Why This Charming Small-Town Comedy-Drama Is Just What the Doctor Ordered!
There’s something special about a television show that can make you laugh, warm your heart, and introduce you to characters you actually care about. FOX’s Best Medicine delivers a delightful combination of quirky personalities, small-town charm, and a doctor who discovers that sometimes the best medicine has nothing to do with prescriptions.
One of my all time favorite shows is Doc Martin, the original premise of Best Medicine – a quirky doctor in a quirky town – Port Wenn, which is the town in both versions – the British Doc Martin is in Cornwall England and the American version is in Port Wenn, Maine.
Here are 10 reasons we’ve grown attached to Best Medicine. I really missed it when the World Series preempted it this week.
1. Dr. Martin Best Is Wonderfully Grumpy
Who doesn’t love a brilliant doctor who has absolutely no patience for people? Dr. Martin Best may know everything about medicine, but understanding human beings is another story. His awkward encounters and brutally honest observations make him one of television’s most entertaining characters.
2. The Beautiful Small-Town Setting
The fictional coastal town of Port Wenn is practically a character itself. With its charming streets, waterfront scenery, and relaxed atmosphere, it’s the kind of place that makes viewers wish they could pack a suitcase and move there tomorrow.
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3. The Town Is Full of Lovable Oddballs
Every small town has its characters, and Port Wenn seems to have more than its fair share. From nosy neighbors to eccentric patients, there’s always somebody ready to test Dr. Best’s patience.
4. The Humor Doesn’t Feel Forced
One of the show’s greatest strengths is its understated comedy. Sometimes all it takes is a disapproving look from Dr. Best or an awkward conversation to produce a genuine laugh. It’s refreshing to watch comedy that doesn’t constantly try too hard.
5. There’s a Little Romance in the Air
Beneath the medical emergencies and amusing misunderstandings, there’s room for romance. The relationships add warmth and give viewers something to root for beyond the doctor’s latest patient
6. Aunt Sarah Is a Treasure
Played by the wonderful Annie Potts, Aunt Sarah brings personality, humor, and a little wisdom to Port Wenn. She’s exactly the kind of relative Dr. Best needs, even if he doesn’t always realize it. Her independent spirit makes her one of the show’s most enjoyable characters.
7. The Salty Breeze Is Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Every great television town needs a gathering place, and Port Wenn has the Salty Breeze. Run by Greg and George, this local restaurant is where friendships, gossip, arguments, and community life come together. It’s the kind of place where you’d love to grab a table, order lunch, and listen to the conversations around you. I love tv shows where the whole town or cast is in one location – usually a wedding or something like that, but weekly, we get to see almost everybody all at once in the Salty Breeze! The Gilmore Girls used to do that with town halls in the barn, this is almost like that.
8. The Doctor Who Can’t Stand Blood
Here’s a wonderful television contradiction: a brilliant physician who has developed a debilitating fear of blood! Watching Dr. Best deal with this problem while trying to maintain his professional dignity adds both humor and vulnerability to his character. It reminds us that even doctors have their own problems.
9. It’s a Wonderful American Cousin to Doc Martin
Fans of the beloved British series Doc Martin will recognize the premise, but Best Medicine brings its own American personality to the story. Josh Charles gives Martin Best his own distinctive style, while the supporting cast creates a different small-town atmosphere. And having original Doc Martin star Martin Clunes appear as Martin Best’s father is a delightful bonus.
10. It Reminds Us That People Need People
Perhaps the best thing about Best Medicine is its underlying message. Dr. Best arrives in Port Wenn wanting to be left alone. Unfortunately for him, the townspeople have other ideas. Little by little, they become part of his life, whether he likes it or not. Beneath all the comedy is a touching reminder that friendship, community, and human connection can be the best medicine of all.
The Bottom Line: Television That Makes You Feel Good
In a television world filled with crime, violence, and complicated storylines, Best Medicine offers something refreshingly different.
It’s funny without being silly, sentimental without being overly sweet, and filled with characters who make us want to return to Port Wenn every week.
And wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all find a little seaside town like Port Wenn, where the biggest problem of the day might be an argument at the Salty Breeze or another one of Dr. Best’s spectacularly awkward conversations?
Our prescription? More episodes of Best Medicine, please!
Till next time . . .
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