When Northern Exposure debuted in the summer of 1990, it was like a breath of fresh primetime air. Like Peter Riegert in the wonderful village comedy Local Hero, Rob Morrow's Dr. Joel Fleischman is a veritable fish-out-of water in a backwater Alaska town, where he is compelled to serve a four-year stint to pay off his medical school expenses. In these inaugural eight episodes, Fleischman does his best to resist the town's eccentric charms, but finds himself inexorably drawn into the lives of the colorful characters who make up this close-knit community. The lightning-in-a-bottle ensemble includes Barry Corbin as Maurice, the blustery former astronaut with dreams of development; John Corbett as Chris, the loquacious DJ at the storefront radio station; John Cullum as Holling, the simple-hearted bartender; Cynthia Geary as the luscious young Shelly, the improbable love of Holling's life; Darren E. Burrows as Native-American aspiring filmmaker Ed, and Janine Turner as Maggie, the pilot who sparks some Sam/Diane, David/Maddie sexual tension with Joel. In subsequent seasons, Northern Exposure would inevitably jump the moose, but in the beginning, Cicely, Alaska, was a wonderful place to visit each week, and you almost did want to live there. Bonus features on this double-disc first season set include a substantial amount of deleted/extended scenes and outtakes, and the DVD case is packaged in a collectible, zip-up mini-parka (which still does not excuse the very steep price tag for a two-disc set). Highly recommended. (D. Liebenson)
Northern Exposure: The Complete First Season
Universal, 2 discs, 384 min., not rated, DVD: $59.98 Volume 19, Issue 4
Northern Exposure: The Complete First Season
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