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Best Medicine S1E13 — "Norway No How" | Season Finale Deep Dive | Podcast Portwenn · Podcast Portwenn: Doc Martin & Best Medicine

• Chesla Wechsler: This is your segue between the unspoiled Best Medicine fan takes and the Doc Martin savvy spoiled fan takes. If there is anybody who does not want to have the Doc Martin spoilers, this would be the time that you would want to drop because we will be making comparisons between Best Medicine and Doc Martin. So this is your final warning. I'm happy to say we've got the unspoiled band back together for the season finale of Best Medicine, season one, episode 13, Norway No How. Patty, Doug, Erica, welcome back to Podcast Portwenn Erica Susko: Hello. Doug B.: Hey everybody. Chesla Wechsler: for the Doc Martin fan deep dive into Best Medicine season one, episode 13, Norway No How are Doc Martin know it alls Kathy and Chris. Welcome back to Podcast Portwenn. Thanks for making yourself available. I know with all the vacations and everything, this was not, and business trips, you name it, this was not the most convenient thing. I just got out of a car after a seven hour car ride about an hour ago, so thank you for being here. We'll jump in. Let's start with Erica. Give the ⁓ finale ranking and your rationale. Before we get started, I'd like to thank everyone who has been watching the podcast, crushing the like button, subscribing and commenting. We're a pleasant little community and I look forward to producing more content for you. I'm also looking for guests. For the Best Medicine playlist, I'm looking for more unspoiled people and particularly folks who would expand our demographics. I'm also looking for Doc Martin know-it-alls who are fans of Best Medicine for the spoiled segment. All demographics are welcome there as well. More generally, I'm looking for people who've never seen Doc Martin but want to watch it. It doesn't matter if you watch Best Medicine or not. You would watch all the episodes of a Doc Martin season Erica Susko: I think I would put this somewhere in the middle. I had different for an outcome that didn't happen. So that's not really fair to put on anybody because ⁓ it was what was hoping, ⁓ but it did of damper a little bit of the flavor of this episode. Overall, liked how almost everyone in town was included at some point in this episode, which was nice as a wrap up for the season. So you kind of got to check in with everybody. Medically, kind of gross, ⁓ but that's, you know, it is what it is. I wish they could have shown some image of the hairy baby. Chesla Wechsler: and then we would have a chat about that season. Believe it or not, those of us who've watched that show numerous times thoroughly enjoy living vicariously through your enthusiasm. If you think you're interested in any of these things, send an email to chesla at podcastportwenn.com Thanks so much. And now without further ado. ⁓ Erica Susko: Obviously it wouldn't be real, I just can't picture a bear looking baby that grunts. Maybe I don't have a good enough imagination, I don't know. But yeah, I'd put it somewhere in the middle, pros and cons. Chesla Wechsler: Okay, pretty good. How about you Doug, you're clockwise as far as what I'm looking at. Doug B.: Well, so I was, I don't know if this was lucky or not, but so because of my trip, I watched episode 12 and 13 back to back on the same day. So that was nice because it had the continuity to watch it that way. I liked it. I would say it was an eight or nine for me. You know, the doctor continues to impress. He does all the right things regardless of whether they're popular or not. I love that. We can talk about ⁓ and Louisa later. Certainly that took an interesting turn the end. But I liked it. I sat down and I enjoyed ⁓ having those episodes back to back. Chesla Wechsler: How about you, Patty? Patty V: I liked it. ⁓ I would say I put it maybe a little above ⁓ maybe in the top quarter, not my absolute favorite, but I did enjoy it. I'm not sure I can put my finger on exactly why. I like Elaine more in this episode, her coming clean about, I didn't get into ⁓ Juilliard. I was a little disappointed in the ending, partly because it seemed a little soapy, I ⁓ soap opera-ish. And of course he's going to overhear them talking, and he was going to come and say something to her, and then now he can't. And I don't know, that seemed a little ⁓ cliche-ish maybe. ⁓ Chesla Wechsler: thank you guys for joining. I guess here we are at our grand finale for season one. Let's start with our overviews. Kathy, where would you rate this one with respect all the 13 episodes you've seen? ⁓ Kathy: you would ask me that. I probably liked episode 9 which had Robert in it. That's my favorite. But this one's very So was last episode. I find that further we get into the show, the better the episodes become as far as I'm concerned. You know, I really couldn't stand episode 1, but they get better. I think each one gets better and better. Patty V: But, and I think it would be, I think it would be a bad idea, because Mark still would rather be with Louisa, and she doesn't want to be with him, so I just think that would be a mistake, and I was a little surprised that she seemed to be strongly considering it. But anyway, yeah, I did like the episode. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Okay, good. For me, it was actually my favorite. So it knocked all my other ones down a notch. I just really, I laughed more at this one than I think I laughed at any of the others. And I just really enjoyed a number of the different scenes in this. ⁓ We'll start with you, Patty. How about this? What surprised you? Yeah, yeah. What do you think, Chris? Chris Olszewski: had a slightly different reaction. I think I enjoyed last week's episode more. And this one, I think was too much Just too many things going on that just couldn't focus. There were ⁓ parts of it that I really liked, but Patty V: I don't know if surprise is the exact word, the first thing that came to my mind is the character, the one that was his ex-girlfriend, doctor. Chesla Wechsler: Eden. Patty V: I had a slightly different impression of her in this episode than the previous episode. And it more matched what I think Erica thought. I thought she just seemed snooty and full of herself in the first episode she was in. And Erica had said something like she was kind of like Martin, that she seemed a little... Chris Olszewski: I'd have to rate this one, little bit lower down. Although it is, ⁓ think, still doing a good job finding its voice, but I think they sort of missed it a little bit in this episode. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Kathy: I found parts of this episode are very silly. know, I think some of the parts that were played for comic relief are just so silly that they're not funny to me. Patty V: like lacking in social skills kind of thing. And I didn't see that as much in the prior episode, but in this one, I was like, yeah, she is like that. Like what's up with her? She seems like unaware. So maybe that was just me surprising myself that I was unobservant the first time. don't know. Chris Olszewski: Hmm. Chesla Wechsler: And this was the episode that I probably laughed the most in. And I actually would rate this one, I would rate this one my favorite, my other rankings just move down of the ones that I described from last week. Kathy: Thanks. Chris Olszewski: And. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. since you were mentioned, ⁓ surprised you? Erica Susko: I had two pretty big surprises. ⁓ One, I shouldn't be shocked, but I was quite surprised that his bully ⁓ report him to the medical board. ⁓ I shouldn't have ⁓ surprised, ⁓ I just didn't think that he was that callous and catty to go that far to potentially ruin the ⁓ doctor in the town because ⁓ didn't get his Norwegian ⁓ Chris Olszewski: not sure if I'm amplifying or extending remarks. Yeah, there are things that happened that were but I think they could have been, ⁓ and this is sort of ⁓ echoing my ⁓ before, that there's too many happening, ⁓ they could have made ⁓ these things that silly a little less silly they'd sort of put more flesh around them. ideas, but sort of probably because are so many things happening, they couldn't really give things their proper treatment. Erica Susko: Salmon Market. That was a little shocking to me. ⁓ at the same time, an interesting twist to pull you in to see what happens next season. My other big shock was ⁓ ⁓ actually stood up for the town against ⁓ Norwegians. And not only did he step ⁓ he lied. ⁓ just seems like such a straight shooter. He doesn't mince words. He gives a Kathy: Especially towards the end. I didn't find that there was too much going on until the very end when it's almost like they tried to cram in all these little bits of plot just to end it so everybody had a place to be for season. know, I they had the wedding with, the two men, then they had... Chesla Wechsler: He lied. Erica Susko: you know, diagnosis and that's what it is. And here he, and quite convincingly, because I thought he was truthful until he then leaned over and said, I don't have any senator. So that really surprised me as quite an interesting character arc and development of how he feels about the town that not only did he stand up, but he did it by lying. Kathy: now that I'm thinking about. Then they had, the baby being born, carrying her out to the ambulance, Louisa hugging Martin, and then going off and all of a sudden she's talking to Mark and Mark is saying, let's make the baby. And Martin sees that and he gets upset. And then they come and they tell him he's going to be investigated. And then, I mean, this is all in the course of maybe two or three minutes. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah. How about you, Doug? Doug B.: So the thing that surprised me, and I guess in some ways it's just something that I liked, is Mark seemed a little bit more normal this episode. And I've kind of accepted him for what he is, so it doesn't bother me that he's a Whackadoo. But he seemed just almost like a regular guy this time, this episode. Kathy: Then they have him going back to his house where Eden comes you know, who's to visit for the evening, for the night, who knows, but she's there to visit. And it was like all crammed in. But until that point, I really didn't feel like there was too much going on. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, he was... Doug B.: I mean, still wacky. He's like, ⁓ wait a minute, I'm back to the future. I might have to go boil some water and you get scissors and doing this again. But, you know, typical Mark, just, I know he's great. He is definitely growing on me. Chesla Wechsler: It did seem rushed at the end, I would agree. It seemed as if they wanted to leave ... certainly we got a lot of cliffhangers, right? We have, know, Martin's going to be investigated. What's Louisa gonna do about the baby? Is Martin going to get back together with Eden? Because they did seem pretty compatible when they were just hanging out in the restaurant chatting. got Al, who, ⁓ don't know how you guys thought about this, but. Good, Patty V: I would agree with Erica that I was surprised by Martin. I thought the senator was real because it seemed like he was an important enough doctor in Boston that maybe he could know a senator. could have, you he was famous enough that he could have been the surgeon that worked on a senator. So I fell for that. And I was surprised that Chris Olszewski: Mm. Chesla Wechsler: In Doc Martin, we have the Al-Bert-Father thing that gets sort of introduced and wrapped up all, think, in one episode, if I recall. In this one, they leave it as a cliffhanger. And one thing that I thought was very, you know, a little inconsistent of Al, I guess, is his dad lies to him or fails to tell him something pretty dramatic about his life. Patty V: he could be that slick to deliver that so Kathy: Yes, yes. Chesla Wechsler: I think he was fighting fire with fire in a way, because I was also like, wow, Martin lied and he lied for Port Wenn, you know, it just didn't seem like he was that attached to the village or the villagers. But when you think about it, the whole contract was subterfuge and deceit. So that might have kind of given him a sense of permission. Like if they're going to lie to us and deceive us about what this is all about, I don't feel like I can't Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: and has a reasonable explanation for like, when am I supposed to tell you this? At what age do I tell you that you're not my biological son, right? So he's been lied to and Al's very upset about this and doesn't like how he found out. But then Elaine has lied to him and within an instant, all is forgiven. Kathy: Yes, yes. Chesla Wechsler: fight fire with fire. But that's how I excused it. Go ahead, Doug. Doug B.: Well, and what he said after, you know, after everybody left, or actually, you when he was saying it, that, the townspeople are good, kind, friendly, well-meaning folk, which I think is true. And that's true for a lot of small towns, I think. ⁓ So, know, ⁓ I he was motivated by that. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, and Ludwig and Sigrid, I guess, must have trusted them because they seem to have left their children behind when they went off in the ambulance. Go ahead, Patty. Patty V: Good. Chesla Wechsler: Also Patty V: Yeah, when they said they had so many other kids, I was like, well, where are they? I felt like it was like a lot of growth in Martin. It took 12 episodes or however many we've had for him to say those things about the townspeople. He never would have said anything like that in the first couple of episodes. He just thought they were all quirky and stupid. yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah. I guess they've grown on him. were you expecting? Kathy: with respect to Al's dad lying to him, that's similar to people who adopt children when they're very, very young. It's at what age do you tell them that they're adopted and that you're not their natural parents? That's always a conundrum. And probably didn't have anybody advising him as to what to do. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, it doesn't seem like his wife is around at all, or Al's mom. Like, we never hear anything about her, do we? we don't know if she's still alive or if she passed away or if ⁓ were even ever married. Like, we don't really know that. Chris Olszewski: Right. Kathy: Yeah, we know in Doc Martin that she died, there's no mention here as to what happened to her. And how did Bert ⁓ that he wasn't Al's Were they married? mean, for some reason he took on role of father to Al, but how did he... She never told Chesla Wechsler: All Yeah. Yeah. Right. Kathy: She never told him who Al's real father was, so. Chris Olszewski: Right. Kathy: How did he know? There's a whole lot of story there. Erica Susko: I did not expect the Norwegian salmon farm ⁓ to be finalized in episode. ⁓ thought it was gonna go into two. So that was the, guess maybe that's another shock. You can add that to the list. ⁓ But my prediction was that it wasn't be resolved and it was gonna have to go into the season two. And so I guess I'm not good at predictions. I need to buy a crystal ball. ⁓ Chesla Wechsler: And in the TV show. Chris Olszewski: She... Chesla Wechsler: in the TV show. In Doc Martin, Bert says ⁓ had like basically a one night thing. And he never even knew whether he was Al's father or not. And frankly, I don't know how you guys feel about it, but at the end of that episode, Bert's name is on the birth certificate. But for all we know, ⁓ Chris Olszewski: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: I threw a little theory out on some of the Facebook pages today and I just said, I don't think they're gone for good because if I recall, there were two copies signed. And Geneva had one and Ludwig had one. just ripping one is not gonna make the whole thing go away. you want something? Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: he might not be the father because that's just what I ... Do we learn her name Mary is what I want to say Erica Susko: up any contract is not gonna make it null and void. ⁓ has to go through a legal process. But then again, I kind of consider it a sitcom in a way. So ⁓ cut corners in little things like that. Chesla Wechsler: Yes, okay. So as far as we know, she might've just that because it was a one-night stand. And as far as she was concerned, Bert Large was the father of their children. And here, who knows, you know? Did she have a one-night stand? Did she have a long-standing relationship with someone else? Was she cheating? You know, we don't know that. What other plot arcs did you guys see from Doc Kathy: Well at very end when they say he's going to be investigated. from Doc Martin. Chesla Wechsler: Surely, completely different reason. Kathy: Right, Doc delivering the baby at the last minute was a reference back to when Doc delivered the baby of Louisa's bridesmaid. Chesla Wechsler: How about you, Patty? Patty V: I think the change in Martin and sticking up for the townspeople and, you know, it wouldn't have been very realistic if that happened in episode three. So it took a while to get to that point. That made it a little more believable. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, because he'd never delivered a baby before there either, right? Kathy: Right, right. Chesla Wechsler: Chris, did you have one? You seem to be... ⁓ Kathy: See you later. Patty V: It's kind of hard to endorse lying, but I guess in some ways I was pleased that he could think that quickly and be that fast with it. I was impressed maybe more than pleased. I don't know. Chris Olszewski: Ellingham would never have had his patients have blood drawn Chesla Wechsler: He certainly seemed, to Doug's point of how you like the, when he does the right thing and he does the medical stuff, he certainly seemed to be taking that tack for most of the episode of medicine doesn't take sides and I'm just gonna make sure I'm treating these people whether or not I think they're above board or not because there's a child and so there's all that. ⁓ haven't screwed this up. ⁓ Chris Olszewski: by somebody who wasn't licensed or ⁓ fully ⁓ able to do that. So Martin Ellingham would sort never be subject to ⁓ somebody's blackmail such an account. Yeah, whereas ⁓ Best, too embarrassed about his phobia, he ⁓ do these things he doesn't Patty V: Yeah. Yeah. that's the way a doctor should be. They have to treat criminals. That's just the way that's life as a doctor. Yeah. I would go back to something I said earlier. I was kind of pleased that Elaine came clean about Juilliard. And I have to say that that did not surprise me. Chesla Wechsler: That's right. Yeah. Chris Olszewski: think that he can really do them can't bring himself to do them. So he of put himself into this, whereas Martin would sort of never be there for that, or that would not be something that would happen to him. One sort of plot arc or plot twist that comes up is in Doc Martin, basically the whole village knows about Martin Ellingham's blood phobia Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Now when she was talking about a callback, was like, seriously? Now this is definitely a work of fiction. How about you, Erica? Did anything in particular strike your fancy? Patty V: Thank Erica Susko: had two things actually that really ⁓ pleased me a lot ⁓ with the first is that Aunt Sarah revealed this new sea urchin find that will bring them the whole town the money that they seem to be having expected from the salmon farm. So I mean really it pleased me to have a plot point that I'm like really interested in learning more about that. Chris Olszewski: due to the presence of one of his former students, ⁓ the beans. Adrian Pitts, ⁓ the redoubtable Adrian Yeah, so the whole village knows. In Best Medicine, ⁓ it's really select few. It's Elaine, for obvious reasons, Louisa, that he came clean with. I'm not sure if Aunt Sarah knows. Kathy: Adrian Pitts. Chesla Wechsler: Adrian Pitts. Erica Susko: And the other thing was a very small gesture, it just, really made me smile, like just completely unexpected. When Martin got up from the table to go talk to Louisa about ⁓ telling her, I guess he was telling her he loved her or maybe more. I'm not sure. He pet the dog on the head on his way past. And I just thought that like, it's just such a cute growth. You know, we've seen him the last few episodes grow a little bit more, but such an Chesla Wechsler: That's Chris Olszewski: So it's, and is it Gordon, the Glendon, Glendon, yeah, now. And I he picked up on that actually pretty quickly towards the beginning the run of the season. But he was sort familiar with that and he was ⁓ of like, I won't tell if you don't tell that, something like that. Kathy: I don't think so. Linden. Chesla Wechsler: Glendon, well Glendon knows now. Mm-hmm. Erica Susko: involuntary if you will. know it's an acting but like involuntarily so to speak pet the dog on the head as soon as he walked away. I thought it was cute. It really pleased me. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, about Doug? ⁓ Chris Olszewski: So it's very few number of people who know in Port Wenn in Best ⁓ Doug B.: I second what Erica said there about the dog. I did pick up on that. Compernicus is becoming a good boy now with a little bit of tender loving care from the Doc. Kathy: He suspects early. He suspects early. Definitely. Chesla Wechsler: He suspects something happened. But he doesn't know it's blood. He knows that Martin left Boston in a hurry and he was going to go dig into why and that there was some surgery that went wrong. I'm pretty sure that's how that was. Chris Olszewski: Yes, he suspects. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Do you get a sense that Copernicus kind of is all in favor of the Martin-Louisa pairing? Doug B.: ⁓ Well, he's certainly not in favor of the doctor from Boston. Yeah, that was perfect. So the other thing that I very much enjoyed was Aunt Sarah. I don't know if, my perception is that she came into her own in this episode, but it could be that I just couldn't remember the previous 11 or 12. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, that growl was great just... Kathy: I find this Dr. Martin, Dr. Best, so much more easygoing, amiable, I he does things in this episode, least, likeable that Martin Ellingham would never do. You know, he wouldn't walk a pig, although he did talk about having to judge farmers looking like they're pigs. But I don't see him walking a pig down the aisle. Chris Olszewski: likeable. Doug B.: But she reminded me of mom's late cousin Jo, who ⁓ up and was a New York lady, and she was a tough lady. Very loving, ⁓ loving to ⁓ I guess I was her second or third cousin, whatever it was. ⁓ she was tough, right? And if someone ⁓ nasty things to her, she gave it right back. Kathy: at a wedding. Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. think Martin Best is a much more likable, approachable, sympathetic character. I like Doc Ellingham, ⁓ Martin Ellingham, I say even that I like him. He's very prickly. Doug B.: And so I thought Aunt Sarah was doing that. And I really enjoyed that. So she's a tough lady, she's a tough lady, yet she was able to take care of the marriage ceremony. Chesla Wechsler: ⁓ no. Kathy: I found him intriguing, you know, and that's what got me into the show is like, what is going on with this guy? You know, and then you gradually, he gradually loosens up. Chris Olszewski: Sure. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: I loved that ⁓ celebration of George and Greg. And I loved him. Patty V: Yeah. I was just going to say that that's when you said what pleases you. I, I loved the little wedding. Yeah. Doug B.: Yeah, it was very sweet. Yeah, it sweet. Chris Olszewski: ⁓ yeah, intriguing, interesting, but I say that. And I see certain parallels or similarities with myself, but likable, I wouldn't use that word. Chesla Wechsler: Go ahead, Erica. Erica Susko: have a question for Patty. ⁓ So you said you love the wedding ceremony. I'm curious, you, are George and Greg growing on you a little more? Cause you tend to think they kind of like, they're not your favorite characters. So I was curious, did this like help you with them or no? Kathy: Well, I've started watching Doc Martin again just because I'm trying to compare and contrast. And he is much grouchier and unpleasant, at least in the first, not the first episode, first series, episode, ⁓ the second series. He definitely starts being much more miserable, a miserable git, they would say. Chris Olszewski: Hmm. Patty V: It wasn't as much them as the whole town doing this for them. So that's what ⁓ kind touched my heart. ⁓ like them okay. ⁓ Actually, the previous episode with the... ⁓ Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, for some reason, I just liked him from the get-go and don't know if I just recognized the damage and figured he had some sort of a reason for it that would become clearer. ⁓ I not excuse his behavior to people, but somehow I still liked him. And then I liked him the whole time, although I preferred the early season ones to the later season ones. Kathy? Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Patty V: plot that you didn't like about bride and groom being eaten. ⁓ Even though that was. Chris Olszewski: Hmm. Patty V: weird. He seemed vulnerable and nicer than I don't know if that makes any sense, but that I somehow softened on him a little bit from that episode. So, you know, they're okay. I guess they're probably still not my favorites, but I still like them. Kathy: Well, the very first... The very first episode I ever saw was when his parents came to visit and his mother told him, you know, that he ruined her life and it like, so from the very get-go I knew what's on. I knew some of what was going on and that's what really got me into the story. Chris Olszewski: Well... Chesla Wechsler: Okay, Doug. Chris Olszewski: Sure. Doug B.: Yeah, just ⁓ take you know following that this last episode it seems as though everyone got together and got along and maybe it was you know the combining of the town against the evil Norwegians but you know and Chris Olszewski: ⁓ feel sorry for Martin Ellingham, his upbringing, his just parents. Yeah, so do feel a little sorry for him. Chesla Wechsler: He doesn't even... He doesn't even realize that he's damaged. Chris Olszewski: Right, right. Yeah, yeah, I was beaten as a kid. I'm perfectly fine. Yeah. Doug B.: Elaine, ⁓ you know, they got together, know, ⁓ George and the guy just got together. There seemed to be a closeness there. There was even some working together between Louisa and the doctor or Louisa and Mark. ⁓ It just seemed like this everyone got along and was nice. ⁓ There wasn't any of this. I wonder if that was intentional being the season, ⁓ know, season finale. ⁓ Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, got locked in a cupboard didn't do me any harm. Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: Right? So I know craziness, craziness, the. Chris Olszewski: One, well, branching out of this between ⁓ Martin Ellingham and Martin Best, in this episode, ⁓ towards end, Martin Best gives a spirited defense of Port Wenn Doug B.: rather, to make all the characters look nice. you know, look what a great town they have. Chris Olszewski: the Norwegian man Ludvig, I think, ⁓ and saying that, Port Wenn is full of good people ⁓ here you were in trouble and we tried to help. I cannot imagine Martin Ellingham giving any similar type defense of the Portwenn in Doc Martin. ⁓ Chesla Wechsler: I wonder when you end a season and you don't know if you're renewed. Patty, go ahead, do you want to make that point? Patty V: Thank you. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Kathy: think, yes. Patty V: No, that's I was going to say. I wonder if it was written before they knew it was going to be renewed. if not, it's nice that they tried to tie some things together for, ⁓ instead of just like drop the series. Because sometimes when something ends unexpectedly and you're like, no closure. Chesla Wechsler: ⁓ yeah. Kathy: Those people. No, he couldn't. I don't see him doing that either. What's wrong with you people? You spread contagion like a wildfire. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, and it seems like we at least found out that Elaine won't be going off to Juilliard, right? And we at least believe that the Norwegian salmon farm thing is a non-done deal. ⁓ But they still left They left the cliffhanger of, know, will they, won't they with Louisa and Martin ⁓ or Louisa and Mark, Martin and Eden. And the whole, you know, ⁓ the big cliffhanger is, my God, Chris Olszewski: Yes. Those idiots. Chesla Wechsler: Yes, yeah. Yeah, these two shows are really divergent. Yeah, that's right. They spread infection like a bushfire. Chris Olszewski: Right. Yeah, like that. ⁓ you can see of a presaging ⁓ of that and indeed the way Martin best feels about Port when he's talking to Eden and she's asking for sort an explanation of things. ⁓ And he says, well, it has do with Port Wenn and it would take too to explain. Kathy: Yes. Chesla Wechsler: there's real cause for Martin to lose his license. Because, you unless something, some piece of paper is pulled out of the woodwork that says, Elaine has actually passed some class or taken some tests or whatever, she really shouldn't have been pulling blood. I mean, we've been talking about that the whole season. Chris Olszewski: So you can see that he has some sympathy there for ⁓ residents of Port Wenn that is totally lacking in Doc Martin and in ⁓ Martin ⁓ Chesla Wechsler: Good. There we go. Erica Susko: So I was thinking about that and I'm thinking what proof do they have that Elaine has taken blood? I mean, visually, yes, people have seen it, but as far as how do you defend against that in like a court of law, if it goes to before the ethics or whoever, I mean, other than eyewitnesses who everyone seems to be warming up to the doctor. Kathy: One little thing I noticed that made me think about Martin Ellingham was the wedding, Martin Best was sitting by himself at the table just for a short while until Peter came up and gave him some cake. But he was sitting there by himself and it reminded me of when Martin Ellingham was sitting by himself at Elaine's parents' wedding. ⁓ was a very short moment, but it was like, ⁓ Chris Olszewski: Mm. Erica Susko: I mean, I don't think Elaine is certainly going to go and raise her hand and say, yep, I've been doing them. She already said that she was afraid she was going to go to jail. As far as the other townsfolk, I don't think that they would be the type to jump up to get rid of his license and say, yeah, yeah, she's doing it and he's letting her. Maybe. I mean, we'll see how that flushes out. But ⁓ I did also like the wrap up of, or maybe mostly wrap up of Al and his father. Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Kathy: wonder where they're going to go with this. So he was still kind of the outsider. Chris Olszewski: And he's looking at all the other couples there that are fun and interacting and probably either reflecting on his own situation, maybe feeling sorry himself. Who knows? So they're figuring out what he's missing. Erica Susko: or I guess adopted father, I'm not sure how we want to call it now. But that moment was really nice too. It was really heartfelt, was hard conversations. It started very accusatory and then they were able to come back to a point of feeling and I liked that too. So that was a nice wrap up for a season finale. Chesla Wechsler: I just got the sense that he didn't dance. I just thought he's not a dancer. They're all dancing and he's just sitting in there because he doesn't dance. Kathy: he danced with Glendon or Chris Olszewski: And he has no partner. Chesla Wechsler: In what way do you think that that's wrapped up? Because I kind of feel like there's still things hanging there. Erica Susko: Well, Al seemed to be very upset about it at first. then ⁓ Bert was obviously very upset. But then when Bert ⁓ of, wore his heart on his sleeve and said, you I don't know who your father was. I just stepped in and did it kind of thing. I thought that really seemed to calm Al down. Now, maybe Chris Olszewski: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: so ⁓ was dancing with Glendon, it was extremely awkwardly done. I don't think he likes dancing. And I do ⁓ agree you, Kathy, that reminded me also of when Martin's just at a table by himself at Elaine's parents' wedding. As far as other plot arc-ey things, Glendon, when he does the sort of... Kathy: He didn't want to do it. Erica Susko: he'll still try to do some DNA searches or something down the But as far as the conflict between Al, Bert not being Al's actual dad, I feel like that angst is is over between them. Chesla Wechsler: Does anybody else have a thought of that? Go ahead Doug. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours, with, you I won't tell anybody about your blood phobia if you ⁓ me with this salmon farm was straight out of Bernard Newton. You don't tell anybody about my macular degeneration and I won't tell anybody about your blood phobia. Doug B.: Yeah, so I mean there was a thing when he was with Elaine, Al and Elaine were together, you know, and Al was saying nice things about Elaine and then, you the father said, that's my boy. ⁓ So I got the feeling that it had been smoothed over from the dad's side. Whether Al's okay, I don't know, everyone's, you know, like I said before, everyone seems to make nice, nice at the end. Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Mm. Kathy: I didn't pick up on that. Excellent. Yes. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. So that was like, bam for me. the only other plot arc I think I picked up was sort of like Eden arriving right when seems like there's a wedge in the Martin, thing because she wants to have this baby and he's... Yeah, I'll have to re-watch that one. Did you have a point you wanted to make, Patty, before I threw mine in? Patty V: I was just going to say that I think it's over in terms of, you know, him, the father explaining why he, how hard this conversation was to have and, and, and so forth. And I think he was telling the truth when he said, you know, your mother never told me. Chesla Wechsler: And he's always drawn to her, sort of push-pull that they always have. But then when he sees Louisa with Mark talking about making a baby, he's like, okay, this isn't going to happen again. And here's Edith. Now, of course, in Doc Martin, Edith is there purely as a colleague. And we never really get a sense that Martin Ellingham is being attracted to her, even though there's a little kissing involved. It seems very one-sided to me in Doc Martin, whereas, yeah. Patty V: The only way I could see it coming back up is if it's somebody in the town that a character we know and so that kind of comes out like if it's the, ⁓ what's the guy that turned Martin in? What's his name? Yeah, what if it turns out to be him or something? But otherwise I think maybe that plot is done, I don't know. Doug B.: The bully. Yeah, the evil one. Chesla Wechsler: ⁓ Glendon, Glendon. Yeah. ⁓ Chris Olszewski: Yeah. Kathy: everyone's But I don't get the impression that Louise is convinced that Mark should be the father of her baby. Mark wants to do this, but she's still doing it. Chesla Wechsler: I had thought it was a little unresolved and then I already did the Doc Martin spoiled people and Chris had mentioned that he felt when Al had the double quotes around bingo and Bert was saying, well, that's really when something really isn't. You only use them when you're sort of saying it's kind of bingo. And when Al sort of takes the quotes off the sign. Chris Olszewski: Right. And Mark? Yeah, Mark is offering, I think, to a baby, to be a parent, but ⁓ not sure what more he's offering there. So he's just ⁓ to be ⁓ Yeah, and ⁓ as you said, Chesla, Mark is, he tries to do nice things for people. So I think that's sort of, it's part of his nature, he's offering that. And of course his history with Louisa. Chesla Wechsler: he said as friends. It's like, are you really my father? Well, you really are my father. And Chris sort of thought that that's what that was signifying. Kathy: I got the impression that he was offering to be the father, not necessarily ... As a donor, not necessarily the other as What's Your Face would say. Chris Olszewski: Okay. Chesla Wechsler: don't know how it would go because clearly they've been together for eight years. So it kind of seems like, you know, this would not be one more time ⁓ 10 more times would not exactly. So knows, right? Who knows the manner of conception, but certainly he did say as friends and he also... Chris Olszewski: ⁓ yeah. Yeah. Right. Chesla Wechsler: But you not for nothing. I you parent a child together and you have feelings for each other. Who knows what he's really hoping for. But would be comfortable with what you said, Chris, where he's to do this as a friend. But boy, that'll be one odd dynamic in the village if Louisa ends up dating someone else, ⁓ but child is Mark's. Chris Olszewski: Hmm. Mm-hmm. Right. Yeah. Kathy: Yes, it almost seems like it should be an anonymous donor kind of thing. Although I'm sure at some point if they follow the arc from Doc Martin, ⁓ Best will end up being the father one way or another. ⁓ don't know how. Chesla Wechsler: Okay, so what left you wanting at the end of this? will start with Erica. Chris Olszewski: Mm. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. Erica Susko: Thanks. Chris Olszewski: Right, well. Erica Susko: You know, honestly, I think they tied up enough loose ends for me and left a few open-ended that I really, not that I don't want to continue watching the show. I don't mean it in that way that I don't have anything wanting. Obviously I want more on the blood issue. Obviously I want more about the medical license and Louisa and the baby and who's that going to be, But I felt like it was a very balanced ⁓ ending to season. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. Now, getting back to the whole Martin Ellingham versus Martin Best how Martin Ellingham would never have let an unlicensed person draw blood. How does Martin Best get out of this? I mean, that has got to be a really bad offense. Mm-hmm. Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Good question. Kathy: Maybe he has to go through some kind of, not therapy, but penance. Probationary period where he doesn't do this anymore. Maybe they force Elaine to go a phlebotomy license. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. How you, Patty? ⁓ Chris Olszewski: period. ⁓ Patty V: I really had my heart set on learning at least a little another nugget about the blood situation. ⁓ so I was disappointed that that didn't happen, but, ⁓ you know, other way, I was not expecting a resolution of the Martin, Louisa thing is going to drag on probably as long as the show but blood thing, just thought they could at least give us more hints and ⁓ Chris Olszewski: Right. Chesla Wechsler: I was going to go there because to me that Elaine moving into her Pauline phase. Cause I've this theory that we have Elaine for the duration of the series and she goes through her Elaine being irritating as Elaine, Elaine being helpful as a phlebotomist as a Pauline, and then being incredibly supportive and very much a and colleague of Doc Martin. Patty V: not spoil a second season, you know. ⁓ So I really thought we were going to get something more, but we didn't. Chris Olszewski: thinking there may be some sort of a test for a phlebotomist that ⁓ they administer to Elaine. ⁓ And she shows that she's an excellent phlebotomist, ⁓ but need to be licensed. that's. Kathy: Yeah, I think she's going to have to get a license now. How they're going to work that out, I don't know. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, I'll have to turn into research mode and look into all the training you need to be a phlebotomist, because probably can't just take the bar exam ⁓ be a lawyer. ⁓ Chris Olszewski: Exactly, as a lawyer. Right, as a member of the bar. Yeah, you probably can't do that. ⁓ Which brings... Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I actually think you might be able to, but I doubt you can do that as a medical professional. What do you think of Eden, Dr. Montgomery? Kathy: We might be able to. Doug B.: ⁓ Yeah, so she seems pretty darn conniving. That's kind of my takeaway from it. But I mean, just don't, I don't know much about her. mean, so my knee-jerk reaction is she seems like the conniving doctor. Chesla Wechsler: Doug, yeah. Kathy: I wouldn't think you could do that as a medical professional because there's too much skill involved. It's not just cerebral like it would be for a lawyer. Chesla Wechsler: What was left hanging that... Go ahead, Chris. Chris Olszewski: I was just saying a... Chesla Wechsler: I'm wondering about that because she seems to me very open. I came here to date you, Martin, which seems pretty open. Chris Olszewski: medical professional, something a nurse be doing. I mean a nurse might draw blood, but they would be trained. Doug B.: ⁓ yeah, that's true. Kathy: and have a certificate. What was left hanging? Well, obviously Martin's You know, there's one. ⁓ you know what else is the Aunt Sarah's discovering sea urchins in the ocean? Are those valuable? Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Chris Olszewski: A lot. Chesla Wechsler: about the the show overall now, since got a season under our belt, how have you ⁓ enjoyed how show has evolved? Patty, why don't you start? Chris Olszewski: of the Sea Urchins. Chesla Wechsler: Yes, I looked it up. Patty V: I think I've enjoyed seeing the characters change a little bit. ⁓ I don't think Martin could have stayed the way he was in the first episode and continue to have a show. ⁓ So there had to be some growth there and there was, but not too too much because it's not going to be a total personality change, just some adjustments. it took a while to happen, I do like the little bits and pieces of ⁓ normalcy we finally start to see in Mark. Chesla Wechsler: And it seems like it has a very short shelf life, but it is eaten and it is prized. ⁓ So it's possible that this could be a real good cash crop for the fishing people there. And maybe that'll be the explanation for how Aunt Sarah saves her house. you, Doug? How have enjoyed how the show's evolving? Chris Olszewski: Mmm. Doug B.: You know, gonna go back to my buddy Doc Martin, right? Does ⁓ does the right thing for the right reasons regardless of the environment and he's grown I think as Patty and Erica said, he's definitely in ⁓ in 12 just a little bit every time ⁓ So he's coming out of him out of his So I'd like to see that but I can very much relate to him Kathy: Yeah, she'll be able to buy it from Robert. Chesla Wechsler: She can't pay for it with lobsters, but she can pay for it with sea urchins. Chris Olszewski: You Chesla Wechsler: Okay, that's good. How about you, Erica? ⁓ Show evolution, looking at it overall. Erica Susko: I think it's evolved a lot to the point where I was pretty shaky in the beginning that I was doing this and sticking with it because I committed to it, not so much because I was enjoying it, but that evolved over, you know, the first couple episodes and as they started developing characters and I now start to understand their nuances and I kind of feel for them. over the last few weeks, I've been finding myself excited to see the episode, to see what was going to happen with particular people. Kathy: So are Eden and Martin going to get back together? You know, that's something. If we weren't at Dr. Martin people, we would be Chris Olszewski: as goes into the house, she says, knew you were going to call. So he obviously has called her. So. ⁓ Erica Susko: I'm gonna go against the grain here. ⁓ I have only disliked Mark more and more as the season has gone on. Kathy: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: And she's got no research paper going on right now, so this was not a let's talk shop. Kathy: No. Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Yes. Spark. Yes, that's my guess. Kathy: And she did bring a bottle. I wonder what it is. Chesla Wechsler: Sparkling apple cider. Kathy: Maybe. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, I, this is a different show. I ⁓ can't that would not have the Martin/Louisa thing be the main romance. I really just can't see that happening. But Martin Best and Martin Ellingham are two completely different people. Louisa Glasson and Louisa Gavin are two very different people. I... Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Erica Susko: I know people like him. know he is quirky and he's growing on a lot of people. And I love that because that means, you know, he's doing something right. He whole point of being an actor is to make you feel something. So I guess we're both, we're all right because he's just making me feel irritated, but he's making everyone else feel happy. So, yeah. Chris Olszewski: ⁓ yeah. Chesla Wechsler: show could go any direction as far as I'm concerned. And frankly, I don't care which way it goes because I it enough now to keep watching, podcasts notwithstanding, I am enjoying the show and hopefully it will be on the path that it's on where it is getting better. I do hope that they're able to take feedback from the season and make some tweaks, but I mean he's gonna appeal to some and not others but ⁓ it's interesting to think that even as time has gone on he hasn't grown on you like it's actually the opposite Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: there's large demographic smack dab in the spending public that loves Mark, not going to change Mark because they want those advertising dollars. Chris Olszewski: Yeah. Kathy: Well, I liked Mark in this episode. Chris Olszewski: I did too, I thought he was very good. Not crazy, stupid, silly. Erica Susko: But I also think wise, know, Doug, you mentioned like you relate a lot to Doc Martin, Kathy: Yes, yes he was not crazy. Well he was a little bit crazy when the babies were being born, but... Chris Olszewski: That was funny, I thought. Well, torn in a space-time continuum Back to the Future. I he was being pushed around by the ⁓ plot line that one, but I thought it was funny. ⁓ Erica Susko: I've taken throughout work and stuff, you take these different personality tests like Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, Chewbacca. Erica Susko: and StrengthsFinders and everything. ⁓ And ⁓ if I was to put it in that context, he is the one character, the personality I would never connect with and have a very hard time working with. So ⁓ maybe it's just who I am versus who he is. And maybe that makes me a not person, but. ⁓ Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: had a ⁓ Defender online. She said she was a teacher and that she really liked, she disagreed with what we had said in the episode 12 podcast where I think Patty had said, I just want to, you know. Kathy: I still got them. Chesla Wechsler: No, I mean people can be oil and water and ⁓ it's just how it can be. Erica Susko: I just. Doug B.: So Erica, you're saying that as it applies to Doc Martin. Okay. Erica Susko: Yes, yes. Like I think I'm more, my personality is more aligned with Doc Martin and he seems to also get frustrated with Mark. So that's just in, if I was to make a very, very analytical evaluation of it, I was very, very displeased when he suggested, I knew it was gonna happen, but I was very displeased when he suggested that Louisa and him have a baby because that means he's gonna be crucial in the next season and that made me cringe. Chris Olszewski: Hmm. Chesla Wechsler: take these teens to task and why hasn't Martin done that yet? A couple of us were all on the same page for that. And Mark being ridiculous and she was like, no, I really love Mark and the teens are great. And then after last night's episode, she said, I get it now, Mark is too silly, I don't like him anymore. I was like, really? Because I thought he was practically, he was pretty okay last night. So it's fun how everybody's positions can change. So hey, whatever, right? Chris Olszewski: Ha ha ha ha! Chesla Wechsler: I don't know where they're gonna take that because we really didn't get a chance to see that plot line play out, right? It was sort of an offer and she seemed to be considering it, but then they moved on to Martin and him seeing them and overhearing the conversation. So we really don't know how that's all gonna pan out. I'm going to throw about that I think that that would be so bad. Kathy: Yes. Chris Olszewski: I did like ⁓ how Louisa was portrayed in last night's episode. Probably the best that I've seen, or I think of Louisa through the series so far, ⁓ is ⁓ sort of knew what it is that she wanted. Chesla Wechsler: just because you're, yeah, right? mean, you're dealing with a guy who you have feelings for each other, but from Louise's perspective, he's not somebody she wants to have be her husband. So do you really want him to father your child and co-parent with you? And is that gonna tie you... Chris Olszewski: she's about some things, but she didn't seem sort of off the wall or scattered. She seemed, I thought, ⁓ fairly together. Yeah. ⁓ Chesla Wechsler: in very unusual way to somebody and then what happens if you start dating somebody else in the village and now everybody knows that he you know very odd don't know I just Kathy: Fairly grounded, yeah. Chesla Wechsler: What do you think happens with Martin and Eden and Martin and Louisa in season two? Patty V: It would be odd anyway, like even if it was just a friend. But I think the fact that it's, an ex-fiance would make it way too odd for any future boyfriend. I don't know. I just feel like that's, that's just weird. Kathy: Well, I'm hoping that Eden stays around for season two. hate for her to... Chris Olszewski: It looks likely since she's... ⁓ Kathy: Yes, it does. I love her. She's a wonderful triangle. make a marvelous love triangle, whatever. Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: A love square maybe if you add Mark in. Kathy: Yeah, I can't see Eden going for Mark, although stranger things have happened. Stranger things have happened. Chesla Wechsler: No, ⁓ my gosh. Erica Susko: Well, and you saw how Mark reacted when the wedding didn't happen. And then again, how he reacted to seeing Martin and Louisa kiss. Now throw a kid in the mix of that. I mean, that could just be, I think that as the character is, I think he would be a very good father, because he's goofy and he's funny and lighthearted and always full of energy. So as a father, from that perspective, I think he would be spot on. It would not be a bad choice. Chris Olszewski: No. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah. Erica Susko: But from, it's clear that he still really loves Louisa. And I don't know if that's a mentally correct step to take to deal with your emotions. And I think it would just get really messy. But they also might want messy for, you know, for the show. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah. It should be interesting whichever way it plays out, right? ⁓ Is this show, when you first started contemplating the idea of watching this thing, I mean, you knew that it was an American adaptation of Doc Martin, which was a show you'd never seen, but you'd heard good things about it. Did it end up being what you thought it was going to be? And I'll start with Doug. Kathy: I was worried about the babies towards the end when they took Sigrid ⁓ out, the babies were still in the hall with everyone else and it seemed to me like it was a good many minutes before finally at the end Mark and Louisa took the babies out the door. So hopefully they got to hospital as well. Doug B.: Wow. I'm not sure. had too much expectations, but I think I'll go back to the discussion we had many episodes ago about Ghosts and how, ⁓ know, I started watching that, the American version loved it, and then they rolled a couple of the British and I was like, what is that? ⁓ Chesla Wechsler: mean, they left their kids with total strangers who not really happy with them. Chris Olszewski: You Kathy: But they were good people. ⁓ Chesla Wechsler: Yes, you could trust them. Chris Olszewski: Right. Kathy: Yeah. was his name? ⁓ Yeah, he was definitely under Sigrid's thumb. He was afraid of them. Doug B.: So I guess I thought I did think a little bit about that and was hoping that it would follow in that pattern, at least for the initial one, for the American version. so that's the analogy that I have there. Chesla Wechsler: What about Ludwig? Ludwig. Chris Olszewski: Ludwig. ⁓ Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, my princess, my queen. Yikes. Chris Olszewski: it. Chesla Wechsler: Okay, how about you Erica? Is this what you expected it to be? Erica Susko: Well, I really had no expectations. And I'll tell you why. I didn't really know much about Doc Martin. ⁓ I've discussed this in this podcast earlier. I don't have kids or a husband or a boyfriend. So I saw the call for like, hey, does anyone have time to do this fun thing? I thought, I've never been part of a podcast before. I'd love to give it a whirl. And I really didn't give thought to what the topic was. ⁓ Kathy: like the way Martin it. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, I wonder what's going to happen with Al because Al got into all those different schools in New York. Chris Olszewski: yeah. Well. Kathy: He may go away for months or a year, just like Mark did in Doc ⁓ Al. Chesla Wechsler: Al you mean? Like Al went ⁓ Africa or something? Kathy: Yeah, somewhere. Yeah, he went ⁓ he up sleeping rough ⁓ and eating he could find before coming But it's possible they'll have go away for a little while and then come back and who knows? Erica Susko: ⁓ So as far as the show and how it turned out, I can't really say that I had expectations, but I can tell you that being on this podcast has exceeded my expectations. And I've learned a lot about myself. think I said this in maybe two or three podcasts ago that I'm finding myself watching TV differently. Chesla Wechsler: Right. Mm-hmm. Chris Olszewski: that's totally different from my prediction, ⁓ was ⁓ going off to New York City, which totally shot, ⁓ and having stay around now. ⁓ Maybe be switched ⁓ where stays around and Al goes to New York City. ⁓ Erica Susko: which is really nice, know, putting down the phone and paying attention to the details. So that was something I didn't expect to happen and I love that that happened. Chesla Wechsler: ⁓ really? I didn't expect that either. Go ahead, Doug. Doug B.: Yeah, totally agree with you, Erica. I'm watching TV a completely different way now. And way more critically than I used to. Kathy: It's possible that either one of them Elaine could still go and try her know, on just auditioning for various roles and see what comes of it. Chesla Wechsler: Patty, I'm really interested to hear what you think because I know that your husband did some Doc Martin watching and you were really wanting to watch Doc Martin and you chose to do this instead. ⁓ I hope she doesn't because... ⁓ Kathy: I know, I don't want her to go either. I've finally grown to like her. I've also grown to like the doc. I didn't like him earlier on because he was just too bland. The last couple of episodes I've really gotten to like him. Martin, yeah, I've really gotten to like him. Patty V: Yeah, he would have it on. I'd walk into the room. Hey, you can't watch that now. You have to watch that when I'm not home. I have to be true to my word for this podcast. I really didn't know too much about... ⁓ Chris Olszewski: Me too. Chesla Wechsler: Right, right. Patty V: The original Doc Martin, Keith started taping it I guess that it must have been some kind of binge thing on some channel. don't know. ⁓ And ⁓ so I was thinking, ⁓ yeah, I've about show. Maybe I'll watch it because ⁓ I have surprised myself in the last few years. used to say the only thing I'm interested in on PBS is Sesame Street and my kids are long grown. ⁓ But I didn't think I was ⁓ a British or Chesla Wechsler: Martin? Yeah. Kathy: So, you know, it'll be interesting to see what he has to do to his medical license. I mean, that's definitely going to be a plot point. I think that Al and his father are still going to have to, you come to some kind of resolution. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yeah, they have to navigate through that. seems very sad that Al, just like Bert ⁓ in Doc Martin, mean, Bert was crushed when Al was treating him like not his father because he thought of him as anything other than his son and loved him to death. And ⁓ really his feelings. Patty V: British comedy kind of person. And I actually ⁓ have enjoyed some British mysteries. So we've been, I keep saying taping, recording. ⁓ Kathy: you Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, we're dating ourselves. Patty V: PBS shows and ⁓ enjoying them. So that's why I thought, okay, maybe I will try Doc Martin too. ⁓ So I really ⁓ didn't have any expectations of what the show was going to be like. I knew doctor was going to be quirky maybe lacking some social skills. That's about as much as I knew about Doc Martin. Chesla Wechsler: I think Bert and Al, Auntie Joan, Auntie Joan straightens Al out, if I recall, because he goes to talk to her and he's upset. And she says, who took, basically gave him a hard time. Right? Which was right. Kathy: Yes. So it'll be interesting to see if Sarah does that with the new Al. She might, she might not, who knows. But it is becoming. Patty V: I, I was a fan of The Good Wife, so I still see him as the character he played in ⁓ The Good Wife and so who was not as quirky and did have social skills and so on. So a little bit of, difference there. And I had to like view him as Doc Martin you know, Martin Best, not the character in The Good Wife. Kathy: becoming a very different show from the original. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, I agree. Kathy: Which is good. You know, for a long time, while I was finally getting used to it just being a new show, it's being its own show, and then last episode when Mark had the auto brewery syndrome, and I saw it right from the beginning. It's like, this is going to be auto brewery. Ho hum. You know, ⁓ wanted something else to go on. I wasn't ready for that. I was ready for them to move past the Doc Martin plot points, which did this episode. Patty V: ⁓ I enjoyed show. I haven't enjoyed every second of it. There's a couple of things that I don't like. I can't say it's my favorite show ever, but I definitely have enjoyed it and ⁓ would watch second season of it, even if I ⁓ wasn't doing podcast. And like Erica and Doug, ⁓ I definitely... Chris Olszewski: You Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Chris Olszewski: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, I love the wedding. Chris Olszewski: Me too. Yeah, the wedding was very good. ⁓ Kathy: Yes. Patty V: watch TV differently and feel like I have to sometimes depends on what the show is. If it's something that isn't that great, I don't feel that bad for not giving it my full attention. But ⁓ other times it's like, well, I like the show. really should pay attention more. I really should be thinking about and noticing this and that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Kathy: And I love the look their faces when they walked in and they were complaining about we didn't get, we wanted it to be a surprise and then it was. Chris Olszewski: Yes. Chesla Wechsler: It was a huge surprise, yes, yes. That was great. Yes, which is great. And that ringwarming thing was so sweet where everybody just them a wish. ⁓ should adopt that in ⁓ wedding ⁓ you have a small number of people, otherwise, boy, that'll take a long time. Kathy: Yes. And we got him to cook for his own wedding. Chris Olszewski: Hahaha Chesla Wechsler: If I had to talk about this on a podcast, what would I say? ⁓ What do you want to see in season two, Erica? Chris Olszewski: ⁓ that was also good. Kathy: Yeah, I've never heard of that before. That was very sweet. Chris Olszewski: Me neither. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah. And I love the fact I am easily surprised when it comes to plot lines. Chris will tell you, I'm constantly just turning to him and saying this, and he'll be like, and then it happens. He's like, how did you know that? I'm like, it was just right there, it was obvious. ⁓ like, I didn't. And I think that they pulled that wedding off so well, I did not see that coming at all. Erica Susko: ⁓ I would like to see obviously the development of Louisa and Martin. ⁓ I would like see where the sea urchin, you know, millions are coming from. That seems really interesting. ⁓ I would like see more of Aunt Sarah. I really like her character. I'm worried about the house, but hopefully with the sea urchin money, ⁓ that'll change. And Chris Olszewski: Did you write this episode? Kathy: didn't either. ⁓ well, very well. Chris Olszewski: Yeah, they set us up to believe that it was a surprise party for Sarah and then totally switched that on us. It was very good. Erica Susko: I'm just looking for more character development. think it's going to be really interesting. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah. Doug, about you? Doug B.: ⁓ I would echo what Erica just said and then add it in the blood. Let's find out, but can we get to the bottom of the blood problem? How can this just be out of the blue? There must've been something other than what we're thinking about with the car accident. Chesla Wechsler: How about you, Patty? Patty V: I am curious to see how the lose your license because you let Elaine do take some draw some blood ⁓ works out and I'm kind of guessing that it might be something. Kind of like what he did with saying, well, I got this senator on my side and there was no senator. ⁓ The townspeople might refuse to testify or something like that. Because I mean, pretty much he is guilty. Seems, well, except that people would have to testify. I don't think they have any videos of it. And if people refuse to testify, I'm not sure what they can do. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, they've got him dead to rights, don't they? Patty V: And I do think that ⁓ have trouble proving harm because she didn't mess up and hurt anybody. yeah, I think there's definitely going to be a about that. mean, he asked to come out OK, or there couldn't be a whole season. think of both episodes, right? ⁓ Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Right. Yeah. I mean, my biggest thing is, and I knew it wouldn't happen in this season, so in season two, I'm hoping that it happens. I want Robert and Vanessa back, and I want that sit down where Martin and Robert and Vanessa talk through what happened to Rosemary and why it can't be spoken to. And, you know, I have that personal connection to the whole idea of not talking about things that are crucially important, but. That just fascinates me anyway. Like was just so, I cannot and will not talk about her. And it's like, I just wanna know. Because it clearly has impacted this whole family's life. Even Aunt Sarah, right? Because she notices it too. And then Martin having this experience where he was doing fine. Somehow he managed to get over that and put it away and suppress it or whatever you wanna call it to become a surgeon. Chris Olszewski: actually liked Bert in this episode quite a bit. Chesla Wechsler: just to have it dredged back up and completely knock his career on its side. So that to me is, I didn't expect it in season two, but I hope it's in season two and not season three or four. They don't carry it forever. Is there anything that you guys wanna talk about or ask each other about? Doug B.: Yeah, so I just, I may be making a stretch here, but at the very end of the episode when Peter and the doc are sitting at the table, there were a few episodes where the doc says to Peter, know, sometimes you just gotta trudge through it and ⁓ your way through something that's uncomfortable. And so Peter comes, sits down, gets a piece of cake, and then the doctor kind of ponders a bit and then gets up and goes to give his speech to Louisa. And I wondered if that was a connection to that previous episode where he was being the father figure who he ended up being to Peter. Chris Olszewski: ⁓ he was showing good sort human that the the person that he's been raising as his son now questioning why he lied to him for all these number of years. ⁓ he's understandably hurt and sort of chagrined and ⁓ Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, that's a good point. Like he's taking his own advice, in essence. Chris Olszewski: a little uncertain ⁓ thought they did a really good job. I thought he did a really good job with it ⁓ would make me, I think we should, ⁓ should do more things with Bert. So. Erica Susko: I wanted to make a comment about Dr. Montgomery. Kathy: I have always liked Bert. I've always liked Best Medicines Bert. I know a lot of people don't, but for some reason I really like him. Chesla Wechsler: I like him too. mean, he does a very good grifter, which is what he's supposed to do. And I liked him as character the whole time. And of course, George is still one of my absolute favorites. I just really like George. One thing I found hilarious, and it's a social comment, and I'm sure it was a social comment in the show, so I'll mention it, but the kids are Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Erica Susko: I think she's a lot more like Doc Martin in the fact that he's a little socially awkward, a little bit more to the point. However, at the end, when she walked in and she said something to the effect of, knew you'd call or I knew you'd invite me over, I can't remember the exact line. It's clear that the intention was to make it seem that there's maybe a hookup or something that's going to happen. But... Chesla Wechsler: and have absolutely no idea what they're protesting. Like the minute you scratch the surface just a tiny little bit, they're clueless about what they're protesting about. And I just thought, well, isn't that a social comment? Chris Olszewski: I was gonna... I like that, actually. I thought that was one of the fun parts of this episode. I think it could have been fleshed out a little bit more, but I thought it was funny in that George and Greg were saying, this is no protest. You're just letting this guy in. You should be like a human chain. Keep him out. Erica Susko: I looked at it like, I wonder if there's a different measure. You we just had the scene before where Martin saw Louisa and Mark talking about, you know, having the baby. Could he have called her over to discuss next steps? Like, what if it was me? What if, how does this work? How is Louisa? She's my friend, you know, maybe more of a medical, you know, so it was a good cliffhanger in that manner. Chris Olszewski: and trying to get the kids to understand that they to have more passion in what they're protesting. And then the end, calling the cops on them and saying, well, you got to go to jail. ⁓ That's of protesting. You need that experience. ⁓ Chesla Wechsler: That's right. I don't... That's right. And Liam, when Liam says, what do you know about protesting? And here's these two gay guys who, you know, been able to get married. Like, you have no idea ⁓ we have changed the world. Yeah. And clearly he called her. So like, you know, we know that he called her. So you can make all sorts of assumptions about that. Like, is he hurt and like his heart is broken, therefore he's looking for Solace in his old girlfriend. You know, who knows, right, Doug? Doug B.: I don't think he called her at all. I think she just showed up. I mean, it's not like he was waiting at the door. He had just walked in. So I don't think he called her. think she, the line of, you I knew you'd call was just like, I wanted you to call, but you didn't, so I came over anyway. Kathy: So I think the kids have grown up a little bit. They weren't as snarky as they usually are. And they were trying to make a statement. They may not have realized what they wanted to say, but they were trying. So they've grown up a little bit. I wonder if they'll stay grown up or if they'll go back to their snarky ways. Chris Olszewski: Hmm. Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: Like I knew you'd call, so I just came over like assuming that you did. Yeah, that's a theory. Great unity in Port ⁓ Doug B.: Yeah. Right. Yeah. So I, I, yeah, I don't think he called her at all. Chesla Wechsler: Okay, I didn't even think of that, I don't think that that's impossible. I think that that's very easily possible. Erica Susko: Thank Doug B.: Of course I don't like her, so you know. Patty V: Yeah. I found it interesting earlier Doug said, called Dr. Montgomery conniving and Erica said that she found her socially awkward. And I'm wondering if you are conniving, that, can you still be socially awkward or is you just evil? Chesla Wechsler: and neither does Copernicus. Patty. There is that. Patty V: Because I did think I saw the socially awkward part of her in this episode. And towards the end, did seem like she was, I saw more conniving. ⁓ So yeah, I don't know how that's gonna play out or if she, don't know if that actress is signed on for season two or not. Chesla Wechsler: She almost has to be part of it, I would think, don't you think? Because, yeah, yeah, ⁓ know that's thing that you wanted, right? Was like she might know the history there, right? Patty V: At least for an episode or two. Yeah. Kathy: The Doc Martin teenagers, the girls change every season. Their new ones pop up. And that makes sense because they would be growing up and they would be moving on to other things. And I wonder if this group, these three teenagers, will move on or if they will stay constant throughout the show. It would only make sense for them to, they could grow up and have other roles in the town, but not necessarily. Patty V: Yeah, I thought you would know that story and yeah, and maybe she does. Chesla Wechsler: Maybe she does. We need a chance for her to tell it. I had the sense that from the last, episode 12, they were dating and together and then she was just as surprised as the next person that he bolted from town. And that she might not know enough details to have put Kathy: be the snarky, you know, teenagers. Chesla Wechsler: two and two together on, well I heard it was bloody and it was an eight-year-old girl and that would be like Rosemary. So it seemed like she might not know all the details, but... Patty V: But did you think they were still together when he had, ⁓ okay, okay. Yeah. Cause I didn't, yeah. Chesla Wechsler: No. Erica. Erica Susko: I was wondering if maybe he did call her and it was about the license, you know, getting some help and some guidance on, you know, his medical license being... ⁓ under question, you know, here she is, another prominent doctor worked with him in the past. Obviously they went to school together, so she knows his characteristics. She's in the medical field, so she knows about licensing. Perhaps he did call her and it was really just to talk through, I need some advice, I need some help, some direction. But of course, she came rolling into town saying, well, we're just going to get back together. You I'm just here so we can date again. So we look at it. She thinks she's walking in because he's finally called her to Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Well, are you going to continue watching the show, Kathy? Chris Olszewski: one. Kathy: Yes, I will. Yes. Chesla Wechsler: How about you, Chris? Chris Olszewski: Yes. was going to mention one other thing that I liked is ⁓ Copernicus. That he showed up ⁓ at points this episode when Doc, that Martin Best was feeling kind of low ⁓ and Copernicus comes and maybe he helps him up. In ⁓ Doc Martin, ⁓ Erica Susko: rekindle and maybe he called her more for advice than anything else. Cause he didn't look like lovingly when she walked in. It wasn't like, ⁓ I'm so glad you're here kind of approach. Chesla Wechsler: Okay, now, this is great, I'm gonna have to re-watch it. I thought they seemed very amicable and compatible at the Salty Breeze And the fact that he sent Louisa there shows that he has great respect for her medical abilities, right? Because he obviously cares for Louisa and wants only what's best for her, so that would fit. There were a couple of things that I thought were just fun in the show. I had to laugh at the whole... Chris Olszewski: ⁓ Martin Ellingham would not be cheered up by any dog coming to him. But in Best Medicine, Martin Best, I think, does take some solace in Copernicus' And it's kind funny at the end of this, ⁓ where Copernicus is the stairs and sees ⁓ Eden go and a... Chesla Wechsler: the teenagers who were protesting and George and Greg. Like, this isn't protesting. You guys have no idea why you're here even. Copernicus is rooting for Louisa. Chris Olszewski: Yes. No. Kathy: Copernicus does not love her. No, Chesla Wechsler: I and I'm sure they're trying to communicate something to us. If the dog doesn't like somebody, dogs are judges of character. And you know, dog in Doc Martin, the dogs always follow Martin around, they always did. Right, so they're good judges, and he is man of, Martin Ellingham is a man of excellent character. Chris Olszewski: Mmm. True, yep. Chesla Wechsler: And I loved ⁓ the warming of the rings. That just seemed really sweet. Have you ever seen that before at anything? Yeah. But I'll tell ya. It was lovely, yeah. As a software professional, I was trying to figure out how to scale it up to a big wedding and I was thinking you could walk the rings down the aisle and like everybody could join hands, right, for that aisle and the last person's like electricity when you played ⁓ tag as a kid. Kathy: Yes. Chesla Wechsler: I feel unfulfilled not knowing what happened with Rosemary's accident. Erica Susko: No, but lovely. But I haven't seen it. Chris Olszewski: Not yet. Kathy: I'm wondering if Eden will clue us in, if she has any knowledge of it. Since they dated for so long, he may have confided in her. Chesla Wechsler: I Yeah, true. Chris Olszewski: I would guess not, but... Chesla Wechsler: I want to see Robert and Vanessa back because we need to understand why Robert cannot and will not talk about her. Kathy: Me too. Chris Olszewski: Mm. Chesla Wechsler: One person, Kathy, who I interviewed for the second part of this, she had made mention of Glendon whistling In the Hall of the Mountain King as he left after telling Martin he was gonna lose his license. Does anybody have any, that's gotta be meaningful, such an odd song to pick. Anybody have a clue like how that might play in? Duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh. Doug. Chris Olszewski: Mm-hmm. Kathy: I agree, I want to see them back as well. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah, I mean for obvious reasons, but I really want that plot line and I want that plot line told by the principals. I don't want to find it out from some ancillary character like Eden. That's just me. Cool, well, I am very grateful that you guys were willing to join me today and I hope folks in watching and listening land have enjoyed this. If you did, I hope you will subscribe to the feed and like this episode. I make no promises on frequency of Best Medicine related episodes now and when the next season comes out. ⁓ I can come up with something that sounds interesting and would not waste your time as a viewer, ⁓ try to produce that. But in the meantime, I hope you guys have enjoyed this playlist and we will certainly see you next season. Doug B.: Yeah, only that there's probably something there. I mean, I just it was so unusual to hear him whistling, right? I don't think we've ever heard anybody whistling on that show and So it was like huh? What was that and but I I can't make the connection Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. And a very specific, like, let me pick a particular song everyone would recognize. Erica Susko: I just took it as him being arrogant. You know, he's a bully. We know he's a bully. Kind of walking out on like, look what I've just done. You know? Chesla Wechsler: Well, here we are at the end of our 13 episodes, and let's just assume there's no podcast. Are you guys watching this next time it comes out? Doug's a thumbs up. Patty's a thumbs up. Doug B.: Absolutely. Erica Susko: Without the podcast, think I'm a no. if the podcast continues, be more than happy ⁓ to hang on. Chesla Wechsler: Very good. in the meantime, folks, I'm not guaranteeing more content before season two. I'm hoping to have at some episodes. Please subscribe. to the feed, set on your notifications so that you get notified if there's new content for this particular playlist. I will probably produce Doc Martin content, but like the episode, write comments in there. If you're interested in being on the show, it's chesla at podcastportwenn.com And so you guys, am so grateful for your time for agreeing to be here and sticking with me for the entire season. I hope it's been fun for you too, ⁓ So thank you guys. Doug B.: Thanks for having us. Erica Susko: Thanks for having my pleasure. Chesla Wechsler: any time. good. Take care.