Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Doc Martin: Series 10 Blu-ray Movie Review

Once more into the breach, dear friends...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown May 20, 2024

Has it really been ten seasons since surly, arrogant vascular surgeon Doctor Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes) developed a strange and sudden fear of blood, forcing him to retreat to the quaint little town of Portwenn as its sole general practitioner? Acorn TV's answer to medical shows captained by quirky but brilliant doctors (think of House, if the cantankerous genius moved to an idyllic seaside village), Doc Martin has worn its heart -- and its furrowed brow and dour frown -- on its sleeve for 78 episodes and, counting its feature length finale, two TV movies. Not too shabby for a series you may not have even heard of. If you've clicked on this review to figure out who or what Doc Martin even is, stop now and work your way back to the beginning. The show began releasing on Blu-ray in the States with Series 7, so you'll need to go digital (or by way of DVD), but there's enough charm, wit and humor awaiting to make the trip worth the investment. Might I direct you to Michael Reuben's excellent review of Series 7. If you're up to speed, though, read on; Doc Martin's final season is a satisfying one, sure to elicit laughs and tears from its faithful followers.

It's been a year since Martin resigned his medical license, walking away from the profession entirely, and Louisa (Caroline Catz) is now the one seeing patients for her child counseling practice. Martin has retired away to look after James Henry and four-month-old Mary Elizabeth, which is both a relief and an irritation. When the mother of one of Louisa's patients presents with serious symptoms but refuses to allow Martin to examine her, he finally admits that he wants to be a doctor again. Cue nine final episodes of Doc Martin and the countdown to its endgame. Series 10 also stars character actor extraordinaire Ian McNeice, Joe Absolom, Jessica Ransom, Selina Cadell, John Marquez, Eileen Atkins, Vincent Franklin, Claire Bloom, Angela Curran, Robyn Addison and Faye Ripley.

The TV trope of abruptly retiring/abruptly un-retiring is a tiring one, but once Series 10 moves past Martin's reluctance to return to his, um, return to medicine, it picks up the pace and resumes business as usual. Your enjoyment of the show's final episodes, though, perhaps more than any season before it, will really come down to how much you care about the townspeople of Portwenn and their individual life dramas. Whatever has locked the good doctor into regions of his mind unknown remain *spoiler* unresolved by show's end. So the bigger question is, how much do you care about things like Morwena and Al's relationship? What about Joe and Janice? Or -- and this is an actual storyline in the penultimate episode of all episodes -- what misadventures ensue when the family dog goes missing? Doc Martin has always found its joys in the contrast between suit-and-tie Martin and everything innocuous and mundane about smalltown life (think Hot Fuzz with decidedly less gunplay and village villainy), but it seems a bit too innocuous and mundane as a string of episodes wrapping up a ten-season television show. Even the finale goes smaller than small with the central conflict revolving around a baby's rash, leaving one to wonder if the series' showrunners had much ambition at all.

That said, for those looking for comfort food, Doc Martin provides everything you've come to love, even if its final hours are spent milling about in much the same way it always has. Once upon a time, the people of Portwenn were simple folk orbiting Martin's genius and, in his view, living far below their stations. But over the course of nine preceding seasons, that's shifted substantially. Oh, the doc is still the doc. Cranky, cold, forever living in his own world. But he's fallen in love (in his own way), not just literally, but with the found family he's amassed in Portwenn. And I'm an absolute sucker for the heart and humor in a light-footed found family comedy. I'd be much happier with Series 10 if there were one more season in store, or another TV movie on the horizon. Something that felt as if it wrapped up the story with a bit more... oomph. As just another nine episodes, it works far better than as a conclusion to the series as a whole. Ah well, beggars can't be choosers I suppose. There's plenty here to laugh, smile and cry through. Who am I to complain that a show about going smaller doesn't go big enough in the end for me?

Doc Martin: Series 10 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

As my colleague Michael Rueben points out in his review of Series 7, Doc Martin continues to be shot on film, though the credits and the look of the final footage indicate digital color correction and post-production tinkering. That said, the series looks as crisp and striking as it ever has, with rich, warm colors, vivid primaries, lovely skintones and deep, filmic black levels. Contrast never falters either, lending the image welcome punch, even in its most humble moments. Doc Martin isn't brimming with splashy cinematography. But the showrunners know how to compose a frame, both economically and thematically, granting villagers more intimate shots while the dour doc is often at a distance. Close-ups and wide shots fare wonderfully, as does detail, which boasts clean, refined edge definition, well-resolved fine textures, and a faithfulness to the series' every intention. A few fleeting artifacts pop up now and again in the bright seaside skies, but you have to really be watching for them to catch 'em. Otherwise, this is a near-perfect encode without any anomalies rising to a concerning level.

Doc Martin: Series 10 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Doc Martin's DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo track certainly gets the job done and does it well. It's just a shame the showrunners never elected to bump up to 5.1 surround, which would presumably make the seaside village of Portwenn that much more immersive. Never mind that, though. Dialogue is clear and intelligible at all times and neatly grounded in the mix. Prioritization is precise and pleasing, and the series' music is bright and playful without ever domineering or distracting.

Doc Martin: Series 10 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray release of Doc Martin: Series 10 doesn't include any special features.

Doc Martin: Series 10 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's difficult to dive into a series late in the game, though I'll be the first to trumpet jumping in mid-series. But Doc Martin's final season isn't the season to attempt such things. Series 7, the first to come to Blu-ray in the States, is a far better jumping-on point, if you aren't willing to go back to the beginning, where a proper start will pay off the most dividends. Regardless of how you start, though, consider starting. The series is a charming little comedy worthy of more attention and a bigger audience. If you're already in the know? Well then, Acorn's Blu-ray release of Series 10 is a good one, with striking video and solid audio. Special features would have been a nice addition, particularly a commentary or behind-the-scenes documentary surrounding the finale episode, but so it goes. Fans will be pleased with this 3-disc release regardless.