Swandives

A few weeks ago we decided to eschew a Foxtel subscription to buy DVDs. We figured it would be cheaper and so far it’s definitely worked in our favour. Imagine my delight when we discovered the local video store was selling Northern Exposure discs! I have the most wonderful coffee mug branded with the show’s title and the tagline: may the moose be with you. If there was every anything on television that spoke to my sensibilities, that show was it. I’ve since turned to eBay to round out the collection.

Nearly 17 years later, it’s still good! Actually, probably better. I’m rediscovering the wonderful nuances of the characters and, more interestingly, seeing things in the context of life experience that I simply didn’t have when I was younger. For example, the Shelly-Holling story arc was never really on my radar. Now, married to a man 21 years older than myself, I see it with an entirely different perspective. And it was so daring; I suddenly realised that we live in much more conservative times for all the changes and ‘forward progress’. I doubt the show would be a hit today because I doubt audiences would get it. Actually, I’m surprised it was ever a hit, truth be told. Surprised, and very pleased.

Northern Exposure always seems to be described as ‘quirky’ but on second viewing, I’d call it ‘accepting’. I realise this concept was the underlying theme of the whole show, but juxtaposed with the undercurrent of fear and hatred of today’s world it stands out as extraordinary. As a friend once remarked to me after watching an episode: “I feel at peace with myself and the world.”

The show first aired in 1990 so these days it’s considered a retro classic - which is not really a word I’ve ever associated with Northern Exposure until I realised there little to no technology onscreen. No internet. No mobile phones. Chris opines into a microphone where today he would no doubt be tapping away at a keyboard or podding. It is all the more wonderful for the lack of gizmos and gadgets. I am reminded of the joys of an analgue world. Then I remember that without digital, my Northern Exposure DVDs wouldn’t exist, and everything falls back into place.