Lost in Translation?

The British series Doc Martin ran for 10 glorious seasons. It was charming, scenic, and anchored by Martin Clunes' brilliant performance as a blood-phobic, socially inept GP. Fox's US remake, Best Medicine, is trying to capture that magic, but the diagnosis is mixed.

The Good

The setting—a small coastal town in Maine—looks fantastic. The cinematography captures the cozy isolation that made the original work. And the lead actor (played by an unnamed American sitcom veteran) clearly studied Clunes' mannerisms.

The Bad

Critics argue that the "Americanization" strips away the dry wit. "In the UK, a rude doctor is funny because British people are polite," wrote one reviewer. "In America, a rude doctor is just... the healthcare system."

The show tries to soften the edges of the protagonist to make him more likable for network TV, but in doing so, it loses the friction that drove the comedy.

The Verdict

Audiences are split down the middle. Fans of the original hate it on principle. New viewers, unaware of the source material, are finding it a "comfort watch." Whether it gets a second season will depend on if it can find its own voice, or if it will remain a pale imitation of the Cornish classic.

Best Medicine airs Tuesdays on Fox.