Doc Martin (TV Series) Last Christmas in Portwenn (2022) User Reviews

Last Christmas

[safenoe · 8/10 · 5 January 2023]

So Doc Martin ends, after 18 glorious years. I thought it was just here in the States that we had massive snowstorms, but no, it's also in Portwenn! Thankfully Doc Martin survives and kind of talks to his mom to make sense of why Christmas was so miserable for him as a kid.

Port Isaac, where much of Doc Martin was filmed, is so integral to the success of the series. I would have loved for Last Christmas in Portwenn to wrap with a tribute to the cast, where Martin Clune and the cast bask in the applause of the real-life locals of Port Isaac in the town square. I would have liked also for the former main cast (Stephanie Cole, Stewart Wright, Lucy Punch, Katherine Parkinson) to have also appeared in the tribute.

I'll miss Doc Martin.

Lots of Good--Some Questionable

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 18 January 2024]

Mostly this had a good plot with Christmas having so much importance. Little James seems to run the show, but I guess he is the reincarnation of the Doc. I think there should have been some middle ground here. All the events work well. We knew Doc would have none of the Santa thing when the guy is obviously sick. He's a stickler for preventing disease. The down side of this is the Doc, going off half cocked to get to the farmhouse. He is totally unprepared for what he faces. He also smashes up the Lexus--nice car. His conversation with the ersatz Santa is pretty good. Louisa hears he's alive but has no reaction to his hypothermia. The rest of the cast are just there to move things along. The final five minutes is pure schmaltz and doesn't do much. Still, I'm hoping there will be a return to Portwenn for a single episode now and then.

Brilliant!

[kazzieloo-23677 · 10/10 · 1 January 2023]

Doc Martin has been my favorite show since I first saw it. So sad it's come to an end. But what a farewell!

The writers wanted to give us a gift, and did they ever. The fine cast and script, the scenery, and the chemistry between characters bring together the perfect Christmas program.

There were moments when I laughed out loud, not because of silliness, but the low-key humor that is so delicious in this program.

It's a few days before Christmas, and Doc Martin disappoints the village by shutting down the local Santa grotto because of health concerns. That's all I need to say. Now sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy the Christmas ride.

I couldn't have wrapped it up much better.

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 8 April 2024]

Christmas is coming to town and this coincides with a tough event in Dr. Ellingham's life...the death of his mother. She was an incredibly horrible mother...detached, vicious and worthless as a parent. While he denies her death has any impact on him, the episode ultimately show he's not being truthful to himself. Deep down, he worries he'll be like her as a parent...and provide his kids with yet another horrible Christmas...just as his had been.

Much of the Doc's time is spent with the town's Santa. But, as you'd expect when they introduce a new character, the guy has medical issues...necessitating the Doctor to make an emergency call during a snowstorm. What follows is deadly...but also ultimately very touching..

This is just a lovely episode...much like "Doc Martin" fused with "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"! Well written and wrapping up several character's stories very well...not just the Doc's.

Why this episode

[neilandjan6 · 6/10 · 29 December 2022]

Doc Martin was an excellent series with a lot of twists and turns. The writing was usually excellent but I felt this episode was a bit flat.

Of the 3 annoying characters in the programme Joe Penhale came to the fore this episode, with his take on the 12 days of Christmas, thankfully Bert wasn't in it too much and Mrs Tishell finally caught the doc under the mistletoe.

The most surprising character was Louisa who when she found out that Martin had been in a crash was sufferer from hypothermia said ok get home as soon as you can, I must take James to the parade. A little bit insensitive to say the least.

The pluses were the doc himself, Ruth, excellent as always but underused, Claire Bloom as the ghost of Martin's mum but the best acting must go to Santa who was brilliantly played by Ron Cook.

Janice was too over the top. Doc's entrance into the village was brilliant, and he was allowed to show some real emotion. Unfortunately the final scene was completely unnecessary and added nothing to the plot.

An ok episode but it could and should have been better.

Should have stopped at episode 8

[nmottel · 5/10 · 26 December 2022]

As much as I love the good people of Port Wenn this was a terrible holiday special. The writers threw every Christmas cliche into the script. After such splendid writing for ten seasons it was an embarassment. The Doc manages to ruin Christmas for the village but of course saves the day in the end. A major flaw in this episode was having Martin drive during a snow storm on country roads ill prepared for winter weather. No coat, no emergency supplies, Martin crashes the car and then randomly wanders the woods during heavy snow. His recently deceased mother pops in for an appearance as Martin fights hypothermia. Not to worry, Martin will eventually stumble upon his patient, patch him up, and save Port Wenn's lantern parade in the nick of time. A final quibble, why did the costume designers choose to dress beautiful Louisa in such frumpy clothing all season?