Latest / Podcast Portwenn: Doc Martin & Best Medicine / Doc Martin Season 7 Newbie Reaction: Couples Therapy, a Taser, and Patty's Big Told-You-So
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- Chesla Wechsler: I'm like, my gosh, when we get to season seven, Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Patty's gonna like, Yeah, see that? I was right this whole time. Patty V: See, see, see. Yeah. Told ya, Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Told ya, exactly. Patty is back for Doc Martin season seven, which begins with Louisa in Spain with her mother and James for three weeks. she has not been in contact. So Patty, come through and welcome back to Podcast Portwenn. Patty V: Thank you. Hi everybody. Chesla Wechsler: Good to see you again. so we we pick up three weeks from the basically the end of the last one, in a way. although maybe the the end of when she can finally travel. what's your initial impression? Patty V: I actually think I enjoyed this season maybe a little more than than the previous season. I really liked five and I six I was a little more so-so about. found well there were two th things about this season that I really liked. One is that and I've said in prior seasons that, whoa, Louisa acts like only Martin has to change. I don't think she's putting him in situations where it's clear that this would be a stretch for him and it's fine to, expect your partner to sometimes do things they're uncomfortable with that you like. and then other times I think you should, let him off the hook. And say, okay, I'll go by myself. You don't have to come if you don't like that. Whatever. and I felt like it was very one-sided. And finally the therapist agreed with me. I really like some of the things that the therapist said. So I enjoyed that about the season. And then I'm not quite sure why, but I'm really enjoying Aunt Ruth some more. because she's so like proper and formal and the way she dresses, she wears those the heels and the skirt and the she looks so formal and proper and doctorish. And yet she's really open to, okay, put a still on my property. I'm fine with it. and she was I thought kind to go along with the bed and breakfast idea and help kind of finance that. And I didn't think it was a terrible idea. It seemed like maybe it could work. you know, didn't go well at first, but then the whole idea at at the end of the season when she's saying, Well, it it she was more making it like craft beer kind of thing, like tie in the the two. And I thought to myself, you know what? That just might be a real business idea, you know. yes. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. She has the best lines too. She has such a dry wit. Patty V: And sh yeah, she delivers them deadpan. I mean the the the Aunt Ruth never smiles, but boy, but yeah, the lines are great. Mm-hmm. So Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, she's not a dame for nothing. Dame Eileen Atkins, Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: right? I'll tell ya, I have been wanting to get to season seven for a long time. Mainly because you've been so on it with the whole like she has to realize that she has to change and she seems to just run away when she's yeah. And I'm like, my gosh, when we get to season seven, Patty V: Every time yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Patty's gonna like, Yeah, see that? I was right this whole time. Patty V: See, see, see. Yeah. Told ya, Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Told ya, exactly. Patty V: well but the reasoning that the therapist had is not something that I came up with. she said something about that she puts Martin into situations where so he'll fail so she can avoid intimacy. And I didn't really think of that was the reason. I was just thinking that she was doing it because she just like expected him to immediately act like a quote normal person and just like change on a dime and I thought that was unreasonable. I didn't think she was doing it on purpose. I think she just wasn't thinking, but I don't know, we'll see. There's three more seasons to figure that out, so Chesla Wechsler: Just that's right. And she starts to dig into Lou into Louisa's upbringing too, Like Louisa thinks, yeah, everything was fine with me but yeah, my mom left when I was twelve and I didn't need a mom then anyway and then Patty V: And her dad was in jail and yeah, yeah. I hadn't really thought that that was the reason why either. but I think a decent therapist will at least probe those things just to see. Maybe they don't have any impact. Maybe she just totally overcame that and this is something different, but maybe not. So yeah, it made sense that she would ask those questions. And it was just kind of like interesting to see her, well, The th this therapist wants me to wants to meet me, I'll do it for Martin, but I don't need a therapist, So Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Yeah, she's so resistant to going I mean the couples therapy it's like I don't it's not my problem, it's why don't you get yourself sorted first and then then we'll Patty V: Right. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: think whether we've got a problem. Patty V: Yeah, so yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Did you I mean, going into the therapy, I didn't even think Louisa thought they had any hope. Patty V: Well, yeah, and and I was a little surprised that she would do it for that reason. but then there were a couple of weird twists in in the season. Like there was a single dad whose daughter ended up in the hospital and Martin was kinda accusing him of being neglectful and he's looking at Louisa and saying so well it's hard on your own and and he looks at her because he clearly knew that they were separated and said, Well, you know what it's like, you're separ you're separated, isn't it hard for you? it's only temporary. And I was Chesla Wechsler: Right. Patty V: like, What? What? and then Chesla Wechsler: That's Patty V: when he saved the teenage girl that didn't wanna take care of pigs Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Patty V: wanted to sing and she had a terrible voice. she when he he saved her, I guess was that a tracheotomy or something like that. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Patty V: and the she was telling James, That's your daddy, that's your daddy Like she was Chesla Wechsler: Yes, yes. Patty V: like excited and I was like, That doesn't sound like s somebody, you're gonna leave or whatever. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: It's such a pattern, right? Because every time he does something amazingly surgical, it's like her eyes are opened and she r that seems to be her the biggest attraction she has for him. Patty V: Well, I I I was trying to decide is it he's a brilliant surgeon, which to me is a reason to admire someone but not fall in love with them, Chesla Wechsler: Right. Patty V: or is it that he I don't know what Express this exactly. But he always tries to do the right thing with respect to being a doctor. Like it doesn't matter if it's a criminal, if somebody if somebody's just held me hostage, I'll try and save you if you're having a medical issue because that's what doctors do and that's what I do. And other doctors you might even Pat them on the back for it or cheer for them when they said, No, I'm not helping you. You just, tied me up or whatever. so that quality I can see, why but just because hey, he can do a tracheotomy, well that's a doctor. Do you admire are you in love with every doctor? No. But so Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: anyway, it's it's just interesting to see to Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. Patty V: see that. Chesla Wechsler: one thing that I think it does prove when he does these medical things is just how reliable he is. Patty V: Yes, Martin's never gonna leave. Martin's never gonna yeah, yeah. He may say the wrong thing. but I think she knows where his heart is. Yeah. And well she has to get reminded of it because some of the things he says are pretty awful. but I have to say the thing that I didn't like. The one thing that I felt like the show glossed over and didn't make as seem as awful as I thought it was was he wanted to put down the dog for being annoying. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yes. Patty V: And that really bothered me. I did not think that that was okay. I didn't think it was anything to laugh at. And I don't think that would fly in the US. I don't know if if in Britain that's different or what, but I kept thinking that, it's cruel. So I felt like they glossed over that. I did not like that. And I really Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, I don't know anybody who didn't cringe at that. Patty V: Yeah, and I'm not sure would Martin really do that? Come on, writers, It's like he he's he might tie him up or, put him in a a crate or something, but I just would he really try and kill him? I don't know. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, I we don't know through season seven what the whole objection to dogs is. Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Just he doesn't like them, they're filthy, whatever. Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: th that was if nothing else, it was a way of introducing Angela Sim, the veterinarian, right? Patty V: Yeah. Yeah, I guess. But not enough for me. I don't know. I y Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I was Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. I it bugged the heck out of me. Chris and I were just like, He can't. No, he can't Patty V: watching that thinking, how can Chesla approve of this? She can't possibly Chesla Wechsler: I know. N not n not for nothing. Martin Clunes is probably a bigger dog lover than me, which I'm not sure if that's actually possible, but we're at least Patty V: Yeah, how did Chesla Wechsler: equal, right? We're at least on on par. He he has more space to have more dogs than we can, but Obviously the the the Buffalo Pictures people are not gonna be putting down dogs. I'll tell you that. They're they're dog rescuers. one thing that Becky, who commented online on season five podcast episode, she said, You gotta tell Patty about how dog names play into things in Buffalo Pictures. So normally something like, James Henry as a s as the name of their son, and there's eventually a character whose name is Bob Jackson. There's a an Arthur Collins. It ends up the Clunes' dogs have those names and then they bec then they became characters on the show. So it's not the other way. Like you you would kind of think Patty V: Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: like, we had a character on this show that was a big hit so we'll name our dogs that no they had dogs Patty V: And they named the character afterword. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: So yeah, so what else Patty V: So Chesla Wechsler: about season seven? Patty V: well, there were definitely some funny lines. I think I said last time that I was finding Joe more amusing and less annoying, and that continues to be true. He said, let's see, he said, I'm not over dramatic. If anything, I'm under dramatic. I just thought that was funny. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, that's not Joe. I mean he's like such a panicker. Patty V: This was just a s character in the one episode. This this wasn't a funny line, but I just liked it. well, maybe it's a little bit funny. there was the guy who had his coworker take his urine test because Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Patty V: he was taking some enhancement drug so he could keep up with the other athletes or whatever and he didn't want to get discovered and then the but the person his co worker that took the test had something wrong that Martin detected. And anyway, that that guy felt like Martin really helped him and treated him well and he said, Everyone thinks you're a tosser, but you're all right by me and so Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Patty V: that was what I kinda liked about that was, Louise is not the only one in the whole village that sees something good in Martin, 'cause there's a lot not good to see, but this guy saw, the the goodness. So I yeah I let Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Which is great, There there's a bunch of very good lines in this. One thing that I remembered, when poor Bert I mean, you gotta feel bad for Bert when Jennifer sends him the letter, right? Patty V: Yeah, I guess so. I ha like I have said in other seasons I've been more annoyed. I'm only so so on Bert, 'cause he has these hairbrained schemes, they don't work out and and he drags poor Al into it when Al should be doing something else and taking care of his own thing and I I feel like what Al is trying isn't quite as harebrained and yet maybe he can't succeed if he's not, putting his full effort into it because he has to be bailing out his dad all the time. And I don't and Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: most the time it seems like the dad isn't that grateful. He just expects it. So and I thought that I know he knew her before, but I felt like it was a little quick after remeeting to get Chesla Wechsler: Right. Patty V: married and I was actually a little surprised she said yes. And wondering if it was the actress wanted to leave thing rather than what the writers thought. Chesla Wechsler: No, I think that was doomed from the start, kinda like what you said. It was a little quick. But yeah. But Patty V: It was June, okay. Yeah, yeah. Chesla Wechsler: the the thing that made me laugh was, poor Bert is outside the restaurant. Ruth catches him when he's leaving and he's got a suitcase and and she says like, nice suitcase. One of my patients used to carry his wife around in one. Well, parts of her. Parts of her. Patty V: Yeah, Gary's wife. That was a key line. Yeah, and she just just delivers that line. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Very dead pan. Patty V: I liked that this is with Joe. This is back to Joe. he was so proud of the taser gun he got. And he said, noticing anything different about me, and he's trying to l point his with his head to the taser, and he said Nervous tic? And then he said, No laser gun. And then he said, Are you sure they meant to send that to you? I thought that was a good Chesla Wechsler: Now who said that to him? I'm trying to remember. Patty V: I thought it was Bert. Yeah, Bert. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Patty V: Bert. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, that's true. Yeah, Joe Joe does not seem responsible enough to to have a weapon. Patty V: Yeah. Yeah. I'm your assistant. This is Morwenna. I'm your assistant. You're not my assistant. Then what am I doing now? The River Dance? I one more thing about Joe with the taser. Chesla Wechsler: Ciao. Patty V: Y you just tased a woman with a heart condition. To be fair, I wasn't aiming at her Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Yeah. Patty V: It doesn't count. I wasn't aiming at her. Chesla Wechsler: Proof that Joe should not have a taser. Patty V: Yeah, and and it's well not have a taser and can you imagine with a real gun, but in episode eight when they're keeping him captive and they have a rifle and Joe shows up but he doesn't have a Yeah, they have a weapon and he doesn't, so but except Chesla Wechsler: Right, yeah. Patty V: I said except a taser that he forgot to charge. Which that's so so Joe. Chesla Wechsler: Yes. He's just yes. So he he it's like he retains his ineptness. He has every now and then he's got a little glimmer of brilliance that he's able to pull something off. but he is Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: getting like I think you said last time, he's getting more endearing. He he did start to grow on me as time went on. Patty V: Yeah, he he he definitely is growing on me and and he has some good lines too. And he's not laughing because he doesn't even know he's funny. But when the The babysitter Janice, is that her name? Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Mm-hmm. Patty V: accidentally locked herself out with the baby inside. And the the mean teen girls that were coming by, he knew one of them was kind of a petty criminal and would know how to break in, so he gets her to break in. She says, Can you hand me Chesla Wechsler: Credit card. Patty V: a credit card? And he says, Visa or master. Chesla Wechsler: I know. Like like that's gonna matter. Patty V: Just Chesla Wechsler: It's funny because it's like, as a police officer, not for nothing. When I was probably ten years old, I learned how to open a door with a credit card. And I am by no Patty V: really? Wow. Chesla Wechsler: means a delinquent, but I read a lot of spy novels. Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: what did you think of Peter Cronk coming back the height. Patty V: he was annoying, yeah. And he acted like he was in charge, like he he was a doctor too and and yeah. Chesla Wechsler: And he's ordering Morwenna around? Patty V: Yeah, Yeah. I actually think I prefer Morwenna out of the three assistants or whatever you call them, receptionists. she's pretty cool. She's kind of a nice balance of sarcastic, humorous lines, but she actually is capable and can do her job, it seems like. So and has some Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Yeah. Yeah. No, I agree. I Patty V: has some compassion for reasonable patients and Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Patty V: also has some frustration with people that are just there, I don't know if they don't really have an illness and they come anyway and and I think that's kind of realistic and fair to be frustrated with those kind of people. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah. I mean you y you start out with Elaine who's just incredibly un obnoxious and then you get Pauline who's capable, but th there's a me there's a little bit of a mean streak in Pauline. Patty V: Yes, I think so. And it was l hard to root for Al and Pauline. and rooting for Al and Morwenna is easier. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Yes. Yeah, I I no I agree because yeah Morwenna just seems like a nicer person. Even when you you first meet her and y you see her with her granddad like ages ago and y Patty V: Yes. Chesla Wechsler: you you just see how much love is there and so yeah, Patty V: Yes. Chesla Wechsler: Mrs Tishell hasn't quite given up on Martin and Clive comes back. Patty V: I to be honest, I'm kind of an I don't really find that amusing anymore. I'm kinda sick of that Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Patty V: that plot line, so I kinda hope she doesn't do that through all the remaining seasons, but we'll see. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Sh her husband's back, so she does try to she tries to give it a go with him, right? Patty V: Yeah, seems like it, but I I just wasn't sure. 'Cause it seemed like she was playing both sides. I don't know. Chesla Wechsler: Hmm. I love how she says something like, we are soulmates, but in a different universe or something like that. Patty V: Yeah, and he's like Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, pli please not. So what about what about the therapy? Unless you have other things that you want to talk about. Patty V: no, I'm no, the therapy. Chesla Wechsler: when Martin first meets Doctor TImoney after he's He's there for th when he's there for the real first time. It's interesting how he just d diagnoses everything about himself, right? I have an attachment disorder because I was unloved. I mean you just your heart breaks for him because he's just very dispassionately talking about why he is who he Patty V: Yeah. And Chesla Wechsler: is. Patty V: yeah, I mean and he's he's a doctor, he's very medical, so it not that he's a psychiatrist or or even a psychologist, but still he has in med school he had to have studied some of this stuff and so he does know what some of this stuff is, but it it is kinda weird. to imagine somebody walking in and just rattling off all the th things like that, You you would think that somebody might say, Well I'm sad because of this or I I need help with this or not so clinical. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. And doesn't he also say something about happiness is overrated, but she says, but not for Louisa? Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: So it's kinda like happiness isn't important to him, but he values the fact that it is for Patty V: It is for her you know. Chesla Wechsler: her and he wants her to be happy. Patty V: But but I mean I think that's kind of a theme for him Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Patty V: that he he doesn't really understand pursuing happiness and Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: let's see if he can learn. I j well, I found it interesting that she said, In the the very first time she went and I think did did Louisa go by herself just to meet her once, I think. And Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yes. Patty V: she she had what I thought was a really good line about these things work Something about if you if you're open to be open minded Right. here it is. Yeah, it works best if you're h it's helpful to keep an open mind. Both partners should always be open to the idea that they could be responsible for, whatever. And and what do you mean? And I thought she wasn't gonna come back, so I was a little surprised that in another episode, right away she was she was back. So I thought that was interesting. Chesla Wechsler: But do did you figure out like why she went back? Patty V: Apparently not. Chesla Wechsler: I I credit it to Ruth because Ruth talks to her about Doctor TImoney and she's like, Patty V: yeah, yeah, yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Don't you wanna know what he's saying about you? Or don't you wanna hear what he has to say? Don't Patty V: Yeah. She she was trying to encourage get her curiosity open. Yeah, yeah. Chesla Wechsler: And don't you wanna like present your own side? Patty V: Yeah. Yeah. He might get it wrong. He might or yeah. I think that's Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. But I thought that was that was the psychiatrist in action. Patty V: Yeah, doing her her little yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Go Ruth. Patty V: Let's see, there was another I think it was season five. and we already talked about what the therapist, pretty much flat out said she was possibly putting Martin in situations where she knew he wasn't gonna succeed to like push him away. and that was thought provoking to me because I do think she pushes in him into situations where he's not gonna succeed. I I wasn't like I said before, I wasn't sure that was why, but maybe it is. Chesla Wechsler: Well, I'll tell you, in season six in the podcast, you said something along the lines of she puts him in positions where he's going to fail, and then she uses the failure as at as evidence that she's right. And Patty V: Yeah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: I just knew that season seven was coming, and I was like Man. Well done, Patty. Patty V: she is gonna be Yeah. that Danny coming back. Now, I had said something earlier about, aren't they being a little too tough on him for being religious because he didn't seem obnoxiously so or like he was pushing on people and okay, they fixed that in this s season, explaining, why he was obnoxious with that. a kid's lost and you sit there with the other kids singing Amazing Grace. What? Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. Patty V: What? maybe somebody some adult has to stay behind with the kids. Maybe the kids are too young to help, I'm not sure. Maybe you would be risking losing another kid by splitting them up and having them look. But every available adult should have been looking, you Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Patty V: know, and that was just like, okay, this guy is nuts. Chesla Wechsler: Well, I think that answers the question that we had in earlier seasons, which was, why are they so hard on Danny? And I think you get your answer in season seven, which is it's all an act. His whole God thing is just not who he really is sincerely. Patty V: Ya but what does he get out of that though? I mean, why is he it just yeah. I don't know. Chesla Wechsler: I don't know. But I he's trying to exploit the situation with Martin and Louisa being apart. Yeah. Patty V: definitely, definitely. Which if he really were, God fearing and whatever, he would not be trying to do that. I mean, it doesn't mean he wouldn't date her if ev down the road if every thing did fall apart, but not while they're trying to decide. That's really Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Patty V: that was really obnoxious and not godlike. So Chesla Wechsler: And and if he were truly godlike, he would be trying to help them get back together, despite the fact that it wasn't in Patty V: Or just Chesla Wechsler: his best interest. Patty V: Yeah, yeah. So I'd be happy if he doesn't come back in eight, nine and ten. So this was a good Ruth line. when she gave a a talk or something and Martin asked her how it went and she said, Pretty well. I th I think I could be her heard above the snoring. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: yeah. They they really have great writers. They really do. Just just those lines. Patty V: well and I feel like the first season she was in it, there was some of that, but I feel like it's only increased. And this season I just I maybe I noticed it more or or she's doing it more, but it was just she made me laugh a lot. Chesla Wechsler: So this is her third season, 'cause she did she come in five, I think. So she's five, six, seven. This is her third season. So they they've really figured out how to use Ruth at this point. Patty V: Yeah. line. This is this is one for like why he does need therapy. But I think it was the the pirate at the birthday party shouldn't have been there because she Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Right. Patty V: had contagious dis disease. And Chesla Wechsler: Yep. Patty V: he said, you are putting these children and all their handlers at risk. And I was like, handlers, hmm handlers. Chesla Wechsler: Handlers. Yes. Patty V: You're right, but Chesla Wechsler: Could you use a different word? Patty V: Yeah. So Chesla Wechsler: I actually liked the Rachel Timoney therapy sessions. I guess the one thing that I wasn't quite sure about was when she was thinking that the blood phobia is from a lack of control on his part, but I I like the fact that he disagrees 'cause as far as he's concerned, it's like I saw them as bodies, then I saw them as humans in relationship with one another. And that's when I Patty V: Which is so unmartin like. Chesla Wechsler: Yes, it is and and the th you can see how that could freak him out, right? Patty V: Yeah. I don't know what to do with these people that yeah. Chesla Wechsler: And maybe that is a control loss. Patty V: I don't know. I I wasn't sure I agreed with her there either, but I I found the therapy sessions interesting. Like we've just talked about all these different funny lines and the therapy sessions for the most part weren't funny, which I think is well done and appropriate. Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Patty V: So yeah, they Yeah, and and it was interesting that Louisa tried to discredit her because they said she was too young. But thirty-two is I mean, if she said twenty twenty-two, maybe, but thirty-two seemed like okay, you've been through school and you've had several years experience, just 'cause you're younger than Louisa is, maybe a little bit, still seemed okay to me. I don't I felt like she held her ground well. And the way that Ruth described her when she recommended her, I was not Expecting her to look like that or be th thirty-two. I thought she was gonna be more like a Ruth, like hardened and wizened and Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Patty V: she was firm and she wasn't happy when he, was late, even though he was saving lives, but but Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Right. Patty V: but still she seemed she had a softer side to her than I thought she was going to. Chesla Wechsler: And and I I think she was, like you said, you said she's she's firm. she was good about making sure that she would turn them back away from her. It's like how old are you have you ever you've never been probably been in a relationship. It's like this isn't about me. like let's stop deflecting. Yeah, let's stop deflecting. Yeah, I liked Patty V: Right, Which is exactly what a therapist should say. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So I thought she I thought the except at the the season where she had the concussion or whatever and the repercussions, I thought she made therapists look good. She they she seemed like a competent therapist and and Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Patty V: like somebody who could help people. Chesla Wechsler: And the exercises that she gave were good exercises. I mean, I I love how she wants well h she wants Patty V: That was There's a funny line for one of the exercises. Because they were supposed to embrace three times a day and he Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Patty V: said something like, I can't let you go. To let Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, I I'm finding it difficult to let go. Patty V: you to let go. And you think it's bec wow, he's saying something emotional, but it's because he's caught on her sweater. That they had Chesla Wechsler: Yes, yes. That Patty V: me fooled. I was not expecting that. Chesla Wechsler: And and L Louisa was great. She's like, I'm not going anywhere and he's and y you see him kinda like trying to get his watch off the But but I just like Patty V: Yeah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: at the I think the very first thing that she has them do is to try to go on an actual date. And it made me laugh that Martin didn't really know what that meant, right? Patty V: Right. And he was asking questions about it like he was a two year old. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: But the fact that she explained it to him with no judgment I thought was great. Do you remember how that went? It was kind of like some Patty V: Yeah. that would be hard too, because that that's so far y that seems like it's so easy. Like anybody would know what a date is, but she patiently acted like, sh he asked her to explain quantum physics, Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, it's like sometimes people will who are interested in one another will go out for perhaps a meal. You mean to a restaurant? Yes. Patty V: Yeah. Okay, the Chesla Wechsler: The one line. Patty V: one line that the therapist had that I did think was funny was at the end when they were sort of deciding like, okay, 'cause she had told them It's not a therapy's not a failure if you do decide to separate, d and and one of the assignments she gave was to think about what would be the advantages if if they did live apart, which I was dying to see those those lists, but they never really or if they even had a list, if Martin's was gonna be blank or or whatever. but when they had sort of half decided or Louisa had decided that they were going to th that, we're just not suited, we're gonna give up or whatever. And she came by to because she had recovered from the concussion thing and was more Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: like normal and said she sort of apologized for whatever she might have said when when she was that and they were saying, we don't need to resume therapy because we're we're gonna split and we're it's all good. We're gonna we're all adults about it, whatever. And she said, Well, good luck to you both and Louisa said, we don't need luck and the therapist said, I think you do That was that was Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Yes. Yeah. It it just seems to me like l well, I mean p Louisa asked the question of Martin when when Dr. TImoney dropped that bomb on them to try to create those lists of something along the lines of does she think that we should get divorced? And Martin corrects her and says, No, we're supposed to just make a list. Like he is he is taking her exactly at her word, Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: which is make a list for discussion. It's basically Patty V: Right. Right. Chesla Wechsler: part of the tools and part of the process. Patty V: Which is I think pretty much what she meant. I mean that that Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Patty V: that therapist wasn't gonna say you should or you shouldn't. They don't do that. a decent one. Chesla Wechsler: No. Yeah. Patty V: They don't do that. And so it was just an exercise to go through. If anything, it might make you realize that, well, I wouldn't have to tidy up my kitchen as much, but is Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Patty V: that enough? Do I really care about that? Chesla Wechsler: That's right, right. I mean I thought that the y when you look at the date that they had, even though it didn't work out because of stupid Danny and his, losing of a child, Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Martin picks the restaurant where they first met, picks the same table, I believe, gets her flowers, Patty V: There was a lot in that. Yeah. He brought her flowers ahead of time and she wasn't expecting that. And who who was it? Janice thought they were for her or something when they when he brought them in and she's like, Well they're for Louisa. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: That's and he he bought them for her. It wasn't like, somebody just a patient dropped them off to congratulate them for something, which I th Yeah, yeah. So I mean, Patty V: Yeah, he picked him up. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: he tries really hard in that in the hug and the affirmation. He seems much better with the affirmations than she does. Patty V: Right, when they said three things, he had two right away, and then he said, Yeah, and she's beautiful and she looked at him. She was almost like surprised that he said that and he has said that before, that she was beautiful. And so and I I was wondering why she seemed surprised at that. Chesla Wechsler: When I watched that, 'cause I watched that today, and th because I I was watching her body language and Louisa was just I think she was done. When she went into that therapy, I think she was almost just wanting to be done with the marriage. Like she was ready to run away. And I think when Martin said what a wonderful mother she was And I forget what the second one was but the last one was and and she's very beautiful. I believe she looked at him and she almost looked conflicted to me because all of a sudden it was like he he can say nice things. He Patty V: we can say nice things. Chesla Wechsler: he seems to love me when he says things like that. And I I have feelings for him when he does, and I don't want feelings. I want Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: it to be clear. And it now it's Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: not clear anymore. Patty V: Yeah. That I think that probably is spot on. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah. impression. Patty V: Well and then I I mean that's kind of what she said in the last episode. I still am not sure if she fully realizes that she needs to change more, but she said something, you and I are not we're not normal. You and I are not normal and that's okay, or something like that. Chesla Wechsler: That to me was the big light bulb going off in her head, which is I think I I think she even says, I've been wrong about this all the time. she she Patty V: Yeah. say it that baldly? Wow, yeah. Chesla Wechsler: said it very she says, I think I've been wrong or or I've I've been mistaken or something like that. People are unusual. You're unusual. I'm unusual. Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: And to me that was like Epiphany girlfriend and then Patty V: Yeah, yeah. Chesla Wechsler: they kiss and you're like, Yay, maybe there's hope. Patty V: Yeah. she didn't run away. So I felt like they left Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Did you like the ending? Patty V: I felt like they left you with hope in that one. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. Which is good. 'Cause you had hope after season six, where I I didn't have hope after season six. Patty V: Well, I wasn't sure that she was actually she couldn't go to Spain immediately at the end of season six because recovering from her surgery. And so it that left some time for her to think about do I really want to go to Spain? And to Chesla Wechsler: Right. Patty V: go see my awful mother? That that one blew Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah. Patty V: me away. Is there somebody else you could see that's nicer to you? But Chesla Wechsler: Right. Patty V: actually a little surprised in the beginning when she was in Spain. I was like, she went after all. Okay. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. And she was completely out of contact. Patty V: Yeah. Yeah. That was Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. And it took Ruth to point that out to Martin, right? Because Martin's i i he's just living with it and Ruth is kind of like, So Martin, your wife has gone away, she called you when she got there, and you haven't been in touch since in three weeks? Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: And when she comes back she just sort of s shows up and he doesn't hug her or anything. Patty V: He doesn't I think he w didn't know what to do. I don't think Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Patty V: he didn't want to hug her. I think he was trying to do whatever she wanted and he wasn't sure she wanted a hug. And then Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Patty V: of course when she brings she said she brought him something and I like, Wow, I wouldn't think she would buy him anything if she was gonna be away and not be in contact with and then he said fats and salts. It's a sausage. It was fats and salts. Chesla Wechsler: And I when I my opinion of that, I'd like to get yours because since you're the second newbie I've done, I was like she brings him back something completely inappropriate. And Judy the newbie felt like she brought him back something kind of like new to try, expand your horizons, kind of almost like an experiment in adaptability. Patty V: A be an experiment or a test? Because Chesla Wechsler: Could go either way, I suppose. Patty V: See, that's my problem with her. Some of the stuff that she does, if she talked to him about it, like in the prior season, when she wanted him to come to the school, and it seemed like she didn't even tell him that she expected him to give a speech, could could they have compromised and cut back he would come but maybe not have the full role that she expected him to have? And could they have discussed that and he might say, Well, I think I could do this, but it would be really hard for me to do that and she'd say, Okay, just Try this and then maybe next time you can do more. And so this you could have done the same thing with the sausage. Instead of acting like you should be delighted because I brought you back some, this unhealthy food that maybe you don't even like, instead of saying I had this, it this is very popular in Spain and I thought, maybe you might wanna see what's popular in Spain. Give it a try, like make it somehow more palatable, more gradual, not just Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah. Patty V: you should immediately like this thing that isn't you at all. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, or or bring it back and say, Martin, I know that this is like you'd never eat this normally because it's it's really not healthy. But it's really delicious and I just thought maybe you'd wanna since you're such a good cook, you might want to just taste it. But one bite. But no there's Patty V: Yeah. Yeah. One bite. Yeah, just just allow yourself a bite or something, like a small portion of ice cream or whatever. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Right. Yeah, there's there's none of that. did you like the last episode with the Wintons? Patty V: like it? I mean it was I mean they were holding I I found it true to character that even though they tortured him pretty much, that that he did try to save th the husband, who really wasn't in favor of what his wife and son were doing. He was just kind of he was bedridden but or s almost bedridden because he got out, but it I don't know if like's the right word. I mean I'm not sure that what they did was r wrong and in the US they get arrested. I don't think they c that could be just be blown over here. so Chesla Wechsler: I I was partial Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: to that episode I liked I liked Annie Winton, because she was so in love with her husband and she so wanted to save him, she really was kind of willing to do anything. And she made Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: a foil for Martin and Louisa because Louisa, she r recognizes Martin would never just stand her up like that. So she doesn't believe he just picked up and left like other people think. She's the one who thinks there's gotta be something wrong. Patty V: I liked that part of the episode and I thought that that was good that she realized that and that she tried so hard to find him and dragged Penhale with her. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. And then and then Martin y Martin tries to negotiate her release to for Patty V: Yes, yes. Chesla Wechsler: her sake, but then she refuses to leave him. Patty V: Said I'm staying here. Yeah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: So i it gave a a a nice way for them to sort of have this foil to work against to realise what was important to the two of them. Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: So I like that. Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: you've been through seven seasons now. Do you have any favorite episodes overall? Patty V: I'm probably still partial to the last episode in season five. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Patty V: I just really liked that whole speech that was pretending to be for Mrs. Tishell but was really for Louisa. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Patty V: I just found that so creative. So I didn't predict it at all or, I did like this season. I don't know that I liked any one episode. I liked parts of I did like the like I said in the beginning, the therapist bringing out some stuff that I thought was pretty important. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: yeah. Chesla Wechsler: But the the s the episode that you're talking about with season five, episode eight, that Amaia she commented that a lot of people compare that scene to sort of like a Romeo and Juliet kind of thing. But she Patty V: Yeah, because you're looking up and yeah, yeah. Chesla Wechsler: actually said that it reminded her more of like Cyrano de Bergerac. Because, Louisa's feeding him lines. Right? A and I c I can definitely see that. Yeah, yeah. Patty V: Right, right, right. That's interesting. I could see that, yeah. I didn't think of that at the time, but now that you say it, yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. I think I think we're almost invited to think Shakespeare because we've got Mrs. Tishell going, my Romeo and Juliet is the sun so y you they're hinting at that, but I I liked the Cyrano parallel. also in in season seven, which we just finished, you've got Martin being like he moves out, right? b to to take the inferior house and leaves Louisa with his home that he owns, right, where he works. Patty V: Right, right. And his office is attached, so that was so interesting. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, so he's he's making the self sacrifice there, for Patty V: It's really for the baby too, because that's not a good place for the kid with the steps and everything and it was dangerous. So yeah. Chesla Wechsler: No. Yes, not at all. Not at all. but Deb Debbie, who's a recent commenter, had said something to the idea and this was in one of the earlier seasons when they just had the baby and it was too late for Martin to really go back to London as intended. She was thinking that when he asks can he stay with her, that it's kind of like, y You are really my home. And in Patty V: Right. Chesla Wechsler: season seven, you really get that sense because he he makes some comment like when she says, Are you okay? And he's like, No, it just feels very strange to leave. Like Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: he you we should be in one place. Patty V: Well, at the end she said, Let's go home, Martin and Yeah. So I mean I took that to me together to that to the surgery, the attach house attached to the surgery. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Agreed. Was this the series where Morwenna is a the doc's assistant on something and it's Patty V: She did help him on that's when she started wanting to be paid more. She handed him instruments when he was doing I think that was the first episode maybe. Let's Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Patty V: see. She handed him Chesla Wechsler: Like whose surgery was going on? Patty V: there was the one and the with the boat. when the guy that was taking the performance enhancing drugs and she Chesla Wechsler: Right. Patty V: was on the phone and Martin was telling her what to do but the they didn't have service or whatever and Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Patty V: she knew enough to get the airway open and so she Chesla Wechsler: Right. Patty V: she well so if she wanted to go on for more schooling it seemed like maybe she could she was smart enough to and could, succeed. Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Patty V: so I actually thought maybe that was gonna be at least part of the storyline that she was gonna get more training, but Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: not yet. But she did Chesla Wechsler: I thought Patty V: handed instruments it was it was on Aunt Ruth. She handed him instruments for a procedure for Aunt Ruth. And she she gowned up and everything and maybe anybody can do that. I don't know. would seem Chesla Wechsler: Anybody that. Patty V: like anybody should be able to. But but she wanted to Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. I gotta I gotta Patty V: raise her doing that compared to just answering the phone. So Chesla Wechsler: Right, right, right. little thing that Patty V: And there was a negotiation. That was funny too, the negotiation. Chesla Wechsler: well well sh the whole Sig you the whole assertiveness thing. We didn't talk about Sigourney Weaver yet, so what did you think about Sigourney Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Weaver showing up all of a sudden? Patty V: in more she wasn't in enough of the episode. But but the you knew when she handed her that book that that something was gonna come out of that. So you Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Patty V: know when she was talking about but but normally if you try out something you read in a book, you don't say, I learned it from this book and hold the book up. That was funny. so Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. I'm trying to remember. She she comes to town and she goes to Mrs. Tishell, she w she wants some medication, right? And then Mrs. Tishell sends her off to the Doc. Patty V: Yeah. She ended up in the in in there and didn't she want some medicine that he wouldn't give her because she didn't necessarily need it? I'm trying to Chesla Wechsler: Mhm. Patty V: remember. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, wasn't Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: she sort of sounding like he could make a mint in the United States and didn't Sally get a little jealous of her? Patty V: Yeah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: I love the fact that the two of them are like besties in real life. Patty V: Yeah, yeah. Well I thought she Chesla Wechsler: Do we have? Patty V: was gonna be back in season eight and so I'm watching the credits 'cause I don't y often watch the credits and for whatever reason I did Chesla Wechsler: episode eight, yeah. Patty V: in episode seven and said, Wait a minute, Sigourney Weaver 'cause we've talked before that I don't recogni you recognize a lot of these actors from being in other shows and for the most part I don't. I did recognize the therapist. so I don't even look at the credits because Chesla Wechsler: Who I did not. Patty V: I don't know these people anyway. And and then I said, wait a minute, Sigourney Weaver, I know that one Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Yes. you had me review episodes what was it? Three, four, and five or four, five, and six, I forget which one. The therapy. Patty V: Yeah, w well when they were ta doing the therapy, yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Those three were the first episodes that I watched after having gotten back from England and meeting Martin. And I'll tell ya, I don't believe that those are the same human being. Wha I watched Martin Ellingham and and just a credit to Martin Clunes as an actor. I swear to God it's not the same guy. Like I don't know how he pulls it off because like and apologies to, anybody with sensitive ears, but I know that when I'm not in conversation with someone, I have an amazing what's called RBF. This is resting bitch face. So when I'm not I know you haven't heard that. When I'm not talking to somebody, my expression is not a happy one. Patty V: I wouldn't ex well. Chesla Wechsler: I I've seen it even when I do my intros when I'm just talking to the camera and I watch it again, I'm like, I have to redo this and smile because I don't smile. Martin Clunes has the exact opposite of resting bitch face. That man is just smiley. And to see Martin Ellingham, who has the best resting bitch face like all the time, and he's so stiff and up, like just upright, and Martin is Clunes is is loose and my god, just Patty V: It did seem quite a contrast. the picture that I saw of you with Martin Clunes, it he was wearing jeans and a casual shirt and he di he did look relaxed, it looked very very it looked like a totally different person. But Chesla Wechsler: And I s I Patty V: I don't see Martin Ellingham I actually thought I might see a little more softening, a little more change from season one to season seven than I feel like I have seen. So I'm curious what happens in eight, nine and ten because okay, he's not the only one that needs changing, but I think he kinda needs some changing. Chesla Wechsler: It's changing. A a question for you, you've been through seven of these now with me, and how has my poker face been? Patty V: your poker fan you're I I think you're you're pretty good. I think maybe you would smile when I would say in prior seasons that, come on, Louisa's not being fair to him. She need shouldn't put him in these situations or they should at least talk about it beforehand. She needs to prep him, whatever. you smiled maybe, but I didn't think I didn't take it to be Yeah, the therapist is gonna say that in season seven. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Patty V: I I took it to mean that I actually took it a different way. I actually took it more like, wow, weird Patty's finding fault with Louisa and everybody thinks Louisa's nice and perfect. Chesla Wechsler: I try to be sort of an offhand host and just let you talk and be encouraging and give you smiles and nods to like keep you going, but Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: I'm hoping that I'm not giving anything away. Patty V: No, I think you I think you did well with that. Chesla Wechsler: So let's do let's do this then. you've been through seven seasons. Now what do you think happens in eight? Patty V: What do I think happens in a I would really love to see a little bit of growth on both their parts. I would love to see he's gonna say something awful that he shouldn't say, but I would love to see Louisa deal with it like come on, Martin. Like not let him get away with it, but not r okay, this guy's awful, I'm running away. I I would just c kinda hope that. I don't know. Yeah, I'm not I'm I'm not sure. It seemed like there was a little bit of movement at the end of season seven. And if it doesn't move a little bit more, then I don't know how you're gonna get three more seasons out of it. So Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Patty V: I feel like there has to be something. I don't know. Chesla Wechsler: I w I wish I don't know how you feel about this, but I wish that as I was watching these I didn't know how many seasons there were. Patty V: When you were watching you already knew. When you watched first time? Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, I mean I knew there there were there were there were nine seasons when I started watching. And I think I even knew that season ten was finished and and it just wasn't available. So I knew there were ten seasons. Patty V: okay. Okay. Okay. Chesla Wechsler: so like if there's an issue like if he's if he's being held hostage, right? he doesn't get killed or something because how are they gonna make more? So Patty V: gonna be Yes. Yes. Chesla Wechsler: since you have seen all of Best Medicine, we now have three receptionists in Doc Martin and you've got Elaine in Best Medicine. So can you see how they might have made Elaine in Best Medicine something of a composite of the three of these people? Patty V: definitely, 'cause the Elaine in Doc Martin just really was I didn't see redeeming qualities. and in the Elaine in Best Medicine, there's some. every once in a while I got tired of the constant taping and saying things for her fans and trying to make something out of nothing so she could put it in a video and all that. But there was definitely some compassion towards the doctor when she discovered the problem with the blood, and she had some capability there. so that seemed like a combination of the first two the of the British Elaine and Pauline. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: I'm not quite sure about Morwenna. How much Morwenna is in the Elaine in the US show? Chesla Wechsler: Well, you had mentioned tonight that you thought, Morwenna had sort of more warmth towards the doctor. and that's what I think she adds. Yeah. So it's kinda like the annoyance Patty V: Yeah, I guess there's some of that. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: factor comes from the first Elaine. The fact that she's the receptionist can be capable with blood comes from Pauline, and the warmth of Elaine comes from Morwenna. Patty V: Yeah. I feel like Morwenna may be the least, 'cause I feel like w we'll we'll see. I I feel like the Elaine in the US show is still pretty self centered. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: and I didn't think the I don't think Morwenna is as much, but have to have to see the second season of Bast Medicine to to compare. But Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah, we we all needed that. Patty V: I do feel like speaking of Best Medicine I do feel like Martin changed more across season one in Best Medicine than than certainly in one season in in Doc Martin and maybe even in several. so I'm interested to see what they do with that. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. One thing that Patty V: In the in the other Chesla Wechsler: having rewatched some episodes of season seven, in prep for this, I really just got the sense that Martin Best doesn't even ever strike you as an unusual person and very d far away from the people in the village. Whereas Martin Ellingham always seems like this fish out of water who is just not like any other human being Patty V: Yeah. Yeah, it almost seems like Martin Best is more I'm an introvert, I'm happy hanging out by myself, I don't have to be socializing at all these different parties that this town does. But that's different from I have no idea how to act at a party. so and yeah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah. I've been so deprived and wounded in my life that I have simply no skills and no aptitude and no desire. Patty V: Yeah. I also feel like Louisa like they haven't developed that relationship that much in the Best Medicine between Louisa and and Martin. There's kind of a a hint, but it's not very far along and I feel like the relationship between Louisa and Martin actually progressed faster in Doc Martin, even though the doctor in Doc Martin is maybe further off from someone you might think you'd fall in love with. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Well, I guess in Best Medicine you get the kiss after the Peter Cronk, right? In both of them. and then you get the screw it up after the fact in both of them. Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: and then you don't when you think about okay, there's thirteen episodes of Patty V: Right. Chesla Wechsler: Best Medicine, there's in f the first two seasons of Doc Martin there are fifteen. 'Cause there's Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: there's that extra that I call number nine and you call nine and ten. Patty V: Yeah. Nine and ten, right? Chesla Wechsler: so there's there's a little more, but I think they're not that far off if you just compare kind of like with like episode wise. But from a Patty V: Yeah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: warmth perspective, Martin Best starts out warmer than Doc Martin Ellingham is by season seven, you know. Patty V: Yeah. Well and he's petting the dog by the end of the season one, so Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Patty V: and I haven't seen Martin petting him. Chesla Wechsler: He's killing the dog in season seven. Patty V: Yeah, yeah. Like I'm not sure there's gonna be any growth. I'm not holding out a whole lot of hope for him liking that dog by the end. Yeah. I I have Chesla Wechsler: Loving the dog, yeah. There you go. That's funny. Patty V: a feeling he might get a little bit better with people a little bit better with people, but I'm not sure he's gonna be a dog lover. Chesla Wechsler: Only time will tell. Well Patty V: There you go. Chesla Wechsler: Cool. Well Patty, as always, I so appreciate you putting the time into watching and then coming to talk with me. folks, if you've enjoyed this, please like it and subscribe to the feed. If you know a Doc Martin person that or a Best Medicine person, please tell them about the podcast, send them a link. There's playlists for Best Medicine, there's playlists for just newbies, there's playlists for the whole thing. so please do that. We have a great little community. According to analysis of my YouTube stats. and otherwise, apparently as a community goes, we've done a great job of building one and we're we're better than most podcasts on YouTube and we have a better like versus subscriber ratio than many other podcasts. So I'm very pleased. if Patty V: Ooh. Chesla Wechsler: you guys like this, that makes me happy. So please continue to comment. I'll continue to get back to you. And Patty we will see you for season eight. Patty V: Okay, looking forward to it.