This is one of the pivotal episodes of the whole show. I have lost count of the number of times I have watched it.
The writers have done an excellent job of creating a roller coaster of emotions for the fans as well as the characters. Just when it appears that Martin and Louisa are really getting on together and enjoying a real date, Martin’s insensitive comments scuttle the entire relationship, as Louisa breaks up with him, apparently for good. It takes a medical emergency to bring them back together and finally Martin says the right thing, by asking her to marry him.
As is typical, Martin falls back in medical mode to deal with the emotional pain he experiences from the break-up. It is a mechanism he seems to have relied on throughout his life to cope with any setbacks. Despite his personal issues, he continues to operate his medical practice, looks out for the mental health of his employee as he forces Pauline to get treatment for her gambling addiction and comes to the rescue of Louisa’s friend, Holly, eventually having to act quickly to save her life.
I continue to admire MC’s acting ability as he is able to communicate, simply through facial expressions, so much of the pain that Martin is experiencing. And that evening when Martin picks Louisa up at her house, his expression when he first sees her looking so lovely is worth a thousand words, but he can’t come up with one word to compliment her, although she compliments him on his suit. MC portrays ME almost as an innocent teenager on his first date, as he tries to steal a glance at her during the concert and then awkwardly reaches for her hand as they walk from the concert.
Although much of this episode is rather serious, there is still a great deal of humor mixed in. Doc’s exchange with Mrs Lamb during her appointment is entertaining. It is also hilarious when Pauline provides incorrect patient notes and the Doc ends up examining Mr Elliott for Mr Pierce’s problem and their conditions are totally different. The dialogue when he confronts Pauline about her gambling problem is priceless too:
M: “Pauline, do you have a gambling problem?”
P: Nods her head…”I never win any more.”
Even part of the most serious conversation of the evening between M & L has its humorous tone:
M: “I just thought you’d like to know why you’re cross.”
L: “I’m not cross.”
M: “You seem cross.”
Martin simply has no concept of tactful conversation and even when he makes an effort at it, he fails, as happens when he calls on Holly the next morning to administer an epidural.
After he politely instructs Holly to turn over, Louisa steps over to quietly speak to him.
L: “What are you doing?”
M: “What?”
L: “Being weird with Holly.”
M: “I’m not being weird.”
L: “Yes, you are. You’re being all smarmy.”
M: “I’m not being smarmy. I’m helping your horrid friend.”
I had not noticed until this re-watch (although other fans may already have reported it elsewhere) an apparent inconsistency. In one of the first scenes of M&L at the concert, they are sitting on a blanket. Neither of them carried a blanket as they walked from the car to the concert area. Where did they get the blanket? Maybe it is such a posh concert that blankets were provided. The blanket very much resembles one that is draped over the corner of Louisa’s bed as she is putting on her new shoes before going to the concert. Was she supposed to take it with her?
The other thing I have tried to understand about this episode is the U.S. title. I still don’t understand the point of changing the title for the U.S. viewers; the original one, “Breaking Up is Hard to Do”, seems to make plenty of sense. “The Holly Bears a Prickle” seems much more obscure to me. I assume it comes from the old British folk carol “The Holly and the Ivy”. The lyrics include “The holly bears a blossom… The holly bears a berry… The holly bears a prickle… and The holly bears a bark…” Presumably, the holly is a reference to a man and the ivy is a reference to a woman. However, as to how this all relates to this episode, I am somewhat at a loss. It is further complicated by one character in the episode being named Holly, which may be giving the title a double meaning.
In any case, this is another well-scripted and acted episode and at least ends well for our favorite couple.
