The original post: /r/television by /u/Anthro-Elephant-98 on 2026-02-25 06:23:24+00:00.
What does everybody else think? I didn’t know what to expect from watching it the first time round. Personally, I was apprehensive to watch it initially, because my family and I used to watch the original British version, Doc Martin, and we were big fans of that show. Honestly, I didn’t think I would like Best Medicine, but spoiler alert… I did!
American remakes of British shows are hit or miss. When they miss, they miss the mark hard. Infamous examples of this are Fawlty Towers and The Inbetweeners, both of which, I was a big fan of the originals. On the other hand when American remakes work, oh BOY do they work! The most famous example of this is the American version of The Office. In fact, many fans will agree that the US version is better than the UK version. I can see both sides, but I am personally more familiar with the US version, and don’t know the UK version well enough to judge.
Tuning in every Wednesday for a new Best Medicine episode has become one of the highlights of my week. It’s a comfort show. I can’t say that I like it better than the UK version, but it hits the high notes in a different way. The original is more down to earth, whereas the remake is more whimsical and charming.
I love the cast. Annie Potts steals every scene she is in! She was hilarious in Young Sheldon, and she is hilarious in Best Medicine, too! Josh Charles as Dr. Martin Best is very believable as a shrewd, humourless, but competent doctor, and his chemistry with Abigail Spencer is great! The receptionist, Elaine (played by Cree) is a very annoying character, sure, but so was the Elaine from the original series. Cree’s portrayal of Elaine as an aspiring social media influencer adds a relevant spin based on our 2026 culture, and feels appropriate. The restaurant owners/couple, Greg and George add a lot of energy to each scene, and are utilized just enough so as to not be overwhelming.
Having said all of this, there are a few things to be desired. I wish that they would’ve changed the character’s names from the original (Martin, Louisa, Elaine, Bert, Peter, etc.), and so far most of the episodes seem to follow a similar formula. For example, many of them revolve around an annual special occasion (baked bean supper, high school baseball playoffs, blueberry festival, “blood factory”, etc.), and I would like to see more episodes that focus on an average day in the town.
For the most part, though, I am excited to see where this show goes, and I hope that it doesn’t get cancelled after the first season (like many shows do, unfortunately)! So far, I would give this show a 7.5 out of 10. Everyone should give this show a try!