Josh Charles in Fox’s ‘Doc Martin’ Dramedy

Halfway by the premiere of Fox’s Finest Drugs, schoolteacher Louisa (Abigail Spencer) remembers her life earlier than she moved to Port Wenn. “After I lived in New York, all people residing of their little packing containers with their little salads, that’s no strategy to stay,” she sighs. She loves being on this tiny Maine village the place everybody is aware of each other, she tells new-in-town Dr. Finest (Josh Charles), even when it additionally means her neighbors would possibly nostril round her enterprise or provide unsolicited recommendation.

I don’t understand how many individuals is likely to be watching that scene from their very own lonely big-city residences, or what number of extra from precise small cities which can be nothing like cozy and picturesque Port Wenn. However Louisa completely nails the enchantment of this present. Heat as a wool blanket, inviting as a hug and about as believable as a fairy story, Finest Drugs provides a present to the viewer: It permits us to think about, at the very least for one hour per week, that there is likely to be a cozier, happier, extra sociable strategy to stay.

Created by Liz Tuccillo (Alaska Every day), Finest Drugs facilities on Martin Finest, a standoffish however proficient Boston surgeon who’s abruptly taken a publish as Port Wenn’s new common practitioner. His ostensible rationale is that he has fond reminiscences of spending summers there as a child together with his lobster fisher aunt, Sarah (Annie Potts), and needs to assist take care of her now. His actual causes, which he retains near his vest, are rooted in an unnecessarily tragic backstory that the script often trots out to remind us that he’s not a jerk, simply troubled.

All of it sounds very acquainted, as a result of it’s: Not solely is Finest Drugs an Americanization of the long-running ITV sequence Doc Martin; even those that’ve by no means seen the unique shall be nicely acquainted with its central tropes — from the curmudgeonly doctor to the quirky townspeople to the minor medical mysteries that comprise every episode’s A-plot.

But when it’s not reinventing the wheel, it’s constructing a really strong model of the wheel — one which, within the first 4 chapters despatched to critics, strikes a winsome steadiness between coronary heart and humor.

Charles is superb as Finest, delivering a efficiency so finely calibrated that even a gesture as small as the best way he flutters his fingers round a bunch of bananas clues us into the sophisticated feelings effervescent simply beneath his invariably frowny exterior. Finest is much less misanthropic than grumpy, awkward and a little bit lonely, like a stray cat unused to being invited in — and subsequently simple to love even when he’s huffing at his good-natured however hilariously ineffective assistant, Elaine (Cree), or turning down invitations from locals desirous to welcome him into their neighborhood.

The characters round him are much less well-defined at this level, although the likability of the actors goes a great distance. The Different Two’s Josh Segarra radiates an irresistible pet canine power as Mark, the native sheriff, whereas Potts is nice enjoyable because the salty aunt who sees proper by Finest’s inflexible exterior. Spencer is extra restrained as Louisa, a love curiosity so idealized even her ex admits she’s excellent, however shares a pleasant chemistry with Charles. And whereas Elaine appears to shift priorities and character traits from episode to episode because the writers attempt to determine her out, Cree’s cheerful histrionics stay endearing all through.

Finest Drugs is just not, as of but, a present distinctive sufficient to make a robust lasting impression; I doubt I’ll be enthusiastic about it three months from now, not to mention a yr from now. And though the early chapters hit the mark of being candy however not overly sentimental, I’m wondering if the tone will shift towards the latter as Finest turns into extra embedded on this neighborhood and his unhappy historical past begins to return to gentle.

However for now, it’s providing up a world that merely feels good to hang around in — most likely as a result of its idyllic imaginative and prescient of small-town life is, in its personal approach, a fantasy as far-fetched as Narnia or Neverland.

Unhealthy issues occur typically in Port Wenn, however nothing so terrible we have to fret very onerous. Even the medical “emergencies” are usually minor sufficient that cranky sufferers are in a position to stroll into Finest’s workplace to yell at him for canceling the month-to-month baked bean supper over one thing as foolish as, um, a contagious virus.

There aren’t any politics right here — if the city even has a mayor, we’ve got not met them but. Not one of the residents appear to carry any biases, and even any suspicion of outsiders like Dr. Finest. They could disregard Finest’s medical recommendation, however nobody rails in opposition to vaccines and trendy drugs. There are occasional mentions of individuals needing to work to pay payments, however nobody seems in actual hazard of going homeless or hungry. So unburdened are these those who they’ve the power to spend a complete episode getting labored up about whether or not the homosexual couple who personal Port Wenn’s most beloved restaurant might need to rehome the pet pig they’ve been letting roam freely within the kitchen.

It’s not precisely gritty realism, however that’s why it’s so engaging. “We’d like a health care provider, and also you want sufferers. We don’t all gotta love one another, will we?” argues Mark in a uncommon second of knowledge, when a annoyed Finest briefly considers transferring on. It’s an inexpensive level, however finally an pointless one. Finest Drugs is a ticket to a spot the place everybody does love one another deep down, even and possibly particularly grouches like Dr. Finest. That’s why attending to spend time there seems like such a balm for the soul.