[DCcurlygirl]

Originally Posted by NewPark

BTW, he says he wants the farm to "wash its face." What does this mean? get on a sound financial footing?

He wants the farm to generate enough revenue to cover all of its own costs. (I guess he doesn't want his acting/producing related income to be used to pay for farm expenses.)

[statesidefan]

Originally Posted by Biffpup

Oh, gosh, we posted at the same time, New Park. So there wasn't a conversation about change between Louisa and Danny. I still have some kind of foggy memory of something she said, sometime, in some series...

If I think of any other possibility, I'll post it and we'll see.

You might try the S1 episode with Stewart, the dance, and Peter Cronk. There was quite a bit of preaching going on there - and so much was about change.

[dmbesotted]

Originally Posted by Shop Girl

I also agree with this. One thing I might add is that I think he is not so comfortable with the success of this show and the pressure from being the star. It seems like he enjoys himself in the making of the show and is even ok with the crowds that show up in Port Isaac. But when it comes to going on the morning shows and talk shows to promote the show (and this seems to also include print interviews), it looks to me like he would rather be anywhere else.

Sometimes in these interviews the mask drops off and I think we see the real MC and most of the time he is charming (and sometimes a bit snarky). I think he is like a lot of people - he loves doing his job, but hates the selling part of it.

I think it is hard to keep being asked to go over the same material time and time again. And it is really very visible in some of the interviews that have been posted how bored and uncomfortable he is.

When you look at his filmography he has packed a lot of work into the period that he has also been doing DM. And that although he hasn't done big movies he has certainly had a very steady work history but he only gets asked a limited number of questions.

Someone mentioned somewhere that he had said he was tired of doing DM, or to that effect, did he? I don't recall seeing that.

[mmDerdekea]

Originally Posted by dmbesotted

It has been said dozens of times on this forum - one person cannot change another - however, one may give another person a reason to change.

IMO, it is quite striking to see the change in Louisa from the self assured, competent teacher/headmistress in the 1st/2nd series to the shrieking harpy she often becomes in relation to Martin. Is that what love does????

So one is changing positively and one negatively.

Interesting.....

That's true, really. DM is the same guy overall but adding onto his personality a capacity to show and speak his feelings of love. (we hope!)

LG is more dependent on him, demanding, critical, and has lost the capacity to run the school competently, has lost her organizational skills. So different than the first two seasons! She's almost reverted to her childhood, needing a father figure lover to take care of her and assure her she will not be abandoned by his love.

It really is interesting to ponder how their personalities and interactions will proceed in S6. I mean the fans utopia I might generalize would be DM still showing and speaking his love, and LG going back to the competent woman she was, and (for me) gaining a sense of humor.

I just worry we may not quite see that, though....

[marchrand]

Originally Posted by NewPark

Almost all of the press reaction that I've seen has been negative, with Independent and Guardian being particularly snarky. Regardless of the rights and wrongs of his attitude, I think it was foolish of him to sound off publicly. Among many assets he has going for him, is public good will. But, everyone has an off day, and few of us can resist an opportunity to vent about a grudge when one is offered.

BTW, he says he wants the farm to "wash its face." What does this mean? get on a sound financial footing?

I looked it up and I found the expression originates in Scotland or the North of England and may be applied as a description of a failing business. Thus, for a business to be able to "wash its face" it must not be in a position of failure but the term is meant to convey that it is close to the limit, i.e. it makes just enough money to cover its expenses, or what may otherwise be described as "breaking even". I think MC and PB are being realistic as to their farm, that it must some day be able to carry its own weight.

As to the statement he says that Churchill was high-handed in how he found out about his cancellation with them, wasn't that a line he used in S4E2 when he visited Louisa in the classroom, that it was high-handed of her not telling him of her pregnancy?

[dmbesotted]

The Rewatch?

Are we on to S4E1 this week? Sorry if I missed that post. Been reading all the "deep thoughts" from all of you.

[statesidefan]

Originally Posted by dmbesotted

It has been said dozens of times on this forum - one person cannot change another - however, one may give another person a reason to change.

IMO, it is quite striking to see the change in Louisa from the self assured, competent teacher/headmistress in the 1st/2nd series to the shrieking harpy she often becomes in relation to Martin. Is that what love does????

So one is changing positively and one negatively.

There's a lot to think about in what you've said.

It's no secret that overall I was disappointed in S5 because I did not like who the characters had become. At least in S4 Martin was still searching, and Louisa's jealousy and intermitant hope in him at times showed that she cared. They both continued to surprise each other, and there was more humor. There I thought they were genuinely wrestling with the pregnancy, who they were as individuals - personally and professionally - and what they were and might be to each other.

In S5 Louisa goes from understandably knackered to docile to shrill - as Martin becomes more emotionally withdrawn, sad, angry, and resigned. They were essentially cohabiting because of the baby, because Martin had forgotten everything he said in the S4 finale. His care for the baby was a duty, as is his responsibility to Louisa, and his obligation to his patients. IMO they BOTH changed negatively in S5 in terms of their countenance and their manner of interacting with each other. I'm glad Louisa left. She had to save herself (and perhaps, Martin) from simply being stuck, regressed emotionally, and sad. Each disappointed the other with their behavior toward each other. And we constantly see them bumping up against expectations their "partner" could not or would not meet (fueled on Louisa's side by her actually remembering Martin's S4 watershed breakthrough and expecting more.) Overall, there was increasing unhappiness until the finale - but, frankly, even there at the castle - even declaring his love - Martin still looked constricted and stuck. His face never opened up, despite his words.

I'm with Cookie (I think it was Cookie) who back a ways said "watch out" they're going to fool you again. If BP could erase the dramatic breakthrough in S4, they can retract or reshape what we thought happened at the end of S5. So I am so hopeful for a more humorous, more loving, more open, less angry pair in S6, but I'm not setting my genuine expectations too high.

Meanwhile, I don't think it's a good thing for DM that MC feels angry and stuck himself right now. This program he is on tonight might be telling. Has he hit the reset button, does he revert to the old talking points, is his appearance conditional upon no talk about Churchill and his driving, will there only be a plug for Heavy Horsepower? Stay tuned. IMO there is some interplay between his real life and what happens on the show.

[Biffpup]

Originally Posted by dmbesotted

It has been said dozens of times on this forum - one person cannot change another - however, one may give another person a reason to change.

IMO, it is quite striking to see the change in Louisa from the self assured, competent teacher/headmistress in the 1st/2nd series to the shrieking harpy she often becomes in relation to Martin. Is that what love does????

So one is changing positively and one negatively.

Originally Posted by mmDerdekea

Interesting.....

That's true, really. DM is the same guy overall but adding onto his personality a capacity to show and speak his feelings of love. (we hope!)

LG is more dependent on him, demanding, critical, and has lost the capacity to run the school competently, has lost her organizational skills. So different than the first two seasons! She's almost reverted to her childhood, needing a father figure lover to take care of her and assure her she will not be abandoned by his love.

It really is interesting to ponder how their personalities and interactions will proceed in S6. I mean the fans utopia I might generalize would be DM still showing and speaking his love, and LG going back to the competent woman she was, and (for me) gaining a sense of humor.

I just worry we may not quite see that, though....

Welllll, except that I don't think this is what love does. I think it's what having a newborn baby does. I guess I tend to give Louisa a bit of a break because I became a complete idiot during the first three or four months of my daughter's life. Lack of adequate sleep is the biggest problem, but also one's life is essentially turned upside down in almost every way.

[dmbesotted]

Originally Posted by Biffpup

Welllll, except that I don't think this is what love does. I think it's what having a newborn baby does. I guess I tend to give Louisa a bit of a break because I became a complete idiot during the first three or four months of my daughter's life. Lack of adequate sleep is the biggest problem, but also one's life is essentially turned upside down in almost every way.

Not going to disagree with the impact a new baby makes. But, again, as has been mentioned, Louisa was determined to do it ALL on HER OWN. No matter how many times DM offered her help, assistance, support, monetarily and other, she just charged full steam ahead and then turned on him.

Fiction allows us to take a lot of liberties but Louisa just really lost all her sense of self. Although she was there in the same house as DM she wasn't in the same life as him. Nearly every decision she made complicated their lives.

And yes, DM stood by and let it happen. The train that was Louisa was bearing down on him and all of his common sense, sense of duty, and education, could not stop the wreck from happening.

[dcdmfan]

Originally Posted by dmbesotted

Not going to disagree with the impact a new baby makes. But, again, as has been mentioned, Louisa was determined to do it ALL on HER OWN. No matter how many times DM offered her help, assistance, support, monetarily and other, she just charged full steam ahead and then turned on him.

Fiction allows us to take a lot of liberties but Louisa just really lost all her sense of self. Although she was there in the same house as DM she wasn't in the same life as him. Nearly every decision she made complicated their lives.

And yes, DM stood by and let it happen. The train that was Louisa was bearing down on him and all of his common sense, sense of duty, and education, could not stop the wreck from happening.

I am frustrated with the way Louisa's character was written in series 5. In series 4 we were introduced to her self-reliance and a bit of her disorganization and lack of planning. Fine she is not perfect, she's feisty, etc., but she was still a survivor, scrapping her life back together despite the pregnancy and Martin's seeming disinterest in their child.

Speaking just for me, I felt the portrayal of her in series 5 was unfair to the character. We were allowed to see only a few of her redeeming qualities. While I know a real life new mother can be going through a lot, I wish the writers had given her some leeway in the way she was written. My largest problem with her portrayal is that we were never allowed to see her emotional reaction to the fallout of her decision to leave Martin. It really wouldn't have required much screen time. I think it cheated the viewers to not even see a moment of how she felt after the breakup. At least nothing that was satisfying for me.

[Adelie Manchot]

Originally Posted by dmbesotted

Someone mentioned somewhere that he had said he was tired of doing DM, or to that effect, did he? I don't recall seeing that.

Folks tend to forget that he has been playing Doc Martin in one form or another for the last 13 years. First in 'Saving Grace', then in the Sky movies then the ITV series. The character of Doc Martin to him must seem like holding a Wolf by the ears-you don't like it but you don't dare let it go.

if I were to put on my 'I'm not a psychologist but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night' hat on I would guess that the combination of the realization that middle age is fully upon him (always ugly for everyone when you come to the realization that are more days behind you than ahead), daughter is no longer a little girl but a teenager, the burdens of the farm finances, the lack of other major acting gigs being offered plus a tiny little voice inside his head telling him that he is stagnating is starting to wear on him and he is lashing out (for lack of a better term). He is at a fork in the road and I don't think he likes what he is seeing down either of them. Does he choose the lesser of two evils or does he climb out of his comfort zone (always scary) and forge his own road?

[NewPark]

Originally Posted by Adelie Manchot

Folks tend to forget that he has been playing Doc Martin in one form or another for the last 13 years. First in 'Saving Grace', then in the Sky movies then the ITV series. The character of Doc Martin to him must seem like holding a Wolf by the ears-you don't like it but you don't dare let it go.

if I were to put on my 'I'm not a psychologist but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night' hat on I would guess that the combination of the realization that middle age is fully upon him (always ugly for everyone when you come to the realization that are more days behind you than ahead), daughter is no longer a little girl but a teenager, the burdens of the farm finances, the lack of other major acting gigs being offered plus a tiny little voice inside his head telling him that he is stagnating is starting to wear on him and he is lashing out (for lack of a better term). He is at a fork in the road and I don't think he likes what he is seeing down either of them. Does he choose the lesser of two evils or does he climb out of his comfort zone (always scary) and forge his own road?

I agree with this analysis. Maybe there has even been a slight undertone of resentment for "having" to continue on with Doc Martin?

I also worry, with Statesidefan, that some of that might carry over into how he chooses to portray DM and his relationship with LG.

Although we did see, in the fishmonger scene, the notion of where DM in his life -- in middle age -- presented as something of a motivating factor in getting him off the dime.

[Shop Girl]

Originally Posted by Biffpup

Welllll, except that I don't think this is what love does. I think it's what having a newborn baby does. I guess I tend to give Louisa a bit of a break because I became a complete idiot during the first three or four months of my daughter's life. Lack of adequate sleep is the biggest problem, but also one's life is essentially turned upside down in almost every way.

I agree with you Biff. Although I have never had a baby, I have had women very close to me have them and I have seen the same thing. And, of course, CC has had a couple herself, so she would have understood how to play the role.

MC has said that they don't like to repeat themselves in the romance, so I am hoping that if we do have a wedding at the beginning of S6, that it will be because Louisa is convinced that it can work this time. So it seems to me the we could have a good relationship with the two of them, but as there are growing pains in every new marriage, we have to know that they will be challenging (and funny) in this one. We can hope, right?

You have to understand that I am the "glass half full" member of this form!

[Shop Girl]

Originally Posted by dmbesotted

The Rewatch?

Are we on to S4E1 this week? Sorry if I missed that post. Been reading all the "deep thoughts" from all of you.

That will be next week. c.c. usually announces it every Saturday morning - since Saturday arrives for her first!

[NewPark]

So, we have Louisa saying that Martin wouldn't make her happy. And Caroline Catz explaining Louisa's motivation as "when she realized that she couldn't change him, that's when she realized that she couldn't marry him" and saying also that Louisa realized that "it wouldn't be honest" to marry him, but also wanting to change him. I don't quite know how those two explanations fit together, but one way might be, that she knew she would be unhappy (and continually conflicted) if she married him knowing that she couldn't change him, and shouldn't try -- because it would make them both miserable -- while simultaneously trying to conceal from herself and him how much she DID want to change him.

I think the moment when she tells him that she'll make an excuse for him about being a godfather is the point at which she acknowledges to herself that she has to give up trying to change him.

So, I buy that. Part of me always wants to see DM go after her and plead with her to help him change in the ways that would make her happy. But that's not our guy -- not yet anyway.

But then, the next question is, what WOULD make Louisa happy? What is it that she needs from him to convince her that they can go forward?

That's the question that ties in, in my mind, to her curious passivity (when she wasn't being exhausted and irrational) in S5, and the key to whether we can believe that the Castle scene might finally have been a breakthrough in his ability to meet her needs, and her ability to accept that.

all I can think of for her "motivation" in S5, is that she was waiting to see if the promise of the emotional breakthrough at the end of S4, was going to be fulfilled or not.

[cc.cookie]

Originally Posted by dmbesotted

The Rewatch?

Are we on to S4E1 this week? Sorry if I missed that post. Been reading all the "deep thoughts" from all of you.

This week fir the re-watch we are discussing s3e7 Happily Ever After.

This weekend we will watch s4e1 and meet Edith!

[cc.cookie]

Originally Posted by NewPark

So, we have Louisa saying that Martin wouldn't make her happy. And Caroline Catz explaining Louisa's motivation as "when she realized that she couldn't change him, that's when she realized that she couldn't marry him" and saying also that Louisa realized that "it wouldn't be honest" to marry him, but also wanting to change him. I don't quite know how those two explanations fit together, but one way might be, that she knew she would be unhappy (and continually conflicted) if she married him knowing that she couldn't change him, and shouldn't try -- because it would make them both miserable -- while simultaneously trying to conceal from herself and him how much she DID want to change him.

I think the moment when she tells him that she'll make an excuse for him about being a godfather is the point at which she acknowledges to herself that she has to give up trying to change him.

So, I buy that. Part of me always wants to see DM go after her and plead with her to help him change in the ways that would make her happy. But that's not our guy -- not yet anyway.

But then, the next question is, what WOULD make Louisa happy? What is it that she needs from him to convince her that they can go forward?

That's the question that ties in, in my mind, to her curious passivity (when she wasn't being exhausted and irrational) in S5, and the key to whether we can believe that the Castle scene might finally have been a breakthrough in his ability to meet her needs, and her ability to accept that.

all I can think of for her "motivation" in S5, is that she was waiting to see if the promise of the emotional breakthrough at the end of S4, was going to be fulfilled or not.

I think CC is saying LG like everyone thinks they can change someone but realises that she can't and shouldn't but would have to accept DM as he is which she realises she can't do in s3 e7.

Poorrichard said back on part 14 page 1 post 19:

18. Martin and Aunt Joan talking about his firing of Elaine: AJ: So she made a mistake, everyone makes mistakes. M: Yes, but she can’t admit them. She’s got this thing where you take her up on something and she comes right back at you with a complaint. AJ: And when you make a mistake you roll over and let them tickle your tum? (Martin’s reply to this is completely non-verbal but it is so eloquent: he looks quizzically upward (thinking), opens and closes his mouth several times, then marches away with a goose-step). This bit of dialogue is quite clever. The behaviour Martin describes in Elaine (the inability to apologise) is a behaviour of his own (Elaine Denham (ED) is in some respects a mirror of Doctor Ellingham (DE) to propose a variation on my earlier theme of Edith Montgomery (EM) mirroring Martin Ellingham (ME). It’s that behaviour that Louisa objects to all the way down the line in E4E8“everybody makes mistakes Martin, but most people learn from them” -- which makes the degree to which the writer knew at least some aspects of the later character already here in the second episode of S1 seem quite far-seeing and impressive. AJ also steps into what will be her patented role as Martin’s “truth teller” here. Nobody can really confront Martin and make him think as well as AJ does, not even Louisa. Martin doesn't get the sympathy/solidarity from Joan that he has been expecting to get on the Elaine issue, so once again he is rejected (by a woman) and once again Gremlin, who he discovers has not remained at the farm, but has somehow gotten into the backseat of his car, raises his shaggy head, ready to be Martin’s solace.

[NewPark]

Originally Posted by cc.cookie

I think CC is saying LG like everyone thinks they can change someone but realises that she can't and shouldn't but would have to accept DM as he is which she realises she can't do in s3 e7.

Poorrichard said back on part 14 page 1 post 19:

18. Martin and Aunt Joan talking about his firing of Elaine: AJ: So she made a mistake, everyone makes mistakes. M: Yes, but she can’t admit them. She’s got this thing where you take her up on something and she comes right back at you with a complaint. AJ: And when you make a mistake you roll over and let them tickle your tum? (Martin’s reply to this is completely non-verbal but it is so eloquent: he looks quizzically upward (thinking), opens and closes his mouth several times, then marches away with a goose-step). This bit of dialogue is quite clever. The behaviour Martin describes in Elaine (the inability to apologise) is a behaviour of his own (Elaine Denham (ED) is in some respects a mirror of Doctor Ellingham (DE) to propose a variation on my earlier theme of Edith Montgomery (EM) mirroring Martin Ellingham (ME). It’s that behaviour that Louisa objects to all the way down the line in E4E8“everybody makes mistakes Martin, but most people learn from them” -- which makes the degree to which the writer knew at least some aspects of the later character already here in the second episode of S1 seem quite far-seeing and impressive. AJ also steps into what will be her patented role as Martin’s “truth teller” here. Nobody can really confront Martin and make him think as well as AJ does, not even Louisa. Martin doesn't get the sympathy/solidarity from Joan that he has been expecting to get on the Elaine issue, so once again he is rejected (by a woman) and once again Gremlin, who he discovers has not remained at the farm, but has somehow gotten into the backseat of his car, raises his shaggy head, ready to be Martin’s solace.

So, if the question is, WHAT about Martin that she can't change convinces Louisa that they shouldn't be together, PoorRichard's (whose absence is still much lamented) answer is, that what bothers Louisa is that he can't admit that he made a mistake?

I think that's certainly true, and we talked about this before, with the screwedup up installation of the dishwasher as an example.

Then by that logic, the "I was wrong" outburst was what she needed to hear.

Hmmn. I think that's part of it, but perhaps there is more?

[Adelie Manchot]

Originally Posted by Shop Girl

I agree with you Biff. Although I have never had a baby, I have had women very close to me have them and I have seen the same thing. And, of course, CC has had a couple herself, so she would have understood how to play the role.

MC has said that they don't like to repeat themselves in the romance, so I am hoping that if we do have a wedding at the beginning of S6, that it will be because Louisa is convinced that it can work this time. So it seems to me the we could have a good relationship with the two of them, but as there are growing pains in every new marriage, we have to know that they will be challenging (and funny) in this one. We can hope, right?

You have to understand that I am the "glass half full" member of this form!

You never know, MC said Louisa and Martin's relationship in series 6 had 'disaster written all over it' and getting married right out of the gate in episode 1 would be a recipe for disaster with those two.

Having a wedding at the beginning would be like going from 'A' to 'T' by skipping all the other letters inbetween. Just because Martin managed to say 'nice things' does not make for a fairy tale ending type marriage or even a good, long lasting one. There is too much to resolve both emotionally and practically. They could accomplish that in one episode with having the Doc and Louisa take 'a couple days off' and go somewhwere where they can be by themselves and will not be interrupted every 4 seconds by everyone to thrash things out. One of their major problems is (and has always been) that they never get to sit down and talk properly without Burt, Joe or someone else intruding. The following episodes could be used to accomplish working on the relationship with all the comedy and drama associated with those two and perhaps lead up to a marriage at the end of the series.



An optimist says the glass is half full... a pessimist says the glass is half empty... an engineer says the glass has twice the capacity required for its function.

[cc.cookie]

I can see what you are all saying about the effect of the baby but I think they took it a step too far in LGs case - but hey, thats showbusiness!

But in s5 LG doesn't even give DM any reason to be happy. She doesn't acknowledge how well he's stepped up to be a father and helps her around the house. She was petulant over the egg dinner - I thought she'd apologise for being unreasonable but she walks out. Is she Acknowledging that she can't/wont change her own behaviour either? There seems to be very little "give" from LG in s5.

[cc.cookie]

Originally Posted by NewPark

So, if the question is, WHAT about Martin that she can't change convinces Louisa that they shouldn't be together, PoorRichard's (whose absence is still much lamented) answer is, that what bothers Louisa is that he can't admit that he made a mistake?

I think that's certainly true, and we talked about this before, with the screwedup up installation of the dishwasher as an example.

Then by that logic, the "I was wrong" outburst was what she needed to hear.

Hmmn. I think that's part of it, but perhaps there is more?

Yes, there is more. I wish poorrichard was still here to do an I depth analysis of every show as she made it all so clear. I think what she is saying (and what's a recurring theme) is that LG wants DM to learn from his mistakes. Pretty high handed of LG but a theme of the show is that one CAN learn from their mistakes.

Changes LG needs DM to make:

1) learn from his mistakes (interesting that the only person DM ever says sorry to is LG).

2) LG needs verbal affirmation of MCs love which he can't seem to give although he does things for her which is his way of demonstrating his love.

[cc.cookie]

One other thing I find a bit annoying about MCs petulant references to his sagging acting career is that other actors have to travel or actually live in the US to be given a chance in the big roles. He can't expect to be give juicy roles with the limitation that he doesn't move further than 200km from the farm gate.

[dmbesotted]

Originally Posted by cc.cookie

This week fir the re-watch we are discussing s3e7 Happily Ever After.

This weekend we will watch s4e1 and meet Edith!

Sorry, it seemed like we had been on this longer than this week. Perhaps because as someone said, this episode was so dense and we all have so much to say.

[Adelie Manchot]

Originally Posted by cc.cookie

I can see what you are all saying about the effect of the baby but I think they took it a step too far in LGs case - but hey, thats showbusiness!

But in s5 LG doesn't even give DM any reason to be happy. She doesn't acknowledge how well he's stepped up to be a father and helps her around the house. She was petulant over the egg dinner - I thought she'd apologise for being unreasonable but she walks out. Is she Acknowledging that she can't/wont change her own behaviour either? There seems to be very little "give" from LG in s5.

There has never really been any 'give' in Louisa, she has very rigid ideas of how things should be and she is going to keep pounding that square peg into the round hole until it is so mangled and disfigured (changed) that it is no longer square but *something* that will fit or the peg shatters. Then, I suspect, that she will not be happy with that either because it is not the nice round peg she envisioned. I would suspect that is the reason why that, despite her beauty, she is still unmarried. In the case of Martin she sees nothing else but her vision of how things should be and only hears her efforts to cram the peg in the hole, she does not hear the 'whispers' of the changes Martin (at great effort for someone like him) is making to try to make her happy.

I read the comments after some of you had read 'Just for a Laugh' and said they could not envision the relationship and I am guessing that it is because some can not envision anything other than a fairy tale (no insults or anything else negative implied in this statement).

The reason why I could and the thing at the heart of what is truly *wrong* with Martin and Louisa can be summed up in one passage from that story.

"Please – you need to know that Martin is a complicated man, Pauline. I loved him too once, a part of me still does. He tries, but then he hurts you and doesn't understand why. He says things and does things that…"

"No, he's not like that. He's a good man, he just needs someone who understands him. Someone who listens to him. He cares about me too, he listens to me and I can see his tender side – he feels a lot more than you think!" Pauline protested. "You treated him like a student, he is a grown man, not a little boy."

[dmbesotted]

Originally Posted by cc.cookie

Yes, there is more. I wish poorrichard was still here to do an I depth analysis of every show as she made it all so clear. I think what she is saying (and what's a recurring theme) is that LG wants DM to learn from his mistakes. Pretty high handed of LG but a theme of the show is that one CAN learn from their mistakes.

Changes LG needs DM to make:

1) learn from his mistakes (interesting that the only person DM ever says sorry to is LG).

2) LG needs verbal affirmation of MCs love which he can't seem to give although he does things for her which is his way of demonstrating his love.

I think she wants him to have a greater understanding and empathy for the people around him.

At the interview she talks about relating to people and not bodies. She chews him out for not understanding that Roger Fenn may need more from him, and for when he turns MM down as best man. And when he explains that, she jumps at him for making no effort to get to know Mark better.

And let us not forget how she talks to Peter Cronk and that gets all wrapped up in the Doc.

So, she wants him to socially acceptable. It goes back to the chalk and cheese comment by AJ. Louisa likes people and you are, well, you are you. Which as we know, brings on the change we see with Holly and the instant rebuff by Louisa. She wants him to want to have better, fuller, richer relationships with people.