional. Yeah. Alright, so Parker was a student of Martin's. He didn't mention it, right? it takes sort of Louisa and Martin to point out that it's kind of weird that he didn't mention it. So Carol: Yeah, he was waiting for Martin to recognize him, but you gotta stop and think how many people has he seen in his lifetime just in teaching much less treating and all that stuff to remember an individual. I mean. Mel: Yeah, I thought I didn't think that was a f a fair metric of him being, not a people person is I he didn't remember me. Well, it was a decade ago. It was probably a large class of students and how Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mel: many, there's been hundreds or thousands of people has he seen since then. Carol: Yeah, exactly. Chesla Wechsler: But I guess he didn't bother learning anybody's names, right? That was one of the things Parker said. Mel: Right. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: But Louisa defends Martin, right? To Parker, but she also defends Parker to Martin. She says Parker's a good man. And that Becky thought that online, she thought Parker was a good guy too, so I don't think Becky's got the ick. But yeah, Doug B.: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: I don't know. Is he a good man? He does bake Cruffins or whatever they are. the whole Parker Louisa thing leads them Martin and Louisa to have a conversation. Right? So and in it she tells what she likes about Parker and gives them the feedback from med school. And it's it's it's like you couldn't ask for more of a mirror image of what Parker does well, Martin does poorly. Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: After that, they walk away, which is very sad, because the two of them both seem not happy about that, although we don't really see until a little bit later that Louisa is very upset. And I wondered what you guys were thinking of like why is she so upset? And to me there were three to four different things. Gabriela,, you're nodding. Gabriela: yeah, I thought about this a lot because it was kind of like, she's crying. which was like heartbreaking. I think she was like, when explaining what she liked about Parker, she kind of realized like, that's hurting Martin because Martin doesn't find those qualities in himself. And I don't think she meant to hurt him, realizing that she did was heartbreaking for her. so, yeah, that's why she cried. I think she does love him despite not having those qualities, but it's not a mutually exclusive thing. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Gabriela: But to Martin's point of view, it's like, she doesn't love me because I don't have these qualities. So. Yeah, I think she felt the hurt in him and that's why she was crying. Chesla Wechsler: she felt like she had injured him inadvertently. Gabriela: Yeah, she didn't mean it that way, but he took it that way and I think she felt that. Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Mm. Doug B.: Well, I'm I'm I'm in in the same camp just just a little bit when she broke down I think she she realizes that she really cares for him. And the whole thing with Parker is a facade. Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Do you think she feels like she's blown Doug B.: And she I I Chesla Wechsler: it with Martin? Doug B.: I'm not sure about that. I don't know, but I I think she she she realizes that her connection with Martin is more than she thought. Chesla Wechsler: Mm. So she's having a moment of realization after having this conversation. Doug B.: I think so. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Do you think that she's Carol: The others. Chesla Wechsler: sad? Carol, did you have a comment? Carol: Well, I was just thinking that, she mentioned his sisters and him having lost his sister. that it's a hard hit. Chesla Wechsler: And that's that's actually one that I had thought of on my third viewing of this episode, which was he learned how to be in touch with his emotions from sisters he had. And Carol: you Chesla Wechsler: Martin doesn't have a good handle on emotions, his sister was lost. I don't know if that's what was being portrayed. I don't know if that's what the writers intended. but that's Gabriela: I definitely thought of that in the first viewing when Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Gabriela: she mentioned the sisters. I thought he was gonna comment on it. He's naming these things, he's like, he has a loving family or something, which obviously Martin doesn't Parker has like 500 sisters and he has like negative one, so Yeah, Mel: He's basically Parker is the opposite of Martin or Martin is the opposite of Parker in every way. And it was almost like happy family, no. Sisters, no. In touch with any feelings, no. They were literally opposites on every single topic. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Mel: I mean, I I do think it's the as far as the Louisa breaking down. I mean, I think it's kind of everything everybody has said. her realizing that she's she's hurt him, but also I think realizing that she does love him, but also realizing that she loved him, but that he's the complete opposite of the man she's currently with, and not being certain what she really wants. Chesla Wechsler: Mm. I was thinking along those lines, which is she's really she's sad because she cares for Martin but he's not as lovable as Parker. Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: Parker's got things that Martin doesn't and she likes that about Parker. Now one thing that HeyJude had said was that she thought that Parker was was Mr. Right Now and not Mr. Right. it was just a fling on Louisa's part. It doesn't seem that way to me. Do you guys think that he seems flingish? it seems like she's she was happy with him until she kinda had this moment with Martin where maybe she felt something there. I don't know. What do you think? Doug B.: w well I don't I don't I don't think it it's flingish. I think she's y she she's the stepping stone from Mark to a future permanent relation. Chesla Wechsler: Hmm. Hmm. So Parker's just a stepping stone. Doug B.: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: So he would be Mr. Right now, not Mr. Right. Okay. Alright. Doug B.: Yeah, yes. Chesla Wechsler: Gabriela,? Gabriela: I think... Yeah, I thought about this whole fling, because I'm like trying to think of what Louisa is kind of thinking in her mind, because Parker is supposed to be here for like a temporary period just to monitor Martin. And it's like, what's the plan when that's over? It's like, did she think it was gonna be like a fling type of thing or like, I'm not really sure what she's like looking for in Parker. Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Gabriela: Maybe a more casual thing, I don't know. Chesla Wechsler: Well, Mark Martin and Eden had a long distance relationship, one would presume, back to Boston. And that's where you think B Parker's probably from. So maybe she wasn't thinking it was an impossible thing. Mel: I I Chesla Wechsler: Who knows? Mel: could see I'm kind of in the in the Fling camp as well or the Mr. Right Now camp as well. And it's not just because I I I want him out of the way so Martin and Louisa can get going. but I I also think it's it's a combination of, he's gonna be here temporarily, but I I also think it's the time when she met him. she her IVF had already failed. we had already seen in one of the earlier episodes that she was trying to date. And she was trying to put herself out there. So I think he came around at a at a period when she kind of needed someone to kind of be able to boost her up and boost her, her confidence. And his personality is perfect for that as well, which it also could be why, she she may love Martin, but this but she could be drawn to this this personality right now because it's what kind of what she needs. Chesla Wechsler: Maybe, although he made fun of her thinking that the moon got bigger and smaller. Gabriela: He believes in the tooth fairy since 35. Until okay. Chesla Wechsler: That's right, it's at least thirty five, so I He doesn't have a leg to stand on. Doug B.: Okay. Mel: Right. Gabriela: Yeah. Carol: You Mel: Which he admitted he was teasing her. but I think I I definitely do think it's a Mr. Right Now thing. It didn't I mean, their first date and then, you know, they spent the night together. So it kind of had that vibe of like it's a short term thing, so let's just it's a short term spring summer, fling so let's just go with it. Chesla Wechsler: Is she is she literally the girl next door? based on where the two of them were standing when the the show opened, it's like there's Martin and then the yard next door seems to be Louisa. Is is that have we known that in the past? Gabriela: She doesn't live next door. Mel: Yeah. Carol: She's across the street from the pharmacy, right? If Gabriela: Yeah. Carol: I remember when they Doug B.: Yeah. Carol: had that scene after he said, let's pretend this never happened. Chesla Wechsler: so Parker lives next door to Martin. Gabriela: I don't know what's next door to Martin, but... Doug B.: I th I thought Parker was staying at the Salty Breeze. Gabriela: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: you're right. Carol: But he visits Louisa. Gabriela: They were just in the bushes, I Doug B.: Right, and and that's why Gabriela: guess. Doug B.: that's Chesla Wechsler: They were in the bushes. Heheheh Gabriela's got it. Doug B.: why the guys Right. Chesla Wechsler: They were in the bushes. Gabriela: I'm Doug B.: Right, Carol: You Doug B.: right. That's why she fell in the bushes after b being in in at the Salty Breeze. Chesla Wechsler: She's just comfortable in bushes. Mel: we only see a piece of it. he you see Louisa standing on the sidewalk and then he comes into the screen. So it's possible they were maybe visiting somebody or even just taking a walk. I I I don't know. But yeah, it made it seem like he was coming out of a house. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Doug B.: Yeah. Mel: and maybe he has moved out of the Salty Breeze, and kind of, rented a house right next door. I I don't know. This this show never really, other than last season where we saw the leaves eventually change and then it starts snowing, the show Chesla Wechsler: Hm. Mel: during the season doesn't really give a good indication of how many how long it's been between actual episodes. you get a sense Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. And and also Mel: it was only a couple of days because I think didn't didn't Mark say something like, a couple of days ago Eden Eden and I are but then you had some, other things that made it seem like like Parker and Louisa seem much more comfortable with each other for only having gone on a first date two days ago. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Mel: So, there's there's just these just these weird kind of time things. where you really have a hard time placing how far how how how far between it is between episodes. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. you that Carol: Go. Chesla Wechsler: scene g definitely gave me the vibe of she's walked out to the front in the morning. Martin's out front, Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: he's got his coffee and the garbage is there, right? So it's kinda it seems like morning. And then Parker has this sense of, I'm walking out and he grabs her by the arm and sort of like pulls her around. So that's almost like a return to me kind of Mel: Mm. Chesla Wechsler: move. I don't know. so Martin's reputation as a teacher is that he didn't listen well, he didn't bother learning students' names, if you made a mistake you jumped on your throat. He didn't like people, okay? I don't know about you guys, but when he comes to Portwenn and we first meet him I thought maybe he didn't have these characteristics before the phobia and he lost his career, and now he's like that. But it sounds like this has been part of him for quite some time. Where do we think that that came from? Has he always been like that? Gabriela: I think so. think Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Doug B.: Yeah, I think Gabriela: when Louisa and him were walking in the woods in episode two, he's like, I was a little jerk. So think it is like that's his personality throughout his life. And then obviously losing his sister just amplifies. And then isolating himself when he's just becoming this kind of depressed. angry man and that just like carried on throughout his life. So I think he has always been that way. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: So he never he never grew out of it, Doug. Doug B.: Yeah, I agree with everything Gabriela just said. Absolutely. And the and and I think the genesis really would be the him his losing his sister. Chesla Wechsler: Hm. And I was wondering if there Mel: And has Chesla Wechsler: was any el element of upbringing. was he brought up that way? Carol: Well, his aunt Sarah when he was asking her why he didn't spend the summers with her after she revealed she had that affair. And Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Carol: she says, didn't think I was, I'm not everybody's cup of tea. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, there's that too, yeah. So maybe he just had a chip on his shoulder his whole life or something, or or just behaviour patterns that didn't make him warm and fuzzy. Mel: Yeah. Well, if you look at his parents too, his father's very, aloof and abrupt and what's wrong with you? And it his mother's not, great either. But I I I also get the sense that he may be one of those kids one of those people that was always like so much smarter than everybody else, but he couldn't understand why people didn't get things as quickly as he did. And Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Mel: it probably and I and I have a feeling it probably became worse when he was a doctor because he was like, you know. This came easy to me and I'm a successful doctor and this is what you have to be able to do to be be able to do it. Not not being able to see that some people may eventually get it, but not get it as quickly as he he did. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yep. do you think Parker has some sort of an axe to grind? With Martin? Like do you think something's gonna come up here that Carol: wouldn't be surprised Doug B.: I n I don't think so, but I don't think he's ickey either. Chesla Wechsler: Had Gabriela: I think he will. I think they mentioned they like brought that up for a reason. And Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Gabriela: then the expectation of him wanting Martin to like remember him, but he doesn't. And then him Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Gabriela: still treating him like he did in med school. I think he does have a little bit of like I don't know, something on him. I don't know what that might be if he's just trying to get back at him for being a jerk. I'm like, how is this not a conflict of interest to have an old student be your monitor deciding Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Gabriela: your entire career? know. Mel: wondering if it's even just a so I think it could be a couple of things. I'm wondering if maybe Martin failed them or refused to give him a recommendation or didn't give him a good one for something. But I also am kind of maybe thinking maybe it was just the schadenfreude of this is this was this guy who taught me in school and was such a you know hard ass And now he did something to get himself in trouble and now I get to monitor him. So it's it's almost like the roles have have reversed. his career is dependent on me now. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. When we first started this I kept thinking Parker's Parker's the Pitts. And then Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: he won me over a little bit Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: and now I'm just he's not winning me over. But well we'll see what happens with that. one of the major parts of this episode was the whole plot arc with Savannah, right? Being the holistic doctor. So many funny lines with that. Degree in Mel: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: What was it? Neuro Gabriela: quackery. Chesla Wechsler: yeah, that's right. But what was it? Naturopathy, I'm an N D Mel: Yeah, ND. Gabriela: Yeah, Chesla Wechsler: Not a doctor. Gabriela: as a Chesla Wechsler: so we thought she served the terms of her sentence, but we find out at the end that she not quite all of it. and Martin suspects she's a con artist and he actually is right, so it's kind of like that theme of Martin hates something and then Martin's right. But he also thinks that her unnamed patient, which ends up being Carson is part of the con. And I have to admit, because I had watched Jackie Hoffman, who is the actress, in Only Murders in the Building, I was thinking that she's been in Best Medicine this whole time. And I couldn't remember why Martin wouldn't remember her name. Mel: Yes. Carol: you Chesla Wechsler: so she wasn't in on it. So he was wrong on that aspect. What did you guys think of the whole Savannah thread? Doug B.: I thought it was good good levity. I mean it's just Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Doug B.: funny funny to have her come back and then you know, she's served her s her her sentence and now she's a con artist, which kind of fits into her previous role in a little bit. And then and then the connection with Mark was fantastic. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Doug B.: You're on the way to prison. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. date. That's right. Mel: Can we get ice cream on the way to prison? That was I laughed out loud when she said that. Chesla Wechsler: And Aunt Sarah with it, Well, they're having their first date. It's like, yeah, well the next one's in five to ten years. Doug B.: Ha ha ha. Chesla Wechsler: You know, we we wanted her to come back and we wanted her and Mark to like have some sort of thing. But looks like it's gonna be a one time thing. Carol: Yeah, but it, she pointed out to Martin, how he didn't listen and because of you, I got to this point. I was possible. Chesla Wechsler: Right. Yeah. Carol: So that was an eye opener for him as well. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. You created me, right? Doug B.: Mm. Carol: Mm-hmm. Doug B.: Good point. Chesla Wechsler: he doesn't listen to George and Greg when George is sick. he could have said, warm mist, take an expectorant. Like there were a number of different medical things he could have given George for advice and he didn't. Right? He didn't listen to Carson Macleish or whatever or she didn't feel listened to or cared for. there were there were many, many instances. Anyway, there's some Good. Doug B.: But in in in in defense of the doctor, she was kind of really not a very nice patient. Chesla Wechsler: no, agreed, a hundred percent. Doug B.: So so he he he treated her like he was treated and I I didn't care for her either. Mel: Mm-hmm. I I think maybe there's a little bit of a excuse me, a little bit of a gender thing there too. Because yes, she was seeing men, but what when you showed her interacting and you don't listen to me thing, it was with it was with the Carson and then it was there was I think another a woman that she was talking to. And well, I don't know if I had a male doctor, I don't know that I would necessarily be as open as, it seemed like she was being with these ladies. and I mean, don't know if it would even with a female doctor, but I d I definitely think I would feel more comfortable talking to a doctor of my same gender than Not. And I know Martin can't help that, he's the town doctor, but I think there is a a an element of that too. Chesla Wechsler: Hm, okay. So I know when she was talking to Savannah, Savannah was saying all these warm and fuzzy right, Mel: Yeah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: identify all the things that that monster told you. but yeah, a lot of people he didn't listen to. But then he tried and he was trying to apply that feedback the whole time. we also have a lot of fun folks who came back that we liked. We saw Clark, the strange guy that we we met with the two sister the Cloof sisters, right? He was pretty funny. Lorenzo's back, so Gina and and Peter. So I thought Gina and Peter had some pretty funny arcs. What did you guys think of those? Carol: I thought it was so sweet with Mark and Peter. That was Mel: Mm-hmm. Carol: really fun to watch those two. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. But poor Peter and Harley. Harley was a jerk. Carol: Yeah, yeah, yeah, she was. But I thought that was really super cute and how they Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Carol: put that together. Mel: I I love Mark when he realizes that it was Harley. He was like, no. Yeah. But no, I Carol: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: It's like this is gonna be a bloodbath. Gabriela: Bye. Mel: I I I I appreciate Peter for aiming high, but it's like, you're nine. He's 16. Like I that's like a universe Carol: I feel like your mother. Mel: of like difference. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yes, I thought that that was very far fetched, that he would think Mel: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: he had any chance whatsoever. Guess the kids d does Peter strike us as a k kid with confidence? Doug B.: Well, but no Chesla Wechsler: That was Carol: No. Doug B.: n not before he, did very well with the the crate race. So maybe that Chesla Wechsler: True. Doug B.: was the turning point for him. Gabriela: Yeah, during that episode of the Crate Race, he couldn't barely even say the word confidence. He's like, I think that was confidence. I'm like, He doesn't know what that feels like, yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yes Yeah. Doug B.: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: But could he have been more of a nerd? a bow tie with, completely mismatched sweater vest and shirt. Carol: He's Martin Jr. Chesla Wechsler: Where is his mother? Yeah. Gabriela: Yeah, he's adorable. Doug B.: Right. Chesla Wechsler: He is very cute. It was good to see Peter back again. and all all these folks. G Gina killed me. Gina has so many funny, funny, funny lines. the whole Ferrari level taste buds. Gabriela: Lady Scarface. Chesla Wechsler: Lady Scarface, yes. Mel: I love how she just drops in that she has family members that are didn't she mention somebody like in the mafia and she just Doug B.: Right. Mel: r drops in all this really r hardcore stuff just randomly. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, she's like, I'd haven't had to be this hush hush since my cousin ended up in the East River. Or or somebody says it's like it smells like a narcotic and she's like, Narcotics? Hey, my cousin Joey Gabriela: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Like, oi. Mel: I I they s they have incorporated that salon into this episode and I just I I love the name of it for for one thing, but I also loved when the the woman who cuts here, I can't remember her name, but Chesla Wechsler: Irma. Mel: the Irma, yeah. So the old, you know, the old guy was standing in line to go talk to Savannah. She was like, You need a haircut, get over here. Pulled him out of line to get a haircut. Chesla Wechsler: all the stylists were sitting around with nothing to do because everybody was in line for Savannah. So she's like, hey, Mel: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: this is my place of business. I need some scratcher. I thought that Martin and Glendon had made some relationship progress when Martin really was taking care of him with respect to the testicular. So I kinda thought the whole Eeyore bit was gonna go away. and it didn't, but still it's almost like they went through that scene on the bench, like they they repeated the the growth in their relationship that they'd already had, it seemed. What did you guys think of that? Gabriela: I think it's just a thing now. Like, it's not Mel: Mm-hmm. Gabriela: a bullying thing. It's now like a friendly type of teasing. Yeah, I don't mind it. I didn't think it was like a step back. I think it's like them kind of mending their past conflicts. like at the end, Martin calls him a nitwit and then he calls him a I won't get censored on here. But yeah, it was more like a friendly thing instead of like a mean thing. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Mel: And even when he said Eeyore, he didn't have that same vitriol in his voice that he said in the past. He was just like, hey, Eeyore. Like it it was just like a like you said, it was almost like a nickname at this point. I kind of felt. Chesla Wechsler: On on the bench, but not at the beginning when he's like, Did you get kicked out of the Garden of Eden? Gabriela: That was a good one. Mel: I th see at the beginning I thought he was he kind of was still, being I didn't s I didn't hear that that in his voice like I did last season, but maybe I Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Mel: just missed it. Chesla Wechsler: Or I missed it. Maybe I'm making too much of it. Mel: No, I I was a little surprised that he when he first interacted with him, because this is the first time we've seen Glendon since he was diagnosed. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Right. Mel: and where I I was a little surprised to hear him call him Eeyore, but I think that's Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Mel: just again force of habit because that's all he's ever called him. Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Mel: but I also was a little bit surprised that he was he he seemed to be a little mean again. But Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Mel: but part of me also wonders if that's just his default when he's, scared and threatened and Yeah, upset. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Do you guys remember what was the last line of the episode? Doug B.: You're still a nitwit. Gabriela: I I think Glendon's like, you're still an ass. And then Martin's like, I am. And then sees Parker and Louisa is like, I am. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. something like that. Seems like it or ain't that so or s something like that. And I it almost seemed like that whole scene was leading up to set up that line and that ending to me. Gabriela: Mm. Doug B.: Mm. Chesla Wechsler: so that he could be like, Okay, I am because I blew it with that woman, who I love. Gabriela: Well I think the whole episode is like you're a bad listener, you're not nice, you're not a people person. He's like yeah I'm still an ass. it's Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Gabriela: not. But like in kind of feels like bad about it. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah, agreed. Doug B.: I'm I'm just gonna add that I think you're right that that ending scene scene with the the the bully, he just doesn't deserve it. He doesn't Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Doug B.: deserve Martin's kindness. Because he it it i it's not returned. It's never been returned. Gabriela: I think that also speaks to who Martin is. Everyone's saying he's not this nice guy and he's not a people person, he's always been the bigger person, even if it comes off harshly. Doug B.: Right. He's always about his patients Chesla Wechsler: Hmm. Gabriela: But Glendon isn't his patient. But he does care Chesla Wechsler: Well. Doug B.: True. Gabriela: about his medical, his cancer treatment, but he's not necessarily his patient. Doug B.: Yeah, and he he doesn't want people to die. Right. He's I think I think he said I forget which episode, but it was like, I don't want anybody else to die in this town. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, that was the Paul's wife Sunny, Nobody's Gonna Die on My Watch kinda type thing. Yeah. They did seem when they were sitting on the park bench, they did laugh together. Right? When Martin was making y Mel: Well what I Chesla Wechsler: the comment about yeah, it w made me a little nauseous to be nice to you, basically. Mel: What I thought was interesting is and you talked about this a little bit, I think it was you, Doug. he's getting a little bit of his of karma, like everything he was talking about, like his kid is the the kid is at college theoretically, I think this is the you know baseball player from last season. His wife is gone. And, he's he's alone and sad. And I just thought that was kind of ironic because it's like, do you realize that that's what you were bullying Martin for for? Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Mel: I don't think he's ever I don't think Martin's ever explained to him, hey, this is why I was such a sad kid. But that's exactly what Martin was. And now Glendon's in that same boat. Gabriela: But the difference is Martin understands that feeling, so he's not going to bully him for it. Mel: Right. Chesla Wechsler: So what do we think comes next? What what was on the previews by the way, 'cause I didn't quite see the previews. Gabriela: the Revolutionary War reenactment happening Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Gabriela: in Portwenn. Everyone's dressed up except for Martin. Chesla Wechsler: I did see a little bit of that. Gabriela: then Martin, Carol: Yeah, Martin wants a nice plaque. Gabriela: yeah. Martin does dress up eventually. And... He's basically battling against Parker and Louisa Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Gabriela: confronts him. He's like, are you jealous? What do you want? And then that's when it ends. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Okay. Doug B.: Mm-hmm. Mel: There is a line though too where he appear appears to be talking to Parker and he says something like, Are you gonna take everything from me? So part of me wonders if there's as we were talking in this episode, if if there's more of him realizing that Parker is is there as more than just his monitor, that there's something else Parker's trying to do. Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: trying to get revenge on something. Gabriela: And Parker also says that he thinks he might be staying in Port longer. And so Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Gabriela: I think that's like, is he coming after my job? if Martin is there going to be two doctors in town? Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Gabriela: I think that's going to be fun. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Shh Yikes. Gabriela: I'm so excited. Chesla Wechsler: Well, it's nice to be Doug B.: Ha ha. Carol: Thank Chesla Wechsler: it's nice to be back Gabriela: Bye. Chesla Wechsler: into weekly episodes again after the layoff. I I'm glad I was able to bring Gabriela: Okay. Chesla Wechsler: that, the season one panel back. And Doug, thanks for being on special assignment for that. you know, people Doug B.: Good to be there. Chesla Wechsler: appreciated seeing last year's folks and it was nice to get that retrospective of five episodes worth of of season two from a different group of people, so that was a lot of fun. Well, folks out in listening, watching land, if this was fun, I hope you will like the episode. Subscribe to the feed. Continue commenting. We just keep on adding subscribers. More and more people are commenting. It's a great little community. Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: Thank you guys for all you're doing. We've got over 35,000 total streams already. I mean, just looked at data the other day. I like found these tools that I can use. How nice is that? But hey, it's the little podcast that could. I'm very proud of what we're doing here. Doug B.: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: I must admit, I've gone through life with my voice being described as penetrating and other lovely terms, so Marlene's comment that I sounded soothing was a very nice change, thank you for that. She's a new commenter, as were Raye, Siobhan, caw7007, AM Proser, LKSC, Tiffany, Patricia and Ivy, as well as folks who are so reliable like Becky and Landree and HeyJude and Lisa and Some rising commenters like Katrina and Amy S and Barbara and Almarita so guys keep it up. The community is growing, it's great. People seem to enjoy it. That's a phenomenal thing.