At one time or another I'm sure all of us have entertained thoughts of leaving big city life behind for the bucolic pleasures of living in the country. What could be better than to live in a small village - or even better, a small village by the sea shore. It wouldn't take you long before you knew everybody, and while you might not like everyone, at least you'll know everybody well enough to know who to avoid. Of course if you ever get sick you'll be able to rely on the local general practitioner (GP) to take care of you.
Ah yes, the country doctor. An older man of the old school who is loved by all and has been present at the birth of everyone for the last three generations. A real country gentleman, he not only sets a broken arm and stitches up little Johnny's lacerated forearm when he tumbles down the cliff face, he'll find time in his busy schedule to sit and share a cup of tea with the lonely pensioner whose family has forgotten her. He can even be counted on to help out in lambing season when the local vet can't be everywhere at once and somebody has to reach up inside the mother sheep and turn the lamb so it comes out the right way.
Well, if you end up in the small fishing village of Portwenn in Cormwall you'll soon discover that nobody bothered filling in local GP Dr. Martin Ellingham about what's required of him in the role of that idealized country doctor. In fact, if you tried he would probably give them a blank stare, ask them what the hell they're prattling on about, and then promptly proceed to ignore them. Dr. Ellingham is the antithesis of the stereotype country doctor image we carry around in our heads. Brusque to the point of rude, honest to the point of - well, rude again, and completely lacking in tact, he's also a brilliant and dedicated doctor. He not only deals with all the run of the mill illnesses a GP is expected to, he's able to handle anything the little fishing and farming community can throw at him — and they throw him some strange curve balls.
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Article comments
1 - chuck curtis
Gratuitous violence toward animals.
Warnng: "The GP always rings twice" contains a scene of outlandish disregard for animal life. The bumbling Doc Martin drives his car over a helpless Yorkie and crushes the small animal to death beneath his 4,000-pound luxury car. One of the unwritten rules of drama is that you don't kill dumb animals to progress your simplistic and indifferent plot. Sadists among us already prey upon helpless domesticated animals without the cheer leading and encouragement of TV shows like this. If the producers have no better sense of proportion and sensitivity,they should be blackballed from ever producing their violent-endorsing drivel on the unsuspecting public again. Cancel this monstrosity of so-called entertainment before it offends us again.