Murphy's Clinic or if anyone can make a bad personal decision, they will

pensman

The show has two main characters Dr. Cathy Costello (Aisling O'Sullivan) and Mr. Dan Woodhouse (Dominic Mafham). Cathy is driven to make Clarence Street Clinic successful. This is a private clinic originally owned with three partners: Cathy, her husband Ed, and Cathy's father a successful and well known surgeon. After Cathy's husband leaves her, he sells his share to Dan an up and coming plastic surgeon who is at odds with Cathy and her father. The partnership becomes more complicated when Cathy's father dies unexpectedly and then leaves his share to a girlfriend who has been completely unknown to Cathy. It is a surprise and one she does not deal with well with. Add in the problems of the staff, and there are a multitude of problems, and staff changes all with new problems, and you have a fascinating soap opera. One thing for sure, the way everyone blabs in this clinic the concept of patient- doctor confidentiality is a fiction.

Let's try a biased description of a few major characters. Dr. Cathy Costello (Aisling O'Sullivan) who never met a conclusion she couldn't jump to. Mr. Dan Woodhouse (Dominic Mafham) goes from drug using smuck to a pretty decent guy who unfortunately has a fatal attraction. . Patrick Murray (Gary Lydon) goes from gullible, self-pitying, half-arsed counselor to incredibly gullible, self-pitying, half-arsed counselor. Daisy O'Callaghan (Amy Huberman) goes from dippy alcohol abusing receptionist to dippy, clue-less receptionist to self-righteous prig partner after inheriting Cathy's shares in the clinic. Surprise, Cathy dies. Keelin Geraghty (Rachel Pilkington) goes from so-so physical therapist to butinsky therapist who should have lost her license several times. Aine Flanagan (Gertrude Montgomery) goes from serious practice manager to receptionist after Cathy showing typical bad choice believes her long time employee might be a thief. Brendan Davenport (Chris O'Dowd) goes from slightly odd but highly competent accountant to wealthy but losing in love adult who chooses to live his life. Cara Madigan (Dawn Bradfield) goes from busy body manipulative instigating bitch receptionist to busy body manipulative instigating bitch practice manager. Dr. Clodagh Delaney (Leigh Arnold) goes from beginning mistake making doctor acupuncturist to settled in full staff mistake making doctor acupuncturist.

This can be a very addictive series and all seven seasons are currently running on Acorn TV. There are some abrupt character shifts and it can be infuriating when their absence isn't explained. But the new arrivals tend to be interesting and bring their own issues to the clinic. Only a few of the original cast survive all seven season and it can be surprising to see who makes the cut. As this is an Irish cast, at times the accents are so thick it can leave the viewer (American) confused as to what was said. Add differences in meaning of words and the confusion increases. A fag is a cigarette; the title Mr. is used to identify a surgeon as opposed to Dr. which references a GP; the post is the mail; brilliant means a good idea. After a while you (American) will catch on. Just as binge worthy as any Netflix series.

score 9/10

pensman 11 August 2015

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3295264/