The Doc is frustrated by the news of his blood phobia getting out into the community. He believes that a cancer patient whom he confided in has let the cat out of the bag. As it turns out, the source was something else. The key element in this episode involves the smart little boy who was treated unfairly in a previous episode. In the school playground, a bully causes him to take a serious fall. At first it seems like nothing, but eventually it is realized that he has a severely ruptured spleen. What happens next is important to the development of the doctor. It's interesting how cruel the locals are. Granted he's not a very friendly guy, but he is a serious medical man. The most entertaining part of this final episode is the romantic tension between Martin and the pretty schoolteacher. It really sets up some interesting possibilities.
7 Reviews
Entertaining
chaplainmodmd23 June 2018
Entertaining as usual. Of note....the voice of "Morwenna" calling in with an herbal remedy recommendation sounds like it was played by the actress who later plays the physician who was Martin's old girlfriend/ ex-fiancee several seasons later.
Ironic
bevo-136788 November 2020
Establishing the Lifeblood of This Charming, Intelligent Series
darryl-tahirali3 December 2023
Continuing to invest the viewer in the relationships of Portwenn's colorful characters, "Haemophobia" brings Doc Martin's "problem" into bold, and comical, relief while advancing his connection with schoolteacher Louisa. Soon after dismissing a cocky former pupil, Adrian Pitts (Rupert Young), who stopped by the village to ask him for a recommendation, Martin finds himself a victim of a pub prank that spotlights the reason why he left his surgical practice in London to become Portwenn's general practitioner: Martin has developed a phobia of blood, a condition he had previously confided only to Roger Fenn (Jeff Rowle).
The subsequent ridicule enrages him, affecting his bedside manner when he examines young Peter Cronk (Kurtis O'Brien), whose playground fall has caused internal injury that is initially undiagnosed. But when Peter's condition worsens, affecting also his mother, Joy (Mary Woodvine), prone to panic attacks, Martin finds himself having to confront his fears in order to save Peter's life. Dominic Minghella's lean, taut script balances pathos and mirth as it frames Martin as eminently fallible, uneasily detached from the mainstream---as is Peter---but absolutely proficient in his ability regardless of obstacle. His adversarial byplay with Louisa smacks directly of Joel and Maggie's sexually-charged tension in "Northern Exposure," while Louisa's confrontation with Adrian cements her romantic interest in Martin, which closes the episode on a simultaneously touching and hilarious note as Martin Clunes and Caroline Catz click for the long haul---no matter how contentious that haul might be.
"Haemophobia" closes the first series (or season) of "Doc Martin" with a firm establishment of character and setting while offering ample promise of future development. It also highlights the expert guidance of Ben Bolt, who directed all six first-series episodes, and whose approach here underscores the tension, humor, and empathy that distinguishes "Doc Martin" and its deliberately difficult, yet compelling, title character, literally the lifeblood of this charming, intelligent comedy-drama.
REVIEWER'S NOTE: What makes a review "helpful"? Every reader of course decides that for themselves. For me, a review is helpful if it explains why the reviewer liked or disliked the work or why they thought it was good or not good. Whether I agree with the reviewer's conclusion is irrelevant. "Helpful" reviews tell me how and why the reviewer came to their conclusion, not what that conclusion may be. Differences of opinion are inevitable. I don't need "confirmation bias" for my own conclusions. Do you?
The subsequent ridicule enrages him, affecting his bedside manner when he examines young Peter Cronk (Kurtis O'Brien), whose playground fall has caused internal injury that is initially undiagnosed. But when Peter's condition worsens, affecting also his mother, Joy (Mary Woodvine), prone to panic attacks, Martin finds himself having to confront his fears in order to save Peter's life. Dominic Minghella's lean, taut script balances pathos and mirth as it frames Martin as eminently fallible, uneasily detached from the mainstream---as is Peter---but absolutely proficient in his ability regardless of obstacle. His adversarial byplay with Louisa smacks directly of Joel and Maggie's sexually-charged tension in "Northern Exposure," while Louisa's confrontation with Adrian cements her romantic interest in Martin, which closes the episode on a simultaneously touching and hilarious note as Martin Clunes and Caroline Catz click for the long haul---no matter how contentious that haul might be.
"Haemophobia" closes the first series (or season) of "Doc Martin" with a firm establishment of character and setting while offering ample promise of future development. It also highlights the expert guidance of Ben Bolt, who directed all six first-series episodes, and whose approach here underscores the tension, humor, and empathy that distinguishes "Doc Martin" and its deliberately difficult, yet compelling, title character, literally the lifeblood of this charming, intelligent comedy-drama.
REVIEWER'S NOTE: What makes a review "helpful"? Every reader of course decides that for themselves. For me, a review is helpful if it explains why the reviewer liked or disliked the work or why they thought it was good or not good. Whether I agree with the reviewer's conclusion is irrelevant. "Helpful" reviews tell me how and why the reviewer came to their conclusion, not what that conclusion may be. Differences of opinion are inevitable. I don't need "confirmation bias" for my own conclusions. Do you?
Interesting
h-49775-265016 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
It's rather amusing that at the end of this episode, doc Martin professionally diagnosed Louisa with bad breath after their first kiss. What was he thinking lol. They were finally having a breakthrough in their relationship and he just ruined it like that ! Did he insulate from romance? Didn't he kiss and lick the black furry dog earlier before ? If I were Louisa, I should be the one saying " oh dear how come your lips smell like a homeless dog" haha. Can't wait to see what will lead them to . I noticed that actually doc Martin had a ring on his finger . So is there a possibility that doc Martin was married......
Am I The Only One Getting Worn Out By Doc's Meanness?
yasmin-attar16 August 2023
I loved this show when I watched the first episode S1/E1 a year ago, but couldn't keep up with the sequential episodes, so almost gave up. I knew that one day I would be scrolling through the tv guide and find S1/E2 and, low and behold, it happened (better late than never). So, I set about eagerly watching the weekly "binge" episodes. By this 6th episode, I was getting tired of what comes across as cruelty on the doctor's part. I understand he is probably on the spectrum (autism) and maybe putting four episodes in a row just burned me out. Especially at the scene in the taxi ride home, what he said to Louisa is almost unforgivable. Not to mention stupid.
I'll continue watching but maybe I'll walk out of the room when Doc Martin gets to be too much, or when the townspeople get too cruel as well. How could the idiot who sold people tainted water from his spring be self-righteous about the doc's phobia. I would have punched him out, if I was a man.
I'll continue watching but maybe I'll walk out of the room when Doc Martin gets to be too much, or when the townspeople get too cruel as well. How could the idiot who sold people tainted water from his spring be self-righteous about the doc's phobia. I would have punched him out, if I was a man.
Repulsive doesn't quite cover it
Baltambre6 August 2023
I've been watching some episodes of this series and I find it utterly appalling. How it can have such a high rate is even more disturbing.
I watched it because my aunt asked me too: she hated it and couldn't understand why it's so popular. I'm leaving this comment here for the future generations: if this site is still there I want them to know that not everybody had the same taste for mediocrity.
I gave up in the episode where the so-called doctor is tricked into a pub where there is a supposedly wounded fat man. How this could be acted is beyond understanding. It's not human it's neanderthal.
I watched it because my aunt asked me too: she hated it and couldn't understand why it's so popular. I'm leaving this comment here for the future generations: if this site is still there I want them to know that not everybody had the same taste for mediocrity.
I gave up in the episode where the so-called doctor is tricked into a pub where there is a supposedly wounded fat man. How this could be acted is beyond understanding. It's not human it's neanderthal.
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