Thanks, Hod!

NewPark...Right, who can say. I'm thinking I should just pass on by the spoilers.

Here's hoping that any major spoilers will come with an alert or something.

I am mildly curious about one potential storyline so I used the spoiler bar.

Agreed, Bodmin. After S6, that character has no purpose and no future.

I disagree. I think Clive and Mrs T can provide some good side story lines --- and show that mental health treatment can work....

Mrs T. WAS THE 'FALL GUY' FOR SERIES 5...had the show ended there and then, as it could have done. Now they don't seem to know what to do with her....

Good news (if you were concerned about Ian's weight loss) and a spoiler:

http://tvnz.co.nz/doc-martin/ian-mcn...t-large-646873

It seems to me they are old articles. Sorry to mention.

Yes...sorry...

You know, it's not if they know what we want to see to make us happy. They know what to do.

It's if they CARE to make us happy. That is the big question.

Agreed. These are *the* main characters of the show, after all. Fairly safe to say that the VAST majority of viewers would prefer to see Martin and Louisa end up together, more or less "happily ever after". And to see the other main characters succeed in their own ventures.

The writers must know this. But the "will they / won't they" tension is tried-and-true, not only in DM, but in countless other shows. Personally, I think they'll drag it out for as long as they can. If they are already planning S8 and beyond (as MC himself has suggested), we might not see a "happy ending" sort of resolution until they are sure the show itself is coming to an end.

I certainly hope I'm wrong. I would prefer to see Martin & Louisa on solid ground within a few episodes of S7, and then the series could continue on with their commitment to each other intact, and conflict/tension could be introduced through other storylines.

Shrug. We'll see!

Every time I read somewhere that Martin Clunes doesn't want Doc Martin to turn into a soap opera, I have to smile a bit. Turn into? how is the main story line now distinguishable from that genre, except in quality? Well, I suppose one or both of the main characters haven't developed amnesia, or turned out to be brother and sister, but in the number of plot twists, and the lengths they've gone to keep them apart or from behaving in reasonable ways that would allow them to make some progress on the issues that separate them..... not much to choose from between DM and Days of Our Lives, I would say. (Only half-jokingly) Except, to repeat, the quality of the overall endeavor. Continuing on in this fashion into a series 8 risks bordering on the ridiculous. Give us some closure on this love story, and then move on gracefully, is my view.

I agree. I love this show but they need to move on from the on/off conflict between martin and Louisa. There are other things to a marriage and other possibilities,new directions and new characters.

I do like the deeper psychological angles explored by Clunes in season 6 and the emphasis on more internalised acting. It compliments the comedy and keeps you on your toes.

New to me.

But thanks so much to you and the other one for mentioning.

Not sure how I would go on otherwise.

I agree with you - after series 3 it turned into a soap opera.

a bit soap opera-y but still fully entertaining

there is plenty of ups and downs w/in a healthy marriage, the soap opera is will they stay together or not. Working to have a happy marriage and raise healthy happy children is drama enough and fodder for plenty of more sophisticated plots for the DM - L relationship.

I think to some extent, MC's feels it is HIS show, he's the star, and plot lines need to revolve around him more than around the couple.

I still have concerns about the actors' aging. From the filming shots of S7 I've seen so far everyone looks fit and lovely, but our Fifties are "the age of collegan loss" and it might become difficult to maintain veracity. And, for pity's sake, we don't want to see a crappy series of Doc Martin......MC worries about that too.

It seems to me that both Martin and Louisa have strong enough personalities that, even if they are in a committed marriage and have worked out their deeper problems, the writers could easily come up with some very funny scenarios for them. I really hope they get away from the will they/won't they theme.

I too am sick and tired of the worn out and overused will they/won't they scenarios. That train left the station and has frankly worn me thin. I'm up for some entertaining storylines with depth of their own, both funny and serious. It is a "dramedy" after all...and I think moving on to something more along these lines will break that chain and create a freshness that the series' need.

If they had provided other threads in the Martin/Louisa relationship beyond will they/ won't they stay together, I think the show could have continued. Now they have one theme between The two and must resolve it in this series. Then go gracefully away on a note that may or may not please fans. I will accept either, but just resolve it

From your mouth to MC and PB's ears!

I just watched S6 E2 on my PBS station. Why must they continue this awkward attempt to denigrate the personal character of Louisa. The Doc examines her and finds dandruff (she doesn't wash or rinse enough, apparently) and tells her that he normally sees this in women half her age. Ugh.

(bad breath, snores, can't dance, disorganized, untidy, poor personal hygeine)

Really?

The writing is weirdly skewed, imo.

Little men - little minds.

Not to mention having difficulty controlling the kids at her school, too fond of sugar, jealous of her babysitter, shrewish to her husband, short-tempered, and even needing instruction in cooking (as he explains to her a better way to cook asparagus.)

I think you're on to something. I do think the treatment of Louisa is somewhat skewed. It's not that Martin is portrayed without faults -- but his faults are mostly heroic rather than petty, and when he's rude, at least he's telling the truth, etc.

Notice also that we see much less of Louisa's point of view. I'd guess the reaction shots of him, or scenes where he's filmed alone, looking mournful or confused, are about twice as many as Louisa gets. I think this generates a lot of sympathy for him. This clearly has to do with the series being a vehicle for MC.

We in the audience know a lot about his feelings and intentions, which are hidden from Louisa, but by the same token, we really don't know a lot about what is driving Louisa.

As an old survey researcher, I like to quantify things in this way, but I would bet that the ratio of Louisa critics to Martin critics is about two - to - one. Which I do think reflects the skewing.

Perhaps S7 will be Louisa's series? There is a lot of work to be done.

I hope CC acting knocks everyone's socks off in S7! She deserves her chance to shine, not just MC. I just got done watching series 4 of DCI Banks and the contrast in her acting parts between the two shows is amazing which tells me she is a force to be reckoned with from a professional standpoint.