Episode 7 – Happily Ever After

[Kate KennedyKeymaster]

Post your comments for Happily Ever After here

[Sue]

This happens to be one episode that I have a difficult time re-watching. It is all well-done, but I always know the ending is not going to change and I find it is such a sad ending. There had been so much promise during the other episodes of S3 and then to have it end with Martin and Louisa going their separate ways is such a disappointment.

Even on the initial viewing, one could almost anticipate what was going to happen with the wedding. The signs are strewn throughout. As the already insecure Martin and Louisa have their apprehensions stoked by comments from various sources, the viewer can feel each becoming less sure of his/her decision.

Louisa has had nearly every villager question what she could possibly see in Martin.
Then, she hears Pauline describing everything Pauline thinks is wrong with Martin.
Louisa even finds it difficult to describe to Isobel what Martin’s good qualities are.
The tipping point for Louisa may have been the conversation with Isobel on the hillside. Isobel says “You found someone who makes you happy and you make happy. I’ve always just settled.”
Instead of the words encouraging Louisa, it only makes her wonder if she really has found someone to make her happy.

Martin had even more people feeding his fears:
He has to tell one of his patients he must live with a condition that can’t be cured. The patient suggests he has options rather than being miserable the rest of his life.
Auntie Joan casually asks how he is holding up.
Roger Fenn confronts Martin and asks if he is really sure.
Mrs. Tishell asks if he is having second thoughts and comments that a bachelor’s life can be quite nice.
Louisa suggests that Martin could be subconsciously having second thoughts and unintentionally puts the vicar out of commission in order to derail the wedding.
Then, Mr Porter may have delivered Martin’s tipping point by telling him he should ask himself whether he will make Louisa happy.

All of the other “disasters” of the day just further define this as a “wedding that was not meant to be.”

Despite the drama, the show manages to include several good one-liners in addition to the unusual activities with Mr Porter’s pig.

The conversation in the surgery between the Doc and Isobel regarding her pregnancy:
Isobel: “I’m going to have natural birth…no icky drugs or anything.”
Doc: “God forbid you should use icky drugs when you can experience excruciating agony of child birth.”

Or during the delivery of Isobel’s baby:
Doc: “The head is presenting itself.”
Isobel: “Is it a boy or a girl?”
Doc: “It’s a head !!”

After the delivery of Isobel’s baby, it seemed a bit odd to me that Louisa would put back on her coat, which has been used as a mat on which Isobel gave birth. Is it unsoiled after all that?

[Joan EllinghamParticipant]

I am probably in the minority, but I was relieved that Martin and Louisa did not marry in this episode. They barely knew each other and probably would not have gotten through a nine month pregnancy (assuming the baby was still conceived at the same time) as a couple. Their relationship was tense after James was born and quickly worsened after they did marry. It is a classic case of putting the cart before the horse: Get married and then figure out how to have a relationship rather than establish a relationship and then marry.

Agree with Sue that everything from the first engagement to Louisa’s walk down the hill showed their misgivings about Martin’s rash proposal and Louisa’s impetuous acceptance. Fortunately, they did not “marry in haste and repent in leisure.”

[Author]

Posts