Doktor Martin Dry Your Tears (2004– ) Online

Today we see Portwenn say goodbye to Joan. Ruth arrives and like Martin, she's curt and dismissive. When she speaks to Louisa, Ruth is so properly English or Englishly proper. She reminded me of Agatha Christie characters who almost certainly ended up dead. It's a bit puzzling to me though because all this time I thought Joan and Martin's father were the only siblings now comes a previously unrevealed sibling. Apparently, she's the oft forgotten middle child. I never saw the resemblance between Martin's clinical and brusque personality and Joan's warmth and kindness. Martin's father is a charming ladies' man. Although his mother was totally indifferent she wasn't abrupt and rude like Martin. She could cut up his heart into a million pieces with hurtful words but she delivered it ever so mildly like she was talking about quilting or whatever it is elderly women do. But Ruth -- now there's the family resemblance. She's sharp and cutting to everyone in Portwenn and showed no signs of humanity until Martin tells her she's not dying from lupus but from a curable dehydrating syndrome. Here she hugs Martin and he doesn't resist. Another similarity between Martin and Ruth was that Joan had been wanting them both to leave London and stay in Portwenn, which seems now she succeeded albeit from beyond the grave. Martin was miffed because the undertakers were late. After insisting to be one of the pallbearers, the younger undertaker drops his end almost causing the coffin to tip over on the mourners in the church. While Martin delivered his eulogy, which sounded like a medical lecture on heart attacks and obesity, his baby was antsy and so Louisa had to take him outside. Then Penhale's phone radio and phone went off. So it's a typical Portwenn event catered by Large. Because of Joan's death, Martin had to stay in Portwenn two more weeks to settle her affairs but Imperial Hospital couldn't get a replacement for just two weeks. The shortest stint they could book was for two months. And so the Doc has to stay for another couple of months. In the meantime, Pauline wasn't even in Portwenn any more. Al and Burt were talking about her not being given time off by her new boss to attend Joan's funeral. So Louisa pinch hits as practice receptionist. We meet Morwenna again as the chemist's assistant but she was fired so she ended up at the surgery asking to babysit Louisa's baby. But Louisa had a better idea -- hire Morwenna as the Doc's receptionist. I'm surprised why they had to go through having Morwenna jump from one job to another -- the baker, the chemist, etc - when the Doc could've just ask Louisa about her, she was Pauline's replacement after all when Pauline studied to be a phlebotomist. It's as though the Doc and Louisa were meeting Morwenna for the first time and vice versa. I guess the continuity editor is has been replaced too.

This episode begins with the funeral for Aunt Joan (Stephanie Cole). Why they killed off the character, I'd love to know as Ms. Cole is still acting and is definitely NOT dead! Regardless, there is a big cock-up at the funeral and Joan's sister, Ruth appears. Ruth is DEFINITELY an Ellington--with the personality disorder to match. However, when Ruth inherits her sister's farm, it looks like she'll be staying a bit--even though she hates animals.

In addition to this, the big theme in the show is the lack of a receptionist. Why she's gone, exactly, is odd and Louisa chips in as a receptionist. However, she JUST HAD A BABY and Doc Martin isn't exactly sympathetic towards her, so Louisa has to find a substitute...and fast.

This is a decent episode but it didn't feel right without Joan or the receptionist. But it is entertaining nevertheless.

The writers and producers have had to deal with the loss of a couple of characters. Of course, Aunt Joan died in the previous episode and her sister, to whom she left the farm, a rather sour and harsh woman, enters. Pauline is gone as well. Martin receives word that he has to wait two months to go to London. He is asked to eulogize Joan and delivers a diatribe on bad health practices and obesity. Several other things begin to take place. Louisa, baby in hand, tries to be the new receptionist but Martin is ugly and critical. A young man, son of the funeral director, has serious issues of his own making (and his father's). And Ruth has a secret..