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The Worst Episodes of Northern Exposure

Every episode of Northern Exposure ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Northern Exposure!

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After receiving a scholarship from the state, a recent Columbia University medical school graduate is required to set up his practice in an eccentric Alaskan town.

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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Northern Exposure Season 1 Episode 2 - Brains, Know How and Native Intelligence
    5.2/10(9 votes)

    #1 - Brains, Know How and Native Intelligence

    S1:E2

    Ed asks Dr. Fleischman to help him convince his uncle, a traditional tribal medicine man, to seek medical treatment for a health problem. A self-reliant Maggie chides Joel about being helpless around the house. Chris angers Maurice when he reads some poetry by Walt Whitman and uncovers some facts about the poet's life that Maurice would prefer not knowing.

    Director:Peter O'Fallon
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Northern Exposure Season 2 Episode 6 - War and Peace
    5.7/10(6 votes)

    #2 - War and Peace

    S2:E6

    A Soviet celebrity returns to Cicely for some relaxation, some borscht and a deadly serious chess match with rival Maurice. Holling suffers a bout of torturous dreams and Chris helps Ed win the heart of a farm girl with his erotic imagery of a motorcycle.

    Director:Bill D'Elia
    Writers:Robin Green, Henry Bromell

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  3. Northern Exposure Season 2 Episode 7 - Slow Dance
    5.7/10(6 votes)

    #3 - Slow Dance

    S2:E7

    The infamous O'Connell curse seems to have claimed another victim when a falling satellite hits Rick. Maurice has mixed feelings about selling some property for an outrageously high price to a couple he disapproves of, and Shelly becomes confused when Holling is really enjoying his reunion with an old lady friend from his distant past.

    Director:David Carson
    Writers:Andrew Schneider, Diane Frolov

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  4. Northern Exposure Season 2 Episode 5 - Spring Break
    6.1/10(7 votes)

    #4 - Spring Break

    S2:E5

    Things get a little crazy as the town waits for the annual ice breakup and the annual ""running of the bulls"" down the streets of Cicely. Joel and Maggie find themselves irresistibly drawn together, Maurice is attracted to a dominating state trooper sent to uncover the villain behind the annual rash of petty thefts and Holling challenges all the customers to a fight.

    Director:Rob Thompson
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Northern Exposure Season 2 Episode 4 - What I Did For Love
    6.3/10(8 votes)

    #5 - What I Did For Love

    S2:E4

    Joel's plans for a vacation to New York are sidetracked by Maggie's dreams about his death in an airplane crash and his suspicions about the enthusiastic doctor sent to temporarily replace him. Maurice's annual visit from an astronaut "groupie" is interrupted by his sleeping problems.

    Director:Steven Robman
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Northern Exposure Season 1 Episode 6 - Sex, Lies and Ed's Tapes
    6.8/10(6 votes)

    #6 - Sex, Lies and Ed's Tapes

    S1:E6

    A young man from Saskatchewan further rocks the already delicate relationship between Shelly and Holling. Ed suffers from writer's block and a lack of focus as he tries to begin work on his blockbuster movie. Maggie and Rick tiptoe around ""Maggie's curse"" when he shows symptoms of a serious medical problem.

    Director:Sandy Smolan
    Writers:Joshua Brand, John Falsey

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of Northern Exposure

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  7. Northern Exposure Season 1 Episode 3 - Soapy Sanderson
    7.0/10(7 votes)

    #7 - Soapy Sanderson

    S1:E3

    A hermit takes Joel's advice to put his affairs in order and leaves all his considerable land holdings to be jointly administered by Maggie and the good doctor, who has definite ideas about how to dispose of the windfall.

    Director:Stephen Cragg
    Writers:Karen Hall, Jerry Stahl

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  8. Northern Exposure Season 1 Episode 4 - Dreams, Schemes and Putting Greens
    7.0/10(6 votes)

    #8 - Dreams, Schemes and Putting Greens

    S1:E4

    Joel's mind is on helping Maurice sell Alaska as the "new Riviera" to two Japanese businessmen in hopes of becoming the "attending physician"--and playing golf--at their proposed resort. Meanwhile, Holling has proposed to Shelly when he learns that she is carrying his child, when the wedding day arrives, he is somewhat reluctant to go through with ceremony.

    Director:Dan Lerner
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Northern Exposure Season 3 Episode 9 - Get Real
    7.0/10(5 votes)

    #9 - Get Real

    S3:E9

    A stranded bus of carnival performers brings romance to Marilyn, doubts about her future to Maggie, the mysteries of magic to Chris, and a break to the studious Joel; Shelly however, is pained when Holling becomes fixated on her large feet.

    Director:Michael Katleman
    Writers:Andrew Schneider, Diane Frolov

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  10. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 4 - Heroes
    7.0/10(3 votes)

    #10 - Heroes

    S4:E4

    A heavy metal rock star comes to Cicely and gets Ed to make a documentary on a rock festival he is holding with local Indian drummers. Shelly is star struck by the arrival of this star. Meanwhile Chris' mentor, Tooley, comes to Cicely in a crate and Chris ponders how to eulogize, bury and send him to the great beyond.

    Director:Charles Braverman
    Writer:Jeff Vlaming

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  11. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 5 - Blowing Bubbles
    7.0/10(3 votes)

    #11 - Blowing Bubbles

    S4:E5

    Cicely's newest resident, Mike Monroe, is confined to live in a plastic bubble because of M.C.S. (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity), which makes him allergic to nearly everything manufactured in the twentieth century. After Maggie meets Mike she becomes interested in him. Ruth-Anne's son Matthew, the investment banker, comes to Cicely to try to get away from it all when he is fired from his job. Maurice's prospectus on making Cicely a place for sick people to move to and recover from their illnesses draws Matthew back into thinking about money.

    Director:Rob Thompson
    Writer:Mark B. Perry

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  12. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 9 - Do the Right Thing
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #12 - Do the Right Thing

    S4:E9

    An ex-Soviet member of their state security comes to Maurice and offers to sell him the file of all the information they have in his dossier. Maurice is discomforted by the fact that the information in the file is legitimate and shows things about the past he would prefer not knowing, like the fact he may have divulged top secret information. Maggie is reminded of her mortality when a pilot is killed making a flight she was supposed to make. The health inspector comes to inspect "The Brick" and besides finding many violations is interested in Shelly. Maggie decides to be positive to everyone, including Joel, to the point where is begins to affect her health. The ex-Soviet tries to sell other items of interest as barter for goods & services.

    Director:Nick Marck
    Writers:Andrew Schneider, Diane Frolov

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  13. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 10 - Crime and Punishment
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Crime and Punishment

    S4:E10

    Chris is taken into custody for an extradition trial to bring him back to West Virginia, where he currently has a parole violation. Chris knows he is guilty and really isn't interested in his defense. Mike comes up with an angle that he can prove to the judge that the Chris Stevens that skipped bail is different from the Chris Stevens standing before her.

    Director:Rob Thompson
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 11 - Survival of the Species
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #14 - Survival of the Species

    S4:E11

    Ed becomes gloomy about the future and begins to share Mike's visions about the future. Maggie digs up some artifacts from an ancient female in her front yard and Maurice wants to turn it into a major excavation. A young boy who runs away from a survival camp gets a job at "The Brick" to cover his room and board; he also falls madly in love with Shelly. Maggie and the rest of the women band together against the men who have dominated the dig in her front yard.

    Director:Dean Parisot
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 12 - Revelations
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #15 - Revelations

    S4:E12

    Ruth-Anne pays off her store which gives her great satisfaction and Maurice's great pain; however, Ed feels the most pain when these two old friends begin to fight after she begins to change the store and he finds himself caught in the middle. Chris goes to religious retreat to become a monk for a couple weeks. He thinks he has a problem when really feels an attraction for one of the other monks. Joel is going stir crazy when no one in town has sick for two weeks.

    Director:Unknown
    Writers:Andrew Schneider, Diane Frolov

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  16. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 14 - Grosse Pointe, 48230
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - Grosse Pointe, 48230

    S4:E14

    Joel accompanies Maggie as her "boyfriend," in a trip to back to Michigan, where he has been promised tickets to a Knicks - Pistons game. Maggie goes to attend her grandmother's 80th birthday party; for the event, "Grammy" has locked herself in the upstairs bathroom and Maggie is the only one allowed access.

    Director:Michael Katleman
    Writers:Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess

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  17. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 15 - Learning Curve
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #17 - Learning Curve

    S4:E15

    Holling decides to go back to school to get his high school equivalency certificate. Marilyn goes on an adventure in Seattle and Joel is worried for her safety so he tries to over plan her trip for her, plans she just ignores. A worried Joel, ventures down to Seattle to locate her. Maggie is at odds with the teacher over her philosophy about female combat pilots and sisterhood.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Jeff Vlaming

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  18. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 16 - Ill Wind
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #18 - Ill Wind

    S4:E16

    After breaking his nose, twice, Joel and Maggie have a wild fling in her barn. Chris saves Maurice's life, a debt that he is set on repaying. After witnessing that event and surrounded by psychic instability, Ed thinks about death in its many forms. A shepherd's flock wanders into town and he talk to the locals about his problems, Ruth-Anne thinks he is having a mid-career crisis.

    Director:Rob Thompson
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 17 - Love's Labour Mislaid
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #19 - Love's Labour Mislaid

    S4:E17

    Maggie forgets about having sex with Joel. Holling and Ruth-Anne go out to find a Siberian Tit, a bird rarely seen in Alaska. Ed's uncle arranges a marriage for Ed; however the bride already has a boyfriend.

    Director:Joe Napolitano
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 18 - Northern Lights
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #20 - Northern Lights

    S4:E18

    Joel goes on strike when the state of Alaska will not allow him time off for a Caribbean vacation he was planning. Chris has trouble seeking inspiration for his new sculpture. A vagrant's presence on Main St. outrages Maurice, when he learns the man is an ex-marine he tries to become his benefactor. Maggie debates about having sex with Mike. Holling spends his time in hibernation. The town of Cicely strikes back against Joel.

    Director:Bill D'Elia
    Writers:Andrew Schneider, Diane Frolov

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  21. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 19 - Family Feud
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #21 - Family Feud

    S4:E19

    A totem pole carved in tribute to the Raven clan reopens a bitter rift between them and the Bear clan. Shelly gets medical advice telling her that getting married may help her to get rid of the strange hallucinations with dancers that she's been having. Joel confronts Maggie about their "whatever" and her relationship with Mike; together they decide they're "mutually desirous incompatibles."

    Director:Adam Arkin
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 20 - Homesick
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #22 - Homesick

    S4:E20

    Maggie is excited when she thinks she has "cured" her latest beau, as opposed to killing him; however she is crushed when he tells her that he leaving to work for Greenpeace in Murmansk. Holling is disgusted by Shelly's redecorating of their bed & bathroom. Maurice moves his childhood home to Cicely and it stirs up memories of his brother.

    Director:Nick Marck
    Writer:Jeff Vlaming

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  23. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 21 - The Big Feast
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #23 - The Big Feast

    S4:E21

    When Maggie distributes the invitations for Maurice's 25th Anniversary Bash for Minnifield Communications an event "everyone" is attending Joel doesn't get one. Shelly accidentally breaks one of Maurice's expensive bottles of wine and tries to find a way to replace it. Adam and Eve return with the baby, Aldrich, and Adam takes over the food preparation of a special dish.

    Director:Rob Thompson
    Writers:Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess

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  24. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 22 - Kaddish, For Uncle Manny
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #24 - Kaddish, For Uncle Manny

    S4:E22

    Joel seeks out other Jews to help him mourn his uncle and Maurice calls out the troops to go out and round some up. Chris gets Bernard to help settle a 150-year-old feud between the Millers and the Stevens; something Bernard has some trepidation about participating in especially since it involves fighting, something he's never done. Marilyn drafts Holling to be her partner in a Cajun dance contest.

    Director:Michael Lange
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Northern Exposure Season 4 Episode 23 - Mud and Blood
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #25 - Mud and Blood

    S4:E23

    Spring comes to Cicely and Holling pays to get a job on a farm pulling a plow, because of his wish to sow seeds. Maggie saves Dave's life, a tape from Mike and other events get the people of Cicely thinking that she has healing powers. Maurice buys a pig for routing out truffles for the annual Mosquito Festival, but the pig may become the main course at a luau. Holling throws his back out and Shelly finds out that she is pregnant.

    Director:Jim Charleston
    Writers:Andrew Schneider, Diane Frolov

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Brains, Know How and Native Intelligence" is the worst rated episode of "Northern Exposure". It scored 5.2/10 based on 9 votes. Directed by Peter O'Fallon and written by Unknown, it aired on 7/19/1990. This episode scored 0.5 points lower than the second lowest rated, "War and Peace".