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BBC/US PBS program, Doc Martin.

A

Aspieistj

Well-Known Member
I really hope some viewers of "Doc Martin" are on the forum. I dislike the majority of US TV programing but often do enjoy PBS. I am also a big listener of National Public Radio. Anyway, I would love to discuss the program with anyone who watches regularly. Dr. Martin Ellingham is portrayed as a surly, unsympathetic, but brilliant country doctor who is terribly socially awkward and soundly disliked by many. There have been occasional mentions of Asperger Syndrome when an official accuses Ellingham of being an Aspie and criticizes his behavior. None of the regular characters appear to suspect that he is on the spectrum. The program is half comedy half farce, with an occasional poignant moment when the viewer is allowed to see the "Doc" as a sensitive human being. I wish the program would develop his character a little further and allow his wife and a few close friends to realize that he can't help being so odd. I would like the show to become a little proactive and advocate for people like Ellingham--and us.
 
I cannot believe that there weren't any replies to this topic. I LOVE this program! I feel I can relate so much to the Doc Martin character! I only recently discovered this program on Netflix, and we stream two episodes a night. I will be so sorry when we come to the end, because I have truly enjoyed it.

And I agree, that it would be nice to have more character development, or knowledge of Aspergers come into play, but I don't think that will happen.
 
garnetflower13 said:
I cannot believe that there weren't any replies to this topic. I LOVE this program! I feel I can relate so much to the Doc Martin character! I only recently discovered this program on Netflix, and we stream two episodes a night. I will be so sorry when we come to the end, because I have truly enjoyed it.

And I agree, that it would be nice to have more character development, or knowledge of Aspergers come into play, but I don't think that will happen.
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Well, a few of us have commented on it in other threads. ;)

I love the show too. Our PBS affiliate only recently acquired at least the first season. It's just refreshing to see a REAL Aspie character who isn't trying to save western civilization. Guess I haven't seen any episodes yet where they use the "A word". I can hardly wait though. That's something American producers seem to shy away from.

But I do hope Louisa learns to accept him, Aspie and all...no spoilers please! :)
 
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I love it too. It's excellent and I can totally relate to the way the doctor sees the world and to his blunt, untarnished honesty - though I'm not quite as extreme as he is. The thing I found interesting, is that in one episode he does make an effort to speak and behave like the NTs aound him, but Lousia finds it unnerving and unnatural, because it's not like him. Otherwise he makes no almost no concessions, no compromises in order to fit an and get along better with the other villagers. They just have to accept him as he is, take him or leave him. And yet he gets away with it, as a professional person and a doctor, he's accepted.

Good news: a new series is being made for fall this year.
 
I also watch Doc Martin. I have been gradually working my way through the series, every few months I'll be in the mood to watch a few episodes. I download it on to my mac, because I do not have a tv. Not only does Martin have a lot of aspie like traits, Louisa has some exasperatingly NT behaviour as well as occasional flashes of tolerance and affection for Doc. I like how she is a community advocate in her way, while Doc, as much as he might object, is too - just in his own way.
 
The evolution of Louisa's character fascinates me. It's as if she just can't remove the good doctor from her heart or mind no matter what his social indiscretions may be. He cares about her deeply, but just doesn't have the ability to express it. But deep down I think she knows this. It's all positively charming. :)

Just saw the first show of the second season. I find myself wondering what it might be like to live in such a small community where everyone knows everyone's business. Too much for an Aspie? :confused:

The show has been somewhat helpful to me though. I've been able to see on occasion some of the social errors I've made in being too blunt at the wrong moment. Just not sure if it's something though that I could really improve on in real time conversations.

The more I want to think, "I'm not him!" the more I discover that in part...I've made many of his social errors. :oops:
 
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I do like the show, it is a pity that the latest series has just ended.

I suspect there are elements of Asperger's in the character even if he doesn't fully have it.

By the way I saw Doc Martin being filmed when on holiday in Port Isaac in 2009.
 
unsurewhattoname said:
I like Doc Martin, but I don't think he has Asperger's. Isn't he this was because his mother never loved him?
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garnetflower13 said:
That seems to be a popular theory!
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Abe1 said:
I suspect there are elements of Asperger's in the character even if he doesn't fully have it.
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I think that the creators of the show wanted to leave the question of whether or not he had Aspergers open and unsettled. That is why they have an episode in which a minor character suggests that Doc Martin has Aspergers, but there are no episodes in which someone says for sure whether or not he does. There are no episodes with him being diagnosed, or anything like that. The creators of the show left it ambiguous and undecided.

Plenty of people have not been loved by their mothers, but most of them have not turned out like Doc Martin. That alone is not enough to explain him.
 
I'm an Aspie and my mother psychologically abused me even when I was an adult. However, I believe that I was born an Aspie and that is only one small reason she abused me. She was so horribly unhappy herself that she lashed out at me, my brother, and my father. She made certain she was seen as a saint by everyone else in the world. Also, as an adult I finally realized my father was also an Aspie. Maybe she married him so she could feel superior to him?
 
Just watched an episode where it appears for the first time, someone told Doc Martin about Aspergers Syndrome. He didn't take it well at all. But then I didn't think he'd take anyone treating him like a patient well at all.

The same episode where Martin blurted out to Louisa that she'd make a wonderful parent. I thought, "Now ya dun it!" Clearly Louisa loved that. But then she really is a rather lovely character in the show. Well done Martin! :)
 
Judge said:
Just watched an episode where it appears for the first time, someone told Doc Martin about Aspergers Syndrome. He didn't take it well at all. But then I didn't think he'd take anyone treating him like a patient well at all.

The same episode where Martin blurted out to Louisa that she'd make a wonderful parent. I thought, "Now ya dun it!" Clearly Louisa loved that. But then she really is a rather lovely character in the show. Well done Martin! :)
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What episode is this? I'm interested now.
 
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