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- Northern Exposure
Every Season Of 'Northern Exposure', Ranked
Welcome to the ultimate rundown of every season of Northern Exposure, the quirky, beloved TV show that captured hearts in the early '90s. Set in the fictional small town of Cicely, Alaska, this series blends humor, drama, and eccentric characters to explore themes of community and culture clash.
This list is here to guide both new viewers and longtime fans through each season's unique charm and standout moments. Whether you're revisiting or discovering for the first time, get ready to experience all that made Northern Exposure a cult classic.
Premiering in September 1991 with a complete set of 23 episodes, this season presents the closure of Roslyn's Café after a dispute. Simultaneously, the unlikely love between Holling and Shelly takes significant strides.
Best Episodes of the Season:
- "The Bumpy Road to Love"
- "Seoul Mates"
- "Burning Down the House"- Series: Northern Exposure
- Season Premiere: 1991-09-23
- Season Finale: 1992-05-18
- Total Episodes: 23
- Original Network: CBS
- Season: 3
A good season?With 7 episodes, the second chapter of Northern Exposure started unfolding in April of 1991. It builds upon the nuances of Alaskan life, capturing pivotal events such as the annual "Running of the Bulls" in Cicely and Joel Fleischman's growing rapport with the local populace.
Best Episodes of the Season:
- "The Big Kiss"
- "Spring Break"
- "Slow Dance"- Series: Northern Exposure
- Season Premiere: 1991-04-08
- Season Finale: 1991-05-20
- Total Episodes: 7
- Original Network: CBS
- Season: 2
A good season?The fourth season, held in September 1992, gave viewers 25 episodes packed with the challenges and rewards of life in small-town Alaska. It includes important developments, such as the death of an old bush pilot leading to a town-wide existential crisis, and Ed's attempt to make a film about Cicely.
Best Episodes of the Season:
- "Northwest Passages"
- "The Big Feast"
- "Old Tree"- Series: Northern Exposure
- Season Premiere: 1992-09-28
- Season Finale: 1993-05-24
- Total Episodes: 25
- Original Network: CBS
- Season: 4
A good season?The final season, beginning in September 1994 and packing 23 episodes, marks several dramatic changes for both characters and the narrative. Joel departs Cicely, leaving it under the care of another doctor, while Maggie uses her inheritance to buy Joel's former property, grandly concluding the series.
Best Episodes of the Season:
- "Dinner at Seven Thirty"
- "Up River"
- "The Quest"- Series: Northern Exposure
- Season Premiere: 1994-09-19
- Season Finale: 1995-07-26
- Total Episodes: 23
- Original Network: CBS
- Season: 6
A good season?This inaugural installment of Northern Exposure commenced in July of 1990, composed of 8 full episodes. Within this season, the central event revolves around the fresh arrival of New York doctor Joel Fleischman to the small Alaskan town of Cicely, where quirky local characters and an alien cultural environment shake the foundations of his city slicker lifestyle.
Best Episodes of the Season:
- "Russian Flu"
- "A Kodiak Moment"
- "Aurora Borealis: A Fairy Tale for Big People"- Series: Northern Exposure
- Season Premiere: 1990-07-12
- Season Finale: 1990-08-30
- Total Episodes: 8
- Original Network: CBS
- Season: 1
A good season?Start in September 1993, this season, stretching over 24 episodes, reveals Maggie's fascination with an old man who manifests yearly to guide spirits to their rest, while Joel gets lost seeking a mythical tribe and has a trippy encounter with a version of Cicely from before World War II.
Best Episodes of the Season:
- "Three Doctors"
- "Birds of a Feather"
- "Mite Makes Right"- Series: Northern Exposure
- Season Premiere: 1993-09-20
- Season Finale: 1994-05-23
- Total Episodes: 24
- Original Network: CBS
- Season: 5
A good season?
