Latest / Podcast Portwenn: Doc Martin & Best Medicine / Best Medicine Season 2 Special Assignment: Eps 1-5 — The Letter, Parker & Martin’s Breakdown
Transcript
- Doug B.: it's reminded me, of Jim Valvano in his famous nineteen nineties ESPY speech he said, You know, you've had a really good day, if you laugh You cry and you think about it. And this show sums that up for me. Chesla Wechsler: When I started Podcast Portwenn I just wanted to learn a new skill, and Doc Martin was something that I could absolutely claim expertise in. Then came Best Medicine. My theory was that people who'd never watched Doc Martin, would appreciate Best Medicine very differently than those who had. And if Best Medicine was good and got renewed, it would mean more Doc Martin for everyone. whether he's Ellingham or Best in Cornwall or Maine. I like to think we did our part to create buzz, get people talking, and offer a little private focus group feedback. So welcome back, season one unspoils, Erica, Patty, and Doug, to talk about the first five episodes of season two. Patty V: Hi everybody. Doug B.: Howdy. Chesla Wechsler: It is great to see you guys and welcome back. Patty V: Thank Erica Susko: It's like riding a bike. Doug B.: Good to be here. Chesla Wechsler: That's right. Just to fill everybody in, in the off season, Patty has been doing a newbie series on Doc Martin, so Patty is now spoiled, Doug, as you know, is on the season two panel, and Erica at the end of season one was "Nyeh" on Best Medicine, but you've continued watching. Erica Susko: Mm-hmm. And I'm happy to have. Chesla Wechsler: What are you Erica Susko: this ki I connecting more with this season for sure and and more of the character development that's going on, I I've really enjoyed a lot. So I'm I'm very glad I stuck with it and and gave it, some more time to sink in. Chesla Wechsler: That's fantastic. I'm glad to hear that. I kind of have that same feeling that it it it feels like they listened to us, doesn't it? What what do you think, Patty? Patty V: I was really surprised. I really feel like it's quite different. it is definitely to me more enjoyable. The I find it funnier, but it's still got its poignant moments. I I I definitely feel like, wow, this is a good show whereas I felt a little bit like last year I was watching it, for this podcast and it was okay, but it wasn't, my favorite show. This year I w really have enjoyed it, particularly the most recent episode. That was probably my favorite. Chesla Wechsler: Has anything changed for you, leaving Doc Martin commentary on the side, has anything changed for you having that in your back pocket now? Patty V: okay, I I feel like I don't have a perspective as to whether these characters are written differently in this season. Martin and Eden to to an extent too. I feel like they're different than I remember them being before. But sometimes I wonder am I mixing the two? I'm not sure. Chesla Wechsler: is there any way that you feel like, now that you've seen a big chunk, 'cause you're through at least almost eight seasons of Doc Martin at this point, Patty V: Right. Chesla Wechsler: has that changed anything about how you appreciate Best Medicine or how you think about it? Less less looking at like things that happened but more of it seems different to you. Patty V: some of the characters seem a little different, a little Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: a little less unusual, a little more mainstream. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Okay. Mm-hmm. Patty V: and I'm starting to feel like it's kind of got its own personality and it's just a different show. And they're not there's some overlap with some of the characters, a few of the plots overlap, but they're kinda doing their own thing a little bit, based on Doc Martin, not, Hey, we're doing, exactly American Doc Martin. Is that Chesla Wechsler: Gotcha. And and Doug, being on, the season two panel and staying unspoiled, what's your thinking of season two? Doug B.: It it it to me it is so much better. last year it was good. I was happy to be on the podcast and happy to watch it. Today today and I today meaning I just rewatched last night's episode again. I I'm looking forward to it. It I'm on the edge of my seat. never know what's gonna happen. It it it's reminded me, of Jim Valvano in his famous nineteen nineties ESPY speech where he said, and for those who don't know Jim Valvano, look it up. i Patty V: Fancy stick. I don't. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Doug B.: during his speech he was he was suffering from cancer and it was one of the last speeches he gave. he said, You know, you've had a really good day, if you laugh You cry and you think about it. And this show sums that up for me. I mean, Chesla Wechsler: Nice. Doug B.: I can be laughing one moment and then choked up literally ten seconds later. so they they have managed the emotions of of the people who are watching this seemingly very well. And I it seems very well done. Chesla Wechsler: Cool. Now when we got started, last last year, Best Medicine and Doc Martin were unknowns to you. Patty had a clue about it because she had seen that she had it all taped and was planning to watch it. I think, maybe you guys had heard of it but you hadn't watched it. So I just put out an A P B on my Facebook page, hey, who wants to do this with me? And so you're basically you're just diving in blind, right? I don't know if I'm gonna like this or not. This could not be the show for me. It could be great for me. So, just full disclose Eric is a friend of mine, Patty's a friend of mine, Doug's a friend of mine, you guys aren't random people. You're all nice people who said, Chesla asked this, I'll I'll give it a shot, which is fantastic. And everybody loved the season one podcast. you you all said that the podcast changed how you watched TV. Erica, is that still true? Erica Susko: Yes, absolutely. And I will give a special shout out to last year last year or last season, as we have said, I was watching the show more because I wanted to be part of the podcast and support your adventures here in podcasting. and I actually had a reminder on my show on my phone to watch the episodes. And this season, I know when they're coming out. And I'm aware, Patty V: No. Erica Susko: I don't have to be reminded, I just know, okay, it's Wednesday, I'm gonna be able to see Best Medicine. Chesla Wechsler: That's very cool. Patty V: That's funny. Chesla Wechsler: So it's it's grown on you and it's excited you. Yeah, Erica Susko: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: I love that. How about you, Patty? you're you're still doing a podcast, but you're not doing Best Medicine podcast, you're doing Doc Martin podcast. Does it still change how you watch all other TV shows? Patty V: Would say most TV shows, if I think it's anything substantial, I watch differently than something like sports. I can have on and try to be doing something else. Hallmark movies don't need full attention. But I think I do pay probably pay a little bit better attention to other, quote, good shows than I did before. and But I I do find that, I could enjoy a show and laugh and and feel something. but for the podcast I really have to take notes because I can especially this time, with doing so many talk about so many episodes at once. I I just don't remember them all. I just remember I enjoyed them and maybe that's good enough. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. How about you, Doug? You s you changing how you're did that carry over into other shows and keep going? Doug B.: it did it did last year. this year not as much. but I'm with Patty as well on the notes. Right. If we're if we're gonna have a podcast I I have to write down notes just to remember r remember things or watch it a second time right before we podcast. but yeah, it d it definitely as I watch other shows I'm like, Am I gonna have to remember this? no, I'm not doing a podcast tomorrow. Patty V: Yeah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: That's funny. Now we're gonna do a little bit of a a look back on some predictions. All right. Now Erica, you had predicted that before season one ended, Martin and Louisa would have a tryst. Louisa would end up pregnant with the baby. Now that didn't happen, but in season two, based on where we are now, we've got she did want to have the baby, she tried the IVF, she had that sort of impulsive moment at the end of or in episode five. Where are we on that prediction journey? Erica Susko: I'm sticking strong to that prediction. I really do think it's gonna end up being Martin and Louisa and and it's gonna be Martin's baby. Whether they get into a full long relationship, I'm still not sure. But I think there will be there will be an a s a s an incident where it will be Martin's child. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Do you think that'll happen in before the end of season two? Erica Susko: Yes, I do. And I think I think that's why they're still going with the IVF and then, she says she doesn't have enough money. It's too expensive. She can't keep doing it. So although, she's still gonna have hormones in her and there's definitely been some amped up activity between Martin and Louisa. So I could see it happening and the with the extra hormones remaining as they drain out of her system accidents happen. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah, well we've got that whole Parker angle too, so we'll Erica Susko: That's Chesla Wechsler: we'll we'll park Parker for a second. So Patty, you had predicted that they were gonna drag it into season two, so you've got like a clear win on the predictions there. Do Patty V: Ha ha. Chesla Wechsler: you do do you think it'll happen before the end of season two or do you think we'll still be doing sort of a hm Patty V: I think they're gonna drag it with Parker. he's very, very cute. So that that Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Patty V: could be w when I was watching season five I was like, How could she pick Martin over this guy? I'm sorry. yeah. Chesla Wechsler: No, it's fine. Erica Susko: And the accent. Come on. Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Doug B.: Can can I just comment Patty V: So Doug B.: on that? That makes it does absolutely nothing for me. Chesla Wechsler: Yes, yes. Not for nothing, Doug. you're in a committed relationship, so we shouldn't suggest this. Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: But there are YouTube Doug B.: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: videos on received pronunciation, so y if you want to, you could actually step up your English accent practice. Doug B.: Jolly good, thank you. Patty V: Getting back to, prediction for this season, I suspect we're gonna find something that is not perfect about Parker. I don't know, or he doesn't want to commit or whatever. I I would imagine that's not a long term relationship for Louisa, but so I I would imagine that there'll be a lot of almost connect but not, almost connect but not, Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: throughout this season. And then maybe Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Patty V: there will be one where they do. Chesla Wechsler: There are there are many, many, many theories on Parker. And Patty V: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: we talk about some of them on the version of the podcast that I filmed last night and on the comments. there's there's a number of different thoughts on that, which is interesting. We also had a a Doug versus Erica prediction from last season. one of you had said Eden showed up uninvited when Martin was, at his house, right? Eden just shows up and says, I knew you would call or something, right? And another one is Martin called her for advice on getting his license back. So, by season two, we've got Eden basically being his girlfriend, right? and he's planning to go to a gala with her. how about Doug, you start this one? What what do you think about what you predicted and where things are with Eden or where things were with Eden? Doug B.: well I have no recollection of the prediction and I've lost my notes from last season. So I'm I'd like to take the I'd Patty V: That's my guy. Doug B.: like to take the fifth I honestly I just don't remember. I y well, I mean from episode five she's looks like she's done with Martin. And I that that letter is seems pretty I I don't know how you recover from that. Chesla Wechsler: Even though yeah, we'll we'll talk about that. But it it is interesting that Martin says something like, That was months ago. It doesn't matter, right? Hmm. I don't know. What do you think, Erica? Erica Susko: I thought I was the one that actually predicted that it she he came to get she he called her for help. But I thought so. Chesla Wechsler: So then Doug, you you must have been that she showed up un Yes. You said she showed up uninvited, 'cause I remember thinking, I hadn't thought of that. Yes, that that is how it worked. Yes. Erica Susko: yeah, I I think I thought I was the one that said he called her for help. and I I still think that's kind of what happened. I mean, she's she keeps bringing it up and she's trying to help him with the blood throughout all of the Patty V: Yeah. Erica Susko: second season and I I I don't know how you come back from what happened, whether it's the letter or Mark. so I I kinda think that that's gonna fizzle out and I I don't know that I'll miss her. I a fine Chesla Wechsler: Eric Erica Susko: she's a fine character. I've I've enjoyed watching her, but as far as all the characters and their connections and interactions, I think room she could easily be just lifted and shifted out and not really h impact the show. Chesla Wechsler: I'm gonna give you a win for your prediction. Because as you pointed out, he Erica Susko: Okay. Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: yeah, he is try she Doug B.: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: is trying to help him get back to Boston, get make sure his license is safe, and get over the blood phobia. So yeah, I'm giving you a win. Doug, you predicted that Martin would use his money since he didn't since Aunt Sarah said no on the house, that he'd use the money to save the school. The school is saved. Doug B.: I that that I remember. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, the school is saved, but Doug B.: Not with his money. Chesla Wechsler: Mm mm. Doug B.: Right, it was with the fish in the pond, so to speak. Right. Chesla Wechsler: Yes, the urchins. Yeah. Yeah. I'm gonna give you I'm gonna give you half a credit for that. Yeah, because the school is saved. Right? so let's see, Patty and Doug both said we'll finally learn about the blood thing. Now, in season two, the phobia is public. But Patty V: Right. Chesla Wechsler: we don't yet Patty V: And we we learned a little bit about his how he dealt with it when his sister died or didn't deal with it. But Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Doug B.: Right. Patty V: we still don't know the whole connection to the other kid and and and so forth. I was actually surprised, getting back to Eden for a second, I was surprised that she was in as much as she was in the first five episodes. I wasn't expecting somehow I wasn't expecting her to be a character or be his girlfriend. I thought that was she reached out to him her I mean he reached out to her for some help, but I didn't think necessarily that he considered her his girlfriend. But clearly he did for a little bit in this season. Chesla Wechsler: Yes, we did definitely see some simultaneous pajama scenes. Patty V: Yeah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Erica Susko: Sorry, that was really funny. Patty V: Well and and in the he looked over at the empty bed, at the end of that episode and I was like, Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Patty V: who were you expecting to be there? But okay. Yeah. Or was he Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, he's missing her. Maybe he's missing her, I don't know. So Patty V: thinking s he'd rather have somebody else there? But yeah. Chesla Wechsler: There is that, there is that. Okay, so season two overall, we've got five episodes under our belt. So Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Patty, which one is your favorite so far? Patty V: I think the most recent episode, episode five, was my favorite. I really I thought there was a lot of humor in it, but there was poignancy too. I really liked the whole scenes with Louisa and Parker and all his definitions, a date, not a date, or and and then talking about his sisters and the whole rom-com and he he jumps in the water so she can quote save him 'cause she's a lifeguard and and all of that I thought was just so funny. and he I really did think he was charming. And then when Martin Aunt Sarah kinda calls Martin on not dealing with Rosemary, is that his sister's name? Death Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yes. Mm-hmm. Patty V: and when he talked to the magician, I can't think of his name, but it w about Chesla Wechsler: Paul. Patty V: his wife his Sunny had died and it was an embolism and you can't explain it, you can't predict it, it's just something that happens and all that. And just in the way that he had to give that bad news, which as a doctor he's probably had to do many times before, but just somehow in that connection and Aunt Sarah kind of bugging him. All the stuff with his sister came back and he starts sobbing and Louisa walks by and and and hugs him. That was, the really poignant part for me. I have to be honest though, I really didn't like the Mark Eden thing. That that I really didn't like that. Mark, this season I Yeah, I guess maybe there's a little more comic relief, but he's my least favorite character, I think. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Patty V: He did have a funny line or two about, k khaki, yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Yes. Yeah. He's he's he's redeemed in my eyes, which which I I enjoy him much more. But Erica, Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: what's your favorite episode of the season? Erica Susko: I I believe it was episode four. I had the biggest laugh out loud moment when he was talking to Sage. Was it Sage? And he called her Saffron. Chesla Wechsler: no no Saffron Erica Susko: When he was talking to Saffron and he called he called her Paprika and I just lost it. I just thought he had such a deadpan face. And she even was like, Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Erica Susko: it's Saffron. He's like and I just I just thought the whole thing was I just really enjoyed that episode. I enjoyed all of the character development. I I I that was just my favorite. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. You you read that on a Snapple bottle. Erica Susko: Yeah. There's the Doug B.: Mm. Patty V: Yeah. I had a favorite line. Yeah, I had a favorite line from Erica Susko: there was just really good lines in that episode. really just hit home. Patty V: that episode as well. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Patty V: when Mark was talking to Martin and Martin wanted him to drive him to someplace because his car, had been hit Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: or whatever. and he said, I and and Mark said no. And Martin said, I order you to drive me. And Mark said, Town doctors are allowed to order me? And Martin said, Yes. And he said, Okay, let's go. Chesla Wechsler: And he seemed pretty psyched about it actually. Patty V: Yeah. Yeah. I was like he he wanted to do it all along but he didn't think his job w he was supposed to do it, but okay. But the Chesla Wechsler: It's all good now. So Patty V: yeah, the whole the whole sequence was very well delivered. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Now Doug Doug, I left you for last 'cause I kinda think I know what your favorite episode is, but what was it? Doug B.: it would be episode five. Yeah, I would agree with with actually everything Erica and and Patty said, both episode four and episode five, they were definitely laugh out loud moments. But this episode episode five, to me, had had the best juxtaposition of laughing and then the immediate emotional poignant moment. So I I very much enjoyed I very much enjoyed how the show managed my emotions. Chesla Wechsler: And you guys were there for my my season one PSA on how the whole car accident thing resonates with me. So yeah, this was this was my favorite one as well. I mean, just to see Martin kind of going through all the things that he did that Aunt Sarah told him he did that he didn't even remember. Right? And then when he's just trying to hold it together and a little bit ordering thing that I would say, Patty, based on a little different than what you had said, he walks out He's not sobbing yet, he's trying so hard to hold himself together. Patty V: Right. Right. Chesla Wechsler: And then he hugs Louisa, which is kind of a pivotal thing. mean, she hugs him back, but Gabriela, had posted online, like she. It's normally Louisa hugging Martin first and him hugging her back, but this was Martin initiating. And Doug B.: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: then he loses it. he loses it in her arms. So it's like, wow, right? Patty V: You don't think he was crying before he hugged her? Yeah, okay. Chesla Wechsler: He was he was struggling. But it's like when he saw her and when he hugged her is when you really start seeing that the water works. Patty V: Yeah, 'cause this is the person he feels yeah, as comfortable as he could feel falling apart in front of someone, it's gonna be Louisa. Yeah. But Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. Erica Susko: Yeah, she she's like a safe space for him. Patty V: But I'd have to say when I watched season four, not season four, episode four, my thought was, okay, last year Chesla always asked us, where do you rank this episode compared to the other episodes? And I never really knew. Which one was your favorite? I don't know. And I said, okay, I can answer it this time. It's gonna be, episode four. And then I watched five and I said, I think I gotta pick five Erica Susko: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. I I ha I I really liked three more than four, even though I liked four a lot. and then but then five took over. Now Patty V: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: season two picks up five months later, after the season one ended. Did that time jump work o okay for you? Patty V: The only thing for me that maybe wasn't seamless or maybe it was just a surprise to me was Eden being so much in the show. I was not expecting that. And so and and I think it was 'cause of the time lapse, that they didn't really show her working her way in. She was just there because five months had gone by and, so forth. But Chesla Wechsler: What do you think, Erica? Erica Susko: Pretty seamless. I really, I wasn't sure quite how much time. I wasn't really focused on how much time had passed, but I didn't feel like it was just disjointed or that they that I missed something epic. a lot of TV shows they do the school is ending for the summer and then they start the next season where they're they've had all been traveling for the summer break and now they're back, and you feel like you missed some kind of connection or some some events. I didn't feel that way with this one. I thought they did well with it. Chesla Wechsler: Now in in TV Insider, Rodney Ferrell and Liz Tuccillo, who are producers, said that they would do fewer town events and go bigger on the ones that they keep. And Erica and Patty, you had both like said, gosh, this show just seems to be here's an event, Martin ruins it, Martin saves it, very formulaic. P have they broken out of the mold? What do you think, Erica? Erica Susko: I do think they broke out of the mold. And in fact, I noticed that I really enjoyed episode three because they had that was when they were running over the barrels of water. And Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Erica Susko: I I got a chance to enjoy it because I wasn't so fatigued from the same storyline. they didn't Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Erica Susko: have a big epic event in episode one or two. And so I really enjoyed that whole the whole festival and and that when they were Ann Sarah was teaching, Chesla Wechsler: The crate race. Erica Susko: yeah, the crate race and I I and then even at the end when Martin did it and we got a little bit of in goofiness from him and I I j I I think that they've broken away. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. What do you think, Patty? Patty V: I hadn't even thought of that until you just said it. So I think yes, they have broken away. And I suppose that Crate Race would be, one of their events, but it wasn't that one really stood out and was interesting and funny to me. So again, if four and five hadn't come along, I might have said three was my favorite because I didn't Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Patty V: show you the whole the whole story behind the crate race and Aunt Sarah having the record and her agreeing to train the the boy and you're rooting for the boy and it comes up a little short but better than everybody else and then I I wasn't sure it was believ Martin's part wasn't believable, but the whole thing with Aunt Aunt Sarah had rigged it before and then she was unrigging it to to give people a chance. That was very interesting and I didn't not predictable to me. I didn't Good job writers, you Chesla Wechsler: Yes, Now we I think we all appreciated in the tail end of season one that it was changing s sort of from a very comedy centric show into a little bit more of a dramedy. is does that seem like a correct statement? am I remembering that? Erica Susko: Yes. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. has that tone carried forward, do you think, into the season? Doug B.: I I think it Chesla Wechsler: Doug, you wanna start that? Doug B.: yeah, I think it it's more more dramedy. But it's more drama. Right. To to me the poignant moments and the emotional connection jumps out at me more this year than it did last year. Now, it could be that I'm just more connected to the characters 'cause I hadn't they hadn't developed yet. But it definitely there's still comedy and and that's enjoyable, but it there seems to be more focused on the the emotional part. Chesla Wechsler: What do you think, Patty? Patty V: Gee, I was maybe gonna say the opposite that I thought it was funnier this year, and that's why I enjoyed it more. But maybe it's really that when they're they were trying to be funny last year and it missed the mark sometimes, and they're really hitting it this year. That might be, what it is. Because my husband and I both literally laughed out loud a couple times in episodes four and five, and I don't remember la maybe a chuckle last season. So I think that when they have the humor, they're doing a great job right now. Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. What do you think, Erica? Erica Susko: Yeah, I I definitely think that the the more dramatic pieces that they've added into the storyline has actually blossomed the comedy side, because I I I don't think they're as forced and corny moments. there's definitely some more still corny funny stuff, and and I'm okay with that for sure. But last season I felt like there was a lot of like tried to be forced forcefully funny. and I'll even say I I have been enjoying Mark a lot more this season because I I think they did tone down his forced funniness a lot. and Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Erica Susko: he's he's I I see I understand why people are friends with him in the town. I understand why, he's he's involved the way he is. so I'm I'm enjoying that part of it. But yeah, the I think the drama let that that comedy kind of shine. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. And I I like both those not that I don't like your perspective, Doug, because I do, and I think you're a hundred percent correct, but the new things that Patty and Erica brought up, I think it's much less over the top slapstick and more just well written funny. Erica Susko: I think we can compare it to the change in the events too. like we had said that there was always this town event and it was so s systematically driven of an episode. But now when they've pulled back a little bit on the event, we enjoy the events more. So I think maybe it's the same thing. Like they pulled back a little bit of that, like you said, slapstick kind of in your face comedy and pushed a little bit more drama. And so now the comedy is coming out cleaner and and better. Patty V: W when they had the event, like the crate race really sticks out on my mind. it wasn't we're gonna have this crate race, it's really important to the town, Martin's gonna ruin it, everybody's gonna hate Martin, then Martin's gonna save the day. The crate race really got to be the crate race. That was a a a nice change and I think a good choice. Chesla Wechsler: We're gonna do a little bit of a character check ins now. I'm gonna start off with with a very easy one. So Copernicus. Erica, at the end of season one, you I think you liked Martin patting Copernicus on the head. where do you think the dog is at this point? Erica Susko: I think the dog is with I forget the little boy's name. Is Patty V: Peter? Chesla Wechsler: Peter? Erica Susko: Peter. Peter. I believe that Peter is taking care of the dog. I my assumption if I had to push into the storyline, I would I would say that Eden is not a fan of dogs and would not let the dog in the house. It would be my s thought. And so Peter took the dog. That's my guess. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Certainly seems that way the way Peter was talking in that early episode of I don't know. Right, Doug? Doug B.: Yeah, yeah, I was just gonna say, I think Erica, you hit the nail on the head, and now that Eden's gone, at the end of episode five, Copernicus is back and getting getting a a good meal f of leftovers. So I think there's gonna be a reconnection with Little Doggy. Chesla Wechsler: That's my hope. Patty V: Yeah. I thought he was with Peter, but I you bring up a good point that maybe maybe he'll be back with Martin. And that might add some comic relief 'cause Martin won't be a hundred percent in favor of that, so yeah. Chesla Wechsler: And also, I I agree that it was this is new because Martin wasn't opening a can of dog food for him. Martin was like, Hmm, what am I gonna feed this dog? H here's here's the leftovers from the other night, right? Doug B.: Well and and I loved how he just show he opened the container and showed it to the dog. the dog was gonna be like, okay. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, that'll do. Yeah. Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: That works for me. Erica Susko: Not lobster again. Patty V: huh. Chesla Wechsler: Right. now it's a little bit about Martin. So he reveals his blood phobia to the entire town, right? At the end of episode one, which surprised the heck out of me that it was in episode one, but so and it was clearly his choice, which takes away Glendon's leverage. Would you say that that's growth on the part of Martin? What do you think, Patty? Patty V: is it growth on the part of Martin? Yes, but I f I did find that a little bit would he really do that? I I I wasn't sure I bought that scene. so Chesla Wechsler: What do you think, Doug? Doug B.: Yes, I was also surprised when he announced that to the town. That didn't seem like a very Martin thing to do. yeah. Chesla Wechsler: What do you think? Port Wenn effect, Erica? Erica Susko: Yeah, I actually thought it was a Martin thing to do. Not a Martin thing to do season one, episode one. But season two, episode one is a different Martin that we had, and and he's been evolving in his emotional connections with people. And so I I thought it was a very Martin thing to do at this point where Martin is. Chesla Wechsler: Okay, okay. Now this one's coming to Patty, 'cause I know how you felt strongly about this one. So in Port Wenn, Maine, the town plays a prank on Martin that Louisa sees as sort of like a harmless way of accepting the phobia. is Port Wenn warming to Martin? Is Martin warming to Port Wenn or both? Patty V: When they play the trick. The Chesla Wechsler: The ketchup. The ketchup thing. Patty V: catch up trick. I don't r I don't really like that, but in the end when he put the w fake snake to Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: that that actually surprised me. Like Martin has a sense of humor. Martin got that. Martin, but I still think that was mean. Chesla Wechsler: What do you think, Erica? Erica Susko: Yeah, I as somebody that has a phobia, mine is of needles. if somebody was to even put a pile of fake needles in front of me, I I would I I just that's just terrible. It's just cruel. But I will say that I think it was more them warming up to Martin and trying to make a connection with him than really trying to be cruel. I would think it's cruel. I think Martin thinks it's cruel. But I think it was their way of trying to have a bond and say, we see you, we hear you, we're making a joke of it. It's not that big Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Erica Susko: of a deal. Chesla Wechsler: And that was Louisa's point. What did you think, Doug? Doug B.: Yeah, I to I totally agree with what Erica said right there. yeah, i the port Port Wenn was trying to connect with him but it was over the line. Right. It was just too mean and nasty to do that. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. So what does it say? go ahead, Patty. Patty V: Some of them seem to realize didn't didn't Bert apo apologize? Yeah. So there were there was some realization that hey maybe that they did cross the line. Maybe their Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: intent wasn't cruel, but what they did was kind of cruel and they didn't really mean to and so, and nobody's perfect and apologies are great. It's sincere and Chesla Wechsler: Right. Yes, exactly. Patty V: it was sincere apologies, not Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Erica Susko: Well and I think that's what shows the intent to connect versus intent to embarrass or harm, because Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Erica Susko: that that apology was very sincere. And I I don't think that they would have made that scene and have Bert apologize if it if it was meant to be cruel to Martin. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. What does it say about Martin that he would do the crate race, basically to get his childhood bully to get a cancer screening? Doug B.: I I think and I and I I noticed this in in episode five. Martin's focus, at least from from my perspective, is always his patients. He is that that is his number one goal and I think he even ha he said it in episode five, no one's gonna die today. And that's it. He is totally dedicated. It doesn't matter what else is going on. If a person needs medical care, he wants to be there. And, who knows, maybe we'll find out, with the whole Rosemary thing how that plays in. But he is one dedicated doctor. He's a doctor you want to have. Chesla Wechsler: What'd you think, Patty? Patty V: I think yeah, I I completely agree with Doug. It he's doctor first and you would hope all doctors are that way. I don't know how you can be that way, to totally separate your personal life from from it but Martin can do it, so that's a great doctor to have. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Okay, so he he comes back Martin comes back to Port Wenn rather than going to Boston to see Eden. why is that? Erica, what do you think? Erica Susko: I don't think he really wanted to go see Eden. I think he wanted to be in Port Wenn with Louisa. I think he wanted to be in Port Wenn with his friends. And I think he may have known on some maybe subconscious level that choosing to go to Boston would be choosing to stay in Boston. Chesla Wechsler: Maybe. Yeah. What do you think, Patty? Patty V: While I was watching that episode, I thought that he did want to go to Boston, but he was a doctor first. In hindsight, maybe there was something deeper going on, like what Erica said, but I wasn't thinking that while I was watching the episode. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. so Martin in episode five, Martin finally breaks down and he turns to Louisa for comfort. How do you think that compares to Robert in season one saying, I cannot and I will not talk about her? Patty V: I think of Martin's role model was saying, keep it in, keep it in and don't talk, don't talk. And so he didn't for a long time and I think Aunt Sarah was trying to convince him to talk and working with the the magician who lost his wife was and Aunt Sarah saying it at the same time, within hours of each other, I think was was enough to and he's had some growth. So I think that was enough to make him just let loose. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Anybody else? Erica Susko: I think yeah, I think that when he was in Boston, he was near his father. That's how he was when he moved to Port Wenn he was like his father. Aunt Sarah is completely opposite. She thinks you should talk about stuff. She thinks you should feel stuff. You should share. And now he spent all this time with Aunt Sarah. And and other people in the town also seem to be very caring and sharing. And and so I I think that through his character development in in Port Wenn, he's seeing the benefits of opening up and and how that has helped others. Chesla Wechsler: I was thinking back to the scene in season one where Martin is in the closet with Louisa after seeing the blood when he and Robert are trying to work on Mark and Louisa's just talking about how I wanna be sad and I wanna be able to talk about it. And, that that seed might have been planted then and then all the time that's passed and all the people he's interacted with might have kind of made it germinate a little bit. Okay, now we've got Louisa, a little bit of commenting on a Louisa. So her path to motherhood, solo motherhood so far, she's done she's had her medicine be stolen, right? And it was time sensitive. Then she sort of had the the cold feet about do I really want to do this? And then she did it, had baby names picked out, and then the disappointment of a failure. Does that arc feel real? I'm gonna throw this to Doug as the guy to get us started. I know that's an odd choice, but Doug B.: Wow. Patty V: Yeah. Doug B.: y to me it felt it t Chesla Wechsler: Bold bold choice. Doug B.: to me it felt real, right? It's it it it seemed like a reasonable pro progression. Even Eden s I I mean I don't really know anything about this. e even Eden said, yeah, we do it once, three, five times and then it happens. So you never know. but yes, that that arc did seem real to me and and realistic and it played really well into Louisa's date, I guess in episode three or four, and then now into episode five with Parker. Right? 'Cause Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Doug B.: that's that that's over with now and maybe she can that won't be so focusing and the the purpose of her being. Chesla Wechsler: Sure. What'd you think, Patty? Patty V: I thought it was realistic, the arc. Yeah, it will be interesting to see how all this plays out. I mean, think in in season episode five, sorry, she did say, maybe not again, but I think it's fairly common t for it to not work. that was her first time, right? So I think it's pretty Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Patty V: common for it not to work the first time and people do succeed on second, third or whatever. And, money is a limitation for some people, but I would think she could probably try another time. I I I don't I wasn't convinced that it was money that was keeping her back, keeping Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Patty V: making her say she wasn't gonna try a second time, but we'll see. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Erica, what did you think? You think that plot arc seemed real? Erica Susko: I do. I actually know quite a few friends and some family members that have had, struggles getting pregnant and they've gone and done the IVF, then sometimes it works and sometimes it takes a few times. I also know then sometimes you say I I can't do it anymore and then oddly enough it happens naturally. So I I think this was very realistic and very in tune with what women and and families go through in real life. Chesla Wechsler: Yep, yep. Now Patty, you had said in in season one I had been talking and I think a couple of us had been talking about how flighty Louisa seemed and you didn't think that she was flighty last season. Does season two d does Patty V: Yes. But I looked for it this season, I was like, Yeah, she is pretty flighty. So Chesla Wechsler: that's funny. I was I 'cause the question is, does season two back up your situ your decision that she really wasn't? Patty V: No, I there were a couple of times where I was like, Really? She's just she just seems so, nervous or Yeah. No, I I think I see a little more flight. I don't I wasn't sure she changed because I think was it Erica that had used that word, flighty or something like that along those lines. Scattered Chesla Wechsler: I probably used scattered or flighty. Patty V: or something and I was like, I A couple of the these episodes I was like, Yeah, Erica's right. I Erica Susko: Yeah. Patty V: remembered that she Chesla Wechsler: funny. Patty V: had said that and I was like, I see it. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. What do you think, Erica? Do you think she's less or more flighty or scattered in season two? Erica Susko: I think she's just as scattered. I just don't think it's the main focus for her storyline. So Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Erica Susko: I'm not really I mean, see it, but it doesn't take away from the scenes that she's in. So I I guess I'm I I'm that means I'm on the fence. I mean think she still is, but it's not as glaring. It doesn't seal Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Erica Susko: the scene. Chesla Wechsler: Gotcha. What do you think, Doug? Doug B.: Yeah, I I I agree with Erica, but I also think her her flightiness or weirdness is charming. It kind of makes her the cute character. Right? She's she's girl next door. so I think it adds to that whole package. Chesla Wechsler: Gotcha. Gotcha. We've got Louisa and she seems to be like spiraling over making the whole graduation thing perfect. She's got the speech anxiety, maybe she's just trying to prove herself in the job. all four of us have had responsible out of the home positions. Do you think that was kind of realistic or overdone? Doug B.: I think it was realistic because it was her first major event. And certainly looking back at my career, I think, f the first of anything is always very stressful 'cause you don't know how it's gonna go exactly and it's all it's truly your responsibility. so to me that was that was believable. I I and and also it fits in with the previous conversation about her being flighty. that worked for me. Patty V: I did. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. What did you think, Erica? Erica Susko: I thought it w it flowed really nicely and her connection with the school as a whole. it made sense for her to be nervous. It's her first time, up there on the podium. She's considering what she was gonna do with Mark. that added another whole level of surprise and excitement. I remember in season one when they had the they all had to go to the school. I wasn't some kind of evacuation or something or or no the overnight party at the school. Chesla Wechsler: Uh-huh. Erica Susko: I remember that scene where there was the tree and everybody put like their wishes or something on it. And Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Erica Susko: you could see f from that moment and and when the principal originally left and she was worried that the school was gonna close, that school is so important to her and it's so vital to her a part of her a vital part of her life that it made sense to me that that she would put such a high importance on it. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. What do you think, Patty? Anything to add? Patty V: Well, I did think it was a little overdone. and I did think that was a perfect example of why I think she seems I see the flightiness this year, 'cause she's that seemed like It just seemed a little flighty. however, it did provide some opportunity for, some comic relief because I I really thought it was funny when she was trying to do her speech and she's spouting out all these cliches and not even connecting them, just one cliche, then the next cliche, then the next cliche. And there was like no speech in there. And even Elaine, who I don't really think of as necessarily, this champion speech writer, was like, I don't you really wanna say that? Chesla Wechsler: ha ha. Erica Susko: Yeah. Patty V: So I thought, there was there was some humor there. But I thought it was a little bit overdone, but it was kind of like all forgivable. I don't know. It was it was is and the same thing at the end, I don't know who didn't predict that Mark was gonna get to walk across, the the stage. But that was good and heartwarming and so it it was nice that they did it. I did even though I it was very predictable, I loved that they did it. So Erica Susko: I'm gonna say I didn't pick up on that. I have Patty V: Really? Erica Susko: I have to admit it, I did not see that coming. I loved that moment and I love that they did it. But maybe I just I don't know, I just for some reason I didn't pick up on it at all. Chesla Wechsler: I didn't really either. I didn't think it was gonna happen. I just thought he missed his opportunity Patty V: Really? Chesla Wechsler: but and that's why it's so important to him. But I d I didn't think that they would necessarily have him walk. But I I liked it. Erica Susko: Exactly. I thought that they were Patty V: Yeah. Huh? Erica Susko: just bringing that that the fact that he missed it and was so passionate about making it good was a a show a sign of his character and his warmth and his caring for Louisa and caring for the town. I was so focused on that that I didn't even it didn't even cross my mind that that they would do that. And I I loved it. I I loved that moment. Chesla Wechsler: So a little bit about Eden now. There was a little bit of a disagreement. I don't know wanna call it. It was nothing major. it's a fan podcast. but it was Erica versus Doug a little bit. Is Eden socially Doug B.: Not again. Chesla Wechsler: awkward or is she conniving? Okay? Now, after episode three where she d she discovers we discover that she wants to be liked, right? She tells us she wants to be liked. And Aunt Sarah's trying to bond with her in episode two. have either of you guys, softened towards Eden? Doug, you you wanna tr start that up? I think you thought she was conniving. Doug B.: Yeah, I definitely thought she was conniving and yeah, I've definitely reconsidered that label. yeah, she just she just loves Martin and is w was de interestingly, devastated for about ten minutes before she met Mark. so So I don't know how that's gonna end up, but yeah, I don't think she's conniving anymore. I think she was just she just saw something that she wanted and she had a past connection and she wanted to reconnect. take conniving off the list. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Erica, what's your thought on Eden in season two? Erica Susko: I definitely warmed up to her a little bit. I I think that it's clear, in my mind, to my point of view, that she just like when Martin came to town, he was standoffish, he was guarded, and that's because that's the world he came from. And I think she came here. And she was so in love with him and wanted him to accept her that she brought that same guardedness with her. And I think that she just really wanted him to want her and that came across in her character as kind of to Doug's point, like maybe conniving or disingenuous or something like that. but I liked that she opened up a bit more. I don't I don't want them to s to get together because I do want him to be with Louisa. But I do think that she just wanted to be loved. And as soon as he did start opening up to her more, you could see that shift in her character. Her shoulders a little bit higher, but not in the snotty way. Or snooty way. Chesla Wechsler: Mm, gotcha. What did you think of Snooty Boy? Yeah, no, I gotcha. What did you think of Eden in season two, Patty? Patty V: She surprised me because I thought in season one she was extremely confident, whether it was due to lack of awareness, or If it was, conniving. Either way, she just seemed very confident and sure of herself. And in season two, she, did not. And especially this scene with Mark when she's leaving. And he says, Well, whatever happened with and Doc Martin, you're you're a total and hot babe or something like that. And she goes, Really? Nobody's ever said that to me before. And I was Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: like Is this the same Eden? 'Cause I I just don't think season one Eden would have she would have just been very confident that of course she was a hot babe. or if she cared to be a hot babe even. and so that, it really surprised me and how she really was pretty crushed when she found out that that letter was not for her. And that surprised me. I would have thought that Eden from season one would have immediately kind as soon as, it became clear it just despite what she might be feeling inside, would have come up with a reason like, well Martin, I can't you're you're too hard to live with, I have to go or something, I to save Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: face. But she didn't do that. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. I feel like Eden was confident and she sh she and and Martin were fundamentally in love with with each other's minds. And then when she is encountering Mark and she's angry as all get out, and here's this guy who says you're you're an eleven out of ten, you're a total babe. She's never thought of herself that way. Right? And major league Rebound revenge if you ask me. Patty V: Yeah. Definitely. Chesla Wechsler: But did you feel bad for her? I mean so Patty, you you you felt bad for her when she found the letter. Doug, did you feel bad for Eden? Doug B.: Absolutely. Yeah, yeah. it was the the juxtaposition of the I'm I'm declaring my love for him and well actually he never loved me to begin with. Or or not he never loved me to begin with. It was more of i like she summed summed it up, she never had a chance. So yeah, I felt bad for her, cause I'd gotten over my conniving part. Last last season I wouldn't have felt bad. Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Right, okay, so yeah, so so Doug felt sorry, Patty felt sorry, I certainly felt sorry. What did you think, Erica? Patty V: Yeah. Erica Susko: Yeah, I f I felt heartbroken for her because as we were talking about, I I think that she just wants to be loved and accepted and she puts on this hard armor protect herself and here she reads this letter. I will put in the caveat that I'm surprised she thought Martin would speak that way to her, even in the letter, Doug B.: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Erica Susko: because their relationship hasn't been that lovey dovey type relationship. but sure, I mean to read that letter and finally hear what she was hoping to hear from him all along and I knowing at that time that it was not meant for her, just add Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Erica Susko: it to the heartbreak for her. And obviously then we get to the point where she talks to him about it and man, I was not envious of that position. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. I was I was glad that Martin just was honest though that was that was good. yeah. Yeah. Erica Susko: Rip the band-aid off. Patty V: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Doug B.: I I thought it was interesting how how Louisa was about to she was trying to reach out to Martin to tell him what happened. But she was Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Doug B.: foiled by essentially Parker. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. And it's good that you brought up Parker. He's my next guy. so he's Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: now the new monitor. Very hunky dude. is he do you think a r yeah, it doesn't doesn't do anything for Doug. Patty V: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: is he a real rival for Martin or do you think he's a plot device? And does Louisa's attraction to him make sense? Patty. Patty V: I think it's her attraction to him makes a lot of sense. Erica Susko: Ha ha ha. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Patty V: and I mean she's not with Martin right now, so why shouldn't she be dating some somebody else? And I do think that, he's charming, but do I think he's a plot device? Yes. I think I I don't know whether he's gonna come up with this big flaw or if she's just gonna decide that even though wow, wouldn't it make more sense if I was in love with this charming guy, I'm not and and it's gonna end that way. that I don't know. But I do think he's gonna be temporary. Chesla Wechsler: And you think he's temporary just because he's only got temporary business in the town and it's kinda like he's just looking for a good time, or more like Patty V: No, I think that the show has set us up to t in season one to think that eventually, maybe, l Louisa and Martin would be together and so I I think he's just like a plot foil for that, but not gonna last forever. Chesla Wechsler: Got it. So, Erica, rival or plot device? Patty V: Yeah. Erica Susko: plot device. I think it's a plot device that they needed obviously we've we've severed the connection the love connection between Louisa and Mark. That's not gonna go anywhere. the fact of them having a baby together killed that one, that's not gonna go anywhere. So what do we do other than get them together with Mark? You gotta bring something in. Love is always key, whether it's a comedy, a drama, even a horror story. There's always gotta be a love twist in something. So I think that he's gonna be brought in for that. relief there between when Martin and Louisa hopefully finally get together. And I'll stick to my earlier comment that I think that sleeping with Parker is going to lead to Louisa and Martin being pajama buddies, as you say. Chesla Wechsler: Ha ha. Erica Susko: and then there might be a question of whose baby is it? Doug B.: Okay. Erica Susko: But he is a temporary but Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah. Erica Susko: I I will say, although he has a temporary care c he has a temporary job in town, I don't think he's going anywhere. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Okay. Doug, I loved your reaction to the whose baby is it? Doug B.: That yeah, that was that that was a good one, Erica. That that caused caught Erica Susko: Yeah. Doug B.: me completely off guard. Yeah, yeah, right. Patty V: I think that's classic soap opera. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. yeah. Erica Susko: Ha ha ha. Doug B.: but I'm gonna Erica Susko: General Hospital. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, Doug Doug needs more Hallmark movies. Patty V: No, Hallmark doesn't have pregnancies. They don't have pajama buddies. Right. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: I you can tell I've you can't tell I've not watched Hallmark movies. Go ahead, Doug, I'm sorry. Yeah, little Jane Austen. Jane Austen action. All right, go ahead, Doug, Doug B.: Ha ha. Erica Susko: They hul they hold hands. They only hold hands. Doug B.: Okay. Chesla Wechsler: sorry. Doug B.: Yeah, so I'm I'm just gonna take the contrarian since just to throw out the the rival, but I am motivated by I I caught the coming attractions for next week or two weeks, whenever it is, and Martin chides Louisa, it's like, Hey, you kissed him and and then that that was all that we saw. Patty V: Yeah. Doug B.: So there seemed to be he was upset about that. I mean, apparently sh he missed the part where she slept with him. but he was upset about the kiss, so who knows what he Patty V: I know. Yeah. Doug B.: would feel about the other thing. so I'm gonna say rival and but he he's temporary. He's he's just a a sideshow for now. Chesla Wechsler: Gotcha. So now we're gonna move on to Mark. told you we'd talk about everybody. so Erica, y you actually liked Mark less and less and less and less through Erica Susko: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: season one. I was I started liking him a little more, but y he could never he could never get ahead of things. So has season two kind of moved the needle at all? Erica Susko: Yes, I ended season one where there was just he was unredeemable. He I thought that Patty V: Mm-hmm. Erica Susko: was it. He's on my list and he's never coming off. but that has changed. I I do think sometimes he's a little over top, but I think they've toned they they've found a really good balance of his sense of humor and I think bringing in some of his backstory between like him and his mom and some of the stories they've told about him throughout season two. I understand him a little bit better. And I I I used to cringe when he when a they had a scene with him or gosh forbid, like an episode surrounded by him. But now I I I don't even notice the switch when he comes into the room and not it's it's he flows very well with everybody. Yeah. Yes, and Chesla Wechsler: Good. He's doing more police work too, which is handy. Erica Susko: I I do like that because I couldn't understand I and I think Patty had the same opinion. I could not understand how a town would trust someone like that to be their police chief Patty V: Mm. Erica Susko: when he was that ridiculous. And he never Patty V: Yeah. Erica Susko: really did police work. And when he had to do police work, he handled it very I don't know what to do. But now he's actually doing police work and he's he's getting good at it. He he's being serious about it. So I he's redeemed himself for sure. Chesla Wechsler: How about you, Patty? Patty V: I do feel like they're not going so over the top with the macho stuff. That's what bugged me, last season. I don't mind, corny sense of humor, And that it was the macho stuff that I got tired of and I don't see as much of that now. And, you do see a little bit of of vulnerability and but it seems more real. It Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: was a little over the top last season, I think. I I just feel like the writing's gotten better. I don't know. Chesla Wechsler: What do you think about Mark Doug? Is he still growing on ya? 'Cause Doug B.: Yeah, I Chesla Wechsler: he was growing on you. Doug B.: yes, no, he's definitely grown he he's so I agree with everything that Patty and Erica said. but also I would add he he is become he has become to me endearingly he's goofy endearing. He's just kind of you know, and but occasionally he'll have, something real to say and but he's become more endearing to me. Chesla Wechsler: Do you remember last season with Mark? my thing was, how could a guy his age think that his goldfish ran off and joined a band? And I had I had floated the idea of I just need him to come into season two and say, I know my goldfish didn't go off and join a band. I just wanted to not disappoint Geneva. I wanted her to think that she had made me feel better. Did anything happen this season that you think fits fits that? Cause I have something in my head. Did anybody detect anything? Erica Susko: Well, when sh when they were focused, I think it was episode yeah, episode three with her brace. and Martin was saying, Why do you have the neck brace? right. And then Patty V: That's not f that's not cheap, Erica Susko: So when Mark was kind of confronting his mom about the brace and saying, you never took it off after all these years. I think we s to me, I I saw a little bit in him of like he he's never said anything about the neck brace because he wants her to feel comforted and supported and loved, and he doesn't want to question his mom. So then maybe that's why he believed his goldfish. Went off to join a band because he loves his mom and he doesn't want to see her as someone with any kind of insecurity or inability or disability or anything like that. Chesla Wechsler: Okay, that wasn't it, but I like what you said. Patty, w did did you see anything that would fit my bill? Patty V: No, I am very I'm very curious to hear what you're gonna say about this. Chesla Wechsler: So when the mermaid shows up, right, he actually says, I know she's not a mermaid. Right? So he's like Yeah, but Patty V: But he doesn't say that right away. He said it much later. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: but it was it was early enough that like he n like I got the sense of he never believed he wasn't just saying that, but he Patty V: Right. Chesla Wechsler: He he knows she's not a mermaid. And I was Patty V: I Chesla Wechsler: I just like, thank you. Patty V: for for a good part of that show until he said that, I was like, here we go again with Mark and so that was kind of a surprise to me that he said that. Chesla Wechsler: I I felt redeemed and I felt like the writers had listened to me. Patty V: Ha ha ha. Erica Susko: But like I I kind of started to equate Mark this year and especially with that scene with Geneva. and I have to fully admit I'm like a Disney fan for sure. If and if you've ever gone to any of the Disney parks, when you walk in, anyone from a hundred and ten-year-old man or woman to a newborn baby has a sense of joy and it's like I don't care that I know I'm talking to a man in a costume. I Patty V: Mm-hmm. Erica Susko: just the it makes me feel good to believe in something like this. And so maybe Right. So I that's where I was going with Patty V: It's a magical world. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Erica Susko: Mark and his mom. I think he wanted to have the best belief in her and so what if I believe my fish went to join a band? That's what my mom told me and that makes her happy that she made me happy about it. So I'm just gonna go with it. Chesla Wechsler: That works, that works. Now how about some other people like like Aunt Sarah? We've so seen so many new facets of her, I think, in the season. So we've got she's a sea sea urchin fisher person now where she's scuba diving and picking urchins. She's got, Eddie McCroy, who it seems like she likes the idea of him being sort of a, one night standy kind of guy on a regular basis. She's the but she doesn't necessarily want to make him a permanent part of her life, we don't think, but maybe. She's the obviously an emotional anchor for for Martin. She's a friend to Judith, who's Andrea Martin, who I absolutely hope we see again. She's the woman who kept blowing up the house. what I'll start with Patty. What what's your thinking of Aunt Sarah this season? Patty V: I don't know. that she's in it a lot. In some scenes I feel like she's kinda like overdoing the the sarcasm thing. But I I have definitely enjoyed like I really enjoyed learning the backstory about the crates and her winning and her stacking the deck and then deciding to unstack the deck and all that I found interesting. is but some of her dialogue to me sometimes seems like, okay enough already. But I do like the the plot with the boyfriend, not boyfriend, Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Patty V: and I think I don't think he's done for. I think he'll be back. Chesla Wechsler: Doug season one Aunt Sarah versus season two Aunt Sarah. end. Doug B.: Yeah, so I really, really have enjoyed Anne Sarah. I think she is the emotional connection from Martin of old to Martin of New. And so she provides that bridge. And and she is seemingly more stepped up to be more assertive in season two. Chesla Wechsler: That works. How about Greg and George, One thing that we see about them is they they do show a side of themselves with the food truck lady that we haven't really seen before, right? are they still the heart of the town? Erica. Erica Susko: I d I don't know that they're as front and center as the heart of the town as much this season. But that also could be they've removed some of those big town events, which usually Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Erica Susko: centered around food and visitors and gatherings and then so everyone was at their restaurant. however, I just I find them delightful to watch. I like their love story. I I truly believe that they are in love with each other, which, the best thing of they say, if you If you can move your audience to believe what you're saying, then that means you're you're doing your job as an actor. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Erica Susko: and I I do believe it. And I actually really enjoyed the pizza truck scene and seeing a different side of them. So, 'cause we're always seeing the caring and the nurturing and a little bit of the the bickering and quipping like, any normal couple, but to to see them kinda go in that route was was fun. It was a nice change. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. And and George had a mini midlife crisis there with respect to I don't want to keep making lobster rolls. And and Greg's Erica Susko: Yes. Chesla Wechsler: thinking, there's a lot of stuff you're not wanting, right? But fortunately it wasn't Greg, right? That he was Patty V: Yeah. But I thought that led to one of the funny lines where he said, I don't want to become Billy Joel and condemned to sing Piano Man forever. And Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Patty V: I I just found that really funny. I am kind of a Billy Joel fan and my husband is not, but he has to admit, Okay, great song, Piano Man. Chesla Wechsler: okay, how about Elaine and Al? Anybody wanna do their season one, season two comparison on that? Doug B.: Just Erica Susko: I see a lot of growth in Elaine I think a downslide in Al. I feel like she is emotionally maturing. she's talking about New York and she's more focused on her career. She's a little more level headed, not doing as many quirky podcasts and things like that. She seems more focused in the office. But she still has her sense of humor and her bubbliness, which is great. But Al seems to be more like I I don't know if the right word's sullen or more introverted, I think ev ever since he found out about Bert. not being his father, it's kind of like lost the zest for life. Chesla Wechsler: Hmm. Erica Susko: lost his focus a little bit, I think. That's just my interpretation. And their relationship is changing. they were just like so head over heels for each other. And I think we're start we saw a lot more in s episode five of them kind of having, I don't know if we want the same things anymore. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, they love each other but it's yeah. Doug, what did you th what did you think? Doug B.: Yeah, I definitely think there's more conflict there and it was they've definitely matured in their relationship and maybe it's not as perfect as it first seemed. yeah, her her her her stock has gone down for me. I and I I can't put my finger on it, but I very much enjoyed her last season, but not so much this season. Chesla Wechsler: Really. Interesting. Yeah, what Patty V: Interesting. Erica Susko: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: did you th what'd you think, Patty? You find that interesting too, huh? Patty V: And that interesting because I agree with Erica. I think she's matured some and I y she's still quirky, but I think that she was too much to me last season. And I feel like I again I think maybe it's a little bit better more realistic writing this season. I actually like Al a little less. I kinda thought he was great last season and she didn't deserve him. I don't know. But he there's been a couple of times he's sorta I was gonna say he's disappointed me. I don't know. The the He just seemed to have no feeling when that I he not that he knew the woman, but when the magician's wife, Sunny died and he was just so aloof on that. And yes, they don't have to be the same and react the same, but i it it just didn't seem like a Al. I thought Al last season would have been I thought she would have been making jokes and and j like just ignoring and going on with her podcast and he would have been more sympathetic. And so to see him not sympathetic in that case seemed seemed wrong and not like Al to me, so I don't know what Al is. Maybe they're changing him. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. So let's get into predictions for s for the at least the next you you could go all season if you want, but like maybe the next five five episodes, since we're currently five episodes in. where do we think Martin or and Louisa are gonna be? like maybe two thirds of the way through the season. Who wants to go? Patty V: Mm. Erica Susko: I'll stick with what I said when we were reviewing Parker and Louisa and Martin. I believe that Martin and Louisa are gonna have a a tryst again. I think that I think she's gonna get pregnant. I think it's gonna be a who's who, who's the who's the dad? and I think that's gonna lead Parker to stay in town. and maybe start Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Erica Susko: to fall in love with the town. think that there might be some folks in town that get a little jealous of Parker. and yeah, that that's that's my prediction. And I think that's gonna happen over the next few episodes. At least that that might be how the season ends. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Doug, you raised your hand. Doug B.: Yeah, I d I'm bl blown away by what Erica s Erica suggested, so I'm not sure how to top that. Chesla Wechsler: No there's no top, this is just what's your opinion? Doug B.: I I don't think legitimately and I'm I'm not trying to be contrarian. Chesla Wechsler: No Doug B.: I I don't think they're they're Louisa and Martin are gonna hook up between now and episode ten. I think th I think there'll be there'll be additional conflict between those two, while Parker's in town. Chesla Wechsler: I could see that. Patty, what do you think? Patty V: Yeah, I think there's gonna be some back and forth with Louisa. I think probably every episode there'll be a little bit of a teaser of yes, they really do feel things for each other, but I don't see it developing too quickly. I could possibly see a pregnancy, I sure hope it's I'd be disappointed actually if it was is it his or his 'cause I just feel like that's such a trite storyline. And I don't think he is gonna stick around because he's a doctor, right? Isn't he a doctor evaluating another doctor? And and Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Patty V: that little town needs two doctors? I don't think so. But we'll see. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, we'll see. Erica Susko: Does anybody think that they're when Martin hears about what Eden did that might drive him to kind of get her back with Louisa? Chesla Wechsler: it's my next question was gonna be, Erica Susko: All right. Chesla Wechsler: Eden and Parker, how long do we think they're gonna be around? So your question is basically, do we think Eden comes back and Erica Susko: I would think Mark is probably gonna slip up at some point and tell the spill the beans on what happened with Eden. And I think that's gonna upset Martin and might drive him into Louisa's arms. Hence the little tryst that they might have and that I'm predicting and then the whose whose baby is it? Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, I don't think Martin needs a heck of a lot of more incentive to end up in Louisa's arms. Erica Susko: Well, I don't think he needs incentive to get in her arms, but for a non relationship or to push the relationship that quickly into Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Erica Susko: something like that. I think it'll push Martin faster into Louisa's arms and skip the relationship development. And I I think that he'll regret that. They both would and maybe have to pull back again and Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Erica Susko: start start all over. But that's kind of where I was going with my thought of why there would be that kind of quick little tryst. Chesla Wechsler: Gotcha. Doug, what do you think? Eden? Doug B.: Makes a lot of sense. Chesla Wechsler: Gone? Back? Doug B.: I think she'll be around for a little while. I think she provides Chesla Wechsler: What about you, Patty? Doug B.: a good distraction. Patty V: I was thinking Eden was done. I thought that was a one night stand with Mark. I can't imagine them together, other than briefly. So I kinda thought she was gone. I wouldn't be shocked if she was not even in it again. and if she is, I would think it would be pretty brief. I think Parker will be a long around longer than Eden, but I like I said, I wouldn't expect to see Parker in episode fourteen. Erica Susko: What do what if Eden got pregnant with Mark's baby? Doug B.: Huh. Chesla Wechsler: my. Patty V: General Hospital again. Erica Susko: Two. Chesla Wechsler: Wow. Erica Susko: And she comes back into town all nine months pregnant and There you go. Maybe that's the whose baby is it. Chesla Wechsler: Whose baby is it? Erica Susko: And then that's how Mark spills the beans and then Martin that drives Martin into Louisa's hands. I mean this could get big. Chesla Wechsler: my g wow. my goodness. Yikes. How about Robert and Vanessa? What do you think happens with respect to them? I have not heard anything about Vanessa coming back, but we know that Robert's coming back. Why do you think he comes back and what do you think happens? I'll throw this to you first, Doug. Doug B.: did di what what is the deal with with s Aunt Sally's house? I I forget. Did does she own that now? Because Chesla Wechsler: her house is Aunt Sarah's house is fully paid for now. Doug B.: Sorry, Aunt Sarah. Okay. Chesla Wechsler: So why does Robert come back and what and what what gets discussed, settled, conflicted? Doug B.: so my hope is that Robert could come back and he simil similar to Aunt Sarah, provide the the bridge to the past and where he can help us understand more or better understand the Rosemary thing with the blood phobia and the connection there and what really happened all those years ago. Chesla Wechsler: Fair enough. What do you think happens, Patty? Patty V: think that indirectly more will come out about Rosemary, but I don't think that's why he's coming back. I don't know why he's coming back. That's what I don't know. Chesla Wechsler: What do you think, Erica? Erica Susko: I would hazard a guess it has to do with Rosemary, whether it's Martin reaching out to say, I'm ready to talk and I want to talk. Doug B.: Mm. Erica Susko: or perhaps it's Robert himself that somehow something resonates, or maybe something happens in the operating room, or and it it prompts him to want to talk about it. So he goes back to say. I need to talk about this too. Chesla Wechsler: I th my theory is that Aunt Sarah tells him he needs to come back and talk to his son. 'Cause his son Erica Susko: Makes sense. Chesla Wechsler: is really having a hard time. But we'll see. I just wanna see Robert. how do we think the medical auditor thing resolves? And does it resolve in the next five episodes or does it take till the end of the season? Patty. Patty V: I think he'll pass, but I don't know how long. I'm I'm gonna say there's a at least a fifty fifty chance, maybe more, that by episode ten he'll be made his decision and be gone. Chesla Wechsler: What do you think, Erica? Erica Susko: I think Louisa might throw a wrench into this. I do believe that he will eventually pass and be cleared. I think that he can already show that he's trying to get over his phobia and Elaine's now certified. so the safety hazard has been removed, but there's now a relationship between Parker and Louisa, or potentially more of a relationship. I was I I think that perhaps Parker finds out about Martin's feelings for Louisa and that might drag out some of this medical board examination a little bit or cause some tension in it. Chesla Wechsler: Hmm. Erica Susko: but I do think eventually by the end of the season he'll be he'll be cleared of all charges. Chesla Wechsler: Fair enough. Alright, so this is the last thing. Doug, you're obviously gonna keep watching, right? Doug B.: Yes. Yes. Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Patty, you're gonna keep watching or no? Patty V: definitely gonna keep watching and a kind of like what Erica said, looking forward to it rather than I gotta get ready for the podcast, I'm gonna say, let's watch Best Medicine. Chesla Wechsler: Yep. And Erica, you're you're on board, right? Erica Susko: Yeah, I'm on board now. I I'm looking forward to it every week. Chesla Wechsler: So this has been absolutely great. It's so super to see you guys. thank you for putting the time in. Folks, I hope you've enjoyed this little reunion here. like the episode, subscribe to the feed, write your comments on YouTube. I'm still answering them. We'll try to work them in. And hopefully I'll talk these guys into coming back at another time. Thanks.