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Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)

rogerebert.com

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Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)

#31

Post by jfengel »

magarnicle wrote: post #29
nephihaha wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had the same thought. Like its friendlier younger sister. I think Twin Peaks fans realised early on the main point of the show wasn't so much who killed Laura Palmer, but the weird and wonderful characters in the place. Northern Exposure doesn't really have a One-eyed Jacks or a Bob... But it does have a Bigfoot character that could be right out of it.

I'm not so sure about that assessment of Twin Peaks. Look at the back half of season 2, where the "weird and wonderful characters" become the focus of the show. It's barely watchable. When Lynch came back for the final episode of that season he refocused it on Laura Palmer and brought back characters that hadn't been seen for many episodes, like Laura's mum or Audrey's brother. They weren't much fun, one being wracke…

I got the impression at the time that Lynch was figuring it out as he went along. Some days that worked; some days it really didn't but mostly carried through on the strength of its performances.

I admit I haven't seen it since the original airing. I would likely evaluate it differently now.

Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)

#32

Post by jfengel »

moron4hire wrote: post #2

When "Resident Alien" came out, we started watching it and I quipped to my wife, "oh, so this is 'Northern Exposure', but the out of touch, out of towner doctor pressed into small town service, constantly scheming to get out, is more likeable."

I really wanted to like Resident Alien, but it just didn't do it for me. I like the comparison to Northern Exposure; it's very astute.

But somehow, I really just wanted Tudyk to start killing everyone.

Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)

#33

Post by mrexroad »

nephihaha wrote: post #26
moron4hire wrote: post #2

When "Resident Alien" came out, we started watching it and I quipped to my wife, "oh, so this is 'Northern Exposure', but the out of touch, out of towner doctor pressed into small town service, constantly scheming to get out, is more likeable."

There is a touch of Mork and Mindy to Resident Alien too. But yes, I do see a bit of Northern Exposure in Resident Alien, and in Due South which popped along a few years later... And a touch of Twin Peaks in Northern Exposure itself.

Due South… now there’s a name I have not heard in many years.

Youth in the 90’s had all sorts of quirky content available and we had enough free time to consume it all while doing a lot of nothing along the way (in a good way).

Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)

#35

Post by simplicio »

ArchieScrivener wrote: post #17

Northern Exposure is the otherside Twin Peaks. Hits the same comfy note just at the opposite spectrum.

Both shows were filmed around the same time and place in WA state and, as you note, had a kinda similar surrealist vibe. Which made watching them togeather kind of strange. Like Joel and his friends adorable hijinks were happening just down the street from a brutal murder investigation.

Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)

#36

Post by dools »

This was one of my mother’s favourite shows and we all watched it together as a family when I was a kid. I really enjoyed it too.

About 10 years ago I bought the DVDs for my mother for her birthday and we watched some together, it really stood the test of time if you ask me.

She died last year, I’m glad we got the chance to share this and a few other nostalgic things over the past few years, we lived quite a long way away.

Call your mother!

Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)

#37

Post by n1b0m »

mruniverse wrote: post #34

I read it was partly inspired by "Local Hero" (Bill Forsyth movie). The visiting Russian singer felt like a direct lift of the visiting Russian fisherman in "Local Hero".

Yes it was :) I watched Local Hero after watching Northern Exposure and couldn’t shake the feeling that the visiting Russian felt eerily familiar. A little research revealed that Local Hero was a favourite of Northern Exposure writer Joshua Brand.

Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)

#39

Post by justinator »

jurip wrote: post #38

The two leads, Rob Morrow and Janine Turner, are doing a rewatch podcast called Northern Disclosure. They seem to be in season 3 right now. No endorsement, haven't tried it myself.

Does Janine Turner reflect upon her time playing a strong independent woman who owned her own business in a male dominated field while being friends with an indigenous population? Because Janine Turner is... different.

Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)

#40

Post by RajT88 »

I used to date a girl from Anchorage. She said that this show was for, "interesting and thoughtful people".

It didn't work out between us, but decades later, I keep trying this show to see if it's for me. I feel like one day it might be, if I'm in just the right place.

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