Latest / Podcast Portwenn: Doc Martin & Best Medicine / Best Medicine Season 2 Episode 4 Reaction: No Place Like Om – Tugged at Our Hearts
Transcript
- Chesla Wechsler: I'll tell you not for nothing because I am a s you know science person. When somebody starts talking about that shoot for the moon and you might hit the stars, I'm like the stars are farther You know shoot for the moon and you miss the moon, you're not gonna hit the stars Sorry, rant. Tonight's podcast is on Best Medicine Season 2, Episode 4, No Place Like Om. We have Mel, Gabriela,, and Doug this week. Carol loved this episode, but is currently out of power. Where is Joe Bruck when you need him, right? So come through and welcome back to Podcast Portwenn. Doug B.: Hi everybody. Gabriela: Hello. Chesla Wechsler: Good to see you guys. Why don't we start with Doug? Doug B.: well Mel: take work. Doug B.: I loved it. It was to me it was more emotional than comedy. there was a l a lot of that. I was that I was drawn by that. the very first thing that came out to me though, and th maybe this is a question for everyone else opposed to a a statement is what is going on with Aunt Sarah? Mel: you Doug B.: th in the previous episode she was having a relationship with someone and seemed to be very happy about that. But she doesn't wanna hang out with this guy who seems to wanna hang out with her and doesn't seem terrible. So I was perplexed by that and and wondered if everyone else what other folks thought. Chesla Wechsler: You know it's the same guy, right? Okay. Doug B.: yeah, that that was w the last last week it was you know, hey, it's great, leave me alone, what are you talking about? And now it's like get out my house. So Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Mel, what do think? Mel: I think she has obviously a fear of commitment. I think it hit her, her, you some fear that she has. But I do think it's also interesting that she was giving Martin a hard time about not taking chances and not, opening up to people. And yet she's doing the same thing with Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Mel: him, at least. Chesla Wechsler: And Geneva called her out on it. What did you think, Gabriela,? Mel: Mm-hmm. Gabriela: yeah, kinda much the s pretty much the same. I just think that's how her and Martin kind of relate to each other. They're just kind of commitment, intimacy issues. She yeah, she seems to like the fun part but not the serious parts. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Doug B.: I that was that was that was the thing that jumped out at me and I'm just perplexed, you know. She has a guy who wants to do Gabriela: Mm. Doug B.: s or you know, he he wanted to do stuff and she was like, Well, no, I just wanna hang out here and do nothing. Just seemed weird. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. So Mel, what was your initial impression? Mel: it's somewhat what Doug said. It was a much more emotional than funny. Like I there were a couple of spots where I laughed out loud, but there definitely weren't the laugh out loud lines. It was much it was much more heart felt And obviously the theme of I think the theme of this entire season is relationships, especially intimate relationships. But this episode really hit that. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mel: And also, you the idea of, what does it mean? What does happiness mean? Who makes you happy? What is all of that stuff they packed into a 45 minute episode? Doug B.: Mm. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, yeah. Gabriela,, what was your initial impression? Gabriela: I really enjoyed it. I think I just really liked every storyline that was going on. obviously the Louisa and Martin stuff, but also just like everyone, everyone had like a storyline and it was just nice to see the whole town I guess. Chesla Wechsler: Mm. It's interesting that you say like it there were s lots of different storylines. I enjoyed the episode as well. I agree I agree with the it had more heart than comedy. I found that I almost felt it was a little too jam packed with storylines. I would have liked potentially dropping the sort of Aunt Sarah Eddie plot line in order to get a bit more flesh around the bones of the other things that they were talking about. Because there were some pretty major things. You know, you got Louisa with the IVF thing, Louisa's first principal thing, Mark, crossing the the stage as a graduate, Sally being able to toss off her neck brace, and then the enormous thing of Martin trying to get out of town to go see Eden and it doesn't work out. Who wants to talk about that particular plot arc? Mel: I guess I'll start. Chesla Wechsler: Go for it. Mel: I just find, I mean, found it very interesting that every time, not only every time he tried to get out of town, something happened, like, know, first his car and then. missing the bus. But I also found it interesting that even though he kept saying, I want to leave, I need to get out of here, when push came to shove, he kept choosing the Port Wenn and the people of Port Wenn. And I think that was very telling is that he kept making choices that meant he had to stay. And then even when he was ready to go, you he's sitting at the train platform and watching Louisa's speech, you hear the train whistle. And next thing you know, he's back in Port Wenn. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. And he's saying the timing didn't work out, but as we know, Mel: Right. Chesla Wechsler: he could have been on that train. Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Do you think that it was, initially the people of Port Wenn that made him stay, or was it the fact that he's a doctor and he takes his job really seriously? Mel: It was both. Doug B.: I I think I think it was the doctor part. He he's always shown he's always said and shown that his patients always come first. Now I I mean he he like it he he doesn't want to admit it, but he's growing fond of the people of Port Wenn. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Doug B.: So it I it could be that too. But it just he just he just seems like the stand up great doctor you'd wanna have around 'cause he always puts himself last. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Gabriela,, you're nodding. Gabriela: Yeah, I think pretty much what they said. I think he's just starting to really feel like he's part of Port Wenn and hearing Louise's speech of like, these are the people that make you happy. They want you to be here. I think he's finally feeling that. he's like, Why would I wanna leave if I'm already they want me to be here and I wanna be here, so Chesla Wechsler: Do you think that tipped him over the edge? Gabriela: I think the speech did, yeah. I think he was already feeling it, as you said throughout the episode. He's like kind of choosing to stay and kind of prolonging his departure, but I think Louisa's final Mel: Thank you Gabriela: speech was like pushed him over the edge. Mel: you Chesla Wechsler: Thought he had a little bit of an aha moment with Fred, who by the way, all of us Generation Clunes and older people are like, Doody, from Grease. So if you if Mel: you Gabriela: Barry Pearl. Chesla Wechsler: you're Yeah, yeah, Barry Pearl, so it was cool to see him. But when when Louise is able to calm him with some happy thing that sh and calming thing that she remembers, he can't think of a single thing. And Even this weekend he's trying to get off to, that should be top of mind, right? This r he's got this relationship with Eden, he's got this vacation this little mini vacation he can go to and and yet he can't think of a a happy thing. Or access a happy thing. I that's one thing I was texting with Gabriela, about during the episode was he might have some happy memories, but he can't access them right now. Mel: Yeah, it's it and even for when which I theoretically he first came back there because that was a happy place if he even has one. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. And then Glendon ruined it. Right? Mel: Mm-hmm. Gabriela: Yeah, even when Mark was when he fell into the mud Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Gabriela: bath, Mark was like saying how like Eden is his happy place and he's like, What, no, that's not what I'm saying And I was like, Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. Gabriela: Alarm bells, you know. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Nice to see those guys getting along well. I mean and and Gabriela: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: again, there's Mark helping Louisa in a platonic way, Mel: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: they seem to be doing well. Mel: One of the things I wanted to bring up too, and I forgot earlier, one of the things I noticed is when Martin is at the graduation and people keep coming up to him with their different symptoms, there didn't seem to be the awkwardness of last season with people coming up to him or him being dismissive of them. And he seemed to be on a first name basis with a lot of these people too, which I found interesting. Also, even like last week, he knew that, know, Geneva always sings Freebird at karaoke. So it seems like in the five months since we last saw them, he's actually become more integrated in the town. And he has become like the person people will go to and people he knows well enough to be on a first name basis with. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. He doesn't seem at all a fish out of water. He seems like just a regular guy who maybe hasn't found his happy yet. let's talk a little bit about Happy Grove, because I thought that was one of the really funny parts of it was when he was at the meditation center. Who wants to take that? Doug B.: Well, I'll start with that. Chesla Wechsler: Sure. Doug B.: feeding off of what someone has said earlier is, you know, the whole mud bath incident was great. And there was I I think I remember him getting out of the mud bath and and the sheriff saying, All right, Doc, you're back Like he was excited that he he was he was continuing to take care of Port Wenn and and for them the two of them to bond. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Doug B.: So I thought that was th that stood out to me and I w thought that was really cool. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. I like how Martin thought he could just o order the sheriff around, right? Doug B.: Y well yeah, and then and then he the the sheriff asked, It's like, Wait, can you do that? And it's like, Yes I can I'm like, all right. I love that. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. And who knows what the truth is, Gabriela: Mark's like nice. Chesla Wechsler: right? Go ahead, Gabriela,? Gabriela: Sorry, Mark was really excited about that. He's like, Nice. yeah. And I Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Doug B.: Right. Gabriela: was like, So Mark. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. More more comments on The Happy Grove. There were so many funny lines in that. Gabriela: yeah, just like him peeking his head through the curtains. and then he's like trying to like get the Paprika's attention, but whispering and then he's just like yelling and disrupting everyone's peace. I I just laugh at that. And yeah, calling her Paprika and giving her a hundred dollars to speak faster. it's so funny. I Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Gabriela: don't know. Just the whole Martin in like a Happy Mel: you Gabriela: Grove retreat just like it's a place that he would not go to. And so seeing him there was just funny. Chesla Wechsler: Mel, you had comments. Mel: Yeah, I was about to talk somewhat about that scene with Saffron and how he calls her Paprika, but also I love the change in her voice as soon as he gives her the money. was stark. But then the part that I laughed out loud about too was Mark. Martin basically tells him, know, focus and pay attention and he turns around and There's the massage guy there, next thing you know, he is like meditating. But Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Mel: one of the things that just occurred to me too is I know last year they did a lot of the physical gags with Martin Tripping and falling over things. I think him into the mud bath may be the first time they've done that this season, which I think is kind of interesting too. I don't remember him, maybe he did, but I don't remember him tripping on stuff. And I'm wondering if that's meant to kind of show his comfort level a little bit more too. Gabriela: I think in the first Chesla Wechsler: Perhaps. Gabriela: episode he ran into the fridge after talking to Mel: okay. Gabriela: Eden about Louisa or whatever. Chesla Wechsler: right, yes. Mel: It seemed to be he was tripping when it tripped over things when it came to Louisa though too, so. Gabriela: Yeah, it's always Louisa being mentioned and he gets a little clumsy. Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: Josh Charles is is an excellent physical actor Gabriela: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: and I think that that's necessary for this this role. if you if you're gonna play Doc Martin, if you're familiar with the original, that's a huge part of it, and y you have to be able to pull that off. Not everybody can, he does a very nice job of it. Does he? Yeah. Gabriela: And he loves doing it. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Well that shows. Gabriela: Huh. Chesla Wechsler: I th I think if you if you're if you love doing something you're gonna be good, and if you're g good at something you're gonna love doing it. I had to crack Gabriela: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: up with the you read that on a Snapple bottle. Mel: you Doug B.: Ha ha. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. And and Mel, you were talking about how Saffron her speech went quick like that. Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: I was re watching and I noticed that when she's announcing that it was time to go to the meditation area, no trouble speaking quickly. I'm the CEO of this place and please come to here. So she definitely had modes. Anything else we want to say about the you know, the whole Martin trying to get to Boston. Mel: Okay. What I remember too as a funny piece part was when they first walked into Shady Grove and there was the nude guy that walked past then commented on that guy wants to be naked. Yeah, I just thought Chesla Wechsler: Yes. No judgment. Yes, no judgment. Martin's like, speak for yourself. Mel: that was really funny. Especially given that it seemed like everybody else there was wearing clothes and this guy's Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Mel: walking around completely naked. Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Mel: Or implied obviously, they didn't show that. implied that he's completely Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, you're Mel: naked. Chesla Wechsler: I had a question when Yuzu or whatever it is, the the Masseuse or something, or whoever he was, came up to Mark and there was this the words something like, I've been waiting for this all my life, or something like that. And yet the next scene that it cuts right into is Greg talking to, I think, Geneva and Franklin, and It wasn't clear whether Yuzu said those lines or Greg said those lines or they both said those lines. So if you guys rewatch, let me know what you think, or if anybody's, got a comment on it, comment on YouTube. That's always fun. okay, so we've got that. That was most of the comedy stuff I thought was was tied around Martin trying to get to Boston. did you get a sense that he was really excited about going? And excited about Eden? Gabriela: I think he was like okay with going. I think he wanted to go just to like get out of Portwenn, but I don't think it was like he was like super excited about it. Chesla Wechsler: at Doug B.: It seemed to me that it it was just a responsibility that he had to do. Chesla Wechsler: What'd you think, Eden? Eden. What'd you think, Mel? Doug B.: Yeah. Mel: Yeah, a little bit of both. think it was probably, it was probably, I think he was maybe looking forward to getting out of Port Wenn and, Eden provided him the means to do so. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Mel: And I do think he did also just kind of see it as a responsibility. It also wouldn't surprise me though if he's maybe nervous about it too, because, presumably he may have done this stuff when he was a surgeon and now he's coming back in that same environment in a completely different, from a completely different place. And, you know, even when they weren't in contact, Eden... knew that he left town abruptly because that's what she said to Louisa. So I'm sure there's probably going to be a lot of staring questions like, he's back. Where has he been? What happened? And I don't imagine he's looking forward. He was looking forward to that. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Interesting though, 'cause I was thinking similarly, but nothing was ever said about that and I don't even think anything was even implied that he was nervous about going back there and meeting colleagues and stuff. To me it seemed like he just wasn't excited about being with Eden. Little eye rolling when when Elaine's talking about him and Right? Girlfriend or something like that? Make your girlfriend happy, I think. And he's kinda like, Whatever Gabriela: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Who knows? all right, so let's move on to the next thing, So then we've got another plot line. We've got Louisa as the principal with the big graduation speech and everything. And sh we've got the failed IVF. So big big scene, you know, b big episode I guess for Louisa. Doug, you just "hmmed". What did you think of that? Doug B.: yeah, she they portrayed her as or she portrayed herself as being, completely obsessed with the IVF thing and and can't focus. But in the end, I guess, you know, when I had when I've had to make a speech in my life, I I draw from a Mike Krzyzewski book that I read and reread several times. It was like, Well, just talk from your heart and You know, I I tend to be very organized and list driven, but on the important speeches that have to deal with family, I put the lists aside and I talk from my heart and that's exactly what I saw with Louisa last night. So she just said, the heck with this paper, let me just speak from my heart and speak from my eyes of what she sees. So I thought that you know, I I was touched by that, I'm Mel: Okay. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Doug B.: sure, you know. i the the whole show seemed to to e each plot line seemed to grab my emotional heart in different ways. Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Gabriela,, you're nodding. Gabriela: Yeah, I just think I don't know, I felt for Louisa this episode. I'm always Team Louisa, but yeah. With Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Two th two thumbs up from Doug there for Gabriela: I don't know, I just I just love her character. But I found it funny when sh her speech was just full of like cliches. you know, shoot for the moon. I was like, okay. I would have been like Elaine. I would be like, okay, let's rewrite this. Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Gabriela: but yeah, it makes sense that she was like distracted 'cause of the possibility of being pregnant and then finally taking the tests. Turns out she's not. which is disheartening but also just it's gonna happen when it's gonna happen. And yeah, I really liked her speech in the end. Which I just like sums up the entire town, what they're feeling, what they go through, how they care about each other. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. Mel? Mel: Yeah, I, well, I liked that they showed so much more of Elaine and Louisa interacting. That seems like they're really I mean, know, know, Elaine is Louisa's, you she's renting a room. So you've got that that relationship, but you really didn't see a lot of them interacting. And so it was nice to kind of see that and see their friendship. And I'm glad that I think Elaine was portrayed as so flighty and so shallow last season. And this season, you're really seeing a lot more depth to her. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Mel: And I like the fact that she's the one that. recognized that Louisa was not going to be able to focus on the speech until she actually took that, until she actually did that test. And it was the outcome of that that allowed her to make that heartfelt speech. Otherwise she likely would have just not been able to do that. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. I was very surprised that she was not as prepared as I would have thought she would have been. Because I do s find her character to be a bit scattered often, but not when it comes to her job. At her job she always seems to be on top of things. So it I could understand being like being in the midst of the IVF thing, being hormonal, being nervous, moody. But not prepared surprised me. Gabriela: she did write the Mel: I. Gabriela: speech. It just wasn't good. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Did she? But I she almost seemed like she was winging it in her office when she was just throwing out the cliched platitudes. Mel: Yeah, I don't know that she had written it yet. And in some ways it, and I get your point, because you're right, she was very focused when it came to her job. But I also think maybe some of that had to do with people, even sometimes the most organized people don't like public speaking. you know, as it obviously as a teacher, you know, she's standing in front of a room of kids constantly speaking, but that's different than being the principal, being the one in charge, being the one making a speech to these. And you have that pressure of being inspirational. I this is these kids' high school graduation. You're making their speech. And so I think it was a very different, something very different than what she had normally done. And so it's possible that it was also that public speaking anxiety that Chesla Wechsler: Could be. Mel: made her seem unprepared. And then all the other stuff that was. going on, mean, because it's also about what she intended to spend some time that morning writing the speech and then, there was complete chaos before Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. But Mel: right before. Chesla Wechsler: I just w thought she would have started a week or so in advance. she wouldn't have put it off to the morning. And even if let's Gabriela,, if we go with your idea that, she had written it, it just doesn't seem like that's what she would have written. she would have known that right off the bat that this is just a whole bunch of cliches. Gabriela: Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. I guess we'll just have to see. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Mel: Yeah, it is, hadn't, it isn't something I'd really thought about, but it is a good point because it did make her seem, like you said, very scattered. And, unless they were trying to portray that the whole IVF thing was taking more of her mental and emotional energy than we realized. Chesla Wechsler: Could be. 'Cause it's it's that big a disappointment anyway, but now it's even bigger disappointment because you get a sense for Mel: Right. Right. Chesla Wechsler: it was so important to her that everything was on the back burner. Mel: Yep, exactly. Gabriela: Yeah. I think it was like all she could think about. So just she just couldn't write the speech. 'Cause she said she was like Chesla Wechsler: That could be. Gabriela: even started making a b baby name list and Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Gabriela: so like she's just been thinking about it this whole time. she can't focus on anything else. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. that's you know, so crushing to think, you know, you're picking names and it doesn't work. Like it is so expensive, you know, and and and to here she is, single woman. Yeah, probably not making a ton of money even as a principal if you're in a little little town. But yeah. So that was crushing. But the nice George and Elaine were right there with her, right? Mel: So, thank Gabriela: Mm-hmm. Doug B.: I'm I'm gonna be a little cynical on on her speech. Maybe, you know, we you know in some ways it was a s could have been a setup. Let's let's speak in in very very high level. and then she jumps into the heartfelt stuff. So the y the the swing makes you think the heartfelt stuff was really, really good. Which it was, but it it's even seem more so given how she started with such nothing. Chesla Wechsler: To just a an exercise in contrasts. Could be. Doug B.: That's what I was trying to say. Chesla Wechsler: Mark and Sally and their whole codependence and the Mark not having walked the stage and Sally with the neck brace. Gabriela: yeah, so Sally has like carpal tunnel in her wrist I think and Martin needs to take her neck brace off to examine her and she's like, Nope. And then we later find out she's been wearing it for thirty-five years, which is crazy. and and then we find out that nothing's wrong with her neck. It's just kind of like kind of a superstition type of thing. Or like yeah, just to keep her it makes her feel safe. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Gabriela: I call it her s emotional support neck brace. Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Gabriela: and for her and for Mark. So she's been lying to Mark her his whole life. And yeah, they just have this weird codependency relationship, which I think is because like The dad is obviously not in the picture, so it's always just been the two of them. And I was Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Gabriela: doing research on this earlier in class while I should have been paying attention. Chesla Wechsler: Yes? Gabriela: about codependency. And yeah, it was just really interesting, like the whole mother and son relationship with that, which I think is like Sally and Mark. He feels the need to like Mel: you Gabriela: validate her feelings and like makes sure she's okay and she's Mel: you Gabriela: like using him to make herself feel safe. It's a weird thing, but I Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Yeah. Gabriela: was like that's Sally Mark. Makes sense. so that's what I it wa I mean it was a touching moment though, 'cause he's Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Gabriela: like like I'm okay, like but she's like, Are you though? And I was like, Those Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yes Yes Gabriela: That got to me a little bit. Chesla Wechsler: I mean it just seemed like he almost teared up then, didn't he? Gabriela: Yeah. No sad. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. I felt that. There were several tear up moments for me. That was one of them when he crosses the stage and he's so excited when when she throws the neck brace off, when Louisa doesn't have a successful pregnancy, you know, there were so many tear up moments. One thing that I I mean, he acts goofy and childish, I think, because he thinks that's what she needs from him, maybe. Gabriela: Mm. I also found his comment to Martin Martin, okay. Chesla Wechsler: I I heard that. Gabriela: I know I hear it now. at the Happy Grove retreat when he's like, I never grew up and I was like Okay, he's self aware that he's Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Gabriela: this goofy, silly man, but he actually wants more out of his life than just being that person. And I also found it interesting that he said that to Martin, who's like, I think Martin grew up too soon. And Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Gabriela: Mark is like the contrast of that, is like he never grew up. So it Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Good good point. Gabriela: I like that little contrast. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. And do you think Mark will start showing a bit more maturity? Gabriela: Maybe. hopefully. I Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Gabriela: mean I'm I'm fine with how he is now, but if that's what makes him happy, sure. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. I think that would be cool, Mel: you Chesla Wechsler: personally. Doug B.: I I I think he when you compare season one versus season two, he's like a different guy. I really didn't like him at all. Certainly in the first half of season one, but now in season two, I mean it's like I'm rooting for him. Which is Gabriela: I think in season one he was also heartbroken, so we didn't see the real Mark. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Gabriela: we kinda saw that like the immediate aftermath of his relationship with Louisa. So he was like sleeping around with all these women and acting Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Gabriela: out of character, but we didn't know what his actual character was yet, so fair assessment, Chesla Wechsler: Could be, yeah. Gabriela: but yeah, he's definitely more I think a lot of people are warming up to him now. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Doug B.: Me. Chesla Wechsler: Agreed. looking at season two, where would you put this episode with respect to other ones, you know, from a favorite perspective? Doug, you wanna start with that? Doug B.: This this e each one is built each one's better than the next. I mean, l this season this season to me is so much better, it has grabbed me so much more the last season. I enjoyed it last season, but th this season is definitely an improvement. And, Mel: Thank you Doug B.: you know, episode four is my favorite. It it was excellent and I don't know, it just hit all the right buttons. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Mel, what did you think? Mel: Yeah, I think as far as being, an in-depth and emotional episode showed a lot of character development, it's definitely, you know, definitely up there for me. I mean, I'm not sure, until they do something else with Martin and Louisa, I don't think anything's ever gonna be the kiss episode for me. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Mel: But this one is definitely up there. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Yeah. What about you, Gabriela,? Gabriela: as far as season two goes, it's my favorite so far. For the whole Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Gabriela: show that's a little bit harder to choose. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. This I would say I'm I'm kinda Katrina Ann and Lisa Becker, they commented on episode three and they just really loved it. I'm I'm looking forward to hearing what they have to say on this one, 'cause I am still of the impression I liked episode three better than this one. Yeah, I liked them both, but I I thought it just had maybe more of an even character development and just less going on and a bit more depth. And I appreciated that about episode three versus episode four. But but I did like them both. But Katrina Ann's ep analysis on episode three, if you get a chance to read the YouTube comment, it's it's a very good analysis. this episode I think had a lot of heart as we talked about and that one I thought had heart and comedy in a blend that I guess just grabbed me a little bit more. So Mel: Yeah, I was gonna say as far as those like laughing, laughs, I think two is probably my favorite. mean, as we said, it was one after another, not just the zingers and the lines and you really kind of had to listen Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Mel: to get everything. And it was laugh after laugh after laugh, know, four, it almost seems to be the opposite of that, but they were both very good in their own ways. Chesla Wechsler: Mm, yeah. Yeah. And we're learning a ton every episode, which is nice, 'cause I I wanted Mel: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: to learn more about these people and th and we are. Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: now Landreec and I both want to see more of Sheila, who is Elaine's mom. I hope that she'll be in some later episodes I guess w now would be a good time to say w what do we think we're gonna see maybe in the next one or two episodes? Doug B.: Well, there's there's Chesla Wechsler: We've ahead, Doug. Doug B.: part of me that wants to see Mark and Louisa ha have more chemistry and see where that might go. But that's probably more of a wish thing. 'Cause I guess I it see it it it it seems as though the Louisa Martin thing is almost set sail. There's there's there's chemistry there and there's there's conflict, good conflict. It just doesn't seem to be going anywhere, so maybe she can get somewhere with Mark. Chesla Wechsler: So okay, so Louisa and Mark having more chemistry together. Mel: Okay. I was hoping, what I want is, I want two things. One thing is, you we already know that Louisa is going on a date with this Parker person and we've known that for a while, but this is the episode where he shows up. And I kind of want that date to spur Martin into action. But what I also hope, because again, it sounds like Eden discovers the letter and Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Mel: we see the clip of Martin saying, I didn't write that for you or that wasn't for you. But what I'm curious about is if he tells her or if he Eden figures out who it was actually for. And what I would love to see is her actually being, this is what I've been hoping with her, is her actually being like the bigger person and actually giving the letter to Louisa and being like, look, you know, apparently this is yours. And then Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Mel: having Louisa read the entire thing, because she never heard the entire thing. She stopped him in episode 11, which still annoys me. But Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Mel: she stopped him before he could get through the entire thing. And so. I would love to have her see the entire thing. So what I would like to see is that she goes on the date, Martin realizes, hey, I actually, he comes to a point with Eden where he's like, I don't want to go to Boston. I want to be in Port Wenn. realizes that he does, does still have feelings for Louisa. And those feelings are brought even more to the forefront when she's, when he sees her going on this date. And then on top of that, you have Eden giving Louisa this letter, which brings Louisa back to him. That's what I'm hoping is that they become, instead of that two ships passing in the night, they finally become the same page again. Chesla Wechsler: I could see Eden being the bigger person, but I would I would I would kind of hate for her to give her the letter because to me that's like you know, that that's like a breach of trust kind of thing. But what I would like for her Mel: Mm, okay. Chesla Wechsler: to do is potentially tell Martin, Well then whoever you wrote this letter for, you should t you should tell them how you feel. So that she's kind of Mel: Mm-hmm. Okay. Chesla Wechsler: like the she's the mechanism by which he a and and maybe kinda like Vanessa, who spotted immediately that Louisa was in love with Martin, right? Eden has seen it, right? She's obviously jealous of Louisa. you're jealous when you think the person has a chance at stealing what you've got, right? So I'm I'm hoping that she can like be like Martin, you know, we're not going anywhere. If you feel this way about somebody else and you know what? She feels the same way about you. You should talk to her. Mel: Yeah, that is a valid point that, know, instead of giving it to Louise, I guess I just want Louise to know, Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Mel: I want Louise to see that the entire contents of that letter because she never did. Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Yeah. Doug, had you seen the previews to know that Eden finds the letter? Doug B.: yeah, I saw I y yeah, yes, I saw that. Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Then that didn't give you a a glimmer of hope that maybe Louisa and Martin might be able to do something? Doug B.: A actually I had forgotten about it until you guys brought it up and now I'm like, yeah, I remember that. Okay. So Chesla Wechsler: okay. Yeah. Doug B.: yeah, I guess there goes my theory about Mark and Louisa down the drain. Chesla Wechsler: Well, not necessarily Mel: Thank Chesla Wechsler: because, you're you're im if you didn't find it memorable, then that might be saying you don't really think that there's it's gonna make a difference. Doug B.: I I like Mel solution. That that works for me. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. What are you thinking, Gabriela,? Gabriela: without any spoilers, 'cause I don't Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Gabriela: know what happened I have I don't know what happens with the letters, so that's new to me. But I think it's definitely gonna be a turning point with Eden and Martin's relationship with each other. that's like a big thing to kinda confront and but I'm glad he's like being honest with her. Like it's not for you. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Gabriela: yeah, I'm just like interested to see w what happens there and Eden's kind of reaction to that. as far as Louisa and Parker, I'm also interested. I kind of have I get bad vibes from Parker, but I don't know why. which is interesting because I didn't get bad vibes from Eden. so I'll be thinking about that. Chesla Wechsler: Hmm. Gabriela: But and he's British. Like Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, that surprised me. I was wondering if Parker was the guy who was speaking with the British accent. Gabriela: Yeah, he's British, so Louisa doesn't stand a chance resisting a British. As a fan of Harry Styles, like she doesn't stand a Mel: Yeah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: How funny. Yeah. I have to admit, if I look at my list of favorite actors, all but one of them has a has an accent that is either, you know, England, Wales, New Zealand. Mel: Yeah. Gabriela: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: one person that was missing from this episode, which kind of surprised me, was Al. We don't see him. Gabriela: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: He's not at graduation. We don't see him at all, so I wonder what's going on there. I mean, was it just maybe Elaine was just there to support Louisa because they're roommates and Al just didn't have a need to be a date at a graduation 'cause, you know, tickets are always limited Mel: Thank you. Chesla Wechsler: to graduations, right? Mel: I mean I noticed that too and Bert wasn't there either, but I'm kind of glad he wasn't in that context because I mean it was part of one day and it also shows they're not joined at the hip. Like Chesla Wechsler: Yes. Mel: she'll go and help Louisa with stuff and he's off doing helping his dad, whatever he's doing his own thing. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. And we don't like my husband Chris is always like, we don't need every person in the village to attend every event. Mel: And with the graduation, yeah, it's going to be very specific to like even Eddie, you know, he was only there because he had a family member that was graduating from Portwenn, which I thought was so funny because when they first introduced him last year, it was during that baseball thing and he was fan of the rival team. Chesla Wechsler: He didn't have a nephew graduating from there. That was a BS story he made up. Yes. Mel: yeah, you're right, you're right, you're right. I forgot about that, you're right, he made that up. Yep, Chesla Wechsler: Yep. Yep. Mel: you're right. Chesla Wechsler: I thought Eddie cleaned up quite well. Mel: Mm-hmm. Gabriela: Yeah, me too. Chesla Wechsler: You know? Doug B.: Absolutely. Gabriela: I was like, Whoa, this is a different man. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Mel: And when he was chopping the vegetables, I'm like, wow, he's cooking. And then he made the steak. mean, it's like, Sarah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Gabriela: I feel like even his voice was smoother. It was like Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Gabriela: deeper. I was like, whoa. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. He seemed we didn't see the fisherman as much as we saw the the land person, the land version of Eddie. Gabriela: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: I the only thing that we really know about Aunt Sarah and her relationships is that she had had an affair with the married principal and lost the ability to have Martin come visit because of it, and then lost him too. And then this whole Eddie thing is this on again, off again, seemingly just sexual relationship, and he wants more and she's hesitant. But he did write a very nice review and he did, leave the leave it open that he hopes there's room for him in the future. Mel: I think this that ended with her maybe reconsidering. Just to Chesla Wechsler: I agree. Mel: film the look on her face, I think she was reconsidering her Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Mel: decision. Chesla Wechsler: And Geneva was, you know, kind of giving her a pep talk. I hope we see Andrea Martin again. And I hope we see, Barry again, 'cause it would be fun to have Doody. It was very good to see him. He looks the same. It's so funny to see hi he and Didi Conn. But one question I got online, Almerita Galeone She wanted to know if we thought that if Al's mom was still alive or around. Do we know anything about Al's mom? Other than we don't know if Al is Bert's son. Gabriela: I get the feeling that she's she's passed away. just because of how Al and Bert talk about her. It seems like Chesla Wechsler: Okay. Gabriela: yeah, it seems like that's the case, but I don't know. Doug B.: Yeah, I I Mel: That's the impre- yeah that was the impression I had too. Go ahead Doug. Doug B.: Yeah, me too. I don't know if it was last episode or the one beforehand, Al was by the s the the sign and he was putting in the letters and I think they he somebody explicitly stated, Well mom's just not around. Like she's unavailable completely, so I think she's passed. Chesla Wechsler: Wouldn't you kinda think then that Elaine and Al thus have a parent who died and maybe in last episode where she was kind of reading him the riot act about how she would love to have her father still. Al might have defended that with, Yeah, I'd like to have my mother still too. I get it, right? But he didn't really bring that up. So I to me there's an open question there. Gabriela: Well, I think Al was being just insensitive and Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Gabriela: Elaine has never said anything like that. So Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Gabriela: I think it was fair for her to bring it up and not him. Unless she said something like that. Chesla Wechsler: I No, I I I am with you a hundred percent that it was absolutely fair of her. I just thought that in it when he was just saying something, he would have not even defending himself, he would have been saying, I'm an idiot. You're right, I would love to have my mother back too. Gabriela: Yeah, that would make sense, yeah. Chesla Wechsler: And and there wasn't anything like that. So I to me that's an open question. That if they ever wanted to bring in, Al's mom, they they could spring her on us. Mel: Yeah, though, mean, they do imply that, she is not around because even when Al was questioning Bert about his parentage, Bert said something like, well, she never, you she never said. And it almost made it sound like, well, I can't ask her now. Gabriela: Mm-hmm. Chesla Wechsler: It'd be interesting. Mel: But it also makes Al's reaction even myopic and kind of short-sighted because not only did Bert, maybe he never married Al's mother, I don't know, you don't know the nature of their relationship, but assuming they were, like he took on the stepfather role to a baby, toddler, young kid. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Mel: And then Al's biological mother dies and he continues in that role as the only father Al has ever had, Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Mel: where he could have been like, you're not mine, your mother's gone. Chesla Wechsler: Right. Or leaves. Yeah. Mel: Yeah, or he could have left, he could have said, I'm gonna send you to your grand, somebody on his mother's side and been like, because you're not mine, I'm out of here. But he never did that. Chesla Wechsler: Right. Mhm. Right. Yeah. Yeah. But she wouldn't have had to have died for that to have been momentous, right? She could have just left and left her kid, right? But Bert still raised him. Yeah. I think to me. Mel: right, right, right, right. Yeah. Yeah, she could have. She could have. Chesla Wechsler: So, Almerita, my vote is she could still be alive. Any more any more wild theories of what might be coming up, i whether in the next episode or or for the season? Gabriela: Well in the preview, they said that someone like the magic magician, whatever. the wife of the magician died. And so I think that might bring something up for Martin, maybe. Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Okay. Gabriela: Yeah, just because I don't know, I think also in like the synopsis that they kind of send out, it's like Martin has to deal with this husband not not processing that his wife is dead. And so Chesla Wechsler: Mm. Gabriela: I think that's gonna hit home for Martin. Chesla Wechsler: hm. Yeah. That'll be interesting. Anybody else have any wild theories they want to offer before I move on to my next question? Mel: It's not so much wild, I'm mean, we're you know, we're in 14 episodes a season. So I mean, we're not even halfway through. But Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mel: I know one of the articles that we had talked about or discussed mentioned that at some point there was going to be some sort event that was going to send Martin back. And as we're getting further and further into the season, I'm kind of getting I'm getting more and more curious as to what that might be. Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Yep. Mel: I have some theories about what that might be. I kind of thought they were gonna do it when, in the previews when you saw the car go flying past Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Gabriela: Mm. Mel: with the kids in it, I thought they were gonna do it. I thought that was gonna be it, but obviously it wasn't. Chesla Wechsler: Right. Yeah. It looks like last week was my opportunity to take a take a road trip if I had wanted to see Martin again, but well, I missed that chance. I'm not sure if I would have done it anyway. I really do not want to see how the sausage was made. Gabriela: I do. Chesla Wechsler: I know. You wanna know everything and it's like I like being surprised because I am very hard to surprise. I'm al always like Gabriela: Even if I know a lot, I'm I still I still get surprised. I'm still Chesla Wechsler: Really? Gabriela: it's like it's still a different it's a different reaction Chesla Wechsler: in this particular episode, you can pick a major character and a minor character. Who were your favorite major and minor characters of this episode? Doo doo doo doo doo doo. Mel: I'm gonna go a little different, somebody we haven't talked about. I'm gonna say George. Doug B.: As a major. Mel: is my favorite. Yeah, I guess I I consider him a major character. mean, they're in every episode. I don't know. mean, otherwise it would be. Yeah. Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah, they're they are. They're they're promoted. George and Greg are now part of the regular cast. Gabriela: Mm-hmm. Mel: mean, he's always kind of been a favorite of mine anyway, but I think it's because of this whole like the realization that he had about, I, you know, I'm bored. I want to do something else. And then he realizes what the lobster rolls mean to people. So, he had his kind of his own growth as well. And so I just, I found that to be touching as well. So yeah, I think he was my favorite for the season. then, Minor would probably be... Geneva, think. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. She's always cute. Mel: She's cute, but I also think she's so funny because on one hand, when Greg brought the plate back, she was like, she wants something that doesn't look like it was thrown on the floor. And then, but then you go out and she was still actually the nicer of the two about not having the lobster roll. So it's like Geneva actually said that. Like it seems like it would have been the other guy that would have said that. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Not only that, I cannot see Geneva slapping Greg about not having a lobst That just either Greg's lying or it's just Mel: Right. Right. that's true, too. Yeah. Doug B.: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: it's just impossible to believe. How 'bout you, Doug? Mel: Mm-hmm. Doug B.: I guess Elaine. I mean she kinda she kind of had a a a smallish role in this episode to in to me, but you know, she she continues to show much more depth than I could have ever imagined last season. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. Okay. How about you, Gabriela,? Major and minor. Old man Collins has Gabriela: major Chesla Wechsler: been a real hit, Doug, so you know. Gabriela: Sure. Chesla Wechsler: We didn't see him this Doug B.: Mm. Chesla Wechsler: time round, but w everybody likes Old Man Collins. Go ahead, I'm sorry. Gabriela: Yeah. Are we talking about this episode or the Okay. Chesla Wechsler: This episode. Gabriela: think it's always gonna be Martin as the major character. I just love his character. Yeah, especially this episode. I don't know. He just like you just really see how much he cares about the his patients. and not just like they're not just his patients, but they're also like people he now knows. Like he's integrated into this community now, so I like seeing when he's actually part of the town. And minor character it's not a minor character, probably another major character is also Elaine. especially her relationship or dynamic with Martin. I think she's kind of like a little sister to him. Doug B.: Yeah. Gabriela: they give me sibling vibes. just based on how me and my older brother also act towards each other, it's very similar. So I like that. I think he needs someone like that in his life. He was he was that to Rosemary and so I think now Elaine is kind of that to him. Mel: you Chesla Wechsler: that'd be nice, huh? Gabriela: so yeah, I like that. I like those two. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. I think Martin would be my fave of this episode because he just shows so much care for everybody. And he's just gotten so much warmer and s and he's just to me he's a he's a villager, whether he admits it or not. It's just a matter of him figuring it out at this point. And I think from a minor character perspective I really liked Tim, the kid who was doing all the medicines. Gabriela: Two words. Chesla Wechsler: my goodness. Mel: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: He just the f just the fa yeah, two word Tim. Just the fact that he was colorblind and some his yellow shirt, you know, what color's my hair? He just had some some very funny lines, so but Gabriela: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: cool. Doug B.: How is it possible that he could possibly have that job? Gabriela: I guess if he doesn't know he's colourblind, how does he know any different? Doug B.: Right. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. And if he's never screwed up the pills before Gabriela: Yeah. Chesla Wechsler: But you know, if you look at pills, they are not just a color, they're a shape, and they have a little thing stamped on them. That surprised me. Like as a somebody who's managing medications, you should know. You know, there's lots of little white pills. Make sure that you look at what's stamped on it. But you know I have to keep in mind that this show does not have to be medically accurate unlike like Doc Martin did, or they kinda have to be men although this that plot line could have existed in Doc Martin. But one of the things that bugs me and somebody was trying to call me out on it on Facebook 'cause I said I hope that Sally doesn't have a problem with her neck muscles because she's had a neck brace on for thirty five years. She could absolutely have weak neck muscles. Mel: Thank Chesla Wechsler: And somebody's like, Didn't you see the end of it? She's fine. And I'm like, Yeah. Right that minute. But all she has to do is that or, you know, turn her head sharp and and who knows, she could throw something Doug B.: Okay. Mel: Thanks. Chesla Wechsler: off. So I guess we have the potential for that as well coming up. Mel: Just going back to the medicine thing, which we were talking about with Tim. you know, I think if you don't spend a lot of time around medication, you don't really realize that there's different, you know, different stamps or, things in them. So I could see maybe somebody who's not experienced maybe slightly panic, just being like, I'll just, I know which ones are which by color. And Chesla Wechsler: Mm-hmm. Mel: it could also be that that's the way he recognizes them, remembers them as well. Like if he's more of a kind of a... visual, even though he's colorblind, even if he's more of a visual person, that could be like, that's the way I know this is this one because it's blue, this is this one because it's green, or what I think is green. So I was just saying, it may not, I guess, I think it may not be as common knowledge as think it might be, especially someone who's in a small town, maybe not super well educated, may not realize that, I can sort them this way as well. But just wanted to. Chesla Wechsler: Does doesn't he have doesn't he have some sort of medical role? 'Cause Sally was saying something like he manages the medications for half of the seniors in the town. He's he's I Mel: Yeah, I thought- Chesla Wechsler: it sounded like he was a something or other. Like Mel: I just got the impression that literally he just sorted them into pill boxes and then just made sure they took them. That's kind of real life, like more like an aid type thing is kind of the impression I got of what his role was, but I could be wrong. Doug B.: Y yeah, and and even even before we found out he was colorblind, he seemed completely inept at what he was doing. That's why I just thought it's like how can this person have this gigantic responsibility? Having having had that responsibility for older parents, I'm like, This is important and you don't seem responsible. Chesla Wechsler: Yeah. You're sorting the medications at the bar. Not Doug B.: Bar Chesla Wechsler: not a good thing. So on a on a very fun note, thank you to everybody who has subscribed to this little podcast. We have Mel: Thank Chesla Wechsler: last look we had two hundred and five people on just YouTube. which is delightful. The comments there are great yes, that's Gabriela, is clapping, Mel's clapping, Doug's even thumbs up. So thank you guys for doing that. It just thrills me to think that you actually want to be notified when there's a new one of these. and our rating is still we have we have one person who ever gave us a thumbs down and it was like a year ago on a newbie episode with no comment, as far as I know, they might have hit the wrong thumb. Because there was nothing negative. So that ruins our perfect five star rating across all the platforms. But you know, I'm just gonna ignore that one and say you all are liking what's going on here. So please continue to subscribe, like, comment. We're gonna try and work things in that you wanna see. And you my panel people, I really appreciate the time you put into this stuff, and we will get together again next week.