MovieChat Forums > Doc Martin (2004) Discussion > PC Penhale should be near the top of a l...

PC Penhale should be near the top of a list of...

posted 8 years ago by pamelajoon89
8 replies | jump to latest

...most inept fictional law enforcement officers, EVER. I hope he's not based on a real cop! I stopped laughing at him when he started messing with the taser.

[–] privatepracticedoc 8 years ago

Penhale is a fictional character on TV. Of course he is inept. He is supposed to be. Of course he is laughable, he is supposed to be. Yes if he tries to use a taser it will be a disaster. Just remember, no one is in any danger. No one will get hurt. This is all tightly controlled and staged.

There is no reason to stop laughing. Do you stop laughing when comedic characters jump off of buildings or shoot each other? Do you not laugh at stunt fights or fake car crashes. These are all stunts. Penhale's use of a taser is a stunt. This is a case of an actor doing his job, not a real person threatening another real person.

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Ignorance is the enemy of civilization

[–] pamelajoon89 8 years ago

Thanks. I know it's fictional and no one was injured. There is no need to be so condescending. My point is that this is not a cartoon. Others are portrayed as professional and yet he is allowed to do stupid, dangerous things with no consequences just for a laugh. He's just lucky that he has the doc, the Coast Guard (or whatever it's called) and normal, level-headed members of the community to get him out of trouble.

[–] UncleRob 8 years ago

Penhale is a clumsy, insecure, but well-intentioned dope. If he was a real cop, he'd be discharged immediately, I hope.

I think he's hilarious, and laughed out loud when he forgot to recharge his Tazer. His personable and kind spirit keeps me from being annoyed by him.

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You have meddled with the primal forces of nature, and YOU ... WILL ... ATONE!

[–] louiseculmer 8 years ago

i agree. he's overdone, for the type of programme it is. Too stupid to be creditable.

[–] doug65oh 8 years ago

The key to the business with the TASER is this: We all know it's a really bad idea, and even Bert Large knows it. ("...and they sent this to you, Joe?")

That one moment in itself speaks volumes of both Penhale and Bert, doesn't it?

[–] saeulcher 8 years ago

Penhale is another Barney Fife.

Fife was comical when I was 8; but the humor wore off pretty quick: Penhale's character just doesn't fit today's culture.

Would you even notice if Penhale just disappeared from the show? (I wouldn't, until after a 3-4 episodes)
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First they say it's tourist season; then I'm arrested for shooting one ?!?

[–] amorehl-93-99338 8 years ago

Penhale's character just doesn't fit today's culture.

I don't even know what that means. I know the PC folks would like to censor a lot of today's humour, but Penhale doesn't appear to fit into any protected class. I guess you're just saying you don't think he's funny; I'm not actually a big fan of his bumbling character either, but millions of people love him, so I guess he and his antics aren't going anywhere.

[–] ShannonTriumphant 8 years ago

I agree that Penhale is ridiculous and no, you would hope that real cops aren't like this, but at least he's a good guy. His main goal seems to be finding friends (he still thinks that he and Doc are "the Dynamic Duo"!). Sadly, in my town, there are police who are not only bungling, inept and clueless about solving crimes, but ignore public safety and play favorites as to who gets charged and who doesn't (as in, letting all their friends off the hook--for anything!). On top of that, they're nasty, so if you complain, they make your life hell.

That is probably one more reason for my (and others') affection or Penhale: he genuinely nice. Besides, he does get things right more often than it seems. Remember when he bailed out Bert and Al from the loan sharks? And when he threatened Ruth's mean neighbor for not allowing them to fix the leak in his loft? And how he found that unconscious, diabetic kid on Ruth's farm. He isn't completely useless!

-Those we should know elude us. But we can...love without complete understanding.