The first episode of Fox’s new series, Best Medicine, premiered with Dr. Martin Best’s attempt at a quiet life in a small town immediately unraveling. The surgeon, played by Josh Charles, arrives in the coastal village of Port Wenn, Maine, only for his hidden trauma and a severe phobia to be exposed by the town’s intrusive and quirky residents. The episode, titled “Docked,” establishes the show as a U.S. remake of the popular British series Doc Martin and sets up the central conflicts for its leading man.
A Rocky Start in Port Wenn
Martin Best’s troubles begin the moment he arrives in Port Wenn for a job interview at the local medical practice. He has an awkward first encounter with local schoolteacher Louisa Glasson at a coffee shop, where his intense staring offends her. The tension carries into his interview, where Louisa is on the hiring panel. Despite her pointed questions about why he left a prestigious surgery career in Boston, Martin is offered the job as the town’s general practitioner. He claims he wanted a change and spent summers there as a child, but it’s clear he is not telling the full story.
Martin’s adjustment to small-town life is instantly challenging. He is irritated when locals, including the upbeat Sheriff Mark, insist on calling him “Doc Martin” instead of “Dr. Best”. He meets his inherited receptionist, Elaine, an aspiring social media influencer whose casual attitude clashes with his brusque professionalism. His first official patient, a man named Gilbert, arrives complaining of gynecomastia. When Martin says blood tests are needed, he visibly panics at the thought of drawing blood and handles the consultation poorly, causing the patient to storm out.
The Secret Comes to Light
Martin’s severe and debilitating secret is revealed through a series of incidents throughout the day. At a grocery store, a mother asks him to look at her son’s scraped knee. The sight of the blood causes Martin to flee the store and faint. Later, he visits his aunt, Sarah, a lobsterwoman played by Annie Potts. When a lobster nicks her finger, the minor bleeding sends Martin rushing off her boat. It becomes undeniable: the renowned surgeon has developed a crippling phobia of blood.
The reason for this phobia starts to come out in a tense conversation with his aunt. After a disastrous day that includes getting slapped by a patient, Martin tells Sarah he is leaving town. In frustration, he confesses he can no longer do the one part of doctoring he loved: surgery.
“I froze,” he admits, referring to an operation on an 8-year-old girl who had been in a car accident. Another surgeon had to step in and finish the procedure.
Sarah’s response hints at a deeper, older tragedy. “Well that’s understandable, Martin, isn’t it, after what happened to Rosemary?”. The name “Rosemary” hangs in the air, and Martin refuses to discuss it further. The episode later shows him looking at an old photograph of two children, deepening the mystery of his past.
An Unlikely Support System Emerges
Convinced he is not cut out for Port Wenn, Martin decides to leave. His departure is interrupted by a call about a medical emergency at the local bar, the Salty Breeze. He arrives to find a confrontation between Gilbert, Gilbert’s wife Susan, and a younger man—all of whom are suffering from the same condition due to a shared tube of estrogen cream. In the ensuing scuffle, Martin is accidentally punched in the face, resulting in a bloody nose.
Overwhelmed by the blood, he locks himself in a bathroom. Elaine, whom he had fired earlier, finds him and helps him. As she tends to him, she realizes his secret.
“I’m very good at keeping secrets,” Elaine tells him, offering to handle blood draws and bandages for future patients.
This moment establishes a crucial, unexpected alliance. Showrunner Liz Tuccillo notes that this was the start of a pivotal relationship for Martin.
Later, Martin finds Sheriff Mark ill behind the bar from drinking too much. Mark, dealing with his heartbreak over Louisa calling off their wedding, shares a moment of raw honesty. He makes a practical case for Martin to stay.
“We need a doctor, and you need patients,” Mark says. “We don’t all gotta love each other, do we?”.
This straightforward appeal cuts through Martin’s defenses. Combined with a meaningful glance at Louisa, it leads him to his decision. By the end of the episode, Martin removes the “For Rent” sign from outside his office and home, signaling he will stay in Port Wenn.
Cast and Character Dynamics
The premiere relies heavily on its strong cast to bring the quirky town to life. Josh Charles anchors the show, portraying Martin’s grumpy exterior and hidden vulnerability. Critics note his skill with dry, deadpan humor and the physical comedy required for his phobic reactions.
Abigail Spencer plays Louisa with a warmth that clashes with, yet complements, Martin’s abrasiveness. Their early friction sets up a clear romantic trajectory. Josh Segarra earns laughs as Sheriff Mark, whose overly cheerful celebration of his breakup masks real pain. The ensemble, including Cree as Elaine and various town residents, quickly sketches a community that is both intrusive and oddly supportive.
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A Mystery for the Future
While Martin decides to stay, the central mystery of his past remains. The episode introduces the name Rosemary but provides no answers. The old photo of two children suggests a profound personal loss that likely connects to his phobia and his inability to form close relationships. In an interview, Josh Charles explained that Martin has a deep desire to connect with people but lacks the social skills to do so, a flaw rooted in his history. Unraveling this backstory will be a key part of the series moving forward.
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