DOC MARTIN: SERIES 5

I came away from this series with mixed feelings. I was glad to have viewed it and sorry when it ended. Overall, I thought it was very good, especially the first 4 episodes but it started to go downhill from there with the eighth and last episode being a little silly and not up to the standards for the series itself.I was glad that a few characters were written out of the series, either by death or moving away (as it is with life) and new characters appearing to freshen up and add depth to the series. This, to my mind, is not a comedy but rather a drama about life in a small English village, Port Wenn, where an emotionally disturbed doctor resides and interacts with the village inhabitants. I liked Martin's other Aunt (new one); she brings intelligence to the series. Whereas, they typecast the new receptionist as another airhead, which would not have been my choice if I was writing it. Why not someone at the front desk who is sharp and could make up for the social skills Doc Martin obviously lacks, someone who could stand up to him, giving it to him as good as she gets?As for Doc Martin in Series 5, he is grumpier than ever. He is as awkward, distant, lacking in social skills and empathy as before. He is oblivious to the emotions of others and how and what he says impacts those around him. We are being treated to someone who very well mimics the symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome. He has very much difficulty in the ability, if any at all, to recognize the feelings and frustrations that Louisa goes through in her interaction with him. She looks truly exhausted. I wonder if its real and she is tiring of this character and the series, or she is just playing the part of a mother with a baby and a job to hold down, whereas the father has little involvement other than occasionally babysitting. He is truly an unlikable character but you also know that he is not aware of his actions and their repercussions. He doesn't have a clue.The cute baby is the star of series 5 and his presence almost breaks through Doc Martin's antisocial behavior at times. When Louisa stabs her spoon into a soft-boiled egg in one scene, that seemed to have said it all. It could have ended right there, but instead they carried on with last episode and ended it in such a way as to keep things alive for a Series 6. For Louisa, in that scene, it seems that she finally realized that even though she loves Martin and he, in his way, loves her, this relationship is hopeless and will never blossom. In this scene, while they are eating dinner, she clearly sees he will not or cannot ever change to any degree of emotional maturity, or be able to return her love in kind.I was sorry to see Series 5 end, but in a way, I am not looking forward to Series 6 if it perpetuates more of the same. We are lead to believe in the end of the last episode that Doc Martin has magically transformed into an empathetic person who will remain in practice in Port Wenn and not take that job in London. I didn't believe it. But, for now they have left an opening and loose ends to tie for another Series of episodes. I won't comment on the other characters as this series is all about Martin, Louisa and the baby. The rest are there for background and context to fill out the drama.

We saw "Doc Martin, The Movie" on TV and immediately fell in love with the title character and the people of Portwenn, a fictitious fishing village in Cornwall, England. It's so funny; we found it necessary to buy the series and pre-order Season 5. Doc Martin is an irascible General Practitioner who was a successful Obstetrician based in London. The reason for his move is one you will have to find out by buying this series. Funny as Hell and the people who suffer his ministrations are lovable Provincials whose characters are all well-developed by the writers. He is a very capable diagnostician but has no people skills of which to speak. Especially delightful to lovers of the English language is the dialogue he and others use. Notable among these it the three word put-down he uses on the "Doctor's Friend". Note them well, it's something to admire in the British. Use them here in the States on the unwashed masses and you'll get away with it, they won't know how you've just put them in their place. There are a delicious number of love interests that develop in the series and the sexual tension is heightened when Doc Martin inadvertently meets up with an old colleague, a provocative London Cardiologist; a lovely bit of red-haired pastry that I would be hard pressed to resist. The 5th season continues with one important character deleted only to be replaced by another who is portrayed by one of the most talented English actresses working today and to top it off, she is as hard-nosed as Doc Martin! I reacted with pleasure to every one of her appearances. A number of other actors that are recognizable by viewers of earlier BBC Masterpiece presentations appear in cameo roles. I kept awaiting that delightfully erotic nymphet of a surgeon to appear again in series 5, to no avail. Series 6, which is sorely needed and will be equally as welcome as the preceding ones will hopefully bring that red-haired miscreant back to complicate Doc Martins life once again. Someone must stand up to this man, and she can do it in the most devastating manner! Having the new baby complicates everyones life, it's surprising the baby survives its numerous caregivers, one of whom is found to be wearing an electronic ankle bracelet that the court ordered! For relief from the tense world we live in at present I (and you should also) turn to "Doc Martin" to help forget our worries. Don't rely on PBS to replay this series when you'd like to see it again; add it to your library: then you and your friends and visiting relatives can be lured into the lush and beautiful countryside on the Cornish coast, how I envy them some of the views they see every day in "Portwenn". Buy it now and enjoy it always!!

I couldn't wait to buy Season 5. I pre-ordered it without reading any reviews. Then I read the reviews and was concerned. So, before I pushed the play button on the DVD player, I warned my husband that we probably weren't going to like Season 5. WELL, we have watched all of Season 5 twice now and I really don't understand the negative reviews at all. It seems to me that some folks just don't like change, which is understandable, but have an open mind, folks! Sometimes change is refreshing and for the best. Yes - Aunt Joan is not in the show and you'll find out why in the second episode, but another one of Martin's aunts, Aunt Ruth (superbly played by Eileen Atkins) inherits Joan's farm and adds unique interest to the show in our opinion. And yes, Pauline is gone, but so what? I'm not sure I wanted another season of her fluffy frocks and whiney voice anyway - though the character was fun and Katherine Parkinson did an awesome job. Most of the other townspeople are there. Louisa (Carolyn Catz) is as beautiful as ever, and the baby is absolutely adorable. I don't want to give away too much, but you can tell that Doc really does care for his little son, as weird as the Doc is. We love Doc Martin and will be first in line to pre-order Season 6 - if there is one!

I have previously purchased the first four series in a box set after only ever seeing a few episodes on t.v, once series five was aired I religiously watched it every Monday at 9 on ITV1. So when I found it had been released on DVD I had to get it. I suppose in general it's a very simple concept done in many other films and tv shows, someone in a new town falling in love, but the twists and turns involved along the way make it way more interesting, if this series was meant to be a silly comedy I doubt it would have gotten to five series, the characters, while wacky and odd are cleverly written and not the kind that would annoy you, nothing is over played or repeated too much, everything about this series is funny, dramatic and heartwarming, every time the last episode ends I just want another, but sadly one day this series will have to end and these DVDs will be a transportation to Port Wenn and laugh all over again at all the hilarious situations.

Unmissable continuation of the series. Set in beautiful Cornwall and featuring some dodgy Cornish accents and interesting illnesses, and the stop/start, uncomfortable love affair between 'Marten' and 'Louiser'. How is it possible that we love this rude, arrogant, surly man? If we met him in real life we wouldn't give him the time of day, and would certainly have reported him to the PCT at "Sit"! Yet we love him and can't wait for him to lighten up and be a loving husband and Dad. To be fair if 'Louiser' and the baby have failed to melt his heart at this late stage is it ever going to happen? Can't wait for series 6!

Well, that's what the sticker said since this was released on DVD close to Mother's Day. So how come I, male and usually more interested in war films, action and rock music, enjoy it so much? Because it is good entertainment, that's why. Marvellous scenery, delightful characters (even the baddies aren't all that bad), fun, sunshine and even some good health advice thrown in for good measure. Some of the storylines may be a bit thin and I could have done with less PC Penhale, but something always seem to be happening and no episode ever becomes boring. Escapism at its best!

We stayed with friends of ours who had the first 3 series of "Doc Martin" and we watched them together and thoroughly enjoyed them. Doc is so rude to people, the things he comes out with are hilarious, and it's laugh out loud funny. Also, the scenery is stunning, so much so that we had a visit to Port Isaac (Port Wenn in the show) and it was fun trying to find Doc's house, the surgery, Bert's restaurant etc. This series is thoroughly recommended. I can't wait until Series 6 comes out in the Spring.

this series 5 is as good as all the previous 4. good entertaining story lines as before and what a charming end. i even felt sorry for the doc when louisia walked out on him, but they finished happy after all, except poor mrs tishall. hope she comes back if any more series are made. and i hope many more will be made. would recomend series 5 to anyone, in fact i would do the same to all five series.