HollyG

Going full-on English major here: the dog symbolizes messy, human emotions that DM can’t control. Its opposite symbol is the clock. Watch where the dog comes in — always symbolizing DM’s social inadequacy. At the end of this episode, after he has given the dog the penicillin shot, and he is looking down on the party on the beach, the dog slips into the house and the final scene of DM yelling “get out” is his frustration not only with the dog but with himself. He wanted to go join that party.

Probably even more frustrating in that he had witnessed Danny petting the dog at the very beginning.

Series 2 is one of my favourite series and this is one of my favourite episodes.

So many satisfying scenes in this episode. I like any scene where MC can trot out his acting skills. For that reason, I loved the scene in the pharmacy where Louisa is buying 3 (!!!!) bottles of mouthwash and launches into a diatribe about him kissing her (MC’s eyes switch over to Mrs Tishell in alarm) and we also see his eyes taking in the 3 bottles of mouthwash.

Another good scene is with Mark Mylow in the car on the way to the hospital. Mark is rattling on about them taking care of each other in old age and compliments the Doc on not being “needy” in regard to the opposite sex. He sits for a minute and you can see his tiny mind mulling this over and he (Mark that is) says “you’re not…. are you?”. DM says no.

Another good scene is on the beach — DM has just bought his fish for the day and he meets Mark who is so proud of his card from everybody. DM, in characteristic blunt fashion, tells Mark there was no mugger. Mark sits down, disconsolate, and proceeds to read aloud all the names of people who signed his card including “Lou and Dan”. Cue alarm bells.

Nothing like jealousy to fuel a good series.

Niggles: every time I see them try to get Mrs Steel drink that glass of water while lying flat on her back, I want to scream. BTW, saw her (Margaret Tyzack) playing Antonia in I, Claudius on Acorn.

o.k. I am probably the odd one out here but this is my 2nd favourite episode in Series 1. I like Martin’s visible discomfort when talking penis size with Mark Mylow and also his discomfort when he mistakes Mark Mylow’s reference to the “girl of your dreams”. MC does discomfort very well. He did it very well in Elaine’s parents wedding episode earlier in the series when he was sitting alone at the table.

I also like the learning aspect of it. Mark Mylow teaches him something about small town solutions and DM gets the first hint that “the late great Dr Sim” may not have been as dimwitted as he thought.