Ep 5. Breaking up Is Hard to Do

Doc Martin season 3 episode 5, titled "Breaking up Is Hard to Do", follows the daily life of Dr. Martin Ellingham who is a successful surgeon-turned-gp in the fictional town of Portwenn. In this episode, Doc Martin's girlfriend Louisa is feeling neglected by him, due to his busy work schedule and lack of time for their relationship. As a result, Louisa decides to question their compatibility and consider breaking up with him.

Meanwhile, Martin is preoccupied with a young couple, James and Nadine, who are concerned about their baby's health. Martin suspects the baby has a serious heart condition and refers the couple to a specialist in Truro for further testing. Nadine is distraught by the news and is reluctant to leave her baby's side, but her overbearing mother believes that it would be in the baby's best interest to seek treatment at the specialist hospital.

As Martin and Louisa's relationship becomes more tumultuous, they struggle to find a way to make it work. Martin is caught between his devotion to his work and his growing feelings for Louisa. Meanwhile, Louisa seeks advice from her friends and family, who offer a range of conflicting opinions.

As the episode progresses, Martin is determined to get to the bottom of his feelings and decides to seek advice from his aunt, who is a psychiatrist. She reveals to him that his difficulty in expressing his emotions stems from a childhood trauma that he has suppressed. Martin finally confronts his past and begins to open up to Louisa about his struggles.

In the final moments of the episode, Martin and Louisa come to a mutual decision about the future of their relationship. They acknowledge that it won't be easy, but they are willing to work through their issues and try to make it work.

Overall, "Breaking up Is Hard to Do" is a poignant and emotional episode that highlights the challenges of maintaining a relationship in the face of work and personal struggles. It showcases the complexities of love and how it can often require patience, understanding, and compromise. Doc Martin fans will be touched by the intimate moments shared between Martin and Louisa, and will appreciate the show's ability to tackle sensitive topics with depth and sincerity.