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Yay, I did it!

I just checked and American Public Television who buys and brokers DM for the public television stations has contracted it for 02/01/2014-01/31/2016. So that explains the Feb 1 viewing start on some of our PBS stations (including here in Oregon on our OPB). So that is later than the originally posted late-2013 they were originally touting.

From that I would say that either Acorn bid more $$ for the US rights, or APT just couldn't go there to keep it manageable for public tv stations who rely on fundraising from their viewers for their dollars, so they get it cheaper but later. And the DVD's are included with the Acorn contract, it would seem.

I know nothing about the ins and outs of TV doings, but I do know that there are still tons of folks out there who will wait to see it on the TV channel they are used to, because they haven't taken fully to the Internet, or online streaming or alternate versions of seeing shows. Their world is still circumscribed by TV sets, DVDs, VHS, and cable or antenna hookups at a minimal price.

As to the DVD price, well, gas has dropped like a stone here from $4 a gallon in the summer to just above $3 in the last couple weeks, I've gotten a $20 off a grocery purchase of $75 coupon and another $10 off--no minimum purchase from another grocery. There seems to be a lot of approaching holidays' goodwill going around. Dropping $10 off the original quoted price, either more goodwill or smart marketing.

Cookie Demand might be a problem. The first Doc Martin book is now half price on Amazon UK. The second one was just released and the price has already been reduced. BP needs some help in monetizing its product.

I don't know how they let themselves get talked into these books in the first place. Against my better judgement, I ordered them, and my better judgement was right!

Their merchandising effort seems to be largely an afterthought. Someone said that their merchandise was rather limited because they were committed to buying and commissioning merchandise only from local -- i.e., Cornwall, I guess -- people. It does seem like they could do a lot more with it, if they paid some attention to it.

I haven't read the books but have read reviews and understand they are sub standard. I can't believe that Buffalo Pictures just commissioned the writer and seemed to release control from that point on. Is it that they have no idea about monetising their product? I don't think there have been many successful or compelling books from a series though so maybe I am being too critical.

Susie, Thank you for that info. Acorn having the internet and DVD rights explains it very well. If Americans are experiencing the ongoing financial crisis the same as Australians are I think the discounting is because everyone is stretched at the moment and simply can't afford to buy anything unless it is within reach and they are desperate for it!

I have to believe that Acorn is lurking on here. A few posts ago I gave you a rundown of my e-mails re: S6 dvd with Acorn, the latest delivery date was early January. This morning I received another e-mail that it will be delivered the first week in December???

Regarding the DM online store--it needs a total revamp. It offers chocolates and sweets - DM doesn't like chocolates nor sweets. DM would never embarrass himself with a fish dangling from his mouth as is depicted on some of the products. The cd of the music of DM has always been out of stock. The subject of the online store has been discussed on here awhile ago and some of you had good ideas: a calendar, products with a decent picture of DM (there are so many of them out there). As for the two books now available, after reading some of the great fan fiction by actual fans, it's no wonder the books are not a success. I never thought this author would measure up to the great writing that has been done by so many of you, and I thank you for that!

I never understood the purpose of the books either. But looking at the merchandise that is available just through PBS for Downton Abbey is telling. It is not kitschy for the most part and makes fun gifts. Julian Fellowes should have a chat with his neighbor, Martin Clunes

Downton Abbey is a much more regal program and I'm sure the production costs for it are astronomical. Obviously the merchandise reflects the tenor of that show (which I love to watch as well). That's no excuse however, of why DM merchandise is cheesy or weird. To me DM isn't the blockbuster show that DA is. I'm surprised there is even any merchandise for DM other than the DVD's. DM is an acquired taste and not everyone is going to be a fan of the show. But those of us who are, the crappy stuff is an insult.

BP needs to figure out how to bring back the magic of the earlier days of the show. I don't know the facts and figures but I do want to ask the question in case someone knows. Was the show a bigger hit between 2004 and 2008 than it has been from 2010 and 2013? I'm just asking the question. I didn't start watching it until 2012 repeats and had to order the DVD's to catch up on S1-4. I still love the show and want it to continue on, but at the same time it can't continue if the ratings drop and the show becomes stale or trends to the other side of madness.

I have the books and the issue is it seems the author was given early, unedited scripts or script outlines and allowed to novelized them. The man is a good writer, but the plots are same old from the show. In my opinion, the writer also has not interpreted the characters as fans have...he doesn't give DM much depth at all. All in all....just a cheap way of selling books. I have voiced my opinion here before...I don't see BP as being greedy enough for gratuitous marketing...the books were an embarrassing lapse. I also feel that every truly great thing deserves a graceful end...S7 will be that...quit while you're on top....which ratings wise they still were even with the bit of a decline over the last few series.

While I by no means trust Wikipedia to be absolutely correct (or correct at all in spots) due to the nature of the beast, here is a glance at what it shows for audience figures in the UK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...artin_episodes .

There has been talk on this thread during S6 playing out about this very topic, and someone said the figures couldn't be right. But then some episodes' figures are corroborated by news articles about them. So take all with a grain of salt .... as you wish.

Some have said it would have been better if they had written exactly the same story line as the scrips but added what PB really mean DM and LG to be thinking. But that might not have worked really either because everyone has their own interpretation of what DM is thinking.

It seems as if the author's been given instructions to tweek the storylines a bit but not copy exactly. All this has done is make it frustrating for fans who know the show so well.

It might have been better if they had got some of the fanfic authors to write certain parts in more depth than they go into in the show. The fanfic writers already do that, far better than this guy!

Must say though that Downton Abbey has a budget of 1 million GBP per episode. Nothing like american shows but big for UK.

You know in e8 while LG is packing and DM comes up and says "Louisa..." she looks up hopefully and says "Yes..." expecting him to say something (don't go etc etc).

But he says "What time does your plane leave."

Then she sighs.

This has happened before in s5 when she came to the door to ask DM to mind JH so she could go to Bert's restaurant. LG still expects something more than DM is prepared or knows how to give. Everyone seems to be on DM's side but I can see how difficult it is for LG and why she wants to leave. She's never going to be able to change him but she just can't live with it.

If I had a friend in Louisa's situation I would tell her to run for her life. The man is never going to change enough to please you. Yet I am pulled into the unrealistic notion of "love conquers" all and episode after episode contribute to Louisa's ongoing devastation by Martin. What is wrong with me?

Yes it's like banging your head against the wall. I keep saying to myself they will work through it. Which is obviously what LG thinks too.

Is it because all it would take is for them to sit down and actually talk or is it because we feel sympathy for both of them? Or is it because we are just hopeless romantics?

I'll raise my hand first...hopeless romantic am I. Always have been, always will be.

Yes me too, Lizzie. Hopeful romantic. Wasn't that what Joan Wilder said in Jewel of the Nile?

I guess the difference is with friends you don't see the other side argument. Generally, you only see/hear from the one POV so you think what a complete waste of time get out.

But with DM we see both sides and think they have so much going for one another and they are so close to getting it right...

the thing that confuses me about whether she was waiting for him to ask her to stay, is that while she does look like she's waiting for something, there is the scene when she is in the taxi and he calls her and tells her not to get on the airplane, and she hangs up on him saying, :"we've been through all that." So it seems like they must have had at least one conversation where he's asked her not to go.

SHE is never going to be able to change HIM, but HE can make some changes in himself, and how he behaves, if he wants to. But, she has to decide what she really needs from him, bottom line, and what she can tolerate,and/or adjust to, and actually spell it out for him, in some direct, logical fashion that he can understand. Because hinting, and subtlety and just hoping that he can somehow figure things out because he loves her enough to read her mind -- not going to happen.

I actually think she was pretty much fine with the way he was, but when he "shut down" and "shut her out" although in obvious distress, that was something she hadn't expected or bargained for. I do think she began to believe that he was unhappy in their marriage and questioned his feelings for her. Also, his inability to confide in her, or share anything about what was going on, must have been pretty disturbing in itself -- as that sad and disappointed comment "but I'm your wife" was meant to show, I think.

They have not been consistent with LG's character this series. I think they would say that in the taxi LG was fed up with getting her hopes up, not that they had actually discussed it before but just that she knew there wouldn't be any meaningful reapproachment on his part.

There was also the bit where DM said "Why do people have to be happy?" That was just awful. Like "they'd manage if you were dead" in s5. I can see that being the very last straw for LG. That's hardly something you could NOT take as a direct reflection on yourself.

I really wonder what we would think if there had been no S6e1? What would have happened if they had gone to the registrar and filled out the papers and then gone home? BP said that they got married because they hadn't done it and to palliate the fans. No way. They were so clever in showing us what was possible. I loved it. All is not lost. Some deep seated trauma and doubt eroded Martin's confidence and his entire sense of self worth as time went on...Mummy's appearance didn't help..until he was entirely impotent as an individual in their relationship. Why didn't you stop her? AR said. Because I couldn't...bullshit. What about Louisa saying,"Well Martin, why can't you come for a long weekend with us?" She just expects too much. One further question may have helped.

At that stage DM still thinks he's ill because he's feeling - what - panic attacks?

It's not until a bit later that Aunt Ruth says she thinks DM thinks he doesn't deserve LG. So he has been chasing her away. So LG wasn't really expecting too much of someone who supposedly loved her. All she saw was a man determined to chase her away and remain aloof and isolated from her and JH. I can't really see that LG did much wrong.

I wonder if perhaps someone approached BP with the offer to create the books. It sounds like BP must not have paid much attention to the writing or storytelling.

I think Downton episodes run about $1 million. They are co-produced by American and British. One of the executive producers is Rebecca Eaton for Masterpiece, which is based in the Boston PBS station WGBH.

Is she going to remember that he said he needs her help? Is the next series going to be us frustrated by her because she won't help him because she doesn't remember that he told her he needs her help? Please, for goodness sake, have him tell her that again when she isn't doped up on premed.

Series 5 has been on our PBS stations for a couple of weeks. It strikes me that DM is much more mature and grounded in series 6. The man who walks so confidently into the church to get married is nowhere to be found in series 5.

Series 5 seems so random to me. The medical stories kind of come out of nowhere. Joe's wife has amnesia? The boy with the odor problem? The next episode I will watch is Louisa the Incompetent Teacher. Where did that come from? Louisa's mother smoking around the baby is not even mentioned as a possible issue with his parents?

I like the flashback when he is a boy. His father yells "Knock!" at him and the boy drops the jar out of fright. Later in the episode the Doc yells "Knock!" at Morwenna and she just blows him off and says, "Yeah I'll knock later but there is an emergency". That is a nice parallel.

But watching series 5 again makes me realize how much more focused the series 6 storyline is.