‘Doc Martin’ Recap: ‘Season 10, Episode 4’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 1004 of ‘Doc Martin’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say, that we live in some supremely strange and unique times at the moment. For an era where technology and science rule the day, has somehow given rise to individuals who don’t believe in technology and science. And it has ironically, given these individuals a sounding board from where they can spew misinformation and lies about the ills of cell phone towers and vaccines and everything in between. All of which have proven to be nothing more than silly fantasies and lies, but they persist. Because for some reason, there are a bevy of people doubling down on the notion that their incorrect world views are correct and no one can tell them otherwise. Which a great deal of us have chalked up to ignorance and/or intelligence.
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Prompting us to just move on and do our best to ignore the endless noise and rightfully so. Because letting those screams just fill the void tends to do little harm to the world or those shouting. But alas, that may not be the best way to handle this going forward. For these folks are getting to the point where they are demanding to be heard, and that is allowing for them to cause harm, and they caused plenty of it during the peak of the pandemic and their continued attempts to make people listen and change policy should be of concern, and well… the danger that comes with letting science denial persist is top of mind today, simply because it was explored in great detail in the next episode of Doc Martin on Acorn TV. A feat that this series accomplished by having a science and medicine denier set up a holistic shop in Portwenn.

A reality that of course, made life difficult for the Doc. Because time and time again, people were showing up in the surgery with ailments that were slightly advanced and/or irritated. All because that certain someone offered up a holistic approach to medicine that of course, did nothing. Which then prompted a visit and medications needed to properly solve the problem. That in turn forced Martin to sit down and confront this usurper of sorts to no avail. Largely because they truly believed that they were in the right and offered a better alternative than generations of scientific fact and method. But of course, that’s nothing more than a minor annoyance storytelling wise, one that really doesn’t have any concern or danger to it.

But have no fear, that was here. Courtesy of the fact that this sham ‘doctor’ had two children. One of which was very ill and required actual treatment, not a root or a salve. All because the mumps had taken hold in this infant and of course, the Doc did his job as always, much to the chagrin of dear old mother. Giving rise to a fair debate on why it is important we listen to science and medicine. Because without intervention that baby could have suffered or died, all because someone else thought they knew better than someone with a medical degree and years of experience in treating ailments. But even that, didn’t do much for changing the heart and mind of this denier and eventually… she herself paid the price. When she caught the mumps too and had a violent reaction to leaving it untreated in her own body. All because she wasn’t vaccinated either and had it not been for science, she too might have perished. Which was the perfect way to express how dangerous it can be to not listen to science and the danger inherent to denying and fighting against that which saves lives.

Which made for an impactful lesson for certain, one that didn’t go much deeper than that and rightfully so. Because a fix, is going to take something greater, something that Doc Martin can’t offer. So, in the meantime, we can just revel in this brilliant tale and its sound message to listen to the science, and praise its more lighthearted context as well. Since it was sweet to see Joe try and rekindle a love and it was touching to see young James worry about not being the only baby in the house. Not to mention, it was also quite amazing to see that veteran Doc Martin writer Julian Unthank penned this episode. For his work on this series is well documented and it is wonderful to know he came back for the final season in the midst of working on other projects to write one brilliant tale. Either way, this was just another fine tale from an iconic series, and it will be interesting to see what other intelligent episodes await us down the line as we inch toward the end of Martin’s journey. Until next time.

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