On a dark, rainy morning in late July, I pulled into the parking lot of Best Medicine’s sound stages in the Hudson Valley region, where a handful of journalists and I were invited to tour the charming interior sets of Port Wenn.
asserted
handful → pull → Wenn
Before the New York area was put on tornado watch, we’d planned to spend a gorgeous summer day along the Hudson River watching the cast of FOX’s medical dramedy film pivotal scenes from Season 2’s epic Crate Race episode.
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cast → put → episode
Though the unexpected weather prevented our sneak peek at the ambitious town event that showrunner and executive producer Liz Tuccillo (Sex and the City, Divorce, Sweetbitter) is “most excited about” in Season 2, she, EP Rodney Ferrell (Stick), and Best Medicine’s cast still had tons to tease about the show’s highly anticipated sophomore season, which airs Tuesday, September 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX after a special Sunday premiere.
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which → prevent → premiere
When we last left the feel-good comfort watch — based on the hit UK series, Doc Martin — Port Wenn’s local physician Dr. Martin Best (Josh Charles) learned his medical license was in jeopardy for having his administrative assistant Elaine (Cree) take blood to help him manage his cripling hemophobia.
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him → leave → hemophobia
On top of professional setbacks, Martin was also in the midst of navigating the return of his ex, Eden (Eliza Coupe), and his feelings for Louisa (Abigail Spencer), who was considering having a baby with her ex, Sheriff Mark (Josh Segarra).
asserted
who → navigate → ex
Before Season 1 wrapped, Greg (Stephen Spinella) and George (Jason Veasey) had also tied the knot, and Aunt Sarah (Annie Potts) found “sea urchins for miles” that could make the entire town rich.
uncertain
town → wrap → miles
So what does Season 2 have in store?
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Season → have → store
“We’re about five months later.
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We → ’re → ?
The town’s just rolling in it with the uni explosion.
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town → roll → explosion
People are making money.
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People → make → money
People are happy,” Charles explained.
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Charles → explain → ?
After a long day of filming, Best Medicine’s leading man invited reporters to chat in his trailer, where he decompressed by loosening Dr. Best’s tie, kicking back on the couch, snacking on Mike and Ike’s Jolly Joes, and spending quality time with his sweet, sleepy dog.
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he → lead → dog
While keeping Martin’s blood phobia a secret was a core component of Season 1, Season 2’s premiere finally sees him share that vulnerable side of himself with the town in epic fashion.
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him → keep → fashion
“The health board is breathing down his neck.
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board → breathe → neck
They satisfied some of it by getting Elaine a license, so she’s able to do certain things now.
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she → satisfy → things
They’re sending monitors, and the idea of having somebody look over his shoulder for things he could do blindfolded is frustrating,” Charles said, teasing the arrival of Parker (Jack Cutmore-Scott), a “charming and friendly” overseer.
uncertain
Charles → send → Parker
With his medical career in jeopardy, Eden is determined to help him overcome his phobia so the two can get back to their lives in Boston.
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two → help → Boston
“I think he’s happy with her.
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he → think → her
They are similar in a lot of ways, and there’s a real awkwardness to their relationship.
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They → ’ → relationship
Neither of them really knows how to communicate,” Charles reflected, noting that “laughing like a little school kid every day” with the “brilliant” Coupe is “the dream.”
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laughing → know → Coupe
Despite palpable tension between Eden and Port Wenn’s locals, Charles understands why Martin defends her.
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Martin → understand → her
And as Season 2 progresses, Coupe finds humanity in her complex character.
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Coupe → progress → character
“I think Eden respects him, values him, and listens to him in a town where very few people seem to on a daily basis.
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people → think → basis
She puts him on a little bit of a pedestal, and I think that feels good to him,” Charles explained.
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Charles → put → him
“Obviously, he has feelings for Louisa that he’s not always fully conscious of, or he’s trying not to be.
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he → have → that
As expected, Louisa’s IVF and motherhood journey will be a big part of her journey this season.
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journey → expect → journey
“I think [Season 2 is] about discovering what happiness means to Louisa,” Ferrell shared during our chat at Aunt Sarah’s inviting kitchen table.
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Ferrell → think → table
“There’s a lot of things spinning in her head: ‘Do I have a baby?
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I → ’ → baby
Do I have a baby on my own?
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I → have → own
Is it okay to have a baby on my own?
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it → have → own
Does it mean I’m giving up happiness with someone that I could love and spend my life with?
uncertain
I → mean → life
Or can I have both?’
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I → have → both
With her school expected to close and expensive IVF costs to cover, we’ll also see Louisa take on extra work on top of her new job as principal, including shifts at the Salty Breeze.
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Louisa → expect → Breeze
Her answer to Mark’s generous co-parenting offer is revealed in Episode 201, but whether he’s fathering her child or not, she’ll be putting herself out there again romantically this season.
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she → reveal → herself
“She can’t just be sitting around pining for Martin for a whole other season,” Tuccillo passionately proclaimed from a director’s chair in the newly built set of a cozy, nautical guest room at The Salty Breeze.
asserted
Tuccillo → sit → Breeze
Much to Martin’s dismay, the new love triangle in town will involve his monitor, Parker, who has “sparks” with Louisa.
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who → involve → Louisa
Despite new relationships and romantic detours, however, Tuccillo thinks, “Louisa is the love of his life…
asserted
Louisa → think → life
And they really are meant to be together.”
asserted
they → mean → ?
“I don’t think any of us have to worry that there’s still something there,” Ferrell echoed, shouting out Spencer and Charles’ incredible co-star chemistry.
asserted
Ferrell → think → chemistry
The EP lovingly noted that Martin is “a little bit of a mess,” so for the fan-favorite will-they-won’t-they dynamic to evolve, Martin will have to make significant personal progress in Season 2.
asserted
Martin → note → Season
…and 49 more, not listed.
The Aporia
