This show's use of music really made it magical One of my favorite scenes: https://vimeo.com/151017533
lovely music, sounds like enya or clannad or such
The song is Ebudae by Enya!
Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)
61–70 of 93 posts
Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)
#62Such a great show, but difficult to classify. No drama, action or nailbites, no big belly laughs, more like smiles and chuckles. I was just a little happier after having watched most episodes. Very few shows like that, but Ted Lasso actually reminded me a lot of NEX in how it made me feel.
Just started watching Widow's Bay, which to me has a similar vibe, but a much better hook: folk horror as the plot driver. I can't watch Northern Exposure anymore. It's too alienated from the modern world, it feels like an artifact from a different civilization rather than anything I can relate to now, which is sad.
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Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)
#63Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
He absolutely was, quite famously. He'd be writing the episodes in the diner week-to-week.
For me it's the pattern for a lot of shows that went off the rails: starts with a strong premise and setting, but gets an indefinite run so the writer(s) can't actually terminate any story arcs and end up floundering badly. It got dramatically better again when he had to wrap it up.
Some shows start off in that state (like Lost - I was familiar enough with the pattern then to avoid getting sucked into that one); some drift into it (Twin Peaks and BSG at least). It usually takes getting cancelled to pull them out of it, which is really sad.
Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)
#64I had the privilege to watch this show last year for the first time and I was completely blown away by it. I still think about it from time to time and it is easily my favourite show ever. Every actor is great and every single character in it is likeable (despite their flaws) and the show is proof that not everything has to be edgy, dark, gritty and have a murder in it to be good. The writing is phenomenal. Sure, som…
Full series currently on Prime/iTunes for $20, with ~80% of the original music.
Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)
#65Obligatory Borges mention for magical realism.
Read his Garden of Forking Paths and Lottery in Babylon. Short stories which leave you with much to think about
Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)
#66I had the privilege to watch this show last year for the first time and I was completely blown away by it. I still think about it from time to time and it is easily my favourite show ever. Every actor is great and every single character in it is likeable (despite their flaws) and the show is proof that not everything has to be edgy, dark, gritty and have a murder in it to be good. The writing is phenomenal. Sure, som…
For a while CBS refused to put Northern Exposure on streaming platforms due to the rights needed for all the songs that appeared both in the soundtrack and just in the background on KBHR.
I ordered the DVD box set during COVID, later sent it to my parents, who also enjoyed the re-watch. Great show that mostly still held up over the years.
Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)
#67"There are four words you need to know to adequately prepare yourself for childbirth. Take notes here, ladies: I...want...my...epidural."
Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)
#68This show's use of music really made it magical One of my favorite scenes: https://vimeo.com/151017533
This one always stood out to me on Marilyn's trip to Seattle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylkbjjykgG4&list=RDylkbjjykg...
Re: Magical Realism: “Northern Exposure” 25 Years Later (2015)
#69Northern Exposure is the otherside Twin Peaks. Hits the same comfy note just at the opposite spectrum.
Funnily enough there's a Northern Exposure episode with a brief Twin Peaks parody. I think it was Russian Flu in season one. Joel and Elaine are on a trip, and they're shown around an area with a waterfall and viewing platform, like The Great Northern Hotel/White Tail Falls. The scene is a pretty funny Twin Peaks parody, with music and visuals inspired by Twin Peaks, and includes a joke about seeing a woman holding a…
I vaguely remember reading that they were in fear if being cancelled at that time, in part because of the popularity of Twin Peaks, so they decided to lampoon it a little bit. I can't find a reference to that but it'd be funny if true.