In the latest episode of Fox‘s new medical drama, Dr. Martin Best’s commitment to strict medical protocol ignited a firestorm in the small town of Port Wenn. Titled “All the World’s Ablaze,” the fourth episode showed that doing the technically correct thing can sometimes be the fastest way to make enemies. The doctor’s actions led to a beloved local figure going missing and turned the town’s popular diner into the target of a health investigation, leaving the community more divided than ever over their brilliant but socially awkward new doctor.
The Episode’s Major Incidents: A Missing Instructor and a Restaurant Scandal
The episode, which aired on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, wove together two major storylines that tested Martin’s place in Port Wenn. The first crisis centered on Blaze, the town’s charismatic and hunky wilderness survival instructor. After observing him, Martin logically deduced that Blaze was hiding a serious medical condition that required immediate attention. However, Martin’s characteristically blunt approach backfired spectacularly. Instead of accepting help, Blaze fled into the wilderness, disappearing off the grid and sparking a local panic. The situation was made more complex because Blaze lived a secluded life, making the search for him and any potential treatment extremely difficult.
The second, and arguably more inflammatory, crisis involved The Salty Breeze, the diner owned by the married couple Greg Garrison and George Brady. When several residents showed signs of food poisoning, Martin’s medical training pointed to a common source. Following standard health safety procedure, he took the logical step of reporting his suspicions and calling in a health inspector to investigate the popular eatery. This move was seen not as professional diligence, but as a direct attack on a beloved local institution and the people who run it. The inspector’s visit caused public outrage, turning the townspeople’s frustration with Martin’s poor bedside manner into full-blown anger.
Analyzing Martin Best: Logic Versus Community
To understand why Martin’s actions caused such an uproar, it is essential to look at his character. Martin Best, played by Josh Charles, is a former brilliant Boston surgeon who left his career after developing a crippling fear of blood following a traumatic surgery. He arrives in Port Wenn, a Maine fishing village he visited as a child, hoping for a quiet life but finds himself as the only general practitioner for a town full of quirky, needy locals.
Martin’s blunt and borderline rude bedside manner rubs the quirky, needy locals the wrong way.
His core conflict is a clash of perspectives. In a major hospital, a doctor’s primary relationship is with the patient’s ailment. In a small town like Port Wenn, medicine is deeply personal, and a doctor is woven into the social fabric. Martin operates on a framework of facts, diagnoses, and procedures. He saw a public health risk and acted to contain it. He identified a sick person and insisted on treatment. To Port Wenn’s residents, however, he attacked a friendly local business and scared off a treasured community member.
This episode highlighted that Martin’s problem is not a lack of intelligence or skill, but a fundamental disconnect in social understanding. As one analysis of the series notes, he is “socially inept” and openly admits he does not like people, which reconstructs the classic “Dr. Jerk” trope into a character more worthy of sympathy than scorn. His actions in Episode 4 were not malicious, but they were devoid of the community finesse that Port Wenn expects.
Fan and Critical Reception to the Episode’s Tensions
The episode has generated discussion among viewers and critics, particularly around the recurring theme of the town’s hostility toward Martin. A review from TVFanatic pointed out a growing fatigue with this dynamic, noting, “I often grow tired of the Port Wenn residents turning against Martin”. The same review offered a critique of Martin’s methodology in the food poisoning case, suggesting “the food poisoning case was complex, but he should have investigated more before reporting the Salty Breeze”. This points to a nuanced view among the audience: while the town’s constant negativity can feel repetitive, Martin’s rigid approach is not always above critique.
The broader context of Martin’s secret adds another layer of tension for fans. In previous episodes, it was revealed that Martin’s childhood bully, Glendon (Patch Darragh), has discovered the truth about his breakdown in Boston. Actor Josh Charles has stated that Martin “is concerned” about Glendon knowing his past, especially as he tries to build a life in Port Wenn. This looming threat makes every new conflict with the townspeople feel more dangerous, as Martin’s standing in the community is already precarious. The show’s executive producer, Liz Tuccillo, confirmed that Glendon will “come and go throughout the season,” causing more problems and keeping the threat alive.
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Where to Watch Best Medicine
Best Medicine airs new episodes on Fox on Tuesdays at 8:00 PM ET/PT. For viewers who have missed the first episodes or want to catch up on the series from the beginning, “All the World’s Ablaze” and prior episodes are available for streaming on several platforms. The series is produced by FOX Entertainment Studios.
The main cast includes Josh Charles as Dr. Martin Best, Abigail Spencer as schoolteacher Louisa Gavin, and Annie Potts as Aunt Sarah. The ensemble is rounded out by Josh Segarra as Sheriff Mark Mylow and Cree as Martin’s assistant, Elaine Denton.
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