Oh boy, the writers of FOX‘s Best Medicine decided to lean into the ships on the show this week! Yes, I said ships, plural, as in more than one. They leaned in hard, and I’m not complaining! I’m a shipper at heart. The cozy comedy of this show is enjoyable, but romance will always draw me in more than anything else. “There Might Be Blood” accomplishes both. Best Medicine Season 1, Episode 7 offers some laughs, but more importantly, some effective swoons too!
MORE: For a reminder about the events of last week, take a look at our review of Best Medicine Season 1, Episode 6!
“I’m getting an enemies-to-lovers thing for sure.”
The latest tradition Dr. Martin Best (Josh Charles) has to contend with in Port Wenn is the annual Blood Factory celebration. It’s held in honor of the famous (but not good) horror novel written by someone who once lived there. It seems like every week there is a new tradition in this town. That could start to get a little repetitive. However, this particular celebration is even more of a problem for Martin than usual. I mean, Martin has hemophobia, and the novel they’re celebrating has the word “blood” in the title. He’s facing a bigger challenge this week for sure.
Oddly enough, this episode could work as a Halloween installment, and I wonder whether it was originally planned for that time frame. The novel seems to be a silly mix of vampires, mad scientists, and tragic newlyweds. But the episode strangely works as a Valentine’s Day viewing too because there is so much ship content. Viewers of Doc Martin, the British series this show is based on, will expect a slow burn romance between Martin and Louisa (Abigail Spencer). The writers of Best Medicine have been doing this. This episode kicks things up a notch.
MORE: In case you forgot what happened in “Hello Darkness My Port Wenn,” just read our review of Best Medicine Season 1, Episode 5!
“Are you gonna make out? I think you should make out.”
Complications start when a bunch of people get allergic to the red dye in the fake blood used for the festivities. Louisa begins presenting more symptoms than everyone else, and Martin single-mindedly strives to figure out what’s wrong with her. He doesn’t stop even when Louisa fires him as her doctor because he says the Blood Factory needs to shut down. These interactions are clueing more people into the unspoken sexual tension between Martin and Louisa.
Martin’s Aunt Sarah (Annie Potts) has recognized the situation for a while, but now others are noticing, too. The trio of teenagers who pester Martin all the time finally just call it out, out loud. It’s the first time any other character has specifically acknowledged Martin and Louisa’s possible feelings for each other. It’s so satisfying when a ship makes progress like this, and there’s more to come. Martin briefly considers whether Louisa might be pregnant by her ex, Mark (Josh Segarra). His reaction is very telling. But Louisa isn’t pregnant; she has too much iron in her blood, known as hemochromatosis.
MORE: Relive all the laughs of “All the World’s Ablaze” with our review of Best Medicine Season 1, Episode 4!
“That woman lives on her own little biscuit.”
This development leads to the most romantic scenes this show has ever done. When he figures out the diagnosis, Martin rushes to help Louisa. He doesn’t hesitate. He braves the Blood Factory, which must be a nightmare for him, to get to her. When she is safe in an ambulance, he almost declares his feelings but settles for asking to be her doctor again. She says yes. The way this moment is staged, and the way Charles and Spencer deliver the dialogue, is almost like a love scene. It’s fabulous. Now, these two will have to spend more time together as he treats her condition. I don’t want to miss that.
Besides them, other couples are heating up as well. Elaine (Cree) has been holding Al (Carter Shimp) at arm’s length because she doesn’t intend to stay in Port Wenn. He’s been supportive of her, though, and this episode lets them share a sweet first kiss. It’s written in a way that’s very appropriate to the characters. Also, Sarah’s nemesis/paramour from an earlier episode pops up again. Any hint of romantic storylines for female characters over a certain age will always have my approval. The comedy in Best Medicine is not always the most sophisticated. However, Season 1, Episode 7 pays respect to shipping, and that makes “There Might Be Blood” one of my favorite episodes so far.
Best Medicine airs at 8 PM on Tuesdays on FOX and streams the next day on Hulu.
