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Doc Martin (Part 17 — Spoilers)


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Old 14-10-2013, 21:40
Virgin Queen
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This is such rubbish. The new writers are AWFUL.
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Old 14-10-2013, 21:40
kernow19
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Neither did Louisa.

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Old 14-10-2013, 21:43
16caerhos
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Penhale is a moron.
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Old 14-10-2013, 21:50
Fudd
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The KarenGilland blog has posted viewing figures for DM that are 9 million +, which is substantially higher than I have seen elsewhere (7 mill +). Is she counting all the iPlayer ITV? and if so, wonder which one ITV looks at when deciding about recommissioning (not that I think there's much doubt about their willingness to do so).

The blogger of docmartinlovers, which always has very interesting and thoughtful things to say, is a member of this forum but I don't know how much she is reading, and has only made one comment so far.
Doc Martin - series 6 official figures (excluding +1)
Episode 1: 9.04m
Episode 2: 8.70m
Episode 3: 8.89m
Episode 4: 8.51m
Episode 5: 8.87m

I reckon the figures on The KarenGilland blog included ITV+1. ITV will take both sets into consideration when recommissioning but there is no doubt they'll be looking to do another series at that level.
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Old 14-10-2013, 22:00
kernow19
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This is such rubbish. The new writers are AWFUL.

Different, yes.......... rubbish.............no.
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Old 14-10-2013, 22:07
Paperchase
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Different, yes.......... rubbish.............no.
Next week is written by Ben Bolt.
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Old 14-10-2013, 22:09
brendan's girl
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Next week is written by Ben Bolt.

I don't think they'll end the series together. I hope I'm wrong.
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Old 14-10-2013, 22:38
16caerhos
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Is this the last ever series? If so, I would have thought they'd have done some kind of press release or something...
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Old 14-10-2013, 22:57
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I don't think they'll end the series together. I hope I'm wrong.
I have more or less resigned myself that they won't wind up together at end of S6, and not looking forward to watching them make agonizingly slow progress toward reconciliation until the last couple of minutes of S7, but now I wonder if they will ever reconcile. Bummer, either way.

Perhaps it's always darkest before the dawn.
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Old 14-10-2013, 23:03
statesidefan
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Awful
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Old 14-10-2013, 23:03
Terry Wigon
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Just saw this on ITV+1. It really has run out of steam, hasn't it? Miserable and rehashing old situations. Just how many crises does DM need before he realises how much he wants to be with/loves Louisa? No laughs, DM just being awful, Penhale acting like an idiot, Ruth underused and very few likeable characters generally.

This was once an above-average ITV comedy drama but has gone on two series too long - in my opinion anyway.
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Old 14-10-2013, 23:09
conchie
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Just saw this on ITV+1. It really has run out of steam, hasn't it? Miserable and rehashing old situations. Just how many crises does DM need before he realises how much he wants to be with/loves Louisa?

This was once an excellent comedy drama but has gone on two series too long - in my opinion anyway.
There was lots of scope to see him continue with his gruff ways with the general public and his patients, but what has irritated me is how they have portrayed him at home. He acts like a stranger around Louisa, is distant, silent, and non communicative. Its ridiculous., He was even that way on the wedding day!!!!

Wonder what the big revelation is that means Louisa can't get on the plane next week !!! Its Ross and Rachel all over again (without the laughs) ..... Did she get off the plane... !!!!!! I got off the plane !!! lol
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Old 14-10-2013, 23:12
chrisii2011
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Is there a date for the series 6 dvd
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Old 14-10-2013, 23:27
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I assume it's some medical reason she mustn't get on the plane to do with her blood clot.
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Old 14-10-2013, 23:28
Telly Tot
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Just saw this on ITV+1. It really has run out of steam, hasn't it? Miserable and rehashing old situations. Just how many crises does DM need before he realises how much he wants to be with/loves Louisa? No laughs, DM just being awful, Penhale acting like an idiot, Ruth underused and very few likeable characters generally.

This was once an above-average ITV comedy drama but has gone on two series too long - in my opinion anyway.
I haven't posted on this thread in a very long time but I wanted to say that I agree with Terry Wigon's post entirely. I'm really sad to say it but I now find little left to enjoy in the series. Everything feels rehashed and delivered with so much less lightness of touch than we once saw. The Doc has evolved to simply one grim note, with barely a shred of humanity left. The scenarios are utterly predictable and exhausted. Early Doc Martin was a joy, with some genuinely comical moments and his diffident relationship with Louisa was often touching. The whole thing is now pale imitation of what it once was and with each series, is delivering diminishing returns. A real shame.
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Old 14-10-2013, 23:45
dcdmfan
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Different, yes.......... rubbish.............no.
Agreed. I like it. A lot.
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Old 15-10-2013, 00:07
BodminDM
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Whew! What an episode! I'm still waiting for my heartbeat to slow down!
I bet there will be controversy opinions about this one, but I LOVED it!

Well, where to start? After just one viewing, I bet I'll miss most of the interesting stuff, but here we go - some random thoughts.

1) Martin has definitely come to the conclusion that he's physically ill, but he doesn't even want to tell Louisa about that. He doesn't want her to know he's examining himself. He should start thinking why he married her.
2) At the beginning of this episode we still see Louisa trying hard. I liked the way she brought breakfast - his kind of breakfast - to share with him. No accusation that he has obviously sneaked off and retreated to his surgery. Just a friendly offer to share time and a meal. He can't even manage that. Okay, if he isn't hungry, then maybe he couldn't have eaten the egg, but a sip from the coffee mug wasn't too much to ask, was it? She offers again to talk, but he can't. For the first time I fully sympathize with Louisa for getting frustrated and maybe partly giving up. I can't see anything more she could do.
Besides, her wish to have a break, just the three of them wasn't too far fetched. By Jove, she would have even settled for a long weekend! It's not that she had asked for a cruise around the world!
What was really tragic was that I felt as if DM would have loved to be able to agree, but simply physically couldn't. He didn't dismiss this idea immediately and vehemently, he thought long and hard about it and almost refused apologetically. He simply can't bring himself to go away.
I mean, every doctor has a right to go on holiday once in a while, like any other profession.
Maybe he simply has to learn that he isn't just a doctor anymore. He is a husband and a father and Martin. Not just a healing robot. But it isn't just as simple, is it?
3) Simply LOVED the conversation between Margaret and Ruth! Quite a show to be blessed with two actresses of such high calibre.
Ruth really seemed to enjoy the encounter, so maybe that's why she could save her sanity in a family like this.
Loved the bit about the bad news - "that it was actually you, he also told me about my brother." Interesting thought that CM might have actually killed him. But unless there isn't a huge insurance sum to be gained I don't think Margaret would care enough to go through all that trouble.
Ruth told her sister-in-law some home truth and she certainly isn't prone to sugarcoating it - monster, destroying her son, adultery, stealing. Quite an interesting pack. This woman grows on you the more you know of her.
Margaret doesn't seem to be used to be told about her shortcomings, as she is really peeved. I just hope Ruth will be able in the next episode what she told Margaret today that she wants to do - protect Martin.
And lovely granny also almost forgot JH.
4) The part about DM examining himself felt a bit thrown-in for me. Maybe they added it at the last minute making use of MC's obvious consequences of his viral infection?
5) Did we see any consultation today? Just remember the woman coming out of the consultation room sniffing.
6) Louisa and the sports day.
Louisa had obviously asked DM in advance, but he simply forgot. She even gives him the chance to backtrack, but unwisely he doesn't. If he agrees to be there, he has to be there and take his time.
In my opinion, this was the worst behaviour of DM we've ever seen so far. Just walking into the kids doing the three-legged race was inexcusable. Then Louisa gives him the opportunity to preach physical exercise to the kids, where he can make the biggest impact, but he isn't interested and even makes her look ridiculous and sabotages things.
We have learned earlier in this episode that he has brought home a cup for playing chess as a kid, and by the way he reacted you could tell he was still hurt that his mother didn't bother to remember what it has been for. So he should know better how important it is to children go get the reward for what they have achieved.
Besides, I also think Louisa wanted to make Martin feel more accepted in the village, but that didn't quite work out.
7) Mike's storyline was quite interesting. He is in big trouble. Why? Because he doesn't want to change. Sounds familiar?
But Mike has three people helping him - Al, Joe and Martin.
The way Al and Joe are sending the two MPs on the wrong track is priceless. Gives a new whole dimension to a wild goose chase! The MPs are giving the wrong directions to the wrong destination.
It shows that even Joe can only be messed about with to a certain degree. I thought Joe's episode being 'hooked' was quite funny. We were also given a clue how he freed himself, as the tear in his trousers and the glimpse of his shorts gave a good indication.
I also loved Mike's sand castle. JH really benefits from his manny's OCD. Mike is also highly responsible. Despite having the MPs being after him, he still can't bring himself to leave the 'little man' in Cruella's claws.
Did you also wonder how Mike could afford such a rather spacious flat from his salary as a manny?
The makers of this show simply love those little touches like Mike's laundry. His tidiness is really spooky. And his way of packing his things is not really suitable to run away. He's prepared to sleep rough and live out of a suitcase? That's wishful thinking! He won't survive a week, if the wood he has to collect or hunt isn't prepared in perfectly equally-shaped forms!
Mike really must been worried so that an outrageous thing like cutting the carrot into different length could happen! He actually really threw it away!
What's really been odd was that DM had to come to solve the problem. His advice was astonishingly good - he should listen to himself!
So what can we make of this? That DM hasn't reached the stage yet where he wants to change, that he still doesn't want to have more control over his life - or does he feels it's ordered by Louisa? I don't quite get it.

The rest - the truly interesting stuff - tomorrow. I'm off to bed.
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Old 15-10-2013, 01:37
me myb
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Just saw this on ITV+1. It really has run out of steam, hasn't it? Miserable and rehashing old situations. Just how many crises does DM need before he realises how much he wants to be with/loves Louisa? No laughs, DM just being awful, Penhale acting like an idiot, Ruth underused and very few likeable characters generally.

This was once an above-average ITV comedy drama but has gone on two series too long - in my opinion anyway.
Bolded by me. I agree this was once an above average ITV comedy-drama. But no more.

I dont think it has gone on too long - I just think the writing sucks! It appears these guys can't seem to find any other interesting DM and L story lines so it is re-hash and re-hash again. Awful really when there are a lot of story lines even I can think of - and I am totally clueless.

(editing to say that I mean the re-hash of the Louisa/Doc Martin very flawed love affair, the other story lines are interesting still)

Someone said that MC thinks the public likes the dark and darker themes (or something to that effect) My personal opinion is that MC likes the dark and darker themes.

I have friends that used to watch and really love the Doc Martin shows but both fell away last season. No longer liking the shows. Of course they were not especially Martin Clunes fans, but were Doc Martin fans.

Here in Canada where I live we are getting the reruns still and people of course are loving it. But I wonder how they will feel when season 5 and 6 air. Betting they will also feel it is too dark.

All of this is my own opinion of course.

I was a Doc Martin fan and I have ALWAYS been a Martin Clunes fan - especially his comedies. Except for Acid which he was so very amazing in. It was dark but I had to watch it anyway. LOL

Mostly there is just something fascinating about Martin Clunes. He is such a great actor that I find myself loving to watch him.

Regardless, I am very disappointed in the writing of the Doc Martin series lately.

Hope next series picks up better episodes again.
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Old 15-10-2013, 02:01
mmDerdekea
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Gotta agree this episode was bad.

Apparently, DM's breakdown simply reversed him to who he was in S5 before the big Castle revelation. Stupid plot line all around.

We see DM desperate for good conversations in E1, but LG cannot go there (with DM complaining she shouldn't say she wants something if she doesn't), and now, LG wants to chat and DM can't do it.

Rehashing and unoriginality is the keynote of this episode.

The storyline of Mike was really badly written. Mike says the army wanted to change him and he didn't want that. DM comes and says the army has a "duty of care" to help him which means helping him change, so suddenly Mike wants to go back. That made NO sense at all. Useless poorly written plot line.

DM really is terrible in this episode, just as he's been before and just how LG didn't like it before.

Having AR call Margaret on who she is is good, and it makes one love AR, but it was all narrative in a series where narrative is so rare; usually we have to fill in all the blanks, but here for quite some time, who Margaret was was detailed to the nth degree. I suppose it was helpful to see AR so protective of DM, but I sure could have had narrative like that with DM's "breakdown" whatever, really, it was.

So disappointing all around.
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Old 15-10-2013, 02:55
lemster
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As always a wide range of interpretations, all of them interesting. I liked this episode because I alternated between irritation at Doc for not picking up on Louisa’s trying to help him during the breakfast scene and Louisa not picking up on the fact Doc’s problems seemed to have gotten so much worst and he needs help. This in one scene. Good writing I’d say. Louisa dropping the box I think foreshadows that her forthcoming medical problem is probably from the hitting the window in E2. I loved the guitar chords reminiscent of the Clint Eastwood westerns as AR and MD faced off. Al and Morwenna is going to happen. Sorry to see Mike go.

I think E8 will set us up for another two years of waiting, again hoping somehow they can tie a bow around this pair.
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Old 15-10-2013, 02:57
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This episode broke my heart from beginning to end. Is the Doc so worried about himself that he can't think about anything else?
I liked the storyline about Mike, and Al, and Morwenna.
Omg, Louisa's accident was awful! I can't believe she could go home the next day.
I'm glad Ruth told Margaret what she thought. Margaret really is horrible, telling her daughter-in-law she looks awful. She was just in an accident, you b****! And only thinking of herself, "There's nothing in the fridge, let's go out for supper." Louisa needs to be taken care of, you moron!
The Doc really doesn't know how to be happy, does he?
He loves Louisa (wasn't that sweet when he fixed her hair?), he just doesn't know how to show it.
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Old 15-10-2013, 03:18
robspace54
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Nooooo!!!! Oh my God! Jeeze that hurt to watch! <rapid breathing...>

I feel like I've been kicked in the teeth.

But you know, I did not anticipate this. And poor Richard Stoneman (screen writer) will be getting nasty email once more...

I agree with you ReneeBird!

Rob
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Old 15-10-2013, 04:21
ReneeBird
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I really feel they should have ended it after Series 5. Go out while they're still good (like Mary Tyer Moore did.)
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Old 15-10-2013, 04:22
dcdmfan
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They have virtually recreated the program. The direction of this series has been clear to me from the very beginning and on the whole it is magnificent. I like the realism and seeing the humanity in all of the characters. I am sympathetic with all of them. They even have made Mummy believable despite not having a vestige of humanity left in her. The whole story is credible to me and I have no trouble buying into every bit of it. We have grown to know the characters as human beings, and I think it is a groundbreaking program.

Martin is lost in a very dark place. He has completely withdrawn into himself. Louisa is not a therapist and is doing the best she can to reach out to him. Her coping mechanism, for better or worse, is to leave when she is overwhelmed.

They are both so beat up. From literally slogging through the mud, to exposing their asses to the school governor, to throwing up all over someone in public, to just completely breaking down. They have this little boy they have to raise and neither of them want him to be like them. They are both broken and they are the only people who can put each other back together. They will stay together because I don't think either of them has a choice not to.

The producers have taken a huge artistic risk and have gone out on a limb with this series. The creators are exposing themselves and delving into unique emotional and artistic territory. I applaud them. It was a lot of hard work to make this program. They have gone to great pains to make this shift in focus and message, and I think they have succeeded.
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Old 15-10-2013, 04:37
Mofromco
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They have virtually recreated the program. The direction of this series has been clear to me from the very beginning and on the whole it is magnificent. I like the realism and seeing the humanity in all of the characters. I am sympathetic with all of them. They even have made Mummy believable despite not having a vestige of humanity left in her. The whole story is credible to me and I have no trouble buying into every bit of it. We have grown to know the characters as human beings, and I think it is a groundbreaking program.

Martin is lost in a very dark place. He has completely withdrawn into himself. Louisa is not a therapist and is doing the best she can to reach out to him. Her coping mechanism, for better or worse, is to leave when she is overwhelmed.

They have taken a huge artistic risk and have gone out on a limb with this series. The creators are exposing themselves and delving into unique emotional and artistic territory. I applaud them. It was a lot of hard work to make this program. They have gone to great pains to make this shift in focus and message, and I think they have succeeded.
All I seem to be thinking about is Martin committing suicide. That would be the end of the show. I'm really sorry and that is very macabre. Something has to happen in E8. Those Clunes wouldn't do that, would they? They're not that kind of family.
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