Katey Sagal Joins Best Medicine Season 2 as Louisa's Estranged Mother

Well, it looks like Port Wenn is about to get another visitor, and this one comes with some family baggage. Katey Sagal is joining the second season of FOX's Best Medicine in a recurring role, and her character has a very personal connection to one of the town's familiar faces.

Sagal will portray Kathleen Gaven, the estranged mother of Louisa Gavin, played by Abigail Spencer. And considering Louisa already has plenty happening in her personal life, the arrival of a mother she's been estranged from could make things considerably more complicated.

Louisa's Family History Comes Into Focus

The casting introduces an opportunity for Best Medicine to explore another side of Louisa, whose relationship with Dr. Martin Best (Josh Charles) has been one of the show's central dynamics. Between navigating life in Port Wenn and dealing with Martin's notoriously difficult personality, Louisa hasn't exactly been living a stress-free existence.

Now there's the possibility of some unresolved family business entering the equation. Exactly what caused the rift between Louisa and Kathleen hasn't been revealed, but an estranged parent showing up in a small town certainly sounds like the beginning of an interesting conversation. Or several uncomfortable ones.

Sagal brings decades of television experience to the role, with memorable performances as Peggy Bundy on Married... with Children, Gemma Teller Morrow on Sons of Anarchy, and Louise Goldufski on The Conners. She's no stranger to portraying complicated women, making her an intriguing addition to the FOX dramedy's growing ensemble.

Another Big Addition to Port Wenn

Based on the British series Doc Martin, Best Medicine follows a brilliant Boston surgeon who relocates to a small Maine fishing village, only to discover that escaping big-city life doesn't mean escaping other people's problems. The series also stars Annie Potts, Josh Segarra, and Cree alongside Charles and Spencer.

Sagal's arrival adds another family relationship to a show that thrives on its eccentric residents and their increasingly tangled lives. Whether Kathleen and Louisa can repair their relationship remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Port Wenn isn't running out of drama anytime soon.

Best Medicine airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, with episodes streaming the following day on Hulu.