Wow...now the mystery of how MC ended up on "Strike Back" is resolved. It always seemed non sequitur to me. It was all Jack Lothian. He knows a great actor when he sees one.

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

He is the showrunner or CEO of production and vision of the show? Basically, in charge of it all, right? Is PB involved in other productions? Interesting. I second the opinion about Ben Bolt - that one name (other than DM) would certainly be welcome news.

This is the only stand alone DM episode. It was created as a Christmas Special between Series 2 and Series 3, but is now commonly considered Episode 9 of Series 2.

S2E9 On the Edge

http://portwennonline.com/wordpress/...-9-on-the-edge

It is in my Top 5 best episodes ever! Wonderful episode! Heartfelt and hilarious!

Mine too. Interestingly, a lot of people find it over the top. It fared very badly in Karen's poll of favorite episodes.

My personal theory from observation is that the taste of the majority of DM viewers tends toward the show's love interest between the Doc & Louisa. On the Edge has little of that going on, and focuses mostly on the chough story, hence its low poll rating.

I also feel it's this same phenomenon that's at the root of no one agreeing with my assessment of MC's "robotic" performance in S7. Most people are focusing on the DM/LE relationship scenes, and I would agree, MC is not robotic in those scenes. (He's too humbled/downcast during those scenes in S7 for my taste, but that's another story.) BUT... in the scenes where he's dealing with patients and crises... robotic!

Anyway, On the Edge. Great episode. You won't see clever writing like that ever again in DM (but I would happy to be proven wrong about that).

PS: I'm grateful that you all still stop by here to keep the discussion going. It's nice having somewhere where the conversation goes beyond the superficial.

The person(s) responsible for the concept and blueprint that Martin will behave more horribly and Louisa will become more uptight is unknown to me. That one decision changed the whole tenor of the relationship and show (for me). It began in series 4 and was in full display of S5 and 6. (Roscarrock: Martin's humility in S7 has not wiped from my mind his over-the-top coldness to her in the three previous seasons). Its all subjective, I guess.

The show as a whole became less enjoyable and entertaining. Any show can and does become tiresome and formulaic (can't think of a better word). Doc is rude. Patient is offended. Doc silences them. Patient yields. Medical diagnosis is swiftly tendered. Patient is rushed out...

The relationship between the two leads is also becoming tedious and more combative. Its the "combative" that bothers me. It seems to be another formula that they rely on (and for some reason) are convinced of its entertainment value.

These were two unique and interesting individuals. It was very compelling to watch them try and "work." It was interesting to watch Doc navigate and try to thrive in this wacky little village. It all changed when he became (imho) the cynic and the bully in almost every scene. I won't even.... on what they did to Louisa Glasson.

Series 8: What was a joy to watch has become foul and grim. If the writers (a really good writer) focus on the Doc and the man, they can turn this around. Focus on Louisa Glasson, the woman, and I think the show will find its footing again. Leave the relationship/marriage out of it, for the most part.

The uniqueness and integrity of the Doc, Louisa Glasson, and the spirited village (with that gorgeous backdrop) is enough.

They (the writers and producers) hugely failed in their attempt to slap them together with the single intention of deconstructing the couple. That is routinely the MO for ficitonal tv. Put them together, break them down, and then rebuild. The set-up was brilliant but they failed miserably at the rest, IMHO. (with the exception of S6, ep8).

The viewer deserves the pay-off. We got almost nothing...and that is not going to change so I say move the focus away from the couple and shift the focus back to what made this show artfully entertaining.

One cannot appreciate how good this episode was unless they have viewed the ones that followed. It was one good line after another. Sue responded to this episode on your portwennonline site so I won't repeat her thoughts . The M&L attraction was there, alas, only percolating under the surface. Here you discover how afraid DM is of shotguns. Here you see LG defending the doc at the meeting with the physician's friend, starting to see the goodness in him despite his lack of bedside manner. Although only on a very short meeting Terry Glasson, DM sized him up as a poor father figure for LG. (Wait until he meets Elinor later on!) How they shot that scene with Al Large rowing to that big ship out there is beyond me. I also think DM climbing down the side of the cliff to attend to the baker's medical needs was the best stunt ever performed in the whole series by DM. Shop Girl - if you had not started the site again because of the time out of filming another series, I would probably would not have gone back that far in the series for a re-watch. Good news about Jack Lothian re: series 8 & 9!

Starting Series 3! I know it's not always easy to follow along each week, but pages are up for all of the episodes, so if you are doing your own rewatch, feel free to find that episode and add your own comments. This is one of my favorites - love the final scene.

S3E1 The Apple Doesn't Fall

http://portwennonline.com/wordpress/...le-doesnt-fall

I agree--every scene in this special is wonderful and how many lines do we still quote from it? It has the absolute best literate insult ever heard at any time on any TV show! While some people revel in people spewing nasty r-rated words, others of us screech with joy anytime we hear the doc calling Gavin an "unctuous platitudinous eunuch". And, yes, having Doc tell Gavin "one minute" and then walking away inside his home and then DM being all smarmy when he is agreeing to the anger management course as he leads Gavin out were both hilarious.

When Terry is being bandaged by DM after Jonathan mistakenly knifed him and DM leans over his table and vomits, Terry asks "Are you alright love?" It just goes on and on, so funny! And, of course, this episode contains the Most Frustrating Unheard line in the entire DM canon--that is, when LG goes to Martin after the (corrupted) meeting with Gavin after DM is pelted with food, and says she'd rather he stays, and then WE DO NOT HEAR his answer, as Pauline puts her ear to the door. It may be the last thought of my life, as I lay on my aged death bed.....what did DM say?????

Oh yeah, a great, great episode. I can't recall all the things I love about it right now, but I know that every time I watch I relish every line of the script. It's a quality of script that BP seems incapable of delivering ever again. And the way the whole brain-implanted chip idea, emergency trephination, and smashed chough egg interwove in the plot was inspired.

One line that always cracks me up is when Crozier blurts out "The Baker?! The Colonel?! Do these people have no names??

Or when Al is calling his dad in the midst of the chaos at the cliffs to ask him to bring a drill and you hear, "Yeah, Dad, it's me." [pause] "No, the flowers didn't work." So subtle and so funny. Does ANYTHING like that occur in S7? I ask you.

I once took a shot at the indecipherable dialogue coming from behind the closed door of the consultation room. IIRC, I thought I heard "Louisa, I'm sure you can appreciate..." and that's as far as I got.

OMG yes, when Jonathan asks if anyone has names it is UNBELIEVABLY funny. Even thinking about it I laugh!

There are little bits of this type of sheer brilliance and joy in moments or scenes in succeeding episodes, but the only one I can think that comes close to it in entirety is S6E1. Nonetheless if I had to reduce my DM videos down to one episode, I would keep On The Edge.

In my ignorance I did not know exactly the meaning of the three words DM called Gavin, so I looked them up: unctuous (characterized by a smooth but insincere show of deep or earnest feeling) platitudinous (a commonplace or trite remark) eunuch (a castrated man) . Well, that describes Gavin Peters, doesn't it, but the way DM spewed it out with venom, it certainly sounded like the worst r-rated phrase to call a person, and yet it was an insult not cuss words, only capable of DM delivering it.

In my ignorance I did not know exactly what the words unctuous platitudinous eunuch meant so I looked them up: unctuous (characterized by a smooth but insincere show of deep or earnest feeling) platitudinous (a commonplace or trite remark) eunuch (a castrated man). This describes Gavin, and yet when spewed forth with venom by DM, it sounded like the worst cuss words to call a person. Yet, it was an insult. Too bad society doesn't use more of these phrases instead of the r-rated words our ears have to endure.
Last edited by marchrand : 01-07-2016 at 15:31

Oh, I had to look up unctuous and platitudinous, as well! I absolutely love an intelligent, well educated, classically trained person highlighting a person's obnoxious traits in three articulate words. The use of the word eunuch, which I knew, was the worst insulin of the three, I think, suggesting Gavin's concern about patients, never upsetting them, always considering their feelings, making sure they were always happy and treated gently completely emasculated him. It seems to be that DM's attitudes with patients had somewhere inside an idea that a physician, if he was a man, cared first about doing good medicine and not about how patients perceived his care, as long as his care was excellent. That is the argument he noted to Gavin, but Gavin's focus on the touchy/feely stuff caused DM to view him as effeminate.

Magnificent insult--as good as Shakespeare (if not better!).

That is, INSULT, not insulin! (My medical specialty of diabetes caused the Freudian slip there! DM would be proud.)

S3E2 Movement

http://portwennonline.com/wordpress/...ode-2-movement

Agree with others about the appeal of this episode. I think it had to be written quickly and BP gave Jack Lothian more latitude in removing the focus from M and L and developing the more dramatic and interesting storyline. They also snagged three excellent actors -- Kenneth Cranham, Jonathan Aris and Chris O'Dowd for principal roles.

I have great hope for series 8 if Jack Lothian is the show runner. He has written the best episodes and has the touch of irony and comedy that has been missing since Dominic Minghella.

From your keyboard to BP's ears! Or eyes.

I also wish they could somehow recapture the cinematography of the earliest episodes. I'm not sure what changed there, but somehow the color-grading, or resolution, or camera angles and movement, or lighting, or scenery shots, or maybe all of the above, combined to create a noticeably more "fairy-tale" look, for lack of a better term. Much of S7 comes off as sterile-looking to my eyes.

S3E3 City Slickers

http://portwennonline.com/wordpress/...-city-slickers

Cinematic or "filmic" is a better term.

I thought some of the drone shots in S7 were pretty spectacular and there were some shots of flowers and foliage that the new young director included that were gorgeous. Perhaps they did earlier series with a slight...very slight..."matte" effect but you can't discount the fact that after 12 years or so you are just a bit used to how Port Isaac and Cornwall look. Hard to "Preserve the Romance". I could do a rewatch and find some of the shots I mentioned, but I really can't right now.

S3E4 The Admirer (This is a fun one!)

http://portwennonline.com/wordpress/...-4-the-admirer

Strange that the cast is all in P.I. even though it is not a filming year. Did not recognise Caroline Catz at first.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/ar...-Cornwall.html

Looks like the cast was invited to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall during their annual visit to Cornwall That must have been a nice reunion for the main characters in an off year. Only John Marquez is missing.