Doctor Doctor

I had the luxury of watching all 5 seasons in a period of a month or two (thanks to Acorn) and although I really enjoyed the series at the start, I was disappointed to see it deteriorate over time.

The last two seasons were particularly sad - sad to see such intelligent and ethical characters like Penny go over to the dark side. Of course one character that didn't change was Hugh, but that was fine since he started out as a self-centered, albeit charming, jerk (with some redeeming qualities.) Charlie also devolved into a shrew when they brought the actress back after her pregnancy hiatus (how ironic was that?) Hailey and Ajax never did go downhill since they started out there in the first place (at least the Christian Hailey didn't lecture about God as often as I feared. But really -- low morals for a supposedly devout Christian). And I was hoping Meryl would get her comeuppance - what a terrible person she was portrayed as. The final episode sort of regained the feeling of the early seasons, but perhaps they kept the series going a little longer than was necessary, although it looks like it was a windfall for cast and crew.

My thoughts about some of the cast and their characters (Cast likeability 1-5); (Character arc over time in show: 1-5) 5 is best rating.

Rodger Corser (5) Hugh Knight (5 - 4) Nicole da Silva (5) Charlie (5 - 3) Ryan Johnson (5) Matt Knight (5 - 4) Tina Bursill (4) Meryl Knight (3 - 1) Hayley McElhinney (5) Penny (5 - 3) Chloe Bayliss (3) Hayley (3 - 2) Matt Castley (2) Ajax (2 - 1) Belinda Bromilow (5) Betty (5 - 4) Charles Wu (5) Ken (5 - 4) Patrick Wilson (4) Rod Eagle (3 - 3) Winta McGrath (4) Floyd (4 - 3) Steve Bisley (5) Jim Knight (5 - 3) Brittany Clark (5) Mia (5 - 4) Miranda Tapsell (4) April (4 - 3) Uli Latukefu (5) Darren (4 - 3) Shalom Brune-Franklin (5) Aoife (5 - 5) Kate Jenkinson (4) Tara - (3 - 3) Dustin Clare (5) Jarrod (5 - 5) Chantelle Jamieson (5) Sharna (4 - 4) Annabel Wolfe (3) Ivy (2 - 1) Vince Colosimo (3) Carlito (2 - 2) Angus McLaren (5) Toke (5 -5) John Waters (3) Michael (3 - 2) Lincoln Younes (4) Tom (4 - 3)

I have been watching this as the Heart Guy in the US. I was delighted at first but am finding the characters becoming a bit tiresome. How many times does Hugh have to self- destruct or can't Charlie ever think before she whines? These characters started out great but are becoming stereotypes as in a soap opera. Hugh appears to have grown a bit, Meryl is superb and the others Knights are forever immature. I hope the writers can evolve. The "cut to bonking" is sophomoric, physically uncomfortable and unnecessary for what could be a family show.

The show started strong with the expected tensions between Hugh and Penny but into season 3 I am giving up. As with other reviewers Ajax's childish and dangerous behavior is totally annoying. The writers somehow think a character who is blind to the situation his adapted father left him in and constantly shooting something up is a relatable person. From reading the episode descriptions it just keeps going down hill from here which is a pity as the scenery and even some of the hospital action are a real treat.

I'm enjoying this so far. I like the laconic dialogue and depiction of small town lifestyle.

However, I'm waiting for the usual Aussie malaise, the gradual descent into cliché driven soap. I'm hoping this time, Charlie doesn't allow herself to be seduced by Hugh, Matt doesn't die to make way for Hugh, Hugh doesn't have sex 'to make a baby' with Charley - he's a surgeon, let him supply his sperm the clinical way for a change.

How about a stable if quirky family situation that doesn't deteriorate into the usual melodramatic BS... There's plenty of material in the outback lifestyle to keep the series going for years if they do it right.

I liked Hugh, his coworkers and his mother Meryl right from the start. I eventually warmed up to the rest of the cast with the exception of Ajax. Ajax is completely unlikable, by the third season I was fast-forwarding any scene with that annoying man/child in it and nearly gave up on the show altogether because of him.