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Season 1 – Best Medicine

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Best Medicine Jan 2026 Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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73% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Martin Best is a brilliant surgeon who abruptly leaves his illustrious career in Boston to become the general practitioner in a quaint East Coast fishing village where he spent summers as a child. Unfortunately, Martin's blunt and borderline rude bedside manner rubs the quirky, needy locals the wrong way, and he quickly alienates the town, even though he's all they've got. Although Martin can expertly address any medical ailment or mystery in this idiosyncratic town, he's really just desperate to be left the hell alone. Instead, he keeps getting dragged right smack into the middle of their personal chaos, feuds and fantasies. What the locals don't know is that Martin's terse demeanor masks a debilitating new phobia and deep-seated psychological issues that prevent him from experiencing true intimacy with anyone. But tenacity is the creed of everyone in their small village, and the people who live there may be exactly what the doctor ordered.
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Best Medicine — Season 1

Best Medicine — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Best Medicine may not refine the medical procedural genre, but it does offer something far more enchanting; compassion, heart and a charming lead that graces all.

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Critics Reviews

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Lucy Mangan Guardian Jun 11, 2026
3/5
It’s perfect rubbish and we need it very much. Go to Full Review Alan Sepinwall What's Alan Watching? (Ghost.io) Jan 6, 2026
It's self-consciously quirky. It's formulaic. But it's also a formula that works more often than not. And Tuccillo knows how to write for his cast. Go to Full Review Robert Lloyd Los Angeles Times Jan 5, 2026
On the whole, it’s cuter, milder, more cuddly (multiple vomit jokes notwithstanding), more obvious and more whimsical, but less real, less intense and less sharply written than Doc Martin. Go to Full Review Pat Stacey Irish Independent Jun 9, 2026
1.5/5
Best Medicine is the television equivalent of one those old Top of the Pops (no relation to the TV show) compilation albums from yesteryear, featuring anodyne covers of chart hits by anonymous artists. Go to Full Review Dustin Rowles Pajiba Jan 22, 2026
In an era when national crises dominate our attention, Best Medicine reminds us that there's still value in stories about the people and places right in front of us. Go to Full Review Sarah Knight Adamson Sarah's Backstage Pass Jan 21, 2026
4/4
John Charles shines as Martin Best, a brilliant surgeon who trades his Boston city career to care for a small enchanting East Coast fishing village. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Sylvia L @Scllcsw 14 hrs ago Very poor attempt to recreate Northern Exposure. Lacks the intelligence of it, though. The romance between Martin and Louisa is not believable. See more Will C @WindowWasherWilliam 1 day ago Has it's moments as a light hearted "city doc meets small town: hijinks ensue." Josh Charles holds it together and is a decent take on the character. The over the top goes too far though and becomes tiresome quick. In a word, annoying See more Thomas P @TomOnRottenTomatoes 2 days ago Most of the episodes were enjoyable to watch, other than having to tolerate the show being the word that rhymes with Coke (you're not allowed to say it or you'll be banned). But the last episode pushed the Coke factor too far - the grand finale is two men kissing. See more Jodi D @DeVineMrs Oct 21, 2026 Simple, sweet, family fun. This show is a guilty pleasure, it's premise is Simple and fun. I love Annie Potts and the sheriff played by Josh Segarra. Josh Segarra is a hidden gem. Unique characters and interesting plots. See more Annastacia T @Calliope Oct 11, 2026 I tried to like this, but it's like a Temu version of Doc Martin. I love Josh Charles but this writing is so awful. Plus everyone has seen the original. See more Thomas T @RT91346115 Oct 5, 2026 The townspeople are far more likable than the main character. It's a good show and has great potential. See more Read all reviews
Best Medicine — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Jamie Babbit

Director

Josh Charles

Dr. Martin Best

Abigail Spencer

Louisa Gavin

Annie Potts

Aunt Sarah

Josh Segarra

Sheriff Mark Mylow

Cree

Elaine Denton

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 4, 2026 Docked One local teacher, Louisa Gavin, questions Martin's harsh demeanor; Martin quickly gets annoyed by the antics of the town locals. Details Episode 2 Aired Jan 13, 2026 Bean There Done That After Martin comes face to face with his childhood bully and diagnoses a potentially contagious illness, he is forced to cancel Port Wenn's monthly baked bean supper, angering everyone in the town. Details Episode 3 Aired Jan 20, 2026 Take Me Out of the Ballgame On the eve of Port Wenn High School's baseball team's playoff game, the town is furious with Martin when he accidentally breaks the arm of their star player; Elaine moves into Martin's waiting room after fighting with her mom. Details Episode 4 Aired Jan 27, 2026 All the World's Ablaze Port Wenn's favorite hunky wilderness survival instructor goes missing after Martin deduces that he desperately needs medical help; the locals are furious with Martin after he calls the health inspector about a suspected food poisoning. Details Episode 5 Aired Feb 3, 2026 Hello Darkness, My Port Wen While conducting a wellness check on the agoraphobic recluse who controls the town power grid, Martin's brusque bedside manner ultimately causes a massive town black out; as the townspeople fight for electricity, Martin befriends a young boy who reminds him of himself; Louisa and Mark share a romantic moment in the dark. Details Episode 6 Aired Feb 10, 2026 Eyewitness Blues On the eve of Port Wenn's annual blueberry festival, Martin treats a local man who has apparently become blue from eating too many blueberries; Martin is disturbed by Aunt Sarah's lack of attention to her health. Details Episode 7 Aired Feb 17, 2026 There Might Be Blood When Port Wenn puts on their annual "Blood Factory," celebrating the gory horror novel set there, Martin must contain his secret debilitating blood phobia when Louisa gets seriously ill and needs his help. Details Episode 8 Aired Feb 24, 2026 The Bogfather Port Wenn goes into high alert when a corpse is found in the town's bog and Martin's autopsy reveals that he was murdered; Martin's solo investigation trek leads him to a startling discovery about himself. Details Episode 9 Aired Mar 3, 2026 Doc Martin When Martin's parents make a surprise visit, Martin suspects that his father is experiencing a serious health condition; Louisa is made acting principal; Martin and Robert must operate together on Mark. Details Episode 10 Aired Mar 10, 2026 Port Wenn-ings and a Funeral Martin invites Louisa to watch the annual bird migration over Port Wenn;an elderly woman has hallucinations that lead to dire consequences; Martin must perform an emergency procedure on his young friend. Details Episode 11 Aired Mar 24, 2026 Mind Your Own Buboes Port Wenn goes on lockdown when a patient with fleas sparks fears of a plague outbreak; Martin must deal with the town gossip when it revolves around him and Louisa; Aunt Sarah feels betrayed by Greg and George; Louisa has an epiphany. Details Episode 12 Aired Mar 31, 2026 A Tale of Two Sister Cities Martin is skeptical when Port Wenn welcomes a friendly delegation from their sister city in Norway; Louisa visits a specialist who just happens to be Martin's ex; Greg believes that he is pooping little men; Mark exhibits troubling symptoms. Details Episode 13 Aired Apr 7, 2026 Norway No How Martin must toggle between the potential revelation of his blood phobia, a startling baby delivery and the arrival of his amorous ex; Louisa receives some thought-provoking medical results; Al and Elaine must navigate their uncertain future. Details

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Best Medicine — Season 1

Best Medicine Best Medicine View more photos

Season Info

Director
Jamie Babbit
Executive Producer
Ben Silverman, Rodney Ferrell, Liz Tuccillo, Mark Crowdy, Philippa Braithwaite, Jay Karas, Tyson Bidner, Howard T. Owens, Jamie Babbit
Network
Fox
Rating
TV-14 (D|S|L)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jan 4, 2026
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