Latest / Podcast Portwenn: Doc Martin & Best Medicine / Best Medicine S2E1 Reaction: A Mermaid, a Blood Phobia & Is Eden Friend or Foe?
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- Mel: Louisa is also her patient. So I think that's an interesting kind of ethical conundrum as well. that, you know, she's his sh she's possibly her love rival, but she's also her patient. which is a little interesting. Doug B.: well, she she can be easy to talk to, so she says. Carol Doehler: Yeah. Mel: I laughed so hard when she said that. Chesla: Yes. Doug B.: Man, that was uncomfortable. Chesla: And Chesla Wechsler: Welcome to Podcast Portwenn, where we discuss all things Doc Martin and Best Medicine. I'm your host, Chesla Wechsler. Hey Besties. Season two, episode one is out, and we have a great panel today. We've got Gabriela,, who's gonna represent Gen Z for us, and we've got Mel and Carol and Doug who are coming to be our unspoiled people. It's a little bit different. it's responding to the survey that you guys did for me last year. So I hope that you enjoy the changes. as always, at the end I always tell you subscribe, like the episode, comment So telling you up front. Chesla: Gabriela is here with me for some hot takes we just watched season two, episode one. Liz Tuccillo wrote it. I was very encouraged by that. What did you think? Gabriela: I really liked it. I enjoyed it. a lot of questions were answered from l the season finale, which was surprising but also pretty fun, I think, because now they get a chance to ha start new storylines, I think. which is I think it'll be fun. Chesla: Yeah, I agree. I mean, but I was blown away by how many things they sort of tied up. I mean, we've got it's Mark and Louisa aren't having a baby together. Mm-hmm. Right. And Al surprises us right off the bat, right? Gabriela: Right. yeah. Yeah, he's going to school. Yep. In New York. Right. And he asked Elaine to go and she eventually says yes. But I don't know if gonna I don't know if that's gonna end up happening. We'll see. Chesla: I mean, I think we both hope he goes to school, but we both hope that we still have Elaine. Gabriela: Yeah, I think yeah. I think I hope Elaine stays, but yeah, I just don't see her going to New York. Maybe if like they go well I'm wondering like when he's going. I don't think they said Chesla: Yeah. You know, you would think he'd be there 'cause if Louise's school is in session, shouldn't he be at school already? Gabriela: Mm-hmm. Chesla: Mm. Gabriela: Yeah, and I thought like from articles we've read, it's like spring, supposedly. So I think he unless he got like admitted for maybe the next fall. Chesla: All that could be. And Bert was talking about trying to make money for tuition, right? So it's not clear he's had to pay a bill yet. Gabriela: Yeah. Chesla: I was mad at Al. Gabriela: why? Chesla: 'Cause he's he's still giving Bert a hard time for for the whole dad thing. but sounds like he's been a good dad. Gabriela: Yeah. I think Al Yeah. Yeah, it does sound like he's been a good dad, but I think Al is just more hung up on the like you've lied to me my whole life. which I kinda get, but I'm also like, mmm, it was kind of for the best. yeah, I don't know. I was kind of like surprised that he was so mad. I thought we kinda like weren't over that in the season finale, but still holding a grudge, I guess. Chesla: And it's been five months. That's a long time. Gabriela: It is a long time. Yeah. Chesla: Yeah. So we lear Eden is still in the picture and she's definitely trying to get her hooks into Martin. Gabriela: Yeah. trying to get him back to Boston. yeah. I really like her character. I know that's like an unpopular opinion, but she's just so funny. I like their dynamic and she's actually not like that bad. she kind of just wants like the best for him, I guess. Yeah. Maybe it's the best for her in like retrospect, but yeah, like she's like a good person. I don't know what I think people just have a problem with her 'cause she's the obstacle to Martin and Louisa. But like other than that, like she'd be a great like friend for him. Chesla: And he kind of expresses that, right? She doesn't make him try to change. She accepts him the way he is. And, you know, I get that. That's very attractive. Mm-hmm. Yeah. There might be some residual Doc Martin hatred. You know? Anybody who's a a Doc Martin fan might might be bringing some Edith hatred into their into their viewing of things. Gabriela: Yeah, I like Eden way more. And Edith was like more she was at she they weren't together at like when she was on the show. So it's a different circumstance. Yeah. Like I can see why the dislike for Edith versus Eden. but so far Eden seems fine. I mean Yeah, she's kind of like she's she's very Martin, like I don't know. Yes. I don't know. I think we just have a bias against like fans in general have a bias against her. But she's very like she's just like Martin, I think, when he first got there. And even now still. Chesla: Yeah, there's nothing bad about her. Gabriela: Mm-mm. I mean she wants she changed the the office because she wants like to make a good impression. He wants she wants him to make a good impression for the monitors. And she wants it to look more professional. That's why Elaine dresses in like her little coat or whatever. but yeah, she hasn't done anything that I'm like, like she's a bad person. Chesla: Not at all. Not at all. And she's still she's pretty nice and he seems fine with her. Right? He's absolutely fine with her. He doesn't seem happy, as Sarah points out. Gabriela: Mm-hmm. I think, yeah. Sh he's like yeah, he's just fine, I guess. That's like the word or content, but he could be happier. Yeah. Chesla: And he she is changing him in one way for the worse, in the fact that he really seems to be distancing himself from both Peter Cronk and from Copernicus. Gabriela: Yeah, that was really sad. Yeah, you could tell obviously Peter Cronk's not talking about Copernicus when he's talking about Copernicus, he's talking about himself. And Martin kind of catches on on to that. So yeah, and Martin kinda just has to like let him down. Like you should hang out with kids your own age and yeah, and Peter Cronk and Copernicus do not like Eden. They're good judges of character, I think. Chesla: Dogs especially. Right. Gabriela: Yeah. And you get the sense that Eden has like showed or like told them that she doesn't want them around. So they're pretty upset. Chesla: Yes. Yes. Rightly so. They were there first. Gabriela: Yeah. Chesla: I felt kind of vindicated in my view of Port Wenn because, you know, from a Doc Martin perspective, Portwenn is full of pretty normal people and Martin Ellingham is is the odd one. And I've been maintaining that Martin Best is the normal guy and all these Port Wennians are the oddballs and The fact that they just embraced Cecilia the mermaid the way they did, I think proves that. Gabriela: Yeah, me too. I think yeah. I think you could tell kind of from the beginning that this town is just like it's just weird. They're just full of weird people and they're okay with that. But you see Martin coming in, he's like this totally normal guy with some like he has quirks, but normal quirks. yeah, I think you you can really like I like how they emphasized that. this episode with like all of them coming together and just like shouting out their their weird things that they've experienced. Yeah. which is pretty funny because it was all it was all things that happen in season one. Yes. but yeah that was I like that. And I like the Cecilia character. I think she'll I think she's gonna join the cast maybe for a couple of maybe the season, maybe the show. I don't know. Chesla: Like that. Mark certainly seems to like her, right? Yeah. Gabriela: Yeah. I like that he told Sally that sh he wants someone that he just like can't stop smiling about and he found that person, I think. Yes. Chesla: Yeah, yeah. Now it the Gabriela: Finally. Chesla: you know, the the theme the theme of this particular one with Cecilia was, you know, was sad. Gabriela: It was sad. yeah. I I was kind of like curious before the show before that the season started, like how this mermaid storyline is gonna play out. and I think I really like that storyline, even though it like starts off as like kind of ridiculous, like what's a mermaid doing there? but then I'm also like it's Port Wenn of course there's a mermaid. it just makes sense. but yeah, I like how like the reasoning for why she showed up on shore. Yeah, I guess. yeah, it was pretty sad. This the scene on the staircase with Mark and their little chat was really sad. I was I felt for her. Chesla: Yes. Yeah. I mean my f I fall off a party boat and my friends don't even turn around. I mean that that's horrid. Gabriela: Yeah. And I like how Mark like immediately knew that something wrong, like she was not in a good place. and went to Martin about it. Yeah. And they're both like, she's alone, like she should not be alone. Chesla: That's right. Gabriela: So yeah. yeah, I like her storyline. It was really it was like caused funny moments, but it was actually like really, really deep and touching, I think. Chesla: Yeah. I'm glad that they they had her at the end, she was seeking help because I think that is the proper end of this. Gabriela: Yeah, me too. I think yeah, it was good for her and then I think good to show on a sh on an episode, like yeah, that's what that's the right thing to do. Yeah. Like you should be aware that you need help. Yeah. yeah, I really like that. Chesla: was blown away that Martin in episode one admits he's got this blood phobia to the whole town. Gabriela: Hmm. I don't think I'm surprised about it, but I I was kind of like expecting it maybe because of the previews. But yeah, it was it was kind of it was shocking for the town, I think. But yeah, I think it needed to happen. Yeah. And now like he's gonna we'll see how the town kind of treats him after this. and Aunt Sarah's not very happy because she didn't tell her first. Chesla: Yeah, and he should have. Gabriela: Yeah. I think yeah, I don't think he tried to at any point. I think he's just like kind of embarrassed about it. So and Elaine found out because yeah, she discovered him and then he did tell Louisa about it. Right. But yeah, I don't know. Yeah. Aunt Sarah's feelings are valid, I think. Chesla: I agree. Yeah. And Louisa, poor Louisa, it just she's I mean, I'm glad she still has a job. I'm glad that the school still exists and that they're funding it with the sea urchins and everything. This this was this was not a happy episode for Louisa. Gabriela: No. yeah, I felt really bad for her. She just seems so lonely, I think, in every scene that she was in. which is really sad. I think obviously like she's had trying to have a baby, and then her colleague, I forgot where her name is, comes in and tells her she's gonna get married, she's pregnant, and then Louisa's kind of like, That's great, but also not great for me. for her self-esteem, I think. And Yeah, just like the whole episode. She just seems so lonely. And then on the couch with Elaine and Al. And she's kind of like watching them like kiss and hug. And she's like, Okay, third wheeling. Yeah, I think she just she's very lonely. She wants she wants that true love person, which obviously is Martin, but Martin's on unavailable. Chesla: Yes. Yes. And you know, she's when she's at the lighthouse and she's talking about the things that are problematic in her life and it's just like other people seem to have come to grips with their thing in a way. And hers is just like I want this and I want this. And it's like this isn't right and this isn't right. And you just gotta feel for her. Gabriela: Yeah, I felt her. I was like, somebody hug her. Yeah. Yeah. Chesla: Yeah. Us. Gabriela: And she's working two jobs Chesla: Yeah. Gabriela: and she's on IVF so all the hormones and she's tired and she needs a break. Chesla: Yes, she does. She does. And you can just see when she and Martin talk, there's so much more softness between the two of them than there is with him and Eden. You know, which is nice. Gabriela: Yeah, more I I really like their moment. Chesla: Yeah. Mark certainly seems ready for love, doesn't he? Gabriela: Yeah, for sure. I think Mark yeah, he was like on a dating website with Sally going through it. which of course, but yeah, I think he's like trying to get himself out there, but he just waiting to meet that person. Chesla: Cool. Well it's I mean I liked it quite a bit. I think we're off to a really good start with season two. Do you think the same? Gabriela: Yes. I really enjoyed it. I'm gonna watch it again right now. Yeah. At eight. It's gonna re air, so Chesla: wow. What about your friends on on Discord? How'd that group like it? Do they watch that f at the same time? Yeah. Gabriela: Yeah, we all watched at the same time. most of us did. And yeah, we really enjoyed it. We were pretty we thought it was really funny, but we also liked we really liked the mermaid storyline. Yeah, we really enjoyed it. We're looking forward we saw the previews to the next episode. Chesla: So yes, looking forward to that too. Yeah. Yeah, that one looks good. Gabriela: Yeah. I think they're gonna be good episodes. I'm really looking forward to them. Chesla: Yeah, I really think we're off to a good start. I mean, I was a little concerned there that we're, you know, a little ridiculous with the mermaid at the very beginning, like you said, but then it really just settled out into that nice, warm, cozy hug of a show that we've been enjoying. Gabriela: Yeah, I really enjoyed that. Chesla: Cool. All right. Well, have an awesome week and I will catch up with you next week. Gabriela,, I appreciate your time. Folks, subscribe if you're enjoying this, like the episode, and I will see you next week. Gabriela: Yeah, see ya. Thank you. Chesla Wechsler: Anyway, without further ado, Mel, Doug, Carol, come through and welcome back to Podcast Portwenn. Chesla: Hello, besties. Doug B.: Hello. Mel: So Chesla: So we all watched the premiere yesterday, I believe, or if not today, and I loved it. How about you guys? Carol Doehler: It was fun. Mel: I laughed out loud. It Chesla: We got up all over. Mel: was so funny. Carol Doehler: Sure, sure. Doug B.: Yes. Chesla: Yeah. Many, many funny Doug B.: Very much enjoyed it. Carol Doehler: Yeah, it did not disappoint at all. Mel: So I actually think I'm gonna have a new catchphrase. Whenever I want to just like walk somewhere and and scream, I'm gonna be like, time to go on the walk-in. Carol Doehler: Yeah. Doug B.: Ha ha. Chesla: That was perfect. And Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla: I'll tell you, George, I mean, it it looked like one of these just like, you know, screams that you do during final exams when it started. But when he saw the mermaid definitely Doug B.: It's a different screen. Chesla: changed. Yes, Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla: it was very definitely a different scream. So lots happened. We got a lot of new information here. Doug B.: I was surprised that the Chesla: Yeah, yeah, Doug, go for it. Doug B.: the the Norway thing seems to be forgotten and over with without incident. Great for them, but seems odd that the bully would allow that to happen. Chesla: I hope that that is the case. I really don't want to see those Norwegians again. Carol Doehler: Yeah. Mel: I was actually surprised at how much how many questions are resolved just in the opening bit. Chesla: Yeah. And and how they did it was nice, I thought. Mel: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Chesla: Yeah. Carol? Carol Doehler: Yeah, I thought they tied it all in pretty quick and easy. But do we think the Chesla: Especially the Carol Doehler: Norwegians are done? Chesla: D well do you? Carol Doehler: Wonder I just wonder. Chesla: I hope they're gone. Doug B.: I wonder if they will be back. Chesla: I don't want them. I really don't want them. Carol Doehler: And as the Facebook comments say they need to get Blondie out of town. Yes. Chesla: Yes. You know, let's Yeah. Doug B.: enough with Eden. Chesla: Let's talk Eden because Doug and I were texting and he was saying she's evil. And when I was talking to Gabriela, last night, she points out, and I believe her, there is nothing inherently bad about Eden. She is just in the way between Martin and Louisa. Carol Doehler: Yeah, and she's very Chesla: Right? Carol Doehler: direct like he is too. Mel: Yeah. Doug B.: I I think she's a little conniving. mean I th I can't give you Chesla: You have to you have to convince me. Doug B.: well I can't give you as exact reason why I think that, but she just seems that she wants to get her way and she will manipulate whatever needs to be manipulated to get her way. Chesla: Hmm. Hmm. Mel: I could see that actually, Doug. I I could see that about her. Yeah, I could see that. I mean, especially given, you know, she turned up after how I they never actually resolve how long those two had been broken up. But she just suddenly turns, turns up and is like, I want to date you. Doug B.: It w Mel: and and how much of her his life she's now directing. Doug B.: And by the way, when are you moving back to Boston? Like I mean I I mean we've been together for three days, so you're coming back to Boston, right? Mel: Right. Chesla: It's it's been five months. Doug B.: I missed that Chesla: Yes, Mel: Yeah. Doug B.: But she Chesla: Mm-hmm. Doug B.: when she leaves th this episode she references the weekend. So that th that is what made me think she was just there for the weekend. But I yeah, I Mel: Yeah, I I'm Doug B.: I get it now. Mel: I'm thinking that that's kind of the arrangement. Like she has her practice in Boston during the week and then she comes to Port Wenn on the the weekends. That's kind of was I was thinking that's what their I don't want to say their arrangement, that's what her arrangement is. Doug B.: Yeah. Mel: But I did think it was interesting as well, speaking of Eden, that, you know, I know in the last episode I was talking about but about how she seems to be the person that, to give Doug his point, that for whatever reason seems to be the one that's that's propping him up and you know kind of giving him confidence. And he does kind of acknowledge that when he says, you know, she's the she's the only person around here who you know accepts me for me and isn't constantly trying to change him. And regardless of her reasons for doing it, that is, you know, that is actually the case. Chesla: Yeah. And he claims to be happy, right, Carol? Carol Doehler: Uh-huh. It just just like yeah. But some Freudian slipped there when she said she was going back to Boston. He's like, good, you know. But Chesla: That's true. Carol Doehler: I kind of wonder too, is she trying to go after him because she feels highly threatened by Louisa? Because when sh Louisa was in the waiting room, the redecorated waiting room. And Mel: Yeah. Carol Doehler: Martin comes out and she walks up and then all of a sudden, boom, here's Eden, asking to talk with him. And it's like, hmm. Mel: Yeah. Carol Doehler: Yeah, she is a little conniving. Chesla: Doodun, doodun, doodun, doodun. Mel: I think she I think she saw that there was yeah, that there was something between them Chesla: Yeah. Mel: during that hug in in the last season Carol Doehler: Yeah. Mel: after he, you know, he dispatched the Norwegian, she could see that hug. And I think she saw that there was something potentially between them. which you know, she's sh Louisa is also her patient. So I think that's an interesting kind of ethical conundrum as well. that, you know, she's his sh she's technically. possibly her rival and, you know, love rival, but she's also her patient. which is a little interesting. Doug B.: well, she she can be easy to talk to, so she says. Carol Doehler: Yeah. Mel: I laughed so hard when she said that. Chesla: Yes. Doug B.: Man, that was uncomfortable. Chesla: And Louisa I wish I remembered what she said, but it was kind of like no like like the no had to do with an actual question that was asked, but you knew that Louisa was basically saying, No, you're not easy to talk to. Mel: Right. Well then I also love to say that she I what said she says she's she's easy to talk to and then she launches into this this spiel about women who wait for men and then can't have babies and they're barren. It's like that's not comforting. Doug B.: Mm-hmm. Chesla: No, no, not at all. And I love our girl talks. Carol Doehler: Yeah. Doug B.: Yeah. Chesla: "Samesy" man, man. Carol Doehler: she Louisa had some good facial expressions last Mel: She did. there was at one point too when they were leading into talking about Louisa, Eden and Martin were. And Eden said something about I need to see Louisa. And Martin's like, Yeah, so what if I see her? He like he started to get defensive, and then he realized she was talking about I need to see her as my patient, which I thought was Chesla: Yes. Mel: Interesting as well. Doug B.: There you Chesla: Yes. Doug B.: go. That's w that's where the conniving button switched on for me. Mel: Mm. Doug B.: Right? So she she she didn't that that wasn't a a mistake. That was on purpose. Chesla: you think that was on purpose. Mel: Mm, mm-hmm. Doug B.: So I Chesla: interesting. Doug B.: I just watched it again tonight. And I was like, yeah. I thought that was on purpose. I thought it yesterday and then today Chesla: Interesting. Doug B.: when I watched it again, I'm like, there was just you're just mixing up words to mess with Of course, you know I love the doctor, so Chesla: Hmm. Hmm. Doug B.: I'm gonna defend him at every turn. So Chesla: When I saw that scene, I thought she really was thinking, Louisa. Like, I gotta see Louisa. I really thought I trusted what she was saying, and I thought that that was a nice little plot device for showing that Martin had Louisa on the brain. Right, like no, no, not Louisa. What about Louisa? You know? Like sh I'm not thinking about her at all. No, no, not me, right? Carol Doehler: That was my first take as well. Chesla: This could be the female and male perspective. Who knows, you know? Doug B.: Could be. I'm I'm I'm very jaded. all in for the doc Chesla: You're earning your keep, Doug. By the way, I I one thing that I would say that I loved about this episode, Like at last season I was like I was having culture shock because I come from this Doc Martin background and and Martin Ellingham is definitely the fish out of water in a town of what it seems like largely normal-ish people. So that's just a little tip for you guys. I know you're unspoiled, but like that's that's what I'm fighting against when I come in here. And Martin Best didn't seem as like out of fish out of water. You see this episode and the folks in Port Wenn are basically saying, We're weird, we love it. That's what we love about this place. And you belong here if you're weird too and we will be your absolute genuine friends. And to me that was a very helpful You know, change change your mindset. helps me love the show. Doug B.: Jan. Carol Doehler: Yeah. It's definitely a town of unique characters, but lovable. Chesla: Mm-hmm. Yes. Yes. Carol Doehler: 'Cause he sure had his hands full last night. Chesla: Ha ha. Mel: He definitely did. Doug B.: And and they are a bit crazy. Carol Doehler: Be just my kind of town. Chesla: Ha ha ha. Mel: I don't know what I know. I don't know what it says about my my maturity of my humor, but they did the you know, her blowing up the house gag twice and Carol Doehler: Yeah. Mel: I was crying with laughter both times. Carol Doehler: I will not smoke. I will not smoke. Chesla: You kind of just But it was so nice when she was kind of saying, I don't want to smoke, you know, I really Mel: Yeah. Chesla: don't want to do this and this is really tough to kick. And you knew that was hitting a note with with with Martin. And, Mel: Okay. Yeah. Chesla: Sarah was looking at him like, why d why is he agreeing? You know? So that kind of fed into the end where when he admits he has the blood phobia, and Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla: she's absolutely hurt Doug B.: Yeah. Mel: Yeah. But then again, she also she also hasn't been very accepting of him in a lot of ways, too. So I could kind of see why he didn't confide in her. Of course, initially he wasn't confiding in anybody. I mean, the only reason why Elaine found out is because he had a panic attack and she found him. And then Chesla: Mm-hmm. Mel: the only reason why and then he had to admit it Elite Louisa because he was so rude to her. But Doug B.: Right. Mel: so the the only people he admitted it to were people he was kind of forced to admit it to. Chesla: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Speaking of people who are hurt, I felt very bad for Peter Cronk. Carol Doehler: Yeah. Doug B.: I would I'm right there with you. Mel: Bad for Copernicus. Chesla: Yeah. Doug? Doug B.: I I thought that was so unnecessary and maybe it'll go somewhere, but that that that that hurt right here. Seemed unnecessary too. Didn't go anywhere this episode. Carol Doehler: Well, like Aunt Sarah said, this person has taken him a couple steps back. Chesla: Yeah. Carol Doehler: So she's doing it. Chesla: Yeah. Yeah. So we we got a lot of reinforcement with the idea that Eden has been a force for not good as far as people in the village are concerned. I mean you've got poor Peter who and Copernicus, you know, like I'm always on the dog side. That dog was fundamentally adopted by Martin. Is he not allowed to live there anymore? Like Doc WTF, like he's your dog. Mel: I know. Doug B.: Yeah. Chesla: And Poor little Peter. The and the whole doctor's office looking like a doctor's office. This place looks like a a doctor's office. Carol Doehler: And Elaine's dressed like a dental assistant. Chesla: Yes. Yep. So Mel: I think you kinda wanna talk about Elaine. I thought her I thought she was very different this episode, even from how she was all of last season. She seems she seemed more I mean, it's obviously they they mentioned that she got the phob phlebotomy license, but she seemed a little bit more settled and a lot less scattered. and I don't know if it was maybe Eden Eden's in having her under her thumb, but she was she seemed to be taking her receptionist job. Well, actually she's not even reception just the receptionist more, she's also a phlebotomist, but she w seems to be taking that much more seriously. But I also found it fascinating that she actually did end up with an Legitimate acting gig too. and I also found it interesting that she was suddenly not wanting to go to New York with Al because I'm going, you know, just because you didn't get into Juilliard doesn't mean you can't act or go to acting school somewhere else. I mean, it's New York. There's plenty of opportunities where she, you know, she was the one who wanted to leave Port Wenn and now he's leaving Port Wenn and she's like, I don't know if I want to go with you. I just there there there were some complete like 180s in her character this past episode that from last season that I just found interesting. Doug B.: I I was I was also a little disappointed in her. Just it just it Mel: Mm. Doug B.: just seemed a little flat to me. Yeah, where where Mel: Mm-hmm. Doug B.: she was the a a star last season to this to yesterday seemed boring. Which which is opposite of Elaine. Scatterbrain Elaine, Mel: Right. Doug B.: not boring. Mel: Right. Part of me wonders if sometimes shows do this where they try to like tone down certain elements of a character or, you know, tone up certain elements I'm I'm kind of wondering if maybe there was that. But they they didn't really have within a five months time, it almost seems like it almost seemed like a completely different person. And so far they haven't really come up with a good explanation for that. Carol Doehler: Well, I think one of the big factors was Martin's mom when she they breezed through town last season and Mel: Yeah. Carol Doehler: came down on her for, you know, videoing opening boxes and stuff, telling her she was basically producing trash. Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla: Yeah, c I I guess I feel like Elaine grew. So like even if we're Mel: Yeah. Chesla: saying like she did she settled maybe, she actually I th I think Mel you might have said this, like she got an actual sort of gig in town with the Chamber of Commerce or whatever it was to pr to produce this advertisement for people to come there. So she actually has a r a real resume thing. She got her phlebotomy license. So she's kind of and maybe Carol, maybe it is the radical honesty of, you know, you're just making garbage. So now she's not making garbage. and then with respect to New York, you know, that th that whole thing is a l a little bit of a a dashed dream. Mel: I think it's really pretty easy to put you out of the five on three like and I just want to even cut down size one time. When I skip to your report, I'm just Chesla: You know, she had very, very unrealistic expectations of what her arrival in New York would be. She's gonna take it by storm and instead of that, she's gonna be a tag along in a dorm room. Mel: selling. Chesla: Which is, you know, a very different thing. I guess I guess one thing that we have to ask ourselves is like, does Al go off to school and does Elaine go with him? You know, I I I think part of it might be that so Mel: Yeah. Yeah. Someone reports on this uncommonly request. Chesla: many things were put into this episode. Right, that we've only got little snippets of them and it's not you know, they're not fully formed yet. Mel: I mean, I would have to go back and watch our prior episode, but I I think this episode other than Martin the the rosemary issue. I think this episode pretty much answered all of the questions that we had going into this. You know, Elaine with the phlebotomy, is Al going to college? did Mark are Mark and Louisa having a baby together? Chesla: Mm-hmm. Mel: All of that's been resolved. Chesla: Yeah. Is Eden staying in town? Is she gonna be in the picture? Are the Norwegians still there? At least so far, Mel: Yeah. Yeah. Chesla: no. Did the sea urchins work out? Yes. Mel: Yes. Carol Doehler: Mm-hmm. Chesla: Yeah. And frankly, I'm happy about that. I love the fact that we've got sort of all these things wrapped up because it's not like it's an extension of last season. It's okay, here's level set, boom, off we go, new stuff. Mel: But for this time. Okay, I'll get to work. So you can have that one. So that's one about the stuff. Doug B.: So c s talking about new stuff, we can we talk about Mark for just a minute? Chesla: Yes, because I have good things to say about Mark. Go ahead. Doug B.: Well, so so you know, last season we were saying Mark was the crazy guy. he acted crazy and he was crazy and he seemed to have a screw or two loose. So the fact that he is going to end up with a mermaid just seemed like so perfect to me. It's like, of course, a mermaid for Mark. But i how could it be how I couldn't have thought of a better solution to get him out of the love triangle. Mel: over my soccer Chesla: Ha ha Mel: function. Doug, Chesla: ha. Mel: you you picked on the up on that too, because that was that was my thinking is that that's who he's gonna Cecilia is gonna be his love interest because he was literally telling his mother he wanted somebody to make who can make him smile and then that's the very next scene. I'm Chesla: Yeah. Doug B.: Right. Mel: like they couldn't have you know bashed us over the head any more with that. Doug B.: Yeah. Well th I thought that was cool. Chesla: Yeah. now Carol, you really like Mark. What'd you think about Mark in this episode? Yeah. Carol Doehler: I loved him. I thought he was really cute. When he's talking mermaid and all that stuff. that's her mermaid language. Chesla: Yep. Carol Doehler: And he's so trying to so engage and and how he went up to the lighthouse tower to try to calm her down and get her down and all that stuff was was nice and you know, taking her to get to the hospital and such, but yeah. Mel: Well, one of you, I don't remember which one of you, last season mentioned that Mark, you know, seems kind of to be almost too dumb to be a police officer, but yet at the same time it seems like he understands his job and can do, you know, police work. And I was that you, Chesla? And I did notice note that last last night too, is that, you know, he has all these wacky ideas and theories, but at the same time he knew enough to who to ask about Cecilia's disappearance and figure out that, you know, she didn't actually fall off a cruise ship. She fell off a like he was actually able to do that. He was actually able to do that investigation. He talked to the Coast Guard. You know, he he did actual like police work to figure Doug B.: Mm-hmm. Chesla: Right. Mel: out where she came from. Chesla: Yeah. And that that was kind of my point. So my thing about Mark, and and Mel, I was the person who was driven absolutely bonkers by by Mark. I I was really happy with him in in Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla: the first episode because I mean he's still a goofball. And I Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla: think I think you had called him a doofus, Carol, which I thought was funny. Carol Doehler: huh. Chesla: So he's still a doofus. He he's obviously that really loving guy that we saw, right, in the last season. But you see him recognizing that Cecilia is is very down, she's got low self esteem. He c he ca he tries to talk to her about the f you know, maybe you just need to meet the right people. He seems just really warm and loving. He's still not the sharpest tool in the shed, right? 'Cause and why was he speaking a mermaid language? But he told, you know He didn't believe she was a mermaid, right? I mean, and he said, Come on, Doc, I'm just joking. And I I was like, thank you, God. Like, thank you, Liz Tuccillo who wrote this episode. we need Mark to be he can be ridiculous, but he also has to be sort of a grown man who has a level of understanding that reflects a grown man. Mel: Yeah, so I think all the things that all of a sudden. Chesla: But that was the thing that I needed to get over, which was This is impossible. You know? This man cannot be the sheriff of the town and think like this. You know. Carol Doehler: Yeah, well and it's like when he was interacting with his mother and he says, you know, maybe I need to grow up. Chesla: Yeah, but there's growing Carol Doehler: But she's Chesla: like be child my dad always used to say, I love this one. it's fine to be childlike, just don't be childish. Doug B.: Yeah. Carol Doehler: Mm, yeah, that's good. Chesla: Yeah. And he also said, Die young but put it off as long as possible. Doug B.: Mm. Chesla: It's one of my favorite phrases. Mel: Yeah, Carol Doehler: I think his mother is a big part of it, why he's kinda childish or childlike. Chesla: Yeah. Mel: I Doug B.: The apple didn't fall too far. Carol Doehler: Yeah, except the grandmother biological age is ticking away for her. Chesla: Yeah. Doug B.: Yeah. Chesla: I wonder if we'll ever get an explanation of the neck brace. Carol Doehler: Yeah, I don't know. Chesla: That's that's still the Carol Doehler: Be interesting. Mel: thought it was interesting that she still had it. Doug B.: Yeah. Chesla: Yeah. I mean they've never told us why is she wearing this neck brace and it seems to do absolutely nothing for her You Doug B.: Right. She's Chesla: know? Mel: That's part of the weirdness. Chesla: Yeah, yeah. Did you guys love Doug B.: If it's right there. Chesla: Judith, Geneva, and Sarah? We need more of them, said Mel: I knew the three of them together was gonna just be a hoot. Chesla: Yeah. Now is Andrea Martin coming back? Like was that her once and done, or is she gonna coming back? D does anybody know? I hope she's coming back. Mel: I hope so too. It didn't seem like she was on her way. Like it didn't seem like that was her last episode. Seemed like they were more introducing her as a new character. Chesla: Yeah. Yeah. I would like that. Mel: The teenagers We were told to volunteer with the decrepit. Chesla: Yes, my gosh. Or whatever you whatever you people which one is it? Carol Doehler: my god. Mel: And then when she just said, listen to Igor Stravinsky Is he the weird guy that sits behin just the lines Doug B.: Yeah. Mel: were just Chesla: There were a lot of really good lines in this and that's Carol Doehler: Yeah. Chesla: that's it's they're stepping up their game. I really I really did enjoy that. And I love the met like, don't smoke. If you have a mental health crisis, it is important for you to seek help and get professional help for things. And you know what? Phones can be bad for you and they can be addictive. So Mel: Yeah. Yeah. I do think it was interesting though when he she was trying to jump out the window and Martin was trying to stop her. He she's like, These kids are making anybody want jump out the window he's like, Well, you have a point there. Carol Doehler: Yeah. Chesla: That's right. Doug B.: Anyway, Chesla: Yes. Mel: He's like, I'll go out af I'll go out after you. Chesla: Right, right. And when she when she's talking about all the things that are really hard to do and she then she ends up with, I had a big life. Carol Doehler: Or when she was trying to kick heroin. It's like Wow, there's an eye opener. Chesla: Yeah. I I mean I hope she was just I hope she was quoting statistics because apparently quitting cigarettes is supposed to be harder than quitting heroin. I don't know if I believe that. Never been addicted to either one, but I've I've heard people say that, so hopefully she was just saying Mel: Yeah. Chesla: repeating that and that wasn't part of her past. So Mel: did anybody notice the the big theme of the episode, which I think is setting the stage for the probably the entire season? Chesla: Well let's hear Mel: So Chesla: your view of it. Mel: so my view of it is so there and it almost again was I almost felt like it was getting to the point where it was kind of being rammed on our throats. But it was about, you know, the theme was all about love and relationships and the challenges of finding love and the comp you know the complexities of love and I mean they they talked about that with Louisa with her trying to have a baby by herself. They did it with Al and Elaine with him possibly going to New York. Then Mark, you know they introduced Mark and his mother swept swiping through his hinge profile. The one teacher who last year was single and you know lamenting that she was never gonna find a man was suddenly pregnant and engaged. So it th it just seemed to be that that seemed to be the overarching theme of the episode. And it seems like it may be the theme of the season is this idea of you know, people of relationships, romantic relationships, per se. Chesla: Doesn't that kind of seem like the theme of the whole show though, in a way? Mel: It does. It does in a way. But I mean, last year it was mainly, obviously the focus was Martin and Louisa. and it was much more subtly done. Where I like said it felt like last night's episode was really it seemed like every other comment scene was about something to do with relationships. It seemed like it was very, very prominent, almost to the point where it felt like it was kind of being rammed down our throats. It's like, Chesla: Hmm. Mel: yeah, okay, we get it. Chesla: Well that's a good thing to get people to comment on. Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla: That's for sure. What Doug B.: Mm. Chesla: Carol, Doug, you have a opinion? Carol Doehler: Well, maybe it's everybody finds love and when is it gonna be time for Martin and Louisa? Doug B.: Sounds good to me. I Chesla: You you've been a you've been a Martin Louisa person from day zero. Doug B.: Yeah. Yeah, right. Mel: Doug is a shipper. He's a Martin Louisa shipper. Doug B.: Yeah, that's right. Carol Doehler: Ha ha. Chesla: Yep. I I viewed that Mel: So am I. Chesla: Yes. I mean we're all rooting for him, I think. I don't think is there anybody who's rooting for him Mark Martin and Eden or you know? I do hope Mark finds somebody, you know? 'Cause he's such Mel: Mm-hmm. Me too. Doug B.: He's Chesla: a he is a nice guy and he could really use somebody who's gonna balance the checkbook in the house, I think, you know, just yeah. Mel: Yeah. Doug B.: Well, I I really think it's the mermaid. I I f I forget her name, but I I I I can't imagine Chesla: Cecilia. Mel: Cecilia Doug B.: she's one and done. Chesla: Could be, but you know, I thought the girl with the exotic pet was gonna be a perfect match for Mark last season, the one who, you know, brought the plague or whatever. And 'cause he seemed to really like her and she seemed to really like him. And she went off because she actually got arrested, I think, for buying an exotic animal. and now we've got Cecilia kind of going off to get some mental health help. So we don't know if sh that's it. Like she's come, she's gone, she's got her her arc is done and she's going to go get help and then she's gonna go home or is she gonna come back? They've certainly made her welcome. I would love to see her back. I think she'd be great. Mel: I think she would too. I mean, I didn't I never really saw Mark and the exotic pet woman as a as a pairing and it certainly wasn't as prominent that this is this might possibly be a you know a pairing for him as they did with Cecilia. and this episode definitely wasn't subtle on some things. But Chesla: Yes. Mel: I also kind of felt like the exotic pet woman was maybe a little bit too kind of head in the clouds. Chesla: Mm. Mel: that like that would not have been a good combination because both of them can definit could definitely have been that like Chesla: Yes. Mel: head in the clouds very kind of woo woo woo type. Chesla: Mm-hmm. Mel: And she was maybe even more so I think than Mark. where the little bit we seem of Cecilia, she seems she seemed to be characterized as someone who is you know reasonably intelligent and also very, you know. I don't want to grounded, but someone who's Chesla: That's the word that I was thinking. Mel: yeah, someone who's maybe just more level headed. It's just that like you were saying earlier, she just she's suffering from a huge amount of a huge lack of self-esteem because of the skin condition that she has. And then, you know, the knock on mental health issues that are f coming from stemming from that. Chesla: Yeah. Yep. So what do you what do you think's gonna come down the line? I gotta admit, I was mad at Al for not giving Bert some slack. Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla: It's been five months. Come on, dude. Mel: I know. And it Carol Doehler: Yeah. Chesla: I how Mel: wasn't like, you know, it wasn't like a Bert purposely was trying to, you know, deceive him. Chesla: He was trying to give him a father. You know, Mel: Right, exactly. Chesla: be his loving father and and that's Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla: hard news to drop on and I I could say like what age his point was perfect. What age do you say, Hey, there's something I need to tell you? Mel: Right. And I think this would be especially the important for Bert to be a little bit more protective of Al if his if perhaps his mother's no longer around, which you kinda you never meet his mother. So you get the impression that for whatever reason she may no longer be around. Chesla: Right, right. Mel: And so he's the only one Al has. the other thought I I had is I know I was very much anti Louisa and Parker. the f you know, this Parker character that's gonna be showing up. And I still kind of am, and I couldn't understand how they got to that point, how Louisa gets to that point. But the way I see the way Martin and Louisa interact in this episode, I'm kind of beginning to see it. They they seem to be very much back at that square one of that initial awkwardness they had. when they first met last season. They seem to be in very different places. Louisa's focused on having a baby. She's managed to save the school, but you know, she still has all of that work. Martin is dealing with Eden and the medical thing. But so they don't they seem almost like they're just like two ships passing in the night a little bit right now. So I could sort of see Carol Doehler: Sure. Mel: kind of like your point, Chesla where or s whoever made it that, I you know, I don't have a chance with with Martin anymore. So I'm not and I'm focused on and I told him clearly that I was focused on this issue. So that's that's where that's where I am. So I I I can kind of see how maybe she feels like the door has been closed on that for right now. And so so you know somebody new sh in town shows up who shows an interest in her. She's like, why not? Especially, you know, with this whole emphasis on you know relationships and you Chesla: Mm-hmm. Mel: know being in a relationship, maybe even having you know possibility of having a baby with somebody instead of by yourself. Chesla: Mm. Yeah. I think that was actually Gabriela, who brought that up online somewhere. Mel: Mm. Chesla: Doug, since you're the major Martin and Louisa thing, do you see them kind of having rolled back to square one or do you think they're in sort of parallel but equally not so good place or? Doug B.: No, I I I love the the Mel's analogy of two ships passing in the night. They're just not on the same plane right now. And of course they will be, right? Though that that will we you know, we have thirteen ep more episodes or twelve. And you know, I think it's gonna be they're they're gonna find a way to bring those ships together. Mel: Yeah. But I also think it it was evident at the end of last season that as much as they were maybe attracted to each other, they just they both had things they needed to work through. Chesla: Yeah. Carol, what did you think of their interaction in in the episode? Because y yeah, they're they're not quite connecting, but did you detect that they're still feelings? Carol Doehler: A little bit, yeah, because they when they kinda run into each other just you see a little bit of a spark in their eyes. And then there at the end when he after he admitted he had the blood phobia and she looked back at him and all that and I just there's a little something still there. Chesla: Mm-hmm. Carol Doehler: I as how I'm reading it. Chesla: Yeah. I I f I Carol Doehler: So yes. Chesla: feel like when we see them together, the hard edges of Martin sort of drop away just for their conversation. Carol Doehler: Yeah, it took me a long time to pick up on any time he hugged anybody, he didn't hug back. His arms were straight down. The only person Chesla: Mm. Carol Doehler: he would hug back was Louisa and kind of regretfully his aunt once in a while. Doug B.: wow. Mel: The only person who can comfortably touch him without him kind of flinching is Louisa as well. And that actually starts out fairly early on. Like Carol Doehler: Mm-hmm. Right. Mel: I think when she first meets him in the grocery store, she like pokes him with her bag or her glasses or something. And even then he doesn't really flinch from her. Of course, he's probably thinking, hey, this gorgeous woman just touched me. But he's never he never seems to be bothered by her touching him, hugging Chesla: Yeah. Mel: him, where if it went anybody else, he'd react. Carol Doehler: He was like a straight board. Like, don't touch me. Don't enter my bubble. Chesla: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Mel: Mm-hmm. Chesla: Yeah. Doug B.: Well, I totally did not notice that with the other characters. So that that Carol Doehler: Well Doug B.: that is eye opening for you you guys. For me. Carol Doehler: Well it's like he just looks so weird. Doug B.: Hm. Carol Doehler: So Chesla: Thought the the preview when Eden's really trying to push him hard was interesting. Doesn't he d like open a drawer and there's like a bag of blood in it or something and Mel: Right. Carol Doehler: Yeah, I think he screams like a girl, doesn't he? Chesla: He's not he wasn't ready for that. Mel: Yeah. Well he had kind of already tried the exposure therapy on himself and it didn't go very well. Chesla: in a in a small way. Yeah. Carol Doehler: Yeah, this is so random and it's like a whole thing of blood. It's like Mel: Yeah. Chesla: my gosh. Mel: I know. Chesla: Yeah. I wonder where they're gonna take us in here and how they're gonna get us there. I mean we obviously the sea urchins are helping pay for stuff, right? So we figure maybe Aunt Sarah's dug herself out of the hole with her house. It's keeping the school open. 'Cause Doug, didn't you have the idea that the Well, you had the idea that Martin might help bail out the school, I thought. But maybe it's Doug B.: Mm-hmm. Chesla: yeah, the sea urchins are are coming to the rescue of the school. Doug B.: Well so so one thing about the sea urchins. Now I I I didn't do anything more than ask Siri, but I asked Siri, how much do sea urchins cost? Like they're like a dollar fifty a pound. Chesla: Depends on the urchin. Doug B.: O okay, so I didn't do any more research, but it just seemed like a dollar fifty a pound was not, you know, nirvana for Port Wenn. So is different flavors? Chesla: There's it it's a it's an urchin flavor, I think, an urchin variety. So And they're very difficult to the reason that they're so expensive is to harvest them you have to be diving. Doug B.: Okay. Chesla: Which they did show us, the the parti the expensive ones. So you figure that they're probably the pricey ones. And what's going George and Greg, I mean, what is what is their new uni? Is is an uni a thing? Doug B.: What? Mel: I I I didn't look it up, but I got this I got the sense maybe it was some some delicacy made with the sea urchins, because it seemed like it Greg was doing something with the sea urchins. Doug B.: right, he was kind. Right. Carol Doehler: Yeah, 'cause he Chesla: Okay. Carol Doehler: poked his hand and got mad. Mel: Or George, I mean, sorry, George. yeah, Chesla: Mm-hmm. Mel: because he poked his hand, but also you when Louisa nearly runs into Martin, she's carrying a Chesla: Yeah. Mel: plate with a giant sea urchin shell on the top of it. But also those people that were in line, like the one the man who was complaining about not being able to get a seat, it sounds like they went specifically because Port Wenn or the Salty Breeze is now serving sea urchin. And so it seems like the Salty Breeze in Port Wenn is actually on the map now due to the sea urchins. Chesla: Yep. Yep. And it sounds like it's ruining it for the locals. Carol Doehler: Yeah, what was his name? Clyde. I was gonna sh give him the moon. But that was one Chesla: Yes. Yep, yep. And if Mel: Yeah. Carol Doehler: of my favorite op scenes was when the three of them were popping up out of the water. Chesla: Yes, yes. Yeah, I'll tell you one thing having been to Port Isaac where where the original Portwenn is it really became a tourist haven you know, as a real mixed blessing for the locals because yes, it brings in money, but it brings in crowds and it makes your restaurants crowded when maybe you you know, a lot of holiday lets instead of full time residents and that kills your business in the off season. Like so there's a lot of stuff Mel: Months ago and I was looking for a while. Chesla: that the locals could be upset in Port Wenn that now they're getting inundated by tourists. And I wonder how much of that reflects to the filming sites for Best Medicine, which might have some T V tourism happening to them at this point, which hopefully is not. So if you're if you're watching my podcast, please leave the people alone. So Mel: Actually, one time. Doug B.: Yeah. Carol Doehler: Well, one thing I read was where they do some of the filming, it's a private yacht club. Chesla: Mm-hmm. Carol Doehler: So unless you're a member you can't gain access, so that's probably helps them some. Chesla: Yeah. But it won't Doug B.: D did they say where the yacht club is? Chesla: I'm n you're not gonna hear it on my podcast. Carol Doehler: No. I think there's a couple of them Doug B.: okay. Never mind. Carol Doehler: because they actually filmed this in what, two, three towns? Chesla: Yeah, several different places. Carol Doehler: Yeah. Chesla: Yeah. I mean I live I chose to live in a tourist town, so I am know, I accepted the life of having people here and swelling the town size by like eight times during the summer. But yeah, if if you I could just see, this is just a little aside, but if you just lived in a place that all of a sudden became a filming location of a very popular show and even if people were just coming to the parking lot of your yacht club to get pictures, that's Doug B.: Mm. Chesla: probably annoying. Mel: Yeah. And I I think it'd be one thing if if your town was you know location where multiple things are filmed. But if your town just happened to be found by a scout looking for a place to film and you're just, you know, a small town, that that would be a little jarring, I think. Chesla: Yeah. Yeah. I think we got great stuff ahead of us. I'm very Mel: yeah. Chesla: excited about this season. a lot of questions answered. You know, my my my biggest pain points seem to be on good tracks, so I'm very happy about that. anybody have anything else to bring up before we wrap for the night? Carol Doehler: No, just get blondy. Have her hit the bricks. Yep. Chesla: Yeah, get Blondie out of there? What what do we what do we want our community out on YouTube to be talking about? Carol Doehler: Well. Chesla: What's their op what opinions do we want from them? Doug B.: The how about the change in Mark as he is seemingly grown? Chesla: Mm. Mel: The change in Elaine? Chesla: And Elaine? Change any Carol Doehler: Yes. Chesla: lane? Mel: The Martin and Louisa situation? Eden. There's all and Chesla: Yeah. Once Mel: I'm sure there are people who can have very strong opinions about Eden. I mean we have. Chesla: Yeah. One one idea that I had that I I'd I don't know if I mean, I know folks in the UK since Best Medicine Wrapped Season One, they've had it released over there. So now they've had an opportunity to watch. But I am looking for if if you are entertained by the show and actually watch this podcast because you're a Best Medicine fan, you know, when you watch a doctor's office in the US And you see comments made like, you know, Louisa's paying for her own IVF because it's not covered by insurance, or mermaids don't have insurance. You know, like how how does that strike you when you've got the national health system? you know, w we don't know, right, how that works. So it'd be interesting to get some perspectives discussed online about that to see if any of that stuff is sort of like head scratcher. Mel: I would be curious as well. I mean I I know I know Doc Martin was on for many years in the UK, but I would be very curious to see if there's people who maybe have started watching best best medicine on Netflix that maybe have never watched Doc Martin or have not you know maybe seen an episode here and there. I'd be curious to see if there's people like that, especially given how much like said how many years, how long ago Doc Martin actually started. Chesla: Yeah. It started in 2004 and finished in twenty twenty two. So yeah, Carol Doehler: Wow. Chesla: there's a there's a chunk of people out there who you know, and it might be like the, you know, gen Gen Zers who are coming up who might have watched Best Medicine first instead of Doc Martin. So yeah, it'd be very interesting to hear those those viewpoints. For those watching and wondering what the heck's going on with the podcast this season, you're used to having a unspoiled and then a spoiled segments of the podcast. I'm going to be doing something a little different. I'm gonna maybe every third episode or so, I'm gonna grab some Doc Martin people together to talk about what we've seen so far. And we'll have our Gen Z viewpoint that from Gabriela,, which will be great. Sadly, she is in California. So time zone-wise, my ability to get all this stuff together and then edit it right doesn't really let us get us all together on one podcast. But if I can ever make that happen, I'll try and do that. So you guys. Mel: So I would say that I'm coming. I can't do my bad. So I call it that. Chesla: As always, appreciate your time and your insights. Folks, please subscribe to it. Write your comments. I answer them. We're going to be working comments into the podcast. Like the episode. Tell your friends about it. Remember, we have multiple playlists. There's Best Medicine, there's Doc Martin, there's the psychology of Doc Martin. There's the Doc Martin newbies. So all sorts of stuff out there. All right, folks. Thank guys. Doug B.: Take care.