User Reviews

When a large number of residents begin to experience diarrhea, Doc Martin suspects there is something wrong with the water supply. Of course, the natives have it in for him and see him as a nuisance. A previous incident almost led to complete bankruptcy for the village. Once again, when he walked down the street people called him horrible names and refused to talk to him. He also made the mistake of going on a local radio show with a manipulative woman talk show host who ambushes him. Eventually, things get so convoluted that he loses all his credibility concerning the water. There is also a subplot with the continuing saga of Elaine, the empty headed receptionist.

The title to the third episode from the first series (or season) of "Doc Martin" seems hackneyed even if it is appropriate for a story that could easily descend into crass scatology but keeps its dignity intact throughout. When Doc Martin realizes that his receptionist Elaine has been concealing the number of diarrhea cases being reported to the practice, he dives into an investigation of the outbreak.

This dovetails with his round of interviews on the local radio station (another nod to "Northern Exposure," which "Doc Martin" resembles), at which he is at odds with host Caroline Bosman (Felicity Montagu), who curtly interrupts him when he tries to suggest that the local drinking water might be to blame for the gastric distress---Portwenn had suffered from a similar situation a few years previously, with the corresponding hit to the crucial tourist trade. Meanwhile, Louisa tries to secure a teaching position for Roger (Jeff Rawle), who had been forced into early retirement---with Louisa getting his job---before his cancer diagnosis. Convinced he is acting in the village's best interest, Martin persists with his investigation, and when he is stricken with diarrhea---which one local colorfully describes as "the lurkey"---his suspicions soon fall on village jack-of-all-trades Bert Large, whose new business venture, designed to help his son Al while dissuading him from studying computer maintenance, might have a deleterious consequence.

Viewers familiar with "Northern Exposure" may notice a similarity to the episode "Horns," specifically with regard to the water issue and the doctor's encountering resistance to his investigation, but Dominic Minghella's script both varies the theme and blends other threads to keep "Doc Martin" fresh and free from seeming derivative. Strong performances from Martin Clunes, Caroline Catz, and Rawle help to establish a distinct identity, while Ian McNeice delivers his comic-relief role with appealing ease. "Sh:t Happens" continues to offer promise.

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?