In the idyllic coastal village Port Wenn, the only family doctor (general

practitioner or GP) named Martin Ellingham goes about his life and business. Once

the youngest vascular surgeon in the country, he used to lead squads in operation

theaters in some top London hospitals until an onslaught of panic attacks at the

sight of blood (hemophobia). It was the tiny fishing port where he spent childhood

summer holidays that he in midlife ran back to.

A typical case of Asperger's Syndrome, the GP was terse and grumpy most of the

time. Constantly outraged by what he saw as idiocies in his patients, he minced

no words in his diagnoses. His competence and sense of duty won a few loyal

allies and even helped procuring love but most villagers showed their thanks

with 'Happy Birthday, Tosser!' on that special day.

I have forgotten how many times I watched the TV series shot in Port Issac,

England. Unlike the drama Foyle's War, another of my favorite British TV shows,

Doc Martin has few quotable monologues. The sceneries, the mores, and the

charisma of the characters combine to deliver great entertainment nonetheless.

It might not have been produced with an audience of Chinese immigrants in mind,

but I found the tiny and mundane details revealing of the Western culture, the

ways common people live out their lives. It feels like an education outside

school.

As a language lover, I have reaped extra rewards in colorful and often comical

(quasi-)medical terms, e.g.,

- Only Child Syndrome

- Middle Child Syndrome

- Chronic Infantilism

- Oppositional Defiant Disorder

- Persecution Complex

- agoraphobia

- dipsomania

- erotomania

- hemophobia

- hypochondria

Many dialogues are memorable, too, e.g., in Season 6, Ep 7,

    Louisa: "I'm not happy. I'm not making you happy, am I?"

    Martin: "Happy? Why does everybody have to be happy all the time?"

when the couple called off their wedding, and in Season 8, Ep 8,

    Howell: "You collapsed during the procedure."

    Martin: "No. I collapsed after the procedure."

    Howell: "Well. I failed to see the difference."

    Martin: "Then I'm glad you're not my doctor."

when Martin clashed with the tribunal in his hearing.

The final season (10) is airing and I look forward to more delight. Thanks to my

habit of re-watching, it will not be an end for me.