Oooh, interesting. At first read, I thought I agreed with you completely, dcdmfan. But one thing feels incongruent to me:

How does this fit with Louisa's apparent eagerness to participate in the hugging exercises in Episode 4? If she believes that she is only attending therapy to support Martin's progress in dealing with his blood phobia, it doesn't explain why she accepts and then initiates (and enjoys!) the prescribed hugs.

And if it's true that she doesn't know she's in couples therapy, then how is she expecting her marriage to get any better? Does Louisa believe that they are living separately for the sole purpose of allowing Martin to resolve his blood phobia, and then magically their relationship will be perfect and they'll live happily ever after?

I was humoring you in the "busted" post; unfortunately, you again found it necessary to continue with insults, etc.
I will at the next log-in place you on my ignore list (a first for me-ever). I suggest you do the same and save yourself any annoyances you have with my postings. Thanks.

Sure, let's go with that. I think that might be what Louisa is thinking at this point. She keeps bringing up the blood problem with the therapist. That leads me to believe that she thinks that is a major cause of their marriage problems.

It was late when I wrote that, so I may have trouble defending my point. I think what I meant was that Louisa thinks all the problems in their marriage stem from Martin's problems. Louisa doesn't recognize that her behavior contributes to their dysfunction as a couple. They are in the room together with this therapist, but Louisa sees Martin as the root cause of their problems. Fixing Martin fixes the marriage.

Louisa is not approaching this therapy as looking at - or working on - the part she plays in creating the unhappy dynamic between the two of them. At this point she doesn't think she has done anything wrong so she doesn't have anything to work on for herself.

Her primary reason for being in the therapy room is to get Martin fixed so that they can be happy together. It's not to work on herself. So when I say she doesn't realize she is in couples therapy, I mean that she doesn't think she is going to have to look at her part in the picture, accept responsibility, and commit to making changes in order for the marriage to succeed.

Exactly! Well said.

I really hope that tonight we get some decent storyline and actual progress. It's the 6th episode and we really don't have long to go.

I personally don't see any difference from the 1st episode to the 5th. I've even read the pages here over & over again and still have trouble seeing what others do!

I'd really like the Buddy situation to be explained somehow but I get the feeling it won't be mentioned again.

The hugging I enjoyed. But then it ended. Did DM actually enjoy the hugging? Louisa did for sure. Why weren't they encouraged to keep going with it?
Nothing seems to flow. I could watch each episode as a stand alone tbh.

I should have added please. Sorry.

Exactly...and that is why Dr. Timoney designed the assignment that turned into the awful "picnic" as I have been saying. She realizes that Louisa doesn't think she's done anything. She is oblivious or more likely trying to ignore her tendency to ask for things she knows Martin can't possibly provide and then run away when those aspirations aren't achieved. Dr. T knows Louisa won't be able to cope with this suggestion head on so she has taken a backdoor approach for Louisa to realize it herself with hard, irrefutable data. It will be interesting how that discussion is done. I hope it's today because we have to get this show on the road.....

Louisa, why did you have a picnic on the beach when you know Martin hates to get dirty?

Louisa, why did you have scotch eggs for the picnic when you know Martin likes to eat healthier food?

Why did you bring him chorizo from Spain when you know he'd never eat sausage?

Don't you like him?

Can't wait.

I have no opinion about the food. I don't know why she did all that. Someone mentioned that Scotch eggs are popular for picnics in the UK.

I tend to go a little easier on Louisa than your post seems to. I think her issue is that she is wrapped up in a belief that prevents her from seeing the picture as it really is. Her belief is that Martin has to correct his problems, then they can move on to a happy marriage.

Sorry for the repetition, but I can best answer your comment with my post from a couple of days ago. I can't really explain it better. But I do think this may be the reason for what is going on with her. This is my post:

"Louisa THINKS she needs him to be someone different to make her happy. She is stuck in that belief that he needs to change in order for her to be happy. Just as she is stuck in the belief that his problems are the root cause of their troubles.

I'm not sure that Louisa realizes she is in couples therapy. She seems to think she is there to help Martin with his blood problem as she calls it.

She is trying to make the situation fit her beliefs and right now she can't recognize that other truths exist. She is perfectly capable of loving him if he doesn't change. He doesn't have to grow to love socializing. She believes she needs him to embrace these things in order to do them. She believes that he can only make her happy if he WANTS to do them. She will realize that she really doesn't need that. She'll change her belief that that is the only way she can be happy with him. ("You've got to WANT to." "Why??!!" - series 3). I think in the next few episodes she will be able to dismiss those beliefs and accept a new way to see the situation.

My current philosophy is that belief is the death of intelligence and I see a lot of that in her right now."

I totally agree, dc.....I'm just predicting what might transpire in their session. I didn't mean to make it sound harsh. In fact, Dr. T will likely make it gentle, but the realities have to be shown to Louisa in hard, factual terms.

Louisa, did you consider bring a salad to the picnic for Martin? That would have been nice.

Louisa, boy, even I think the beach is kind of grody. Maybe Martin would have done better at a park?

Dc, you and I are exactly on the same page. You have succinctly wrapped up everything in a very nice way. It will be interesting to see what happens today. People who love each other are generally considerate of others feelings, for the most part (with glaring exceptions here and there in our lives..no question about that). And I love the quote "Belief is the death of intelligence". When one believes something unquestioningly, as Louisa believes Martin is the root of all their difficulties, the power to think and reason is absolutely out the window, as it appears to be.

Oh first things first….. the Tishel heart attack scene and her nibs beating the rib cage off him was the funniest thing I have seen all season, and when she got zapped by the de fib machine and went flying, I nearly broke a rib myself laughing.

Now…… I think they missed a trick here tonight. That moment, when whats his face called Louisa Lou….. and she suddenly reacted and said…… "you don't need me with you and my name is Louisa, I don't like being called Lou" … that could have been played just a bit differently and have done more than the therapist managed in all her sessions.

I wish Louisa had suddenly turned on him and said….. My name is not Lou…. its Louisa…. Louisa Ellingham….. and the only man I want at my side is Martin. Cue stunned yet semi heart melting moment as Martin's face softens and they know its all going to be ok.

But no…… it looks like the therapist is actually on the verge of recommending to them that they separate. I don't get it…. this whole storyline has been the blight of the whole series to be honest. Fed up of the lack of any resolution or even a hint of contentment, and unless they wrap it up in the last ep with something approaching a satisfactory conclusion, it just won't last another season of the same old thing over and over again. Enough !!

That's exactly what I think she has believed, though I think she wants more "fixed" than his blood phobia. After tonight's episode, I think she may be softening somewhat and a little less resistant to the idea that maybe they have joint work to do. In case you didn't see it, I'll put her last line in spoiler:

There is no way that I could possibly agree more -- enough already! But they've done so much foreshadowing of a permanent splitup that I have to believe, paradoxically, that they're dragging us down so the relief at the end will be more.

Altho I don't have entire confidence that they will resolve things fully. The end may see them still living apart, but Louisa with a renewed will to work out the problems between them, not just blame everything on Martin.

A good show with a few LOL moments. Initially, I suspected Mrs. T was up to something sinister. Funny scene when she is thrown...

Who else expected Danny to begin hearing voices ? Dr T lost me (and Louisa) in one of those "huh" moments. A short leap of logic. Dumb.

Nice touch: TheDoc and the bouquet of flowers. Ruth and the cake. Louisa spotting Martin
with the baby. Janice...just because. Louisa....just because. The Pirate Party.

The gentlest scene was Louisa's embrace of Ruth for bringing the pirate cake.

We learned tonight that Martin never liked his birthday parties (was anyone surprised that he ever had one); that he never peed outside when a toilet wasn't handy (not even at Aunt Joan's farm or over the side of Joan's lover's boat?); that he doesn't like birthday cake (okay, I guess we should have assumed that).

An action packed episode but very optimistic.

Sorry, one more thing: Louisa's floaty red top over the striped skirt: I want that outfit.

I haven't posted in here but am a Doc Martin fan but I have to say this is the worst series I have ever watched.....Everybody is acting out of character and just playing bit parts around the doc and Louisa. I'ts not even funny

1.we have had Bert making whisky for two weeks and now throws it away...pointless filler.
2.we have a therapist that just feels pointless as well. nothing funny or reviling is happening in the sessions.....they are just used as plot devices to set up the next drama/rescue.
3.The Doc is now mean to people and animals (he wasn't mean before) the writers have made him unlikable
4. Penhail......what is the point of him.....people are not that stupid.

Very poor writing and very disappointing season.

After seeing last nights show I just want this season to end, for them to split up and no S.8.

If they did a S.8 I can't see them doing anything differently. The will they/won't they is getting so old it's bloomin' mouldy.

I haven't see any growth, it's the same old stuff being thrown around just to get to the end of the series. I want to see growth. I want to see some hope, I do. I've loved watching this show from the start. But it's so dark now, compared to how it was at the beginning.

I don't find the Tishall stuff interesting or funny. You knew it was going to end in disaster. Penhale is just, well, no real words. He's an imbecile and not a good advert for the village bobby. It's embarrassing. Yep I know this is TV but come on, this guy could have so many good storylines with some credibility but no, wasted.

The therapist is awful. The clips we've seen have been awful. Does she get them to talk at all during a session?? Why can't we focus more on those sessions. It's a chance for the audience to learn more along with Louisa and Martin.

Who would have thought Martin didn't like birthday parties. Shocker! I'm not seeing growth from Martin. He's grumpier than he used to be and seems to HATE everything. I'm not even sure he likes Louisa! I don't even see a bond with JH yet. Surely after a yr of a being a dad he'd at least touch him more or even kiss his forehead. But no. Nothing. Or we're not being shown.

Louisa was never the sharpest tool in the shed but they've made her even more stupid! Why?! Denial is one thing but surely during a therapy session the writers could at least let her learn something. Or give ME a hint she's had her eyes opened a little to her problems. This series has just shown me what we already knew, they're in love but not compatible. So what's the point I'm asking myself.

Now I DO like some bits, don't get me wrong, but sadly they're overshadowed by the bits I don't like far to much these days.

I want to see them actually talking, learning from each other, smiling at each other, hugging or kissing or even, god forbid, a hand hold!
Either finish S.7 with them divorcing, admitting they love each other but it won't work as a marriage. OR Finish S.7 with them deciding to make it work, being happy and then S.8 can focus on how they're making it work and we can get back to decent storylines, light fluffiness occasionally.

Please give me hope with comments here. Please!

Well I don't need growth, or realism, or in-depth psychoanalysis to enjoy the series. I love it whatever happens, with its daftness, its poignancy, its frustrations, its little vignettes, beautiful settings and brilliant acting. I hope it goes on for 10 more series just as it is.

Ongoing will-they or won't-they storylines are what keep us hooked. Once they're resolved we tend to lose interest. And we do have to remember these are just fictional characters in a TV drama - what we see is all there is. Even if it is fun speculating, hoping and getting mad when things don't pan out as we'd like them to.

Oh - and wasn't that pirate cake AMAZING?

To be honest I loved last night's episode, it was funny, dramatic, tense and the acting was great!

I do agree with some of the posts here in that certain characters such as bert and penhale are becoming obsolete in a sense with no real character progression, Bert's whiskey plot came to an abrupt end which was a bit jarring.

The only big complaint I have of this series is that there is not enough coherent story progression, in the sense that the episodes don't really flow very well from one into the other including the side characters story as well, Al and ruth's B&B pretty much disappeared after first couple of episodes, Penhale's not really had a proper character plot this series, too many short cameos of characters I would like to stick around IE Peter Cronk, Radio lady, Testicular Cancer guy Morwenna hasnt had enough of an impact etc.

I wish Danny was in the next few episodes as much as I hate him and we're all MEANT to hate him the writers make sure of that, he brings a great dynamic to the show in the sense that it makes things more tense between Doc and Louisa, some of the best scenes of episode 6 were with Danny and Doc + Louisa.

Mr Tishel has to be one of my favorite side charaters - love that guy such natural acting it's so believable, Mrs. Tishel was the best she's been in the past 3 seasons absolutely brilliant.

Heartbreaking to see Louisa break down at the end there, great acting, gotta love CC

TLDR; I am optimistic for the next 2 episodes but I will admit this series has it's faults too.

Cheers, Dan

I suppose I'm different in that sense. After a while the will they/won't they storyline gets old and I get bored with it.
Also with the growth element. Without growth (for me) it's just going over the same ground. I'd like to see what happens after the will they/won't they plays out. How do they get on if they split & co-parent JH or once they decide to make the marriage work how can they grow together. That's what would keep me hooked.
I guess that's the difference in who watches. Some will love it, some won't. It's all good.

First, I have a random thought that has nothing to do with your passionate plea but I have to get it out of my head
If Martin moves to London, he will no longer "need" Louisa. If Martin leaves PortWenn, Louisa will no longer feel the "need" to love him.

I'm very sorry to tell you this but this show doesn't do "happy." I think there will be a climax that will satisfy you to some degree. Many of us have said that we could live with a series 8 where the couple's drama takes a backseat as they navigate normal married life, etc. I agree that the secondary players and their stories have become redundant. We are seeing some new ground explored for the couple this season. It was long, long overdue, imo. Martin is finally opening up and expressing himself. That had to happen or the couple had no where to go but deeper into the black hole of S5 and S6. Personally, I was "over" TheDoc. This season has changed things for me and I'm liking TheDoc again. He'll always be grumpy and that has, for many, been the main attraction. Imo, the couple is slowly advancing to a better place. (as individuals, as well)

A moment of clarity for Louisa in therapy? Can't happen yet. Although, she did have a breakthrough (a little one) in this eppy. With no thanks to the esteemed DrT. Honestly, that was the weakest moment of the show for me. "You fall in love with men that you know will leave" (or whatever). Okaaay. Using Martin and her first impression as the link weakened her analysis, in my eyes.

Your last paragraph is the story and the tptb are taking their sweet time because without it - there is no story. They could have taken MnL in another direction but it doesn't fit with their premise of Doc Martin - its not a typical romantic comedy. My frustration was with S5&6. This season has renewed my interest (slightly).

I do not want another season, btw. Sorry, I couldn't lift your spirits.

Well, I'm actually loving this series myself, and I hope there are many more to come.

For me, the weakest link, and most unenjoyable for me is, and always has been Bert.

I actually do find PC Penhale, not always, but sometimes funny, for example the tree branch yesterday.

The Tishalls are just brilliant, as are the Doc and Louisa.

DigitalDan says: I wish Danny was in the next few episodes as much as I hate him and we're all MEANT to hate him the writers make sure of that, he brings a great dynamic to the show in the sense that it makes things more tense between Doc and Louisa, some of the best scenes of episode 6 were with Danny and Doc + Louisa.

LOL - do you remember the Doc's face when he first sees Danny? Picture that - I'm wearing that same face now! It was good "drama" for the couple but please no more Danny !

I'll like to see more of the radio DJ, Janice, and goofy Clive. Imagine a scene with Mrs. T and Janice. More Louisa with Pippa, Ruth, Al - and baby of course. Have I just reversed myself and another series??

Thanks for your positive post !

What was it about that outfit? It was beautiful and I thought by Martin's response that he thought she looked incredible too. It was gorgeous. Why? I'm not exactly sure?

I so agree!

For me last night's episode was useless. I disliked it. And, at this point, I admit I'm really getting tired of the whole show.

DM is back to being unbearably grumpy. NO ONE would want to be with him, and at this point, poor Louisa. I'm tired of watching it, frankly. We have him hurrying her in the morning to get to therapy where they are trying to figure out why she doesn't want to live with him. We have him being upset that Danny called Louisa the day before and he was not told, yet right after Ruth CLEARLY instructs him to like the birthday party, when he sees his patient with Hep A, instead of pulling Louisa aside, informing her, and allowing her to deal with the situation in a quiet way, he does his bombastic screeching, upsets everyone, and chases everyone away, ruining it. Although Louisa doesn't per se blame him, if it had been handled better, it would not necessarily have caused such a mad chaotic ending.

The medical mysteries were so inaccurate one wonders if the show is now winging it without any medical consultations. I'm a doc and I see a lot of pediatric Type 1 patients in my practice. I can assure people that when T1 is developing in a child, yes, they drink a lot and they urinate a lot, but they are also very hungry and do not turn down food. They are losing weight and very lethargic and fatigued. They are not nasty little brats picking fights, and being foul-mouthed. When I see a child presented that way, my emotional attachment to them evaporates. I was not that upset, for example, when Theo Wenn nearly choked to death. Why they presented a T1 onset in that way is mystifying.

Second, Clive had a heart attack to the extent his heart actually ceased to beat. If we consider times involved, his collapse, Sally finding him, calling for an ambulance, and then calling DM, doing her unskilled CPR technique, and then DM arriving; let's say 15 minutes at least had passed. Not having a heart beating for that time is a high risk of 1) actual death; 2) brain damage even if the heart is re-activated. For Clive to wake up and act like he just had a power nap is ludicrous.

Third, if a patient presented to me from India, jaundiced, and very tired, I would immediately do blood work to test for Hepatitis A (and other types). I would not wait until the patient came back with a urine sample high in urobilinogen, and then do blood work. That's a bizarre diagnostic methodology. Plus, apparently, all her fatigue disappeared soon after when she had the pirate gig.

It's unfortunate that the medical mysteries on DM might be interesting for uneducated viewers but are getting ridiculous for actual medical practitioners.

So, more poor and repetitive writing. We already had Carolyn collapse with T1 DM, remember; we already had Mark injured in the woods and people searching for him.

Having Bert's still found, and nothing comes of it, was indeed a waste of our viewing time and energy.

After praising the series earlier for not having DM and LE get interrupted all the time, here we were back at that trite, cliched, and at this point annoying theme: interrupted at their dinner, in the car before Clive called, and at the birthday party.

We have inexplicable comments such as DM saying he hated his childhood birthday parties--if his parents gave him one of those, and he disliked it, it's no longer a problem with DM's parenting, but of DM himself. His being negative and disagreeable about EVERYTHING is so tiresome. I have little attachment to him as a character anymore and really, who could stay with him. Louisa, with all her personal foibles, and personality flaws, still deserves better than him.

He only can talk with Ruth--I think he and Ruth should get a place in London, and live together. That would be a quiet, decent household. Louisa could then move on with JH without the endless problems of trying to get along with a man who is impossible to connect with.

That Mrs. T was humorous in her sexual inferences and in bed posing does not make up for everything else.

Danny was also useless--he did not say anything new, informative, or helpful. We already know DM and LE are struggling, and LE deserves better. Having him as some point of unnecessary chorus didn't again move anything forward.

I seem to be in the minority with my dislike of E6 and my dislike of the whole series. Although it is lighter in some ways, with them in actuality being no closer to being together in E6 than in E1, I'm watching more out of habit, than emotional intensity of the characters and the story.