Fox launched Best Medicine on January 4, 2026, reimagining the long-running British series Doc Martin that wrapped after 10 seasons in 2022. Reviewers highlight its whimsical small-town vibe set in a Maine fishing village called Port Wenn, where surgeon Martin Best relocates after developing a blood phobia.
Josh Charles delivers a standout performance as the brusque doctor clashing with eccentric locals, earning nods for softening the original’s sharper edges without losing bite.
Many critics appreciate the formula working in its favor, calling it a cozy dramedy akin to past hits that blend medical mishaps with community quirks. The Los Angeles Times notes more whimsy and less grit than Doc Martin, yet praises Charles for anchoring scenes amid vomit jokes and village festivals.
Metacritic scores sit at 56 out of 100 from initial reviews, signaling a mixed but leaning positive reception for its accessible tone. Supporting cast like Abigail Spencer as love interest Louisa Gavin and Annie Potts as Aunt Sarah add familiar warmth, helping the show feel like a polished network entry.
Liz Tuccillo’s adaptation introduces fresh elements, such as a gay couple running the inn and a childhood trauma backstory for Martin, aiming to broaden appeal beyond the UK original’s cult status. Critics see potential in these tweaks, positioning Best Medicine as a lighter entry in Fox’s Tuesday lineup at 8 p.m. EST.
Early episodes tackle gynecomastia mysteries and teen pranks much like the pilot, but with upscale production values, shot partly in Cornwall, New York. This polish contributes to the 73% Rotten Tomatoes tally, as outlets commend its binge-friendly setup.
Original Doc Martin Lovers Feel Betrayed by Beat-for-Beat Copy
Fans of the ITV staple, available on platforms like PBS and Acorn TV, express outrage over Best Medicine’s near-identical premiere to Doc Martin’s 2004 pilot. IMDb user reviews label it a “pale imitation,” slamming weak writing, miscast actors, and zero charm in recreating Portwenn’s dynamics.
One viewer quit after five minutes, calling it “awful” and nothing like the British version’s humor. Reddit threads in Doc Martin communities echo this, with posts describing nausea from word-for-word lifts minus the endearing quirks.
The 38% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes underscores this divide, a 35-point gap topping lists of critic-fan splits. Doc Martin devotees argue the U.S. version sanded down Martin Clunes’ inscrutable intensity, replacing it with Charles’ more relatable stiffness.
Changes like renaming Portwenn to Port Wenn and swapping a farm for fishing feel superficial, while new characters like a bullying childhood rival come off as forced.
Social media buzz amplifies complaints about “Americanized” tropes, from reduced teen groups to predictable small-town festivals celebrating baked beans or baseball.
Josh Charles (Credit: NBC)
Producers from the original, including Mark Crowdy and Philippa Braithwaite, carry over, yet fans question why the remake clings so tightly to the source instead of forging a new path. Clunes appears recurring as Martin’s father, Dr. Robert Best, which some hope bridges the gap, but others dismiss as gimmicky.
International adaptations in France, Germany, and elsewhere succeeded by localizing fully, leaving U.S. viewers wondering why Fox did not follow suit. This backlash risks early cancellation talk, despite the NFL lead-in promos hyping big exposure.
Can Fox’s Doc Fix Ratings Rift Before Season Slips Away?
Best Medicine arrives amid a trend of British imports getting U.S. makeovers, from The Office’s endurance to flops like Life on Mars. Networks chase proven formulas, but audience rejection of close copies threatens viability, as seen in Rotten Tomatoes gaps signaling broader remake fatigue.
Fox slots it post-NFL for a launch boost, yet low viewer scores after two episodes prompt questions on sustaining Tuesdays. Cast heavyweights like Cree Cicchino as receptionist Elaine Denton and Josh Segarra as cop Mark Mylow offer hooks, with Cicchino’s personal arc drawing early praise.
Producers promise original stories ahead, moving past pilot parallels to explore Martin’s integration amid lobster feasts and wilderness rituals. Recurring players like John DiMaggio as Bert Large could deepen ensemble appeal if given room beyond quirky poses.
Showrunner Tuccillo’s resume includes relatable dramedies, suggesting room to pivot toward Northern Exposure-style heart over strict fidelity. Positive critical buzz might draw curious newcomers via word-of-mouth or streaming post-air.
Viewership data remains sparse this early in 2026, but history shows splits can heal if narratives evolve, like Ghosts thriving stateside. Fan forums mix cringes with holdout s enjoying the fresh take, hinting at growth potential.
Fox’s investment, including Hudson River shots for coastal authenticity, bets on charm winning converts. As episodes roll out, balancing homage with innovation decides if Best Medicine prescribes success or gets pulled from the air.
Robert Pattinson slipped into A24’s Marty Supreme unnoticed, voicing the British umpire and commentator during a tense British Open semifinal. Director Josh Safdie dropped the surprise at London’s BFI Southbank, calling it a quick favor from his Good Time days since no fitting Brits were around.
That scene lands early in the film, right as Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Mauser faces off against Hungarian champ Bela Kletzki in the gritty underbelly of 1950s New York table tennis circuits.
Fans packed social feeds with rewatches, zooming on audio cues amid paddle smacks and roaring crowds, turning a straight sports drama into a full-on cinephile scavenger hunt.
This marks the duo’s first collaboration since 2019’s The King, where they shared screen space in medieval intrigue, and it beats their much bigger showdown in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Three, slated for December.
Safdie’s first solo directorial effort, co-written with Ronald Bronstein, pulls from the real life of ping-pong legend Marty Reisman, capturing his obsessive climb through smoky halls and high-stakes matches.
Chalamet didn’t just star; he produced, pouring energy into a role that’s already snagged him Golden Globe and Critics Choice nods for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy.
Pattinson’s involvement stays pure offscreen magic, channeling the frantic pulse from Good Time that erased his Twilight baggage for good. Safdie noted Pattinson swung by the set casually and nailed the lines in one go, no drama attached.
It’s the kind of indie flex that keeps A24 buzzing, especially with Marty’s eclectic supporting cast, like Gwyneth Paltrow as a sharp agent, Odessa A’zion as a love interest, and even Tyler, the Creator stepping into acting alongside Fran Drescher’s no-nonsense mom.
Early buzz from test screenings hinted at this gem, but the BFI reveal lit the fuse, with TikTok edits layering Pattinson’s voice over Dune trailers for viral mashups.
Ping-Pong Epic Crushes A24 Benchmarks
Marty Supreme hit theaters Christmas 2025 and obliterated A24’s opening weekend record with $28.3 million domestic over five days, soaring past Civil War’s $25.5 million launch.
Fast-forward to now, and it’s closing in on $80 million worldwide from a bold $65 million budget, rewriting what skeptics thought possible for the boutique label’s biggest swing yet.
Domestic alone clocks $68 million, legs strong enough to challenge Everything Everywhere All at Once’s $71 million throne as A24’s top grosser. Tuesday’s hold barely dipped, doubling drops from flops like the Anaconda reboot, thanks to word-of-mouth in 2,887 screens.
Chalamet’s Marty dominates every frame, racket gripped tight as he hustles from Bronx basements to Vegas showrooms, embodying Reisman’s cocky genius. Promo stunts nailed it: Chalamet perched atop the Vegas Sphere hyping matches, recreating Marty’s trash-talk flair that hooked Gen Z gamers.
Marty Supreme (Credit: Central Pictures)
R-rated dialogue and sweat-soaked rallies keep adults hooked, while awards chatter from SAG and BAFTA nods cements prestige pull. Producers eyed this breakout after Chalamet’s Bob Dylan turn in A Complete Unknown, but Marty amps the physicality with months of training montages.
A24’s gamble pays dividends; scaling to tentpole budgets without losing edge proves viable. Analysts forecast $80-100 million stateside, multipliers rivaling Barbie’s cultural quake.
Safdie’s lens captures table tennis as brutal ballet, spins and smashes mirroring life’s gambles, landing universal acclaim at 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. Business-wise, merch like branded paddles sells out, and streaming rights bids pour in post-theatrical.
Dune 3 Looms With Villain Faceoff
Pattinson steps up as shape-shifting Tleilaxu master Scytale against Chalamet’s Paul Atreides in Dune: Part Three, the trilogy closer dropping December 2026.
Their Marty Supreme whispers serve as a sly appetizer, teasing rapport before Arrakis explodes in Fremen rebellions and imperial intrigue. Pattinson shared laughs about Dune 2’s sand-blasted shoots, leaving him fried, and prepping for this villain arc with more menace.
Villeneuve wraps Herbert’s saga with Paul’s jihad spiraling, Bene Gesserit schemes clashing with Tleilaxu plots. Pattinson’s Scytale twists faces and loyalties, a direct foil to Chalamet’s haunted emperor.
The cast boasts Zendaya’s Chani fracturing from Paul, Javier Bardem’s Stilgar radicalized, and Anya Taylor-Joy’s Alia unleashing visions. Principal production wrapped amid strikes, with VFX houses churning out epic worm rides and shield duels.
Marty’s momentum juices Dune hype; $80 million validates crossovers from indie to blockbuster. Chalamet chases more hardware, Pattinson balances with Batman sequel whispers, and The Drama rom-com with Zendaya is in April.
Their paths cross again soon, and voices nod to screen rivals, proving Hollywood’s small circles breed big sparks. Post-credits teases in Marty fuel theories linking ping-pong grit to desert survival.
The box office crystal ball sees Dune 3 eclipsing its predecessors at $800 million plus, with Pattinson and Chalamet drawing diverse crowds.
Glimpses from set leaks show Pattinson’s prosthetics for Scytale’s forms, and Chalamet bulked up for warrior Paul. Villeneuve stresses the emotional core amid the spectacle, with Paul’s choices echoing Marty’s obsessions.
A24’s win sets a template: hidden gems launch stars into franchises. Reunion magic lingers, quiet voices paving explosive futures.
