There were a lot of good lines in this episode, such as the following:

Mrs. Walker: “Am I your first official patient?”
Doc: “Indeed you are. Collect 1,000 loyalty points, you get a free coffin.”

Doc to Elaine when she says she isn’t responsible for working his system: “That’ll be the system whereby we don’t kill the patients by prescribing the wrong medication?”

Roger: “You’re not giving me anything for my throat?”
Doc: “I’m not giving you anything for the chip on your shoulder either.”

Doc to Elaine when she can’t take a correct phone message: “There’s a sick child somewhere but you didn’t get the name or number. I guess we could always get the name from the obituary, couldn’t we?”

Doc to Roger when he tries to make him see a specialist: “You have cancer and you may well lose your voice, which has a certain appeal.”

Roger to Doc: “Are you lost or looking for children to frighten?”
Another observation as I watched this and the next few episodes and compared them to subsequent series, it appeared that Martin Clunes has become much more comfortable playing the part of a doctor and doing examinations. In this S1E2, his actions in examining Roger Fenn seem just a bit forced and mechanical. In later years, he seems totally natural in the role, making me really believe that he is a practicing physician.

Finally, I noticed in re-watching what I had not observed in my initial viewing or even subsequent viewings until it was pointed out by other fans: the onions on the dashboard of Louisa’s car. I know those have all been discussed in earlier fan conversations.

One Sue missed…hospital receptionist when he hands her his car keys “are you a GP?” DM answers “yes, and your a receptionist”.

This episode had some of the best quips ever!

Favorite moments included Martin dragging the dog through reception and putting him out, only to have Elaine let him right back in. The tossing of the stick over the cliff and Doc’s “Fetch” to the dog. When Martin got info ono Bobby Richards’ from Louisa at the school and he leaves, goes the wrong way, and then we see him backtrack.

This might be Elaine’s most irritating episode. I’d have fired her too, good girl or otherwise.

And, of course, there’s that brilliant scene at the hospital when Martin tells Roger so much of his background.

Excellent.

– Wanker
– Tosser
– Pillock
– ????

LOL 🙂

The “Gentlemen Prefer….” title likely refers to the book and movie “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” Elaine was kind of a blonde that Greg, but not Martin, preferred. The matchmaker asked Martin not if he preferred blondes but if he was a breast or leg man. The giggling fiancee who Elaine did not prefer but her father did is a blonde. Louisa is a brunette and Martin seems to prefer her.

I like the music at the end and notice the same music is in both the UK version and the Acorn version. Maybe not the same copyright/licensing issues as with “Sailing.”

In addition to the previously-mentioned favorite lines, on my rewatch I noted the following as some of my favorites:

Mrs. Black: You’ll be looking for a partner.
Doc: No, I’ll be wanting a patient.
*************
Elaine: Do you want a Jammie Dodger for the way?
*************
Elaine: Look…..
Doc: No, you look, Elaine…for a new job.
*************
Louisa: You always have a line, don’t you? It’s like every conversation’s a competition and you have to win it. It’s so… male.
Doc: Thank you.
*************
Doc: Shouldn’t you be giggling outside my house? (to Bobby Richard’s sister)
*************
Airbag deploying and Doc’s reaction to it. Did he try to drive away when he got back in the car after his confrontation with Roger? I thought that should have disabled the car.
*************
Doc: (to Roger Fenn) You may not care about this, but unfortunately, I’m paid to.
*************
Doc: Would you like the tumor to write to you?
*************
Doc: (shouting to dog) Will you get out of that bin?
*************
Doc: (to Elaine’s dad): Well, she’s got, um, personality
*************
Carmen: (horrified) What is your dog doing?
Doc: ………It’s not my dog.
*************
Doc: Well, that sounded, um…..
Roger Fenn: Hoarse?
*************
Doc: I’ve booked you in for surgery next Friday.The 13th, actually.
Roger: …Perfect.
*************
Scene with Doc and the biscuit deliveryman (Have you had your prostate checked?)
*************
Receptionist: Is it me, or don’t you understand plain English?
Doc:It’s you.
*************
Doc: …I haven’t operated since. So now I’m your GP.
Roger: You probably want to keep that quiet.
Doc: Yeah, I wouldn’t want the village fall out of love with me.
Roger: Your secret’s safe with me.
Doc: Well, it’s not like you’re going to be able to tell anyone, anyway, is it?
*************
Roger: You are a miserable bugger.
Doc: Thank you.
*************
Roger: He did come to see me. Depressed the hell out of me.
Doc: It was mutual.
*************
Roger: Can I come and talk to you about the chemo?
Doc: Sh,sh…rest that voice. I’ll see if I can squeeze you in.
*************
Doc is more willing to socialize with people (Roger, Elaine’s dad and Carmen, attending the wedding) than he is in later episodes. he didn’t even look that miserable at the wedding reception!

Even back in series one, we saw some great facial expressions from Doc: disgust with Elaine, disgust with the dog, working the eyebrow, reaction to seeing the blood on his coat, etc.

Bring on episode 3!