Let's be real for a second. If you walked into a real-life GP surgery and the doctor told you to "shut up" or commented on your bad breath while you were trying to kiss him, you’d probably report him to the GMC before you even hit the sidewalk. And yet, for eighteen years, millions of us tuned in to watch Dr. Martin Ellingham do exactly that. There is something inexplicably magnetic about the Doc Martin TV episodes that turns a fundamentally unlikeable, blood-phobic surgeon into a household staple.
Maybe it’s the scenery. Portwenn—actually the tiny fishing village of Port Isaac in North Cornwall—is basically vacation porn. Those winding slate-paved streets and the sparkling Atlantic blue make you want to pack a bag, even if you know you'll just get barked at by a man in a very stiff suit.
The formula that shouldn't work (but does)
Every episode follows a sort of rhythmic chaos. A villager gets a weird rash. Martin insults their intelligence. Martin realizes the rash is actually a rare tropical disease because someone’s been importing illegal cacti. He saves the day, refuses to take any credit, and then yells at a dog.
It’s simple.
But it's the nuances in the Doc Martin TV episodes that kept the show alive from 2004 all the way to 2022. You’ve got the evolution of the Doc himself. In the very first season, Martin Clunes played the character with a bit more... softness? He actually drank whisky with guests and made semi-normal small talk. If you go back and watch Of All The Harbours In All The Towns (Season 1, Episode 5), he’s practically chatty compared to the robotic, sharp-edged version of the later years.
Fans often argue about this. Some think the writers pushed his social awkwardness too far into the "jerk" category as the seasons rolled on. Others reckon it’s just the character retreating into his shell because the villagers are, honestly, quite a lot to deal with.
Standout moments you probably forgot
Remember when Mrs. Tishell, the neck-brace-wearing pharmacist, finally lost it? That's Ever After (the Series 5 finale). It was probably the darkest the show ever got. She kidnapped James Henry and headed for the cliffs because she was convinced she and Martin were soulmates.
It was creepy.
But it also forced Martin to actually vocalize his feelings for Louisa. He isn't a man of words. He’s a man of "stool samples" and "clear the room." Seeing him desperate was a rare crack in the armor.
Then there’s the guest stars. You’ve got Sigourney Weaver showing up as a pushy American tourist not once, but twice. Seeing an A-list Hollywood legend trading barbs with Martin Clunes in a Cornish chemist is the kind of surreal TV magic you just don't get anymore.
Why the Portwenn medical cases are actually genius
One of the best things about the Doc Martin TV episodes is the medical accuracy. The show actually employed a real medical advisor to make sure the Doc wasn't just spouting gibberish. Most of the time, the "weird" stuff—like the village being poisoned by toxic paint or someone having a giant tapeworm—is based on real, albeit rare, medical possibilities.
- The Phobia: Martin's hemophobia (fear of blood) isn't just a plot device; it’s his Achilles' heel. It levels the playing field. He’s the smartest guy in the room, but a papercut can turn him into a puddle.
- The Diagnostics: He doesn't just treat the symptom. He looks at the environment. He notices the weird smell in the house or the specific way someone is walking. It’s Sherlock Holmes with a stethoscope.
- The Patients: They are stubborn. They don't take their pills. They think herbal tea fixes a broken leg. It’s the ultimate "unstoppable force meets immovable object" scenario.
The long road to the 2022 finale
When the news broke that Season 10 would be the last, it felt like the end of an era. The finale, Last Summer, really leaned into the nostalgia. Seeing Martin look at his childhood height marks on the wall at Aunt Joan's old farm... that hit hard.
It was a reminder that he wasn't always this cold. He was a kid who was rejected by his parents and found his only scrap of warmth in Cornwall.
The final episode did something the show rarely does: it made Martin the patient. After a serious accident, he had to face his own mortality and realize that Portwenn—the place he claimed to hate for two decades—was actually his home. It wasn't the London surgery he missed; it was the annoying, meddling, wonderful people who kept him on his toes.
📖 Related: You've Got Love: Why This 2011 The King Khan & BBQ Show Classic Still Hits Different
Actionable ways to relive the series
If you're looking to dive back into the world of Portwenn, don't just binge-watch at random. Try these steps to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch the Prequel Movies: Most people don't realize there were two TV movies (Doc Martin and Doc Martin and the Legend of the Cloutie) before the series started. He’s a different character there—Doc Lowcross—but the DNA of the show is visible.
- The "Guest Star" Hunt: Keep an eye out for pre-fame cameos. You'll spot Chris O'Dowd, Claire Foy, and even Ben Miller if you look closely enough.
- Visit Port Isaac (Virtually or Physically): You can actually rent "Fern Cottage" (the Doctor’s surgery) as a holiday home. Just don't expect the interior to look the same; most of the inside shots were filmed in a barn nearby.
- Track the Receptionists: The show’s vibe changes depending on who is behind the desk. From Elaine’s incompetence to Pauline’s ambition and Morwenna’s dry wit, the receptionists are the real bridge between Martin and the village.
There won't be another show quite like this. It was a "comfort watch" that was occasionally deeply uncomfortable. It was a comedy that dealt with dementia, loneliness, and terminal illness. But mostly, it was about a man who couldn't say "I love you," so he saved your life instead.
If you're starting a rewatch, pay attention to the clocks. Martin is always fixing them. It’s the perfect metaphor: he can't fix people’s hearts, but he can sure as hell make sure their machinery keeps ticking.