Customer Reviews

Doc Martin: Series 2

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What makes this British Drama TV series so funny? What's so funny about a surgeon who is mentally and physically indisposed at the sight of blood? Why do you find yourself laughing at the sight of the townsfolk in this serene, beautiful little seaside Cornwall town of Portwenn? It is what happened with most scenes, in all 9 episodes of this 3 DVD series. In almost every scene, I'd lift my eyebrows to the Mrs (we watched together), she'd pick up a corner of her mouth, and we'd both begin laughing.

We thoroughly enjoyed the stories and the quirky British people of this small town. Doc Martin (Martin Clunes) and his stern, grumpy, all-business, rude, and seeming heartless bedside manner, just adds to the hilarity--as he fails to see any of the joy in the village. The medical conditions he is faced to address are often as hilarious as the character that complains of the symptoms. Mix with that a love triangle the Doc in involved in, but fails to acknowledge, and you have a season of some of the best British Comedy/Drama ever produced.

This second season (Doc Martin: Series 2) is even better than the previously released first season.
___For starters, it's 50% longer, 9 50-minute episodes rather than just the 6 in Series One.
___The episodes seem to have several plots woven together, much more complex stories, than in the original set. The action moves quickly and keeps you spellbound every minute. You'll be so happy, that by owning the DVD, you don't have to wait a week for the next episode. Episodes do tend to have a carry-over link.
___And this series, unlike the original set, has SDH subtitles, something we found to be helpful with some of the dialect as well as British terms. Their biscuit is our cookie, tea is a meal, etc.
___Extras include some star cast filmographies.
___I still recommend you watch Series One as well, but it's not completely necessary. But after watching series 2 you will want the earlier set.

After seeing the zany activity in Doc Martin's surgery (GP office), I decided if American doctors had patients as quirky and strangely symptomatic, all of them would give up and turn to plumbing or painting.
This comedy series about a doctor's practice, reminded me of the hugely funny comedy "Pie In The Sky", a British comedy/drama about a detective who really wanted to be a cook. I've reviewed both and recommend both.

Just a few Details:
Episode 1__Doc Martin gets a new receptionist (Katherine Parkinson as Pauline) only better in some ways. He gets in hot water with Aunt Joan (Stephanie Cole), because of her friend Muriel, who's son Danny, reunites with teacher, Louisa (Caroline Catz), whom Doc just recently kissed, a carry-over from Series One. I told you this had some woven plots.
2__Doc gets stuck with childcare for Peter while his mother gets stuck in the hospital. Bert Large (Ian McNeice), handyman, fries fish.
3__Doc has to compete with a herbal/nature remedy seller who is the sis to Mark (town cop) plus help the odd family with multiple problems who strongly object to house calls. Romantic question: Is Bert the REAL father of Al Large, now falling romantically for the new receptionist after being jilted by her sister?
4__Local radio host drinks and Mr. Cooke stinks--really, really stinks. And what's the new town's female bombshell doing with the local cop?
5__Mr. Pratt blames Doc for his wife's death but takes revenge by using pesticides that threaten Aunt Joan's organic farm license. Romance is muddled between cop/bombshell, Al/receptionist, and Doc/Louisa while another local teacher battles obsessive-compulsive disorder.
6___Doc's parents arrive in town to vex Aunt Joan. Doc forgets his manners while dealing with rapid weight gains of a local 50-year-old lady. Doc has to help his rival in the romantic triangle with Louisa. Doc, finally get's his own often used phrase, "Shut Up", told to him.
7__Mark (cop) and Al (his best-man after Doc rudely said "NO") get lost in the woods, Marks get's a snake bite, they get lost, the crazy forester who lived with a giant squirrel (season one) leads Doc toward them, and of course they both get lost too. Just another day of laughs in the forest.
8__Mark has an anatomy problem, his fiancee has her own problem, Doc is involved & making more problems, Danny and Louisa have a problem, the pharmacy neck brace lady has a problem, and Doc muddies the lives of all.
9__Birdwatchers, lunatics, explosives, guns, knives, romance and tourism all tickle the funny bone to an explosive degree.

Some touching moments, but mostly just beautiful scenery and hilarious activity in the life of a doctor in a small town. You will want more. But you'll have to wait for Series 3. That's the only negative I can state for this DVD set. "I want more."

I have this entire series and can strongly recommend it to anyone who enjoys and admires the quirky, subtle humor of our British cousins. Very much in the style of "Hamish Macbeth", another stellar series, "Doc Martin" takes place in picturesque Cornwall and while the scenery is a star in it's own right, the acting is just as brilliant and understated. Martin Clunes, especially, plays the brilliant fish-out-of-water surgeon to perfection. Other standouts are Stewart Wright as the charmingly sincere and clueless town Constable and Caroline Catz as the schoolteacher who loves Martin but is constantly frustrated by his rude and difficult demeanor. The town of Portwenn is populated by an odd, neckbrace-wearing pharmacist, a father and son handyman team (much like Lachie and Lachie Jr. of "Hamish Macbeth", and a receptionist that defies description. If you think Will Ferrell movies are funny, you're probably not going to like or appreciate "Doc Martin", but if you enjoy subtle, quirky, oddball humor that punches you in the gut one moment and makes you laugh out loud the next, you'll love it.

I am a great fan of British TV and this series..1 and 2 is one of the best I've ever seen. It is quirky, different, the Cornish scenery is wonderful and even the sound track is loud and clear. A delightful surprise and I highly recommend the series. Can't wait for #3 to be released.

Haven't actually watched this season yet, but will award 5 stars based on how wonderful the first season was. Don't worry about "region 2", as most American DVD players can actually be reset to accept any region DVD. Found this out from another reviewer in the electronics section. Just go to [...] Once there, enter the make of your DVD player and there will be instructions on how to reset the codes. Not sure it will work for every player made (it does NOT work on Play Stations, btw), but most seemed to be there. I tried it on my Phillips and have successfully played region 1 and region 2 discs.

Yes, doctor curmudgeon is back to terrify the eccentric villagers of Portwenn. At the time of this review, there were three series of Doc Martin available on DVD in the UK, and I can say with all honesty that this is far and away the best of the three. Here is all eight episodes of series two, with (gasp) a bonus 45-minute behind-the-scenes featurette!

So what makes this better than the rest? Besides the bonus? The combined writing powers of Dominic Minghella (who also created the series), Richard Stoneman, and Jack Lothian. Director Ben Bolt is as brilliant as ever. OK, and the all-star cast and guests, but that's a given.

The stories are amazing, of course, as evidenced by naming the writers previously, but what appeased me most perhaps is that the villagers are slightly less annoying than in the first series. A few of the supporting characters reappear in interesting plots as well.

The unfortunate downer, besides the incredibly annoying anti-piracy thing at the DVD's start, which irritatingly plagues many British DVDs, is the episode entitled 'Out of the Woods', in which Stuart (Ben Miller; Worst Week of My Life, another wonderful dramedy) returns. I have singled out this episode because of how ridiculous it is. Mind you, it can be funny, but there are a few scenes which frankly embarassed me. This minor detail, which I know makes me sound like a whinger, should not detract from how wonderful the entire series is. Except for series three, which I will tackle later.

Oh, one last thing: this DVD is rated 15. As far as I can tell, it is only because of a single scene in the first episode.

My husband and I started watching Doc Martin, Season 4, just recently. We loved it immediately! So, I bought the earlier seasons for his birthday in May. We have been watching an episode or 2 almost every night. We can't wait to see what happens next. This is the most fun we have had watching a television series in years! I highly recommend it!

Doc martin (Martin Clune)is a stoic no nonsense physician who can't stand the sight of blood. This foible in his nature puts him in many a situation that is hilarious. The many other characters in the small English fishing village are quirky, warm and genuine in their own way. The beautiful local school principal and Martin are drawn to each other but his strange ways are always getting in the way of their relationship. Another extremely enjoyable British situation comedy. A joy to watch and re-watch!

THIS IS THE BEST SERIES I HAVE ENJOYED FOR QUITE SOME TIME --- LOVED IT

This season two (2) in this series continues to delight me. As in season one, season two is so well directed, produced and most of all it is fantastically acted.

Martin Clunes, as Doc Martin is fantastic as the rather gruff but highly intelligent GP in the small picturesque seaside village of Portwenn. He still has the worse "bedside manner" and tends to speak his mind no matter how rude it may sound which provides for many hysterical moments in the show--you will laugh out loud, trust me. The village is full of all kinds of very eccentric characters for the Doctor to treat and treat them he does. In actuality, Doc Martin is really damn good at what he does. He solves many medical mysteries; however, he has two major problems: (1) he cannot abide the sight of blood (the reason he's no longer in London as a surgeon) and (2) as I said before, no bedside manners.

I loved all eight (8) episodes on three (3) discs in season 2. Nevertheless, I simply adored the episode called "Blood is Thicker" it is about a rather "Hitchcocken" family that lives on the "Moors" with a vicious dog and a mother that no one has seen for years and years. It is delightful. By the way, this family is taxidermies by trade and love to stuff dead animals plus they are overprotective of their mother that no one has actually laid eyes on for a long time plus they are suffering from severe food poisoning which brings in Doc Martin.

Buy this season two. You will love it and like me, be glad that you "discovered" this series.

This series is a joy. The antics of Doc Martin, Louisa and the rest of the "village" are simply enchanting. I would recommend that anyone watching this make sure they see the first series before getting on to the rest, as they are best watched in series.