Northern Exposure (Season 2) DVD Review
Nominated for 39 Emmys, including 4 nominations for Outstanding Drama Series in just six short seasons, Northern Exposure is one of the most unique television shows of its time. Half-drama, half-comedy, the show built itself a large cult following, experiencing widespread critical acclaim as well as viewer popularity. The brainchild of St. Elsewhere creators Joshua Brand and John Falsey, Northern Exposure premiered in July 1990 on CBS, lasting only five years (cancelled in July 1995). But the show’s cutting edge wit and originality have earned it a place among the most hallowed and venerable of TV classics…
Northern Exposure follows the exploits of recent medical school graduate Joel Fleishman (Rob Morrow) who, failing to read the fine print in the government papers accompanying his student loans, is forced to practice medicine for several years in the frozen tundra of Alaska. Even more unsettling is that he’ll be the only doctor in the small logging township of Cicely, a place filled with oddball characters and never short of strange occurrences. The wealthy entrepreneur, ex-NASA astronaut Maurice Minnifield owns Cicely and is determined to turn it into an ideal vacation paradise (with Fleishman being part of his plan). Other notable characters throughout Cicely include beautiful bush pilot (and Fleishman love interest) Maggie O’Connell (Janine Turner), KBHR radio deejay Chris Stevens (John Corbett), aspiring filmmaker Ed Chigliak (Darren E. Burrows), and husband/wife team Holling (John Cullum) and Shelly Vincoeur (Cynthia Geary) who run the local watering hole, The Brick. With its classic “fish out of water” theme, Northern Exposure provides some memorable moments as hero Joel Fleishman learns to appreciate the finer points of rural Alaska…
The Northern Exposure (Season 2) DVD features a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere “Goodbye to All That” in which Joel learns that Elaine has left to marry a judge several years her elder. Meanwhile, Holling buys a satellite dish but regrets it when Shelly becomes addicted to international TV… Other notable episodes from Season 2 include “All is Vanity” in which Maggie persuades Joel to pose as her boyfriend in order to trick her father, and “Slow Dance” in which Shelly becomes jealous when Holling enjoys a reunion with a woman from his past…
Below is a list of episodes included on the Northern Exposure (Season 2) DVD:
Episode 9 (Goodbye to All That) Air Date: 04-08-1991
Episode 10 (The Big Kiss) Air Date: 04-15-1991
Episode 11 (All is Vanity) Air Date: 04-22-1991
Episode 12 (What I Did For Love) Air Date: 04-29-1991
Episode 13 (Spring Break) Air Date: 05-06-1991
Episode 14 (War and Peace) Air Date: 05-13-1991
Episode 15 (Slow Dance) Air Date: 05-20-1991
About the Author
Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Northern Exposure (Season 2) DVD.