Aurora Borealis- A Fairy Tale for Big People

Season 1, Episode 8, Aired

Episode Summary

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9.3
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The approach of the Aurora Borealis and the constant light produces some strange behavior among the residents of Cicely. Chris abandons the radio station to build an unusual piece of modern sculpture and to get acquainted with a new soul mate that has come into town on some predestined mission. Joel journeys into the back woods to visit an isolated forest ranger and, when he gets stuck coming home, remembers the stories of a strange Bigfoot-like creature named Adam rumored to be roaming the area. Joel is rescued by Adam, who turns out to be real and a damn good cook, only when he returns to town no one believes him.moreless
  • One of the single greatest ever episodes of this series.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    An already better-than-average first season comes to a bittersweet close with an episode that knocks one out of the park.

    Two story threads here: One concerning Joel getting lost in the woods, only to be rescued by Adam, a mysterious Bigfoot-like apparition that the denizens of Cicely don't even belileve actually exists. Adam Arkin makes a hilarious guest appearance as Adam, the mysterious recluse who is seemingly good at everything (especially cooking). The other story thread, just as excellent, albeit more heartwarming, concerns a stranger named Bernard who feels compelled to travel from his home in Portland to Cicely, where he creates a fast bond with Chris. I am confused as to how they could have the same birthdate, I'll admit, but the realization that they are, in fact, brothers is a television moment that I will never forget.moreless
  • Great episode.

    9.4
    "Superb"
    This is the episode that made me love Northern Exposure.

    It just is a hilarious episode, with the hilarious introduction to Adam, and the damn near greatest storyline in TV history, that is...Chris has a brother, who is literally a Brother, with a connection that is drop dead hilarious, and the great Northern Lights make their first appearance, and will make a few appearances in the show, and are by far the greatest episodes in Northern Exposure history.

    if you don't love this episode, then you don't love TV. And you for sure, do not understand Northern Exposure, so change the channel.moreless
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  • QUOTES (8)

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    • Bernard: Well, do you ever have any trouble with the IRS? Chris: Oh, I don't pay taxes. Bernard: Do you ever make it down to Portland? Chris: I will now.

    • (Chris and Bernard are both dreaming of being in a truck driven by a stranger) Mysterious driver: I'm Carl Jung, and while I know a lot about the collective unconscious, I do not know how to drive!

    • Shelly: What were you talking about this morning? "Yoong" and, what was that other stuff? Chris: The collective unconscious. Shelly: Do they tour, or do they just cut records? … I missed something, didn't I?

    • Joel: Marilyn, I think we should review office procedure one more time. When I ask for a patient's chart, I don't want a map to his house.

    • Joel: Hey Ed, what is this, is this a track? Ed: Looks like a track. Joel: Looks fresh. You know, not that I know what a fresh track looks like, but that … that's big, whatever it is. What? What is it? What's wrong? Ed: It's a bare footprint. Joel: As in grizzly bear footprint? Ed: No, more like as in a person with no shoes on.

    • Bernard: Those Northern Lights are some kind of weird psychic, something? Chris: Yeah. Bernard: What causes them to do that? Chris: Well, this is just my guess, but I think that high speed electrons and protons from the sun are trapped in the van Allen radiation belt. Then they're channeled through the Polar Regions by the earth's magnetic field where they collide with other particles and create a brilliant luminosity. Bernard: What does that have to do with us? Chris: I swear man, I don't know.

    • Bernard: Excuse me. Joel: Yeah? Bernard: Where am I? Joel: You know, I've been asking myself that same question since I got here. I finally figured out we're somewhere between the end of the line and the middle of nowhere. Bernard: Oh, Where is that on the map?

    • Chris: Whenever there's a new moon looming on the horizon, I'll inevitably get a call from someone saying, 'Hey Chris, how bout that sucker.' And, I'll usually say something cordial like, 'Oh yeah, it's a marvelous night for a moon dance,' or 'I wonder what old Sun Young Moon is up to tonight.' But, knowing how we've been tossing and turning these past view nights for fear of where our dreams may be taking us, I'm not about to pretend that that man, in that moon, has our best interests at heart. No way, he's too much of a kidder. So until the big fellow packs his bag and hits the road put away those sharp utensils and stay close to your love ones, if you're lucky enough to have any. I'll see you in the morning, folks, or the moonlight, whichever one comes first.

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    • Music:- "Moon River" by Louis Armstrong - "Bad Mood Rising" by Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Little Egypt" by The Coasters - "Blue Moon" by Billie Holiday - "Mr. Sandman" by The Chordettes - "Full Moon, Full of Love" by Kd Lang - "Woody the Indian" by David Schwartz - "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven

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