Fly Me to the Moon

Highlighting the return of Terry Glasson (Kenneth Cranham), Louisa's reprobate father, "Fly Me to the Moon" delivers familiar and unsurprising complications as Chris Reddy's second and final script for "Doc Martin" functions as a facile, uneven pivot toward the Series Ten finale that gives Louisa fitful family closure. Reddy's other threads in this mid-series holding action put the spotlight on Bert Large while one of Portwenn's other punching bags, PC Joe Penhale, and comely if gormless nail salon owner Janice Bone (Robyn Addison) make hardly subtle overtures toward reconciliation as this medical comedy-drama set on the Cornwall coast reverts to shopworn stratagems.

Having been granted compassionate leave from prison for what he claims is a terminal disease, Terry seems eager to reconnect with a highly skeptical Louisa while greeting his two grandchildren, schoolboy James and infant Mary. However, as he observes Terry, Martin becomes convinced that Terry doesn't have motor neuron disease while Ruth arrives at a similar conclusion. Industry veteran Cranham performs convincingly, his Terry veering deftly between sincerity and subterfuge, while Caroline Catz conveys effectively Louisa's grappling with a lifetime of being hurt and disappointed by her conniving, opportunistic father leavened by her slim hope that perhaps he has turned over a new leaf, particularly as a grandfather ostensibly with not long to live.

Meanwhile, out at the caravan park Bert is now managing, the inveterate schemer is already shirking his custodial responsibilities to rebuild his illegal whiskey still while trying to make a sale on one of the park's caravans to a very interested buyer (Tom Godwin). One small catch: that caravan is already occupied by a recalcitrant squatter (Joshua McCord), a budding taxidermist who resists every attempt to be evicted with some canny moves to counter Bert's increasingly insistent efforts to oust him. Exasperated Bert finally resorts to a ploy that would do Wile E. Coyote proud--and no surprise that Bert experiences the same result as that bungling cartoon canine, the acme of his ineptitude, if you will.

Although Bert's son Al displays more competence and scruples than his father, his advice to Joe regarding Janice's tentative feelers could be steering Joe in the wrong direction--or is it that Portwenn's hapless policeman is incapable of heeding it correctly? Whatever the case, this minor thread appears to be setting the stage for its conclusion involving Joe and Janice at the end of Series Ten.

Returning for her second crack at directing a "Doc Martin" episode, Kate Cheeseman displays a surer feel for the series' quirky, almost too-sly rhythms, but "Fly Me to the Moon" offers little new; even Terry's thread, the emotional heavyweight here, cannot break the stasis in which the series is mired.

The premise of "Doc Martin" is a fascinating, offbeat one, but given the relatively inflexible and shallow nature of Martin Clunes's lead character (with shallow referring to his emotional depth, not to his intellect or abilities), it is also a limited--and limiting--premise that had already jumped the shark with the godawful "Ever After" that ended Series Five. However, fan fervor to keep seeing "Doc Martin" doing the same thing is the inertia that has kept "Doc Martin" going for five more series (or seasons) as the final episodes for the last few series have walked an intriguing line between appearing to be the last-ever "Doc Martin" episode or merely a cliffhanger for the following series.

And "Doc Martin" does do the same thing over and over. Apart from a fixation on repairing clocks, Martin Ellingham is completely dedicated to his work. Think back to "Gentlemen Prefer," the second episode of Series One, when patient Roger Fenn (Jeff Rawle) asks Martin what he does when he's not working. Looking puzzled, Martin replies, "I'm always working." Lucky for Martin that he works in Portwenn, where denizens not harming themselves through poor lifestyle choices or clumsy or foolish behavior somehow manage to contract unusual or even rare conditions that Martin is able to diagnose expertly.

Thank God Martin is around; otherwise, Portwenn would be a ghost town. And that's the bind in which "Doc Martin" finds itself: Unless its titular character continues to work as a doctor, it has no reason to exist because no one is interested in a character who has no other interests other than his work. Louisa has undergone changes, including starting a family with Martin, that provides crucial emotional dimension, and several supporting characters have also had their storylines broadened, but with Dr. Martin Ellingham the hub around which they turn, their spokes can only extend so far. Thus, life in Portwenn doesn't seem to be flying anywhere--certainly not to the Moon, let alone over it.

POINT TO PONDER: Confirmation bias is the tendency to accept only facts and opinions you agree with. It is extremely difficult to avoid. Are reviews "helpful" only if they validate your confirmation bias? Are they "not helpful" if they contradict it? Thanks to the pervasiveness of confirmation bias, a simple thumbs-up or thumbs-down is essentially useless as an indicator of whether a review is or isn't "helpful."

Sorry to say that this episode was not particularly engaging nor interesting. This final season they are throwing so many obscure diseasese/conditions at Martin that he can immediately diagnose has become laughable. The rare condition of a local seasick young woman and then the issue with Louisa's father was far fetched. Martin has become exceedingly patient with his patients (I see the pun) which doesn't fit the curmodgeon we've come to love. Aunt Ruth's insistance on curing Martin of his blood phobia is ridiculous along with her makeover. Who is this woman? Once again Bert Large is up to a scheme that we know will not go well. As good as it is to be back in Port Wenn this season does not have the chops of the previous nine.

The main theme of this episode is a reunion between Louisa and her career criminal father. He was previously seen in episode nine of the second season--at which point he was sent to prison for his many, many violations of the law. Now, well over a decade later, he's out and seems to be trying his best to make things right with Louisa.

The other main plot is the ever-annoying Bert. He's making illegal whisky once again (despite the problems it caused before) but his biggest cockup involves selling one of the mobile homes at the park where he's SUPPOSED to be working.

Some minor plots involve Aunt Ruth trying some VERY unconventional therapy on Doc for his hemophobia, Penhale and his possible girlfriend making up as well as a girl whose sea sickness is just abnormal.

The part of the show with Louisa's dad is just fine. I appreciated seeing some follow-up here. But Bert once again costs his son a fortune and never seems to learn a darn thing...making this a difficult episode for me to enjoy.

This final season has been disappointing more than half way through. The series always managed to keep itself fresh and interesting by offering a new plot twist which fueled each season. That freshness is not here. I felt certain it would be inevitable given how season 9 ended. So much more could have been done with Martin either returning to be a doctor (they also did that before) or to struggle with a new career (those who can't do, teach. Dr Martin dealing with students for a few episodes would have been a hilarious change of pace, or even something goofy like Martin accidentally ingesting hash and suddenly his blood phobia is cured) ultimately fighting for his job back. Instead, we are basically back like nothing happened and now we have old love interests, igniting jealousy again, blah blah blah. Not much in the way of interesting drama to go with the comedy. It's a shame, really.