From: Henry Nunes <hwnunes@leland.stanford.edu>
Subject: Re: "Russian Flu" rerun
X-Xxmessage-Id: <A733DCF4420100F0@naranja-pc-175.stanford.edu>
X-Xxdate: Sat, 21 Nov 92 12:32:52 GMT
Organization: DSO, Stanford University
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d12
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 92 20:30:29 GMT

In article <21NOV199202074618@juliet.caltech.edu> Broughton,
waynebro@juliet.caltech.edu writes:
>Well, well.  I just saw the "Russian Flu" episode for the first time;
[deletions]
>
>The overall atmosphere was more lively.  More light-hearted approach;
>none of Chris' musings!

That's because the producers had no idea what to do with Chris.  Compared to
the other seasons, Chris did very little radio work on the show.  Sure he did
some, but the first season had him walking about more.  His monologues would
have interupted the flow of "Russian Flu" anyway... good thing he got  sick.

>Much more Joel and Maggie, esp. Joel (though
>that might have been specific to this episode).

Nope, there was a whole lot of Maggie & Joel during the first two seasons-- it
was one of the sources of constant energy for the show.

>The music was better,

It was OK, but really subpar.  If you want to hear great NX music, tune into
the episodes from the second season... hell, if you want to see the seven
greatest episodes of NX (probably one of the greatest runs put on by any
series), check out the second season.

>IMO.  I think the acting was better: more expressiveness (eg. I loved
>those facial reactions to hiyo-hiyo-ipseyo, or whatever it was).  

The acting was more basic... although Joel's facial expressions were great (if
not over done).

>Some of the characters were different.  Ed was not so moody.  Maggie
>was stronger, less neurotic.  Joel was wittier, but more uptight: he 
>hadn't learned to fit in as well as he does later.  Marilyn was more 
>cheerful ("Joey? Joey?" she asks with a Marilyn-smile).

Ed was really wierd.  Maggie didn't know about her self then.  There was more
Joel, not more witt or uptightness.  And Marilyn hasn't changed, she has just
more speaking lines.

>And the general feel of the story was different, though this is hard
>to explain.  For one thing, there was only one plot line, a weakness
>in my view.  (On the other hand, it was a stronger and better developed
>plot than some of the subplots we have seen recently).

No, there were two definate sublots, first there was the flu, then there was
the visit by Elaine.  Then there were two more subplots.  The town thinks Joel
is a commie, and Joel thinks Maggie is trying to sabotage his relationship
with Elaine.  I can't believe you didn't like this... I appreciated it when
all three story lines come together in some way... and here we have 2 story
lines with four subplots.

>The things that happened were more "normal". . . . 

Normal?  What kind of life do you lead?  A whole town gets a disease, some
moose dung remidy is used, thos references that Elaine was more like a sister
to Joel (a comparison of how similar they are to each other, in contract to
the direct opposite Maggie is to Joel).

>. . . . which could have been disappointing, until
>that very creative and humorous dream sequence came on.  The other notable
>exception was what others have referred to as the Twin Peaks scene, 
>though I did not watch (Twin Peaks).

I had totally forgotten that the Twin Peaks scene was in this episode... boy
was I surprised.  It was really cool.

>I would say this season's episodes are more serious, with more creative
>story lines, changed (not necessarily developed!) characters, but less
>energy, and more "diluted" acting.  (You can interpret that any way you
>like... :-) ).

NX now takes itself two seriously (like a show with a two year contract) with
less creative story lines (you are basing this on one  episode seen from the
first season?  Come on, watch a few more first/second season episodes before
you make a judgment like that.)  The characters have changed through
development.  The acting is better, not as exagerated.

>I did enjoy this episode!

I enjoyed it again, too.
Newsgroups: alt.tv.northern-exp