There is a specific, reliable comfort in the "fish out of water" procedural, a genre that has sustained network television for decades. FOX’s latest entry, Best Medicine, attempts to capture this magic by transplanting a beloved British institution into the rocky soil of coastal Maine. Developed by Liz Tuccillo, the series is an official Americanization of Doc Martin, the long-running ITV hit that turned a blood-phobic, curmudgeonly doctor into a global phenomenon. Replacing the iconic Martin Clunes is Josh Charles, an actor whose gravitas and subtle emotional range have been missed since his departure from The Good Wife.
Premiering on January 4, 2026, the 13-episode debut season introduces us to Dr. Martin Best (Charles), a high-powered Boston surgeon who abruptly leaves his prestigious career to become a general practitioner in the tiny, picturesque village of Port Wenn. The official story involves his childhood nostalgia and a desire to care for his aunt, Joan (Annie Potts), a lobster-fisher with a sharp tongue and a sharper wit. The reality, however, is a bit messier, involving a sudden onset of haemophobia and a personality that is more "thorny cactus" than "caring healer." The ensemble features Abigail Spencer as the town’s idealized schoolteacher Louisa Gavin, Josh Segarra as the overly enthusiastic Sheriff Mark Mylow, and Cree as the delightfully scatterbrained medical assistant Elaine Denton. In a TV landscape currently obsessed with dark, gritty anti-heroes and high-concept sci-fi, Best Medicine tries to stand out by leaning into the aggressively "cozy," offering a world where the biggest threat is often a poorly timed monthly baked bean supper.
Narrative Arc and Pacing: The Low Stakes Of Port Wenn
The narrative engine of Best Medicine is built on a very traditional, episodic blueprint. Each hour presents a minor medical mystery that serves as a vehicle for Martin to clash with the eccentricities of the locals. From a resident suddenly sprouting male mammaries to a town-wide outbreak of diarrhea, the cases are rarely matters of extreme life and death. Instead, they function as puzzles for Martin’s superior intellect to solve while he simultaneously learns (and often fails) to navigate the social etiquette of small-town life. This structure provides a steady, if predictable, rhythm that avoids the "mid-season slump" by simply not having a complex enough overarching plot to collapse.
However, the pacing often feels strangely lethargic for an hour-long drama. While the show succeeds as a "warm blanket" watch, it frequently sacrifices narrative tension for whimsical filler. The themes of the season revolve around isolation versus community, but the execution is often too shallow to resonate. The show exists in a socioeconomic vacuum where politics, poverty, and genuine hardship are virtually non-existent. When Louisa suggests that Martin should consider the economic situations of his patients, the show treats it as a momentary plot point rather than a fundamental truth of American healthcare. By the time we reach the end of the first four episodes, there is a lingering sense that the "scaffolding" of the original series has been imported without the wry, subversive humor that made the British version feel grounded.
Character Evolution and Performances: Calibrated Grumpiness And Wasted Potential
The strongest argument for tuning into Best Medicine is Josh Charles. He is a master of the "micro-expression," allowing flashes of vulnerability to peek through Martin’s rigid, frowny exterior. Whether he is awkwardly fluttering his fingers or delivering a blunt medical truth with a cadence that borders on the robotic, Charles makes the character likable despite his misanthropy. He plays Martin not as a jerk, but as a man who is fundamentally "out of sync" with the world around him. Abigail Spencer provides a charming, if somewhat restrained, counterpart as Louisa. While her character is written as a "Stepford-perfect" love interest, Spencer’s chemistry with Charles feels authentic, particularly in the quieter moments where they discuss their respective pasts.
The supporting cast is a collection of energetic performances looking for more substantial material. Josh Segarra is a joy to watch as Sheriff Mark Mylow, radiating an "irresistible puppy dog energy" that provides a much-needed contrast to Martin’s gloom. Annie Potts is equally effective, though criminally underused, as the one person who truly sees through Martin’s defenses. The breakout performance, however, comes from Cree as Elaine. While the character’s personality seems to shift depending on the needs of the joke, Cree’s "cheerful histrionics" make her a constant scene-stealer. Unfortunately, many of these characters remain two-dimensional caricatures throughout the season, serving more as obstacles for the doctor than as fully realized people.
Direction and Production Value: The Stepford Shores Of Maine
Visually, Best Medicine is a triumph of the "idyllic fantasy." Port Wenn is presented as a village so picturesque and clean it feels like it belongs in a snow globe. The cinematography favors soft, warm lighting and vibrant colors that emphasize the "cozy" nature of the setting. The production design is impeccable, from Martin’s gorgeous, light-filled office to the rustic charm of the local restaurant. It is a world that feels nice to hang out in precisely because it is so detached from the gritty realism of 2026.
The direction is consistent and professional, maintaining a "docudrama" feel during the medical scenes while pivoting to light comedy for the town interactions. However, this polish comes at a cost. There is a lack of "texture" to the world-building. Port Wenn feels less like a real Maine town and more like a child’s "paper-doll reenactment" of one. The lack of any real grit or social diversity makes the setting feel hollow after a few episodes. While the visual identity is inviting, it lacks the specific, lived-in atmosphere that made shows like Northern Exposure feel like they were about a real place with real history.
Trailer Best Medicine Season 1 (2025) TV Show
Soundscape and Atmosphere: Whimsical Strings And The Echo Of A British Classic
The sound design of Best Medicine leans heavily into the "whimsical." The score is flighty and light, often using strings to signal to the audience that a moment is meant to be funny or "quirky." While this fits the show's overall goal of being a "comfort watch," it can sometimes feel a bit intrusive, bordering on the "sitcom-ish." It lacks the sophisticated musical identity of Charles’ previous projects, opting instead for a soundscape that wouldn't feel out of place in a Hallmark Channel original.
The atmosphere is one of deliberate "inanity." It is a show designed for the "unburdened," where the most stressful conflict might involve a pig roaming freely in a restaurant kitchen. This creates a "balm for the soul" effect for viewers looking to escape the stresses of the real world, but it also means the show lacks any real "edge." It is a "prescription without a legible signature," a copy of a copy that manages to be pleasant without ever being particularly memorable.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What works well:
- Josh Charles’ highly calibrated performance, which finds the humanity inside a cold, prickly exterior.
- The effortless chemistry between Charles and Abigail Spencer, which hints at a more complex show.
- Josh Segarra’s boundless, charismatic energy as the local sheriff.
- High production values that create a beautiful, "fairy tale" version of coastal Maine.
- The show functions effectively as "low-stress" television, perfect for a casual winter binge.
What doesn't work:
- A lack of genuine "quirk" or depth in the supporting characters, who often feel like broad caricatures.
- The humor frequently sinks to a "low level," relying on juvenile medical gags rather than sharp wit.
- A "sanitized" version of small-town life that ignores social and economic realities, making the world feel hollow.
- The hour-long format feels "inexplicably stretched," with many episodes lacking enough narrative meat to justify the runtime.
- A failure to capture the "wry charm" and "heart" of the original British source material.
Final Verdict: A Prescription For Comfort Over Substance
Rating: 3/5 stars
Best Medicine is the television equivalent of a mild sedative: it is pleasant, it helps you relax, and it leaves very little lasting impression once it wears off. It is a show that is "warm as a wool blanket" but as "thin" as one too. While Josh Charles and Abigail Spencer do their best to elevate the material with subtle, meaningful performances, they are often hamstrung by a script that prefers "baked bean" jokes over genuine character development. The show succeeds as a "winsome balance" of heart and humor for those seeking an idyllic escape, but it fails to justify its existence as a necessary remake of a much sharper original.
If you are looking for a "background noise" show or something to watch with a family member who dislikes anything too "gritty," Best Medicine is a perfectly acceptable choice. It offers a "cozier, happier way to live" for sixty minutes a week. However, if you are looking for the intellectual rigor of House or the genuine community depth of Northern Exposure, you will likely find this Maine village a bit too "Stepford" for your tastes. It is a "solid version of the wheel," but it’s a wheel that doesn’t seem particularly interested in going anywhere new.
Watch or Pass: Pass (unless you are a die-hard Josh Charles fan or in desperate need of a low-stakes distraction).
 TV Review: A Cozy But Ultimately Hollow American Remake That Needs More Than Just A Familiar Face On FOX){kind=link}
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