Doc Martin (Part 17 — Spoilers)

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BodminDM

16-10-2013

Originally Posted by NewPark:
“My theory of what is going on with him in this respect has to do with his own view of himself as an unsatisfactory and unloved child -- for whom he is still at this point unable to feel any sympathy or even acknowledge his pain. He is "split off" from that child, and even perhaps has incorporated some of his parents' anger and dissatisfaction with him. And this translates into his behavior toward children.
...
So far, it hasn't translated into his feelings toward James Henry. In fact, dealing with this infant for whom he has such strong feelings of love may have awakened his grief at never having experienced this from his parents. Perhaps this is at the root of the funk, or depressive state, that he seems to have been in.

I think that Margaret has been brought back to emphasize this point and to twist the knife in deep enough to bring about either a breakdown or a breakthrough.”

His expectations how children should behave is formed by the expectations put on him when he was little - by his parents and school. Both thought he should basically act like a miniature adult. So he did. And still does.
And I guess the fact that they brought his mother back into the picture is a huge hint that this is one of the main topics of this season.
"I'm not going to be like my father, and James isn't going to be like me."
That requires analysis where things had gone wrong.

BodminDM

16-10-2013

Originally Posted by lulu4doc:
“Why does Louisa, who is so quick to tell anyone that Martin IS a very good doctor and sees for herself (ala Danny, Holly and Peter) how knowledgeable and skilled he is as a doctor, so quick to dismiss and yell for him to go away when she is having a medical crisis. Personally I would want him by my bedside 24/7 to make sure that procedures done on me were correct.”

Because she was in medical care and JH was at home and she was cross with Martin.

dcdmfan

16-10-2013

Originally Posted by Biffpup:
“I love Mrs. T. and think Selina Cadell is brilliant and funny! I was relieved that she returned. I was afraid we'd seen the last of her at the castle.

To each, his own, though. Penhale has always grated on my nerves, but there seems to be a fairly strong fan base for the character. In this dark series 6, however, he seems especially out of place. Just my opinion.”

I love Selina Cadell. She has been brilliant on the show and is a wonderful actress. I think Mrs T won't be back next season. Jenny is here to stay as Bert's wife and the pharmacist. She better fits the new tone and will be a sympathetic ear. She will turn into a more competent pharmacist than she was this series. In the scene with Al and Bert she fit right in to Port Wenn. That is my thinking anyway.

Penhale will continue to play the fool although I think they will tone him down a bit and make him more endearing to viewers.

SusieSagitarius

16-10-2013

Originally Posted by SusieSagitarius:
“For UK fans only, a contest: http://newsroom.simplyhealth.co.uk/d...er-2013-terms/”

Sorry, I got in a hurry and the contest is already over. Sorry, Sorry......

DocMartinLover

16-10-2013

I think there's been a real shift in the Doc's character this year and I can't quite put my finger on it. For one thing they've given him less screen time then before and he seems to have lost his confidence. I know that this is partly due to his storyline but I'm not sure I like it. This is definitely a different Doc from Series 1 - 5 IMHO.

kernow19

16-10-2013

Originally Posted by Biffpup:
“I guess this is for British forum members. Was it really inappropriate for a show that airs at 9 pm? In the US 9 pm is considered a sort of breaking point. It's after 9 that the more edgy, adult-oriented shows start to air.”

9pm here is commonly called the "Watershed" time after which images and subjects of a more adult nature (sex, violence and bad language) may be shown.
I think what was so shocking about Louisa's accident was the suddenness and sheer violence of the impact. I know I couldn't really take in what I had just seen on my TV screen. I wouldn't call it inappropriate to be shown, but it was certainly unexpected.
Full credit to the stunt-persons and director for making it so realistic (aided by the manner in which the images were cut together, including Martin's horrified reaction.)

Blue-Eyes

16-10-2013

Originally Posted by DocMartinLover:
“I think there's been a real shift in the Doc's character this year and I can't quite put my finger on it. For one thing they've given him less screen time then before and he seems to have lost his confidence. I know that this is partly due to his storyline but I'm not sure I like it. This is definitely a different Doc from Series 1 - 5 IMHO.”

IMHO too :

He HAD to be or MC would not have been satisfied in the role

He had to take the character in another direction

It was never intended to be purely a romance or a comedy

OR

Dare I say it - a soap

Zarwen

16-10-2013

Thanks to everyone for your numerous insights. I had a million thoughts flying through my head in reaction to this last episode. Fortunately many of you have already articulated some of them, so I don't need to hijack the forum completely. I'll start with a few, in no particular order (and then maybe add later?)

1) Watching Louisa banging on that egg in the opening scene reminded me of S5E6, so I knew where we were going by the end.

2) The medal scene: the one thing that really jarred me was DM's oppositional stance to LE regarding exercise. For 5 years, we have listened to this character railing about the importance of exercise to his patients. He even made that part of AJ's eulogy! I know he is suffering from anxiety or depression or whatever, but I don't think even that would account for a 180 in someone's core values like that. Clearly the writers wanted to create opposition between DM and LE for the sake of the drama, but I think they should have tried to do it another way. This was simply too far out of character for DM.

3) Also related to the medal scene: DM kept telling LE that he "didn't have time for this." In the past, he has talked about his time being wasted, a poor use of his time, but I do not recall him ever saying he didn't HAVE time. Given all the signs pointing to his being ill, I am wondering if this foreshadows that he has something terminal?

4) Watching DM fixing LE's hair when they were getting ready to leave the hospital: I was truly amazed at that. Such a beautiful act of tenderness. I don't know of one man on the entire planet who would do that for his wife, but given DM's ease doing it, it made me wonder whether MC was used to doing it for Emily when she was younger. That got me thinking of how we saw LE reverting to childhood in S5 when Elinor showed up. Moments later LE announces that she is going home to mother! Well, THAT is sure to help everything!!! I'm with DM on this one: WHY??? She says she needs time to think (didn't we hear that from Danny in the S2 finale?), but who could possibly do any serious thinking with Elinor around???

5) That brings me to the title of this episode. What is meant by "Listen WITH Mother"? Is "Mother" referring to ME, LE, EG, all of them, or someone else? I have been watching long enough to know that these things usually have multiple references, but I just don't get this one. Who is listening, who is the mother, and why is it listen WITH mother instead of listen TO mother?? (I am guessing that someone will respond with a brilliant analysis that will make me feel like a moron for not having figured it out myself.)

6) Speaking of ME: some people really do never change! Louisa comes home from hospital and all that horrid woman can think about is her own dinner!

7) Haven't seen anyone else note this yet: we could see DM was not wearing a vest under his shirt when he was using the stethoscope on himself----yum!

I guess that's enough for now.
Last edited by Zarwen : 16-10-2013 at 19:48

conchie

16-10-2013

Originally Posted by Biffpup:
“I fell behind due to other interferences and was only able to get to a viewing of E7 last night. I've had a lot of catching up to do here at DS and thought instead of responding to individual posts (so many!) I would just put down a few of my own responses and opinions here.

I understand the angst of several people who are upset at the direction the show has taken, especially in E7, but personally I'm satisfied with it. We've long known that Martin has emotional issues lurking mostly in the background. We've met his parents, heard about the abuse he suffered as a child. We've assumed that much of his behavior, his inability to be "social", his difficulty in initiating and then maintaining a healthy relationship with the woman he loves, his failure to "get" things like jokes and simple conversations were caused by his miserable childhood & horrible parents. In the past he's built a kind of wall around himself and maintained a sense of control. I always figured eventually we would see that wall come down and he would face an emotional crisis. In order to get this character to any kind of resolution, this had to happen.

So now it is. He's coming apart. He's lost control. He's in the throes of a deep depression. I think this is why he looks so sad, on the verge of tears, when he's forced to say, "No, I can't. Thank you." to Louisa when she suggests a long weekend away. He's barely functioning, almost rooted and immobilized in this scene. He can't eat. He can't sleep. He can't face a long weekend alone with his family. The damage Ruth mentions later in the ep is doing it's work. It's all coming to a head.

This is especially evident at the sports day. Paperchase, you mentioned that he's probably suffering from anxiety. I agree with you. In fact, that's exactly what I see when I watch that scene. I don't believe Martin has any control at all over his own behavior at sports day. He's completely lost it, and this comes across, as you said, as anger.

He's at his absolute worst at sports day, and so is Louisa. He's correct when he tells her she's hysterical. But, of course, he's the one who has caused the hysteria. It's a wild scene and it's cringe-worthy and painful to watch. Here are these two beloved characters showing us their very worst sides at the same time, and in front of half the village.

The thing is, this show is no longer a comedy-drama. It's an intense, heavy drama. I can accept that and go with it and enjoy it the way one enjoys intense and sometimes dark dramas. What's problematic is that the PTB failed on one level. They turned it into a drama, but continued to include the goofy slapstick of Penhale, which no longer fits. Frankly I've never been a fan of the Penhale character. He was too much of a clown. I've managed to accept this in the past, to just sort of overlook this, but now it's jarring and unsuitable. BP failed to face the reality of their own decision to turn it into a drama. A little occasional comic relief is helpful in dramas, but not this over-the-top kind.

So there are good and bad aspects of this episode. It's flawed in some ways but intensely emotional in others. We don't quite understand what Martin is going through because he isn't verbal. We have to speculate. I know this is the way this show goes, and the way this character is portrayed, but they could have used Ruth to translate for us, or employed some means to help us out. Maybe this will happen next week. In fact, this "feels" like a two-parter to me, with absolutely everything left unresolved. Well, except for Mike.”

Magnificent post !!! Martin is coming apart at the seams. He is at last being forced to confront everything from his past, everything that resulted in him turning out as he did, and his inability to deal with the deep love he does have for Louisa and his son, together with the re-emergence of the cold hearted mother responsible for so much of his issues has brought it all to a head.

Next weeks' finale should be good. Good trailer for it up on youtube.

Doc Martin - Series 6 Episode 8 - Departure Trailer

for some reason can't post link but look it up as listed above !!

cc.cookie

16-10-2013

Originally Posted by Biffpup:
“Are there hints or spoilers that indicate Louisa will give up work to look after JH? If so, does this refer to S7? My inquiring mind wants to know. You could hide it behind a spoiler thingie.

Thanks, cookie.”

No there have been no spoilers. DM the show has just been showing LG as incapable of doing both jobs and Adam the character has been harping on about mothers working. It is the sort of disappointing plotline that would be easy to revert to.

Biffpup

16-10-2013

Originally Posted by BodminDM:
“His expectations how children should behave is formed by the expectations put on him when he was little - by his parents and school. Both thought he should basically act like a miniature adult. So he did. And still does.
And I guess the fact that they brought his mother back into the picture is a huge hint that this is one of the main topics of this season.
"I'm not going to be like my father, and James isn't going to be like me."
That requires analysis where things had gone wrong.”

Maybe Martin's attempts to not be like his father, to be a good husband and father, have clashed with his own tendency to isolate himself and, where hot air meets cold air, created a tornado

Biffpup

16-10-2013

Originally Posted by dcdmfan:
“They have virtually recreated the program. The direction of this series has been clear to me from the very beginning and on the whole it is magnificent. I like the realism and seeing the humanity in all of the characters. I am sympathetic with all of them. They even have made Mummy believable despite not having a vestige of humanity left in her. The whole story is credible to me and I have no trouble buying into every bit of it. We have grown to know the characters as human beings, and I think it is a groundbreaking program.

Martin is lost in a very dark place. He has completely withdrawn into himself. Louisa is not a therapist and is doing the best she can to reach out to him. Her coping mechanism, for better or worse, is to leave when she is overwhelmed.

They are both so beat up. From literally slogging through the mud, to exposing their asses to the school governor, to throwing up all over someone in public, to just completely breaking down. They have this little boy they have to raise and neither of them want him to be like them. They are both broken and they are the only people who can put each other back together. They will stay together because I don't think either of them has a choice not to.

The producers have taken a huge artistic risk and have gone out on a limb with this series. The creators are exposing themselves and delving into unique emotional and artistic territory. I applaud them. It was a lot of hard work to make this program. They have gone to great pains to make this shift in focus and message, and I think they have succeeded.”

Yes, I agree with everything you said. Well put. You're right that they've taken a huge risk and have gone out on a limb. Just look at the extreme reactions, especially to E7. Both positive and negative reactions all over the place. What strikes me is the intensity of the negative comments. In some places there's also anger. I'm sad that this change in the show has upset many people, but it's a new direction for DM that I applaud and that I'm hooked on.

Biffpup

16-10-2013

Originally Posted by Zarwen:
“Thanks to everyone for your numerous insights. I had a million thoughts flying through my head in reaction to this last episode. Fortunately many of you have already articulated some of them, so I don't need to hijack the forum completely. I'll start with a few, in no particular order (and then maybe add later?)

1) Watching Louisa banging on that egg in the opening scene reminded me of S5E6, so I knew where we were going by the end.

2) The medal scene: the one thing that really jarred me was DM's oppositional stance to LE regarding exercise. For 5 years, we have listened to this character railing about the importance of exercise to his patients. He even made that part of AJ's eulogy! I know he is suffering from anxiety or depression or whatever, but I don't think even that would account for a 180 in someone's core values like that. Clearly the writers wanted to create opposition between DM and LE for the sake of the drama, but I think they should have tried to do it another way. This was simply too far out of character for DM.

3) Also related to the medal scene: DM kept telling LE that he "didn't have time for this." In the past, he has talked about his time being wasted, a poor use of his time, but I do not recall him ever saying he didn't HAVE time. Given all the signs pointing to his being ill, I am wondering if this foreshadows that he has something terminal?

4) Watching DM fixing LE's hair when they were getting ready to leave the hospital: I was truly amazed at that. Such a beautiful act of tenderness. I don't know of one man on the entire planet who would do that for his wife, but given DM's ease doing it, it made me wonder whether MC was used to doing it for Emily when she was younger. That got me thinking of how we saw LE reverting to childhood in S5 when Elinor showed up. Moments later LE announces that she is going home to mother! Well, THAT is sure to help everything!!! I'm with DM on this one: WHY??? She says she needs time to think (didn't we hear that from Danny in the S2 finale?), but who could possibly do any serious thinking with Elinor around???

5) That brings me to the title of this episode. What is meant by "Listen WITH Mother"? Is "Mother" referring to ME, LE, EG, all of them, or someone else? I have been watching long enough to know that these things usually have multiple references, but I just don't get this one. Who is listening, who is the mother, and why is it listen WITH mother instead of listen TO mother?? (I am guessing that someone will respond with a brilliant analysis that will make me feel like a moron for not having figured it out myself.)

6) Speaking of ME: some people really do never change! Louisa comes home from hospital and all that horrid woman can think about is her own dinner!

7) Haven't seen anyone else note this yet: we could see DM was not wearing a vest under his shirt when he was using the stethoscope on himself----yum!

I guess that's enough for now.”

1) Yes! I noticed that too and felt a chill. S5: "It's not about eggs, Martin." Especially when he handed his egg back to her.

2) I think you're correct. The writer had to create a big deal, wild, confrontational, messy scene and in some ways he took a shortcut. On the other hand, maybe his talking against exercise was meant to be a sign of his confusion.

. Well, it was confusing to me!

3) Not sure what this means. Not terminal I don't think. Maybe it means nothing except that he's feeling rushed and stresses out over it.

4) OMG, that was such a sweet, tender moment and I believe it indicates to us a closeness, an intimacy between the two of them that (unfortunately) we aren't being shown overtly. About Louisa going to Eleanor...

Quote:
“Moments later LE announces that she is going home to mother! Well, THAT is sure to help everything!!!”

Isn't that the truth!!!

5) I'm glad you asked that. I wondered too but forgot to post the question. Listen WITH Mother. I don't understand.

6) A complete witch. In E8 let's drop a house on her.

7) Not much skin, but enough for me to freeze-frame several times.

Biffpup

16-10-2013

Originally Posted by kernow19:
“9pm here is commonly called the "Watershed" time after which images and subjects of a more adult nature (sex, violence and bad language) may be shown.
I think what was so shocking about Louisa's accident was the suddenness and sheer violence of the impact. I know I couldn't really take in what I had just seen on my TV screen. I wouldn't call it inappropriate to be shown, but it was certainly unexpected.
Full credit to the stunt-persons and director for making it so realistic (aided by the manner in which the images were cut together, including Martin's horrified reaction.)”

It was so sudden and so well done that I think it gave us all a jolt, even those (like me) who have been following spoilers and knew it was coming. Excellent work. In fact, I can't quite figure out how they did it.

robspace54

16-10-2013

Originally Posted by Biffpup:
“Yes, I agree with everything you said. Well put. You're right that they've taken a huge risk and have gone out on a limb. Just look at the extreme reactions, especially to E7. Both positive and negative reactions all over the place. What strikes me is the intensity of the negative comments. In some places there's also anger. I'm sad that this change in the show has upset many people, but it's a new direction for DM that I applaud and that I'm hooked on.”

At the end of series 3 I was yelling at the TV "No! Go after her you fool!" not wanting the romance to end like that.

Watching S6-E7 I was upset, cringing, a tear or two, shaken, rattled and just pi**ed off for the hard turn the story had taken.

Comparing the two episodes (S3-E8 and S6-E7) and my reaction I'm upset at the differences in approach and story line.

If that is what BP expected to achieve, well then they get high marks for shaking me up. But if not... the future may be grim.

Rob

Biffpup

16-10-2013

Did you notice in one shot of the surgery in E7 you could clearly see the addition on the back of the house?

ReneeBird

17-10-2013

I have a theory: I think Sheldon Cooper is the future Doc Martin before he changes his career from a physicist to a surgeon, changes his name, and moves to London.

ReneeBird

17-10-2013

Originally Posted by NewPark:
“She probably shouldn't have asked him in the first place, although it's a natural role, one would think, for a doctor in a small village. She did try to let him off the hook a couple of times, and he chose not to take advantage of the opportunity.

His attitude toward children has always been troubling to me, With perhaps the single exception of Bobby Richards in S1, and maybe Melanie, he has been impatient, judgmental, unrealistic and intolerant, etc. This was particularly pronounced in S5, in the scenes at the school.

My theory of what is going on with him in this respect has to do with his own view of himself as an unsatisfactory and unloved child -- for whom he is still at this point unable to feel any sympathy or even acknowledge his pain. He is "split off" from that child, and even perhaps has incorporated some of his parents' anger and dissatisfaction with him. And this translates into his behavior toward children.

How troubling, really, to be handing out sports prizes to children, when he only got a cup for chess and his parents didn't even acknowledge that. But Louisa can't be expected to understand that, when even he doesn't have a clue.

So far, it hasn't translated into his feelings toward James Henry. In fact, dealing with this infant for whom he has such strong feelings of love may have awakened his grief at never having experienced this from his parents. Perhaps this is at the root of the funk, or depressive state, that he seems to have been in.

I think that Margaret has been brought back to emphasize this point and to twist the knife in deep enough to bring about either a breakdown or a breakthrough.”

This seems very plausible, NewPark.

ReneeBird

17-10-2013

Originally Posted by statesidefan:
“Perfect. You've managed to channel the Doc who said effectively "Why does everyone have to be happy?" If I had a choice of hitting my thumb with a hammer or not, I think I'd choose not.”

Then you wouldn't be a very good girlfriend to Thor, and he is So good-looking!

CopperHill

17-10-2013

What a range of comments

I think my favorite was ggo85 referring to Ruth as a BAMF. I loved that scene!

In their conversation, Ruth does refer to adultery in the family not just being limited to Joan and I thought she was referring to Margaret's affair with the man for whom she left Christopher -- but maybe she was referring to Christopher's affair with Al's mother . . . . (all just theoretical, of course).

I wasn't too keen on this series after E2. Too much repetition of past storylines, blah, blah , blah, but the brilliance of the acting - all the acting (but especially Martin) - and my love for all the characters - kept me watching and I gotta admit that I'm hooked.

I don't know that I'll ever watch Series5 again. I really didn't like Louisa. She wasn't the Louisa I had grown to know and love. But the old Louisa is back this series, and I love that she's alternately chosen to ignore the Doc's ways (because what else can she do most of the time really, but accept him) and to reach out to him when it becomes obvious that this is beyond the norm even for him. Of course she's going to leave because that's what she does. Of course he's going to withdraw because that's what he does.

Someone above did a really good job summarizing all the trauma these two have been through since their failed engagement. It's really unfortunate that, on top of everything else, Mom showed up so soon in their latest attempt at cohabitation.

So Series 5 ended with Louisa really needing to hear, "I love you", "I love you", "I will al(ways love you)". Maybe it's Martin's turn to hear those words. He obviously really really really needs to. So maybe that's how this season will end - with Louisa coming through at the last minute for Martin.

Paperchase

17-10-2013

Originally Posted by BodminDM:
“Because she was in medical care and JH was at home and she was cross with Martin.”

And she is in PAIN! She was hit by a vehicle going at least 30mph and she was thrown in the air. Every muscle in her body must ache. She has been trying to sleep in an ER cart in the observation area all night.(No privacy) She is sleep deprived. She most likely received a narcotic, for pain control. Narcotics are notoriously mood "downers." Put this combination together and you have a woman who is impatient, irrational and short with her spouse.
It is only much later she will realize; she embarrassed her husband, she embarrassed herself.

lemster

17-10-2013

Originally Posted by Paperchase:
“And she is in PAIN! She was hit by a vehicle going at least 30mph and she was thrown in the air. Every muscle in her body must ache. She has been trying to sleep in an ER cart in the observation area all night.(No privacy) She is sleep deprived. She most likely received a narcotic, for pain control. Narcotics are notoriously mood "downers." Put this combination together and you have a woman who is impatient, irrational and short with her spouse.
It is only much later she will realize; she embarrassed her husband, she embarrassed herself.”

I don't know - DM sets a pretty high bar in the embarrassment area.

Shop Girl

17-10-2013

Originally Posted by Zarwen:
“2) The medal scene: the one thing that really jarred me was DM's oppositional stance to LE regarding exercise. For 5 years, we have listened to this character railing about the importance of exercise to his patients. He even made that part of AJ's eulogy! I know he is suffering from anxiety or depression or whatever, but I don't think even that would account for a 180 in someone's core values like that. Clearly the writers wanted to create opposition between DM and LE for the sake of the drama, but I think they should have tried to do it another way. This was simply too far out of character for DM.”

Originally Posted by Biffpup:
“2) I think you're correct. The writer had to create a big deal, wild, confrontational, messy scene and in some ways he took a shortcut. On the other hand, maybe his talking against exercise was meant to be a sign of his confusion. . Well, it was confusing to me!”

I think Louisa had every expectation that Martin would be able to stand up in front of the school children and parents and expound on the benefits of a good diet and exercise - just as he had at Aunt Joan's funeral. But by the time Sports Day had arrived, he was in such a deep hole that he wasn't capable of this. I was talking to a friend today and described his demeanor when Louisa brought in the breakfast as "catatonic". Louisa probably should have understood this that morning, but perhaps his demeanor had her so upset that she wasn't thinking it through.

But what Louisa didn't know was the conversation that he had with his mother after she left for school. His mother reminded him how little she knew/understood him (she thought he won medals at sports?) So when he was up on that stage feeling all that emotional turmoil Louisa is asking him to tell the children how important it is to be involved in sports at school. All he can think about is that HE wasn't involved in any sports at school. Maybe there were painful memories of schoolmates (and probably his father!) berating him for not being involved in sports.

If he was in an emotionally healthy state he probably would have given a good talk about the necessity of a good diet and proper exercise, but at that moment he wasn't capable of this. And Louisa only knew part of the story.

dcdmfan

17-10-2013

Originally Posted by CopperHill:
“What a range of comments I think my favorite was ggo85 referring to Ruth as a BAMF. I loved that scene!

In their conversation, Ruth does refer to adultery in the family not just being limited to Joan and I thought she was referring to Margaret's affair with the man for whom she left Christopher -- but maybe she was referring to Christopher's affair with Al's mother . . . . (all just theoretical, of course).

I wasn't too keen on this series after E2. Too much repetition of past storylines, blah, blah , blah, but the brilliance of the acting - all the acting (but especially Martin) - and my love for all the characters - kept me watching and I gotta admit that I'm hooked.

I don't know that I'll ever watch Series5 again. I really didn't like Louisa. She wasn't the Louisa I had grown to know and love. But the old Louisa is back this series, and I love that she's alternately chosen to ignore the Doc's ways (because what else can she do most of the time really, but accept him) and to reach out to him when it becomes obvious that this is beyond the norm even for him. Of course she's going to leave because that's what she does. Of course he's going to withdraw because that's what he does.

Someone above did a really good job summarizing all the trauma these two have been through since their failed engagement. It's really unfortunate that, on top of everything else, Mom showed up so soon in their latest attempt at cohabitation.

So Series 5 ended with Louisa really needing to hear, "I love you", "I love you", "I will al(ways love you)". Maybe it's Martin's turn to hear those words. He obviously really really really needs to. So maybe that's how this season will end - with Louisa coming through at the last minute for Martin.”

I agree with you about Louisa in series 5. I find it almost impossible to watch. In this series CC has been allowed to play her with a full range of emotions. As a result we have been able to witness what a fine actress she really is. She wasn't given that opportunity in series 5.

dcdmfan

17-10-2013

Originally Posted by Shop Girl:
“I think Louisa had every expectation that Martin would be able to stand up in front of the school children and parents and expound on the benefits of a good diet and exercise - just as he had at Aunt Joan's funeral. But by the time Sports Day had arrived, he was in such a deep hole that he wasn't capable of this. I was talking to a friend today and described his demeanor when Louisa brought in the breakfast as "catatonic". Louisa probably should have understood this that morning, but perhaps his demeanor had her so upset that she wasn't thinking it through.

But what Louisa didn't know was the conversation that he had with his mother after she left for school. His mother reminded him how little she knew/understood him (she thought he won medals at sports?) So when he was up on that stage feeling all that emotional turmoil Louisa is asking him to tell the children how important it is to be involved in sports at school. All he can think about is that HE wasn't involved in any sports at school. Maybe there were painful memories of schoolmates (and probably his father!) berating him for not being involved in sports.

If he was in an emotionally healthy state he probably would have given a good talk about the necessity of a good diet and proper exercise, but at that moment he wasn't capable of this. And Louisa only knew part of the story.”

His mother knows the exact spot where he is bruised and she hits him there so that he will continue to hurt. She is so controlling. She really is a sadist. She knew the effect it would have on him when she mentioned the cup.

I thought it was interesting that Ruth said Margaret wanted to keep him away from other people. Social isolation was her goal. What a mean woman. It is hard to fathom somebody who would be that cruel. Claire Bloom plays her so well that it is believable that the woman is that evil.

Kudos to the writers who have an understanding of the mind of a child abuser. I know it is heavy drama, these are very tough issues and it's not always fun to watch. But maybe somebody out there will recognize themselves in Martin and realize they are hurting, too. There is a stereotype that this sort of thing only happens in (what Americans would call) redneck or white trash families. It is very easy to be in denial about the effects of things that happened to us in childhood. Martin has been in denial for all these years.

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