‘Doc Martin’ Recap: ‘Season 10, Episode 8’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for episode 1008 of ‘Doc Martin’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
​
There comes a time in our lives, where we feel compelled to leave home, usually when we are young. Because there’s a world out there, we’ve never seen, one that features adventures untold and wonders galore and the thought of missing out upon that in our twenties, is chilling to say the least. So, we venture out into the world and find our way and enjoy what the world has to offer before settling down and what’s funny… is that sometimes we settle down, right back where we started. Because for some folks, home is where they’ve always belonged and they see that in their later years, after their adventures, and vow to never leave it, ever again. 
​
To the point where possibly doing so, might be the hardest decision they will ever make, since it is all, they’ve known and well, the importance of knowing where home truly is and the difficulties of leaving it behind are top of mind today, because all of that was made apparent to Doctor Martin Ellingham in the next episode of Doc Martin. But it sure didn’t seem as though that was going to be the case early on. For when we caught up with Martin and his family here, they were ready. The house was packed, Martin sold two of his clocks and the practice was being shuttered. Because this was it, it was time to move into a new chapter. In fact, even the good people of Portwenn were ready to throw them a farewell party to properly say goodbye.

But the fact that Chicken went missing in a different part of town, put Martin in a very unique place. For when he and Louisa went to go find the dog at a nearby cattle farm, Martin suffered a scary injury while trying to outrun a herd of cattle that weren’t keen on people getting in their path. For he nicked an artery, badly in fact, to the point where Louisa had to play impromptu surgeon and save him from death. Which she did in a prompt and amazing, and brave manner, and once he was stable, it was off to the hospital where Martin had time to rest and think about the future and the decision that he was making. Because… a brush with death always makes one reflective and well, what he discovered during his short time away in the hospital about himself and home, is what changed the tone of this tale.

For Martin came to understand… that Portwenn was home. And that being a GP and solving the mysteries of health that were before him, and seeing people heal before his eyes and find peace from their suffering, while being surrounded daily by those he loves and cherishes… was too much to walk away from. Because he in fact, had everything he ever needed in this beautiful seaside community and that prompted him to talk with Louisa and make one bold decision for certain. In that, he and his family were going to stay put in the only home they had ever known. And the practice would survive and thrive, and life would go in Portwenn as it always had. With its blunt and wonderful GP, keeping everyone together with his honesty and deep-rooted kindness.

Which means that this season of storytelling threw us for a loop. For it truly made it seem as though it was going to be about hard-set chapter changes in our lives, rather than the subtle ones we don’t think about. Because finding the worth of home, is its own chapter in our journey and now that Martin has discovered it, he can begin it and explore it with his children and beloved wife. And with only two episodes left, it will be quite the wonderful experience to watch Martin enter that chapter and find the value and peace in doing so as his long and winding and wonderful journey, comes to a close in a few weeks. Until next time.

---

Powered by JustWatch