The Indian Doctor

I binged watched all three seasons on Hulu in one day. I am a fan of Ayesha Dharker which is why I started the series, but now I am also a fan of Sanjeev Bhaskar, who plays the doctor. They both have the ability to communicate with their eyes and with facial expressions. They are amazing actors.

The plot started out about adapting to a new culture and got better from there. I don't know why the popularity of the series went down because the story became more engaging with each episode. Perhaps the lack of violence, sex and profanity did it in. I wish we had more seasons of this series and others like it.

Dark Comedy, Melancholic drama, the acting is brilliant, the backdrop is as apt as apt can be. It has a very LOTR-shire like characteristics. It takes you to a different world, yet its a real world. The cast is small but intricately woven so you know the characters in and out. There always a background story line "noise" - which stays with you all the time yet does not let you get preoccupied with the outcome. Its probably the most "human" show i have seen in a long time. Sanjeev Bhaskar has managed to shed his image as a slapstick comedian in this venture. I am sure most people will be pleasantly surprised, and those who are not, give it some time. You'll get involved before you know it. Hope BBC recommissions it.

The Indian Doctor consists of three seasons all of which are five episodes long. To be honest I really liked every single one of them. The best part I find is that nobody tries to camouflage or disguise their accents here - many of the cast being Welsh just helps to authenticate everything further. At first some may feel this takes a little getting used to but allow for this and prepare to be rewarded for doing so. There are a few wooden performances to watch out for but as the seasons progress these characters disappear into life's rich pattern. Watch out for Sanjeev Bhaskar whose totally transformed from comedy roles such as The Kumars At Number 42 in the most wonderful way within his role as the Doctor. Also watch out for effective performances by Mark Williams and Will Houston as villains - bad guys. Also the coal mine is in Blaenafon and is now a museum whilst locations-wise Blaenafon town and Llantrisant appear to be used. Would I recommend to a friend? Without Hesitating.

The strength of the series lies mainly in the casting. Both of the two leads, Sanjeev Bhaskar as Dr. Prem Sharma and Ayesha Dharker as his wife Kamini, have wonderful charisma - you can't help but like and admire them. In the first series, Mark Williams was born to play the nauseating Richard Sharpe. (He plays him so well I wish a spin-off series could be created for this character everyone loves to hate.) The second series, that I have just finished, features Mark Heap as an intensely irritating vicar who has a 'Jesus is my penicillin' attitude during a small-pox outbreak in the village. My favorite, however, is Mali Harries who plays Megan Evans, the lady in the village who carries a torch for Prem so bright it could light the way from Piccadilly to Hadrian's Wall!

I loved this programme! The casting is excellent, from the doctor and his wife, to the receptionist and her boyfriend, to the mine boss and his wife, to the miners, to Dan, the little boy.

There is no shortage of subplots in this series. We meet a supercilious mine boss with his pathetic wife. We meet a young receptionist in her search for love. We meet an Indian doctor and wife who are newly-arrived in a small Welsh village, suffering the difficulties of fitting into a new culture, and the townspeople who, in many ways do not know what to make of the foreigners. In addition, a young boy and his father are struggling with life with little money and troubles of their own.

The music in this series is of its time. Excellent choices of music run throughout, adding to the authenticity of the series.

I recommend The Indian Doctor highly, and hope that the BBC sees fit to continue it. There are many loose ends left to tie up!