Somehow all Alaska based series come with this escapism aura (at least this is what comes to mind, due to also having seen Men in Trees). It must be the snow. Once the cold sorted and the array of characters get along with each other, this kind of setting brings on the life lessons, the solidarity and the introspection. As a premise, we have a new yorker, medical graduate, forced to take up a small city doctor position. Around him (the outsider, the permanent rebel waiting to go back to "civilisation") we get to meet the locals, great characters. And we get a lot of musings about life, soul, destiny, relationships, writers and musicians, via the Chris character. I liked it better when the actual stories within episodes were clearly structured, and less when it was foggy and fantasy-land-ish. It captures a certain trait of the 90s, that is for sure. TV entertainment that funneled into classic culture and life questions, for example. It may also be sad at times, and the love to be or not to be story simply does not stick. But it can display some chemistry here and there. And the characters are so likeable that it will not matter, after all, if you can see it happening or not, for Rob and Maggie.
Review of Northern Exposure
