Home › Forums › Doc Martin Rewatch › Doc Martin Rewatch – Series 2 › Episode 1 – Old Dogs
This topic contains 159 replies, has 7 voices, and was last updated by Barbi 7 years, 9 months ago.
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Post your comments for Old Dogs here
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SueI believe there are several scenes out of all the series that generally would be considered memorable by the die-hard DM fan base. I think two of those would be the dream sequences…Martin’s in the previous episode and Louisa’s in this episode. Louisa’s could be considered remarkable as much as anything for the fact that it is one of the few times that Martin appears wearing something other than a suit. (And he looks quite nice, by the way.) But, both dream scenes reveal to the viewers how Martin and Louisa feel about each other, even though neither may admit it to themselves and certainly don’t convey it to each other.
This episode, besides having some interesting story lines, is significant in that it introduces two major continuing characters. Pauline appears as the new receptionist and will remain as such for quite some time. This episode is also the first time we learn that Martin may have a rival for Louisa’s affections…Danny Steel. Even before Martin comes to dislike Danny as a rival, he dislikes him because Danny questions Martin’s medical skills, an obvious mistake on Danny’s part as the audience knows.
I found quite a bit of conversational humor to enjoy in this episode.
After DM examines Muriel Steel at her house, he and Aunty Joan converse:
AJ: How is she?
DM: RudeWhen Aunty Joan and DM meet on the street after Muriel Steel has recovered:
AJ: Mu is back to her old self!
DM: Pretty annoying then?Right after Pauline has taken over the receptionist job for Elaine and starts to follow DM with his patient, Eddie Rix, into the consulting room:
DM to Pauline: “Stay here! Stay!”Later the entire conversation between DM and Pauline as she explains to him how to use the computer system to locate a patient’s records:
P: You’re looking under “R”. Shall we start again at the beginning. First name Edward, so we look under “E”. See! There!
DM: No, Pauline. I can’t have patient records filed under their first name.
P: It was good enough for Newlin.
DM: What kind of surgery was it? A vets?
P: Still a surgery. Learned a lot there, actually…minor ops, splints and things. Could have done that sprained wrist for you. Piece of piss.
DM: Did Mr. Rix bring a letter from the hospital regarding his ribs?
P: Don’t think so.
DM: Perhaps it’s filed under “L” for letter, or “P” for piece of paper.Overall, I thought this episode laid a good base for Series 2 and had viewers looking forward to some new character interactions.
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BuddYour website has to be the elncrtoeic Swiss army knife for this topic.
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GithaWhoever edits and pulehsibs these articles really knows what they’re doing.
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A good start to one of my favorite seasons. Classic Doc Martin.
Medical mystery and lots of laughs on the side.I thought the writers broached what must be a very real fear for the elderly, loosing independence and entering a “home”. Although I’m not convinced
that dehydration causes dementia to the extent that Mrs Steel was suffering.Lots of fun scenes, the car ride with Mark, the grocery store, the mouthwash and the first of many laughs featuring Pauline.
I know the writers have some fun with names of patients and surprised Mrs Rix didn’t have a first name like Donna May.
I read somewhere that Carolyn Catz was pregnant this season. Can’t remember where I saw the article…. Maybe I need a glass of water.
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Yeah this is the episode/season where the show really hits its stride. The first time I saw the dream sequence intro I was completely blown away. To use an overused phrase, I thought it was aMAAAAzing! Of course the first time you see it, you have no idea it’s a dream. Once you’re familiar with the show, however, you realize how out-of-touch with “reality” it really is.
Doc Martin: “See those houses there? The one on the left? There used to be a lovely old man lived there, and he had this pretty little greenfinch that used to sit on his finger… and sing to him. It was the most beautiful thing I ever saw.”
But his words trail off and he seems to change his mind about that being the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen as he gazes into Louisa’s eyes and lovingly caresses her face. Then, then…
The inevitable interruption! LOL.
I may have more comments on this great episode later.
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NashThere is a critical shortage of inomfrative articles like this.
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A great start to season 2 with the dream sequence. Poor Louisa, even in her dreams her moments with Doc are interrupted and separated. Martin and Carolyn’s expressions throughout that opening are great, especially Doc at the end saying, “go on, give it to me, you dirty stinking dog.” Absolutely hilarious and unexpected.
The title, “Old Dogs” I think is referring to the saying “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” and some of the story lines seem to touch on that theme of how hard it can be to change ones ways. Mrs. Steele and Auntie Joan don’t like the idea of changing residence to a convalescent home, the Rix couple trying to add “spark” to their marriage but rather painfully unsuccessful, Pauline coming from a vet surgery updating Docs computer and thinking she can help with patients, and Louisa back with her old flame, Danny. No Louisa! Don’t do it! I saw you elbow Danny away and look back at the Doc there at the end of the episode.
I loved Pauline from the start, how she took over the front office and seemed more helpful to the Doc without putting him down like Elaine. I think she brought a more cheerful humor to the show overall.
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CadenThanks for shnairg. Always good to find a real expert.
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RaynochWhat a great recurose this text is.
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TurkGeez, that’s unelaieveblb. Kudos and such.
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LeatriceThis is an aritcle that makes you think “never thought of that!”
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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.
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I always try to understand the slang, idioms, colloquialisms and such in the show, but there’s one line in this episode I haven’t been able to nail down. Maybe someone here knows…
Muriel: “Reminds me of when I used to spit on my hanky and wipe the [something] off your face.”
The what? Chalk eyes? Chock eyes? I can’t seem to find a reference to anything like that.
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Roscarrock, doesn’t she simply refer to cleaning his face with a handkerchief after he had eaten chocolate? That’s what grown-ups do when children got all messy after eating an icecream or chocolate bar, isn’t it?
I really liked this episode. I remember so well that when I saw it for the first time, I immediately disliked Danny. Even if it became clear in later episodes, I felt that he wasn’t a man who cared about others ( not even his mother) but only thought about his own well being.. It struck me when I saw him again, how much younger the actor Tristan Sturrock was in S2 than in S7. Probably because of his health issue with his back.
Like most of you already mentioned, this episode was packed with humour. Like the dock evesdropping at the conversation between Pauline and Al, brilliant!
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apl9662, I guess that’s a possibility. I would for sure agree if she had said “chockies” and not “chock eyes”. I don’t quite get it.
About Danny… the writers hinted early-on about his religious bent, didn’t they? When Mrs. Steel is being helped out of the water, DM says “Good God” and Danny asks him to please not take the Lord’s name in vain. Then later after Muriel is admitted and DM discovers her problem is she’s dehydrated, Danny exclaims “Praise the Lord”, eliciting a quizzical “Huh?” from the doc. This stuff is easy to overlook when you haven’t yet seen Danny’s later escapades!
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KrystalI’m so glad that the intrenet allows free info like this!
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SueI think it is “choc ice”. Wikipedia defines it as “A choc ice is the British English term for a generic frozen dessert generally consisting of a rectangular block of ice cream — typically vanilla flavour — thinly coated with chocolate and without a stick. “
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CayleBoy that rellay helps me the heck out.
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RochiAt last! Something clear I can unsndrtaed. Thanks!
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Marylouise
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LateishaPlnsaieg to find someone who can think like that
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JenayaBS low – ratoanility high! Really good answer!
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YoungyIngeilltence and simplicity – easy to understand how you think.
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MargarettaKeep it coming, wrresit, this is good stuff.
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Finally catching up after my vacation. That was a pretty ambitious scene to start the series for our little show, wasn’t it? Looking at the pictures of what they had to build for the filming is really surprising. I don’t think they’ve tried anything quite like that since.
I like how Martin tried to turn around and not enter the pharmacy when he saw Louisa inside – and it sounds like he had been doing quite a bit of avoidance. Poor guy.
I like that Martin couldn’t stand Danny long before he knew of his relationship to Louisa. If he just hated him because of jealousy it would be less true to his character.
I love how Louisa gives Martin a very long look back as he leaves the pub after Mrs Steele’s rescue. Although she wasn’t happy with the aftermath of the kiss, it’s the first indication since then that she’s still interested.
Martin’s starting to understand that his influence as a doctor has nothing on the influence Mark has when the nurse at the hospital won’t give Martin’s patient priority until she sees that it’s Mark. That has to be tough to take as he feels Mark is such a bumbling idiot.
Two of my favorite exchanges:
Danny: Bless you.
Martin: I didn’t sneeze.Aunt Joan: Good God
Martin: Please don’t take his name in vain.A couple of personal reasons I like this episode. One is the the medication he prescribes Muriel is diclofenac. That’s the medication I’ve taken every day for years for my arthritis. And three of the locations in this episode really eluded me for awhile: Muriel Steele’s house, High Trees, and the Rix house. After months of searching I was able to find all three. I was especially tickled about the Steele house because I used views from the windows for the area to search and when I found what looked to be the house, I was able to verify from the satellite view because of the placement of the little greenhouse next to the front door! LOL!
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DinaThanks for the insithg. It brings light into the dark!
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MarileeThis artlice is a home run, pure and simple!
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KailynHey, that’s the grttease! So with ll this brain power AWHFY?
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