I think it's fair to make an educated guess regarding how DM would NOT act.

Yes, you make some good arguments when illustrating instances of empathy in S7, but really, some occur under duress. Shotguns, marriage ending, etc. Just doesn't strike me the same as S1-2 Doc.

It's a matter of the writing and overall characterization. The funny thing is, I usually prefer actors' later characterizations as a show matures. They become more comfortable in the role, and they and the writers create a more multi-dimensional character. With MC and DM, the opposite seems true. To me, anyway.

Maybe I should just accept the fact that all shows experience a growth, peak, and decline.

D'jever get the feeling this show's been discussed to death?

Going back 100 pages or so in this thread, there is a LOT of lively discussion in great detail going on. And that's only halfway back in one thread out of 17. Then you add in Kate's blog, Karen's blog, other assorted discussions around the web, and the coverage is vast.

What more can be discussed? Are we just waiting for S8 at this point?

In case there are any readers in the Washington, DC area:

We are having a meetup in the afternoon of June 4th in Arlington. Anyone visiting the area or who lives here is welcome to attend. The theme is "picnic on the beach ". Send me a private message if you are interested in attending. We are an open group and have new fans join us all the time!

And you left out fanfic.

My own theory is that the ending of S7 took the air out of a lot of discussions. It seemed to resolve the story line that had produced so much dramatic tension, and it was that tension, I think anyway, that was the hook and kept people reading and writing.

If that's true, it doesn't bode well for a S8 re-inflation of viewership, blog following and posting, and so on.

S2E6 The Family Way

http://portwennonline.com/wordpress/...the-family-way

I agree with you regarding S8, New Park. The program has its core of incredibly faithful fans and a few folks who'll just watch it because it's nice and it's on, but I have the feeling numbers will be way down. I guess if it's ok for ITV that's the bottom line.

How can anyone of us know what the numbers will be on viewership?

After all, I pretty much disliked seasons 5, 6 and 7, aside from a few episodes here and there, and there I was showing up each week to watch when a new season appeared. For those who now think the show might be GOOD again--funny, sweet and romantic--with odd assorted but not relationship destroying struggles, I think numbers could be up pretty high. At least I'll be there again, this time full of hope instead of dread.

Guess we'll see next year.

I would think that the fanfic writers don't have much to work with especially with S7. What about all the DM music videos that were so plentiful many series ago? As I recall, there were only two regarding S5. Unfortunately, I now see the doc as a father figure to Louisa instead of a husband. He never gave her a hug when she returned from Spain in S7E2; nor did Louisa even get close to him. BP has carried this celibacy thing too far.

Up until S7, I always considered Louisa the prettiest girl in PW. Now with S7, we have Janice, and the art teacher Ms. Holbrook. Is BP trying to bring in a younger audience? I would have preferred another child minder, like Mell, the woman with the big bra size, or yet another male child minder.

I can't understand how ITV can give the go-ahead for two more series unless something drastic happens in S8. How much more can they squeeze out of the DM relationship?

If S8 is a collection of episodes along the lines of S5E8, S6E1, S7E8 I'd watch the season 100 times over.

S2E7 Out of the Woods

http://portwennonline.com/wordpress/...t-of-the-woods

I've had a lot going on recently so I'm a little behind myself on my rewatch. But I'm going to attempt to catch up this week so I will be caught up for next week because "Erotomania" is such a great episode. If you haven't already participated, either jump in anywhere or start your own rewatch. The forums will stay up indefinitely, so as you watch the episodes you can see what others had to say about them.

I keep trying to understand why S7 seems to stand apart from earlier seasons, and to disappoint me. One of them is the way MC is acting the role. I mentioned earlier that he seemed to be "phoning it in", but I think want to add the word "robotic".

That great character from S1-2, who seemed slightly dysfunctional, yet human and quite believable has now become stiff and unrealistic. From the delivery of lines to the way he snaps his head in one direction followed by turning the rest of his body to follow is just... robotic.

It's just a shame he's decided to go full caricature like that.

I've been looking at this comment every day for a long time and have thought about what transpired in Series 7. I actually thought things were pretty in order until S7E8. Martin was quiet, waiting, defeated until he told Louisa that he couldn't go on living the way they were. What he had planned for that dinner I have no clue, but she definitely had plans of her own...aubergines, courgettes and salmon......Then he goes to this patient's house to end up getting detained by them. Somehow a Doc Martin, barefoot and scared out of his mind doesn't quite jibe. Martin Clunes plays the role of DM radically different...frightened, humble and barefoot. Not exactly what we were used to. The scene with the dog was fine..but the scene with Penhale in the bathroom was awkward...not real DM. From there on it seemed things got a bit robotic...MC getting tackled and Aunt Ruth inquiring about his relationship issues. It wasn't the best bit of acting MC has done. I wonder if he's a bit tired of the character? The final scene was gloriously romantic, but also called on some canned "bits" that he uses when being DM.

I think it will be interesting to see what DM emerges on the other side of this experience. I guess we'll see in the next couple years. Previews from Buffalo Pictures have a couple of dramatic/comedy roles coming, outside of Doc Martin. The man can still act the pants off rivals but I really hate for him to be in a rut.

The ratings were apparently the best so far for S7 but they did think that was the last one so maybe that's why they resolved so much , they were surprised when ITV gave them one final series next year which one assumes will not end with any loose ends as that is the last one.

They were given an ok for a series 8 next year....and 9...2 years later. I hope they can decide if they want to carry it on.....sounds like Philippa Braithwaite was floored. She and the writers have the hard jobs. Hopefully, they'll know when to stop but they can't argue with the mighty £££...lol

I do think that the producers and writers really believed that S7 was the last series; hence all the loose ends tied up. I think they're going to have to switch gears, somehow, because nobody wants to see more Martin-Louisa angst, and frankly, I can't work up much enthusiasm for seeing whether Al and Morwenna make a go of it or if Bert's distillery succeeds.

I just don't see Martin as robotic -- I think Mofromco used good words -- he was humbled, and at the end of E7, admitting defeat. He was a different Martin, in a way -- he was trying to be. I wished he would have stood up for himself more. Perhaps reading too much into things, as usual, I do think that he had a parallel trajectory to Louisa's. Louisa had to come around to accepting him largely as he was, while he also had the same journey -- as exemplified by Erica and her daughter Bernie. "We are what we are" -- he had to accept that he couldn't distort himself to Louisa's expectations and still be happy, and that it was better to let her go if she couldn't accept him as he was. But the point is, I think he acted that. At least, he put it across to me.

I liked the little exchange with Aunt Ruth at the helicopter I didn't have any quibble with his acting there -- it just shows how differently people react to things.

Great episode this week!

S2E8 Erotomania

http://portwennonline.com/wordpress/...e-8-erotomania

Who knows, ITV have said 8 is the final one but we all know ITV .

http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/...ries_1_4575791

This must be someone they know. Fresh blood for the series anyway.

Wow, I saw S7E8 totally differently. I thought DM had evolved in that episode, and was not robotic at all. I thought we saw the capacity of him to speak, to show real emotions, and on top of it to once again show his compassion for his kidnappers, understanding that he was kidnapped to help safe a life, and not out of spite or anger, and as a result, he did save a life. And, DM, for all his personality flaws, has never veered from his deep need to be a good doctor and save peoples' lives.

We've seen DM be a "man of action" before, ("On the Edge", and other episodes), and his actions in the truck, and in the house were great. I love seeing DM in new situations and see him grow and adapt.

I thought his brief connection with Aunt Ruth was wonderful, truly wonderful; it showed the closeness between them, his admittance of his ignorance of what was going to happen with him and Louisa, removing him from his typical arrogance and sense of superiority to others. It was sweet, funny, charming.

I didn't see a "robotic" DM anywhere, although I disliked episodes 1-7, but that is because I hated the whole stupid MC devised storyline of DM having his breakdown and all the struggles between him and Louisa. However, I thought MC did his usual great acting. He can act with more intensity by just a glance than many other actors with words and actions.

You are taking that "robotic" statement from someone else that made that statement. I thought his acting was totally thought out with a full background story. I thought in a couple of scenes he reverted to "Doc Martin" patent actions, but his acting in the series as a whole was different because of his different mindset.

Mona, I hope this isn't touchy but you remind me of the old Life cereal commercials we saw as kids....

Two boys....

"I'm not gonna try it"

"Well, I'm not gonna try it"

"Let's get Mikey...he hates everything!"

"He likes it! Hey Mikey!"

You are Mikey.....through and through.

I though I was commenting on Roscarrock's and NewPark's statement, not yours Mofromco.

I don't take offense with the Mikey recollection, Mofromco, but, I have no idea what that means, although if I try to interpret it I I honestly don't think it is me in relation to this forum. But, if it makes you happy to think so, that's fine. I don't tend to agree with others after hearing their points of view; I'm usually quite content to still believe my own.

And, I am not enough of an acting maestro to analyze MC's acting per episode as to how it was different or the same. All I know is it made S7E8 fantastic and the rest of the episodes his acting seemed consistent with his acting of the last several series.

'Nuff Said Mona...all in good fun.....lol

On the "Rock the Doc" podcast Philippa says that there will be a series filmed in 2017 and 2019, and they will wrap it up in 2019.

http://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/jack-lothian


Check out Jack Lothian's CV. It says he is to be writer and executive producer for series 8 and 9, and "showrunner."

I think this is good news. Now if only Ben Bolt would return....