The Clinic - Episode One

The Clinic is finally back on our screens and it's been worth the wait. Poor Daisy is still finding it tough in the big bad world, lovely Ruairí is still winking across that reception desk and Dan is still causing all kinds of trouble… because some things never change at Clarence Street!

Mystery solved
Thinking back on the Niall Boylan cliffhanger from last season, I was a bit surprised that the whole mystery behind his death was cleared up in week one but I'm guessing that's because there's plenty more hassle in store for Dan in the coming weeks. Right now, he seems to be playing dangerous games with just about everyone. He's blackmailing Lorcan, he's trying very hard to wrap Alice around his little finger and he's letting poor Aideen take the fall for something she didn't do. And as if that wasn't bad enough, he's now decided to alienate Daisy, the one person who actually had any time for him. She's helped him get over the death of Cathy, placed her trust in him when taking on her new role at the practice and now he's treating her the same way he treats everyone else. Bad form Dan. We're always going to take Daisy's side!

Romance in the air
While it seems that Lorcan and Clodagh could not possibly be more loved up this season, it looks to me like we might be about to get another hot couple at the clinic this season… well, if Ruairí's chasing around after Daisy is anything to go by! I think they'd make a really nice couple actually. Daisy really needs to have some fun in her life again. It's good seeing her being grown-up and responsible and doing Cathy proud but I miss dippy Daisy, who was always up for the party. Maybe DJ Ruairí is the man to help her find a balance.

Dodgy lungs and maggots
I'm usually fairly good for watching medical procedures on telly. I'm only slightly squeamish… but I have to say the sight of those maggots last night turned me right off my cup of tea. After recovering from her early reputation, Alice seems determined to return to square one with the viewers at this rate! Sticking with the medicine theme (I know, shocking!), I thought that Grace's first storyline this season was a very sweet one. I really like her as a character and I hope she continues to get the kind of storylines where we can see her personality. She could probably play agony aunt to Ruairí too when he plucks up the courage to ask Daisy out!

Downhill for Lorcan
It's a shame that Lorcan's life seems to be on the slide again. It was all too good to be true. His daughter and his girlfriend move in with him, he has forgiven his trouble-making patients for almost ruining his position in the clinic and it was just about time for him to get on with his life, in peace. Enter Dan, who will do whatever it takes to get his own way and it seems that someone else might be about to cause trouble for Lorcan too…

Linda McGee

You can watch this week's episode of 'The Clinic' on the RTÉ player here.