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If DM did that, NewPark, it would mean the whole of series 7 would be over in one episode!

I think they deliberately had DM say those things to LG while she was under the pre-med so we can flounder around for 4 or 5 episodes before we get to that stage again.

First of all, I think AR can be a help, but I don't think that she can be everybody's therapist as some suggest.....it just feels very messy and incestuous. I do think that she should be able to discuss things with Louisa and give her information and advice, but she can't get involved further. Martin definitely needs outside help.....I'm hoping they'll find a brilliant male actor to fill that role.

As to wooing Louisa back......it seems to me if DM got within 2 feet of me and acted nice I would be all over him. I don't know how long she could hold out. Sorry, just me being bad. Not what's on the program.

As to wooing Louisa back......it seems to me if DM got within 2 feet of me and acted nice I would be all over him. I don't know how long she could hold out. Sorry, just me being bad. Not what's on the program.[/quote]

Can I be bad too?

AR cannot act as a therapist really to either one of them. Besides incestuous, really unethical.

But perhaps Louisa can listen to some home truths from her, at some point.

Can I be bad too?[/quote]

Don't worry, Mofromco and Lulu, I am sure most of us can relate!

He was on his homeground. In the theatre, he is master. He is in control. As surgeon, he is like a general in a battle - everyone around him have to follow his orders without discussion.
In the martial home he is out of his depth. Mostly the child is controlling the routine. And to top it all, Martin didn't have the proper education for this job.

I don't care one bit if they look two years older when in Portwenn time just a month or a week has passed.
I think with that ending of S6 they can't move the story too much ahead. The logical progression would be to show how they get their act together to be able to live together.
If they start the story even six months after the hospital scene, then there's no tension left - because then they found a common ground if they are still together, or its over between them if they're not.
The weeks / months after the hospital are crucial to their relationship. And I want to see it.

Exactly. Starting on the ride home from the hospital, is my preference!

But he vomited in the theatre. Control not

Aunt Ruth as therapist to the two of them would be unethical in the United States but it might not be in the UK. But she could certainly give advice, and she should because goodness knows they need it. She can at least give them a business card of someone.

Remember when she was talking about his head while she was on the premed? She is turned on by him physically, no doubt about that. It was so sweet that she had thought it through what would happen if he came to Spain. He would have hated it. When he told her he was trying to buy a ticket she shook her head. I think just coming after her would have been enough. It was nice to see a little bit of her private thoughts. They showed she loves him and she worries about him. I love that scene. It mirrors the S2 finale where he was the one who was out of it from the wine.

I think that DM has run its course and another series will never recreate the charm of the early ones. Time to let go?

I agree with you on this. I am one who has never worried about them looking older every two years while the story only progresses days/weeks/months.

While it is interesting looking at pictures of them from the first couple of series and realizing they look more grown up now, part of that makes sense since they are now parents and looking a bit older suits them. I guess I'm just not so bothered about how people look as they age.

I think where AR can be the most helpful would be in keeping a dialogue with both of them about Martin's childhood. She would be doing this as a concerned family member with the added bonus of understanding cause and effect in her professional capacity.

Without trying to practice on them, she can explain Martin's childhood to Louisa and explain how it could be causing the problems she can now see as he tries to adjust to family life. And she can continue to explain things to Martin about what happened in his childhood that he didn't understand but that the adults in the family were well aware of.

I think she can fulfill this role in their lives as a loving aunt while not crossing any professional boundaries.

I agree. It doesn't matter to me how old they look. Anyone any age can have a romance.

I think they will start s7 very soon after they ended s6. Mostly because I don't think they will be together at the start of s7 or even half way through. I think NewPark is right about s7 being about DM trying to convince LG that he can change.
Wonder what the big denouement will be?
Mrs T's situation definitely has to be resolved but I think they've done dire situations to death really.

But how much did Aunt Ruth know about Martin's childhood? He never mentioned her before series 6, then it seemed as if she knew little about his life except what she heard from her sister, Joan. If she was so involved in his life as a child and had the professional ability to understand the harm Martin's parents were doing to him, why didn't she intercede? She is analyzing Martin's problems from a psychiatric perspective of understanding his symptoms not necessarily from be involved in his childhood.

I think so -- but after S7. Then, no more. All good things must come to an end.

I've added quite a few links to the site. I also set up pages for articles about DM, MC, CC and other cast and crew. There are lots more to come - this is just a start.

(And, if you have visited the Links page before, you might find that you have to refresh the page. I have to investigate to see why that is happening).

www.portwennonline.com

You are saying get out the sharpened stake and the garlic and be done with it? I am certain there is plenty of life in thus dog yet. For my money Series6 was a bit off target in the middle but by E8 it hit a home run.

Besides we must get off the edge of this cliff... I bet a kinder and more gentle hand with the series will be brought back in S7.

I totally expect something of a return to the charm of S3, e.g. as DM courts Louisa. But then I think the "will they -won't they" has gone about as far as it can go, and then some, and sorry, I just don't see the series continuing on just a diet of medical mystery of the week and quirky villagers, plus seeing how rude DM can be to annoying patients.

Will he have a few attempts at being smarmy or just not bother with his patients and concentrate his efforts on LG?

I think this time he "wants to" and probably his interactions will be more genuine than smarmy. Though I hope he continues to not suffer fools gladly.

I am probably wrong, but somehow I think S7 will open with DM and LE living apart. They will both be in Portwenn, but Louisa at this point needs her space. As to how much time will elapse between S6E8 and S7E1, I think not alot. I am keeping in mind the age of JH. Perhaps he will be trying to take his first steps. The problem I have is with Mrs. Tishell. DM and LE feel very uneasy with her return to being the Portwenn Chemist. I am hoping Clive comes to the rescue to convince her to retire and travel with him in their retirement years. Penhale is a great comic, but in small doses. If he is given a longer time, it doesn't work, but I understand he stepped in while MC was recuperating and that was fine with me. Morwenna has turned out to be a great addition to the series, but somehow I can't see her and Al as a couple. Looking back at S4 who would have thought there would be a whole series of DM and LG trying to live together with a newborn baby in S5? . . . S6 with them getting married, and slowly unraveling. With each new series, new actors, new plots, who can imagine? Not in my wildest dreams.
Last edited by marchrand : 09-11-2013 at 22:22

Words of wisdom. Almost anything we can think of is not what I really expect to see. Or at least not in the way we would do it. I know I focus on Doc and Louisa's life, but then I remember that the series and each episode has to also take into account other characters, thematic resonance among them, and try to be new and different in some way, all at the same time. The minds that can accomplish that are so much more clever than mine. Mine is only clever enough to realize it.

Speaking of what people think S7 might look like, I thought you all might like a look back at the predictions that New Park and Shop Girl thought we should keep track of and I did for S6. So here goes, one per posting. (The number at the end refers to the post number--who knows which thread though!)

Prediction subject #1: Wedding Ring

Conniej--So, assuming there is a wedding, will DM still wear the 'other' ring on his right hand? They've never explained why DM wears it although we know it's a MC thing. I suspect he'll just switch it to the other hand and the 'other' ring will disappear.

SusieSagitarius--I think he'd just become a married man both on and off screen. I suspect the ring will not be transferred and just glossed over or not even shown at all as part of the ceremony.

NewPark--I think we'll see brand-new bright-gold rings --- like the one for Louisa that Martin was holding in S3E7. I don't see MC using his own wedding ring as a prop, somehow.

Shop Girl--I suspect that we won't see the rings exchanged and after the wedding, MC's ring will be back on the normal hand. Will probably be a relief for him not to need to remember to switch it every day. I wonder if CC will wear her own wedding rings - or will she have the ring that was dropped into her dinner?

New Park--I'll go along to this extent -- if they don't exchange new rings, then we won't see Louisa putting Martin Clunes' own wedding ring on his left hand, in other words, we won't see a ring transfer.
Or maybe he'll be one of those men who never wears a wedding ring?

cc.cookie--I can see DM wearing a ring but I hesitate to believe that MC would use a wedding ring that has significance as a prop.
So I don't think he'd use his own ring during a TV ceremony but it would be such a hassle to later still wear his own ring on his right hand and a fake ring on his left.
So I think after a ceremony he'd swap his own ring to his left hand and just keep it there.

dmptrader--They will exchange prop rings not their own

statesidefan--I vote for your prediction, Cookie! “I can see DM wearing a ring but I hesitate to believe that MC would use a wedding ring that has significance as a prop.
So I don't think he'd use his own ring during a TV ceremony but it would be such a hassle to later still wear his own ring on his right hand and a fake ring on his left.
So I think after a ceremony he'd swap his own ring to his left hand and just keep it there.” 738

Adelie Manchot--I agree with your prediction, Cookie. “I can see DM wearing a ring but I hesitate to believe that MC would use a wedding ring that has significance as a prop.
So I don't think he'd use his own ring during a TV ceremony but it would be such a hassle to later still wear his own ring on his right hand and a fake ring on his left.
So I think after a ceremony he'd swap his own ring to his left hand and just keep it there.” 745
748

BodminDM-- I think the exchange of rings will be shown. The ring on MCs right hand will just disappear from the show from then on 1119

NewPark--she gets a gold band, as does he. 1261

largenincharge --The ring. I think he'll keep his own on his right hand and a different one on his left. Yeah, he'll be wearing two...why not? 1385

So who nailed it? Claim your prize.