A Doctor in the Family – Season 5
The story picks up approximately three years after the season four finale. Lele lives in Paris, where he has become a university professor. Turinese doctor Emilio Villari, engaged to Alba, the daughter of Gualtiero, a cynical entrepreneur and longtime acquaintance of Enrica, arrives at the Martini household. An Indian family arrives in the neighborhood. There's Kabir, a traditionalist Hindu, a middle-aged man and grandfather of three grandchildren: Sarita, a doctor specializing in homeopathy who nevertheless lives by Western values, and the young Sadju and Sumede, the same age as Ciccio and Annuccia, respectively. Emilio has to open a semi-private health center in Rome: his future father-in-law tells him he can't immediately return to Turin because he must stay to supervise the proper functioning of the new healthcare facility. Only in the fifth season does Poggio Fiorito cease to be a neighborhood and become an autonomous municipality.
Episodes
The Adventure Continues / Long Live Autonomy
Lele has moved to Paris, along with Alice and the twins. Guido is still in Africa with Maria. Meanwhile, Dr. Emilio Villari arrives at the Martini household, in Rome to open a new private clinic. Alberto returns to live with the Martini household, and the family realizes his relationship is over. Cettina continues to be overprotective of her son Eros, to the point of being unable to bear the thought of sending him to kindergarten.
Face the Tiger / Poggiofiorito Libero!
The Martini family meets their new Indian neighbor. After initial hesitation, Ciccio and Annuccia become friends with their grandchildren. Meanwhile, Poggiofiorito is becoming an independent municipality, and it's time for Grandpa Libero to run for office. Grandpa Libero is busy campaigning against lawyer Ulmi, who counts Grandma Enrica among his supporters. The campaign is relentless, culminating in a televised face-to-face.
The Peace Gazebo / The Tiger and the Flamingo
Grandpa Libero can't stand the commotion outside the Indian restaurant and wants to close it down. All the women are rebelling because they've started attending a yoga class organized by Kabir. Alberto receives a letter from someone who arranges to meet him at the mall, and he thinks it's his ex... Cettina is increasingly drawn to Kabir and confesses to Grandpa Libero that she can't stop thinking about him.
Visions / Maria, Where Are You?
Alberto tells Ciccio he saw Maria, but his cousin doesn't believe him. Grandpa Libero and Torello also say the same. The decisive confirmation will come at Annuccia's recital, where her sister will be among the spectators. Maria goes to visit Annuccia at night, leaves her a drawing, and runs away, but the little girl wakes up and calls her grandparents. Libero chases after the girl, who finally no longer has to hide. But she appears greatly changed.
Add a Seat at the Table / Take Off the Mask!
Cettina lives separately with Torello. Meanwhile, Alberto and Ciccio visit Maria, but she seems determined to get rid of them quickly. She confesses she wants to forget the two years she spent in Africa. Grandpa Libero visits Maria and tries to convince her to return home, but she still isn't ready. But an unexpected event will change her mind.
Needs / Red Accounts
After being summoned by his fiancée's father, Emilio must return to Turin permanently. During dinner with Sarita, the two believe they will never see each other again, and so, with a kiss, passion ignites. Emilio declares his love for Sarita, but she fears they will end up hurting each other. Meanwhile, Torellhonor appears to be bankrupt, while Maria decides to apply for a job as a waitress at an Indian restaurant.
Let's Hope It's a Girl / Fair Competition
Torellhonor is on the verge of bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Sarita and Emilio, after convincing an Indian couple not to have an abortion, decide to open a counseling center for non-EU women. Cettina is forced to remove Eros from the expensive private daycare center and place him in a public one. Alberto discovers that his father has cancer and only has a few months to live.
The Lady in Red / The Indian Party
Alberto discovers that chemotherapy hasn't had the desired effect on his father. He nevertheless decides to indulge his father's wishes, wishing to live out his remaining time peacefully. Cettina asks the Martinis for hospitality. A huge party is held at the Indian restaurant. Ciccio, Annuccia, Saju, Sarita, and Maria volunteer as dancers and liven up the evening. Maria is elected "Queen of the Party" and finally confides her secret to Sarita.
Two Hearts and a Shed / Love Is Blind
Ciccio and Miranda decide to run away and take refuge in a farmhouse in the countryside, owned by the parents of a mutual friend. Everyone is worried, but thanks to little Eros's intuition, Grandpa Libero knows where to look. At the outpatient clinic, everyone is gathered waiting for the announcement of who will be fired, but everyone is shocked to learn that Emilio has submitted his resignation to save his colleagues.
One Boyfriend Too Many / Boyfriend Wanted
Sarita accepts Emilio's marriage proposal, but Indian tradition dictates that the groom go to the bride with his parents and ask her family for her hand in marriage. Libero and Enrica offer to accompany him. Sarita tries to convince Kabir to accept Emilio, but he is opposed, as he values respecting tradition. Sarita then decides to leave home and go to live with the Martinis.
For Sale
Sarita and Emilio must keep their respective families at bay: Enrica wants to organize a grand wedding, while Kabir wants to organize a traditional Indian party.
Surprise Guest / The Girls of Poggiofiorito
To save the clinic, Emilio proposes to buy it with his colleagues and patients, all of whom will own a small share. Meanwhile, bachelor and bachelorette parties are being planned for the future spouses. At the Indian restaurant, Ravi's arrival causes a stir, especially since Kabir doesn't have the courage to reveal that his niece will soon be marrying Emilio. As if that weren't enough, the young man shows up at the clinic to see Sarita.
Honorary Degree
Maria falls ill with mumps and can no longer defend her thesis, so to avoid the girl waiting another three months, she can't wait to return to Africa with Guido. To resolve the situation, the family comes up with a plan.
Goodbyes / All the Knots Come to a Head
Ravi gives the girl a letter from her father, written 25 years earlier, in which he claims to have promised his daughter in marriage to repay him for a theft. She refuses to marry him, so Ravi demands that she pay the debt. Sarita has decided to marry Ravi. Maria lets Emilio know why the young Indian woman left him. Emilio visits Ravi at his hotel and attacks him. Maria finally manages to defend her thesis and graduate with a top grade.
La signora in rosso
Alberto discovers that chemotherapy has not had the desired effect on his father. However, the boy decides to indulge him in the desire to live peacefully the time that remains to him. Cettina asks the Martinis for hospitality.
La festa indiana
Big party at Indian restaurant. Ciccio, Annuccia, Saju, Sarita and Maria offer themselves as dancers and enliven the evening. Maria is elected "Queen of the party" and finally confides her secret to Sarita.
Due cuori e un capanno
Ciccio and Miranda decide to flee and take refuge in a farmhouse in the countryside, owned by the parents of a mutual friend of theirs. Everyone is worried, but thanks to the intuition of little Eros, Nonno Libero knows where to look.
L'amore è cieco
At the outpatient clinic they are all gathered to wait for the announcement of who will be fired, but everyone is amazed to read that Emilio has resigned to save his colleagues.
Un fidanzato di troppo
Sarita accepts Emilio's marriage proposal, but Indian tradition requires the groom to go to the bride with his parents and ask her family for her hand. Libero and Enrica offer to accompany him.
A.A.A. fidanzato cercasi
Sarita tries to convince Kabir to accept Emilio, but he is against it because according to his mentality it is very important to respect the traditions. The girl then decides to leave her house and goes to stay with the Martinis.
Vendesi
Sarita and Emilio have to keep the intrusiveness of their respective families at bay: Enrica would like to organize a big wedding, while Kabir a traditional Indian party.
Ospite a sorpresa
To save the clinic, Emilio proposes to buy it with colleagues and patients, all becoming owners of a small share. Meanwhile, stag/hen parties are organized for future spouses.
Le bambine di Poggio Fiorito
Ravi's arrival at the Indian restaurant creates confusion, also because Kabir doesn't have the courage to reveal to him that his niece will soon marry Emilio. As if that weren't enough, the young man shows up at Sarita's clinic.
Laurea ad honorem
Maria falls ill with mumps and can no longer discuss the thesis to prevent the girl from waiting another three months, since she can't wait to go back to Africa to see Guido. To resolve the situation, the family makes a plan.
Addii
Ravi gives the girl a letter from his father, written 25 years earlier, in which he claims to have promised his daughter in marriage to repay him for a theft. She refuses to marry him, so Ravi orders her to pay off her debt.
Tutti i nodi vengono al pettine
Sarita has decided to marry Ravi. Maria lets slip with Emilio the reason why the young Indian left him. The latter goes to the hotel to Ravi and assaults him. Maria finally manages to defend the thesis and graduate with 110.