From: moriarty@tc.fluke.COM (Jeff Meyer)
Subject: Re: NX 4.2, 10/5 episodode (midnight sun)
Reply-To: moriarty@tc.fluke.COM (Jeff Meyer)
Organization: The John Fluke Mfg. Co.  /a.k.a. The Gizmonics Institute/
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 00:28:45 GMT

In <1992Oct6.135740.2847@newsance.att.com> kimi@newsance.att.com (Kimiye Tipton;ball of confusion) writes:

>Who wants details?  Hit that space key...

>I didn't know what to make of Toomey and Ruth Anne.
>What is there about her that supposed to be attractive to men as
>different as the tailor and Ed?  A twisted sort of Earth Mother
>image?  

I think you're mixing up Ed and Gillis' feelings towards Ruth Anne.  Gillis'
intentions -- well, I think they were well explained in this episode.  Ed
looks at Ruth Anne as a very close friend; you can toss in
"mother/aunt/grandmother substitute" if you like, but I avoid pop
psychology terms whenever possible.  In other words, Ruth Anne <> Ruth
Gordan.

As to appealing features about Ruth Anne, how about a generally sunny
attitude, an appreciation of the everyday life and events, and a solid
foundation of common sense.

>Help me out if you know.  Marilyn's exit after learning
>the extent of Joel's sun looniness was the only hoot in the whole
>show.

Again, I thought this had the Minimum Daily Requirement (plus a few) of
Northern Exposure guffaws.  Our mileage has varied.

>The polite requests for sex that the manic Joel made to Maggie provided
>some of the best moments in the show.  The midnight visit through the
>window was particularly cute.  At least they didn't run the subplot
>into the ground (shades of "Cheers"), but then it was completely ruined
>by the denouement, when Joel acted like Maggie was a piece of furniture.
>It made no sense that he would go really cold like that.  It made sense that
>he would deny any attraction (out of embarrassment), but there should 
>have been some hidden look when they turned away from each other, anything, 
>instead of dropping the whole subject with no warmth whatsoever.

I will admit that I think he played that wrong; a touch of embarassment
would have brought life to that moment, but, unfortunately, no sale.  One
slight bit of average Fleischman self-consciousness would have made the
whole thing work, too.

>This was especially weird since he obviously still cared a lot about
>the basketball team after waking up normal.  His most astonishing line
>was "We'll beat them next year."  He's going to remain Cicely's 
>basketball coach, a big step for him joining the community as well
>as the human race.

Another one, yup.

>I really had trouble figuring out the connecting, underlying theme in 
>the subplots this time, and I'm thinking there may not have been much 
>of one.  There was the appearance/lust/sex object versus loving
>in spite of looks or age vein, and the "your attitude is everything" 
>theme, but I can't see any tie-in.  

Let me put it this way -- it's been some time since they had an underlying
theme to an episode.  I think it was fairly common for the first and second
seasons, but the demand of putting out an entire season seems to have
left that feature in the trashbin over the last season.  It's an unusual
NEXP episode, of late, that features a common theme.  (Side note: One of the
things that impressed me the most about HILL STREET BLUES over the first
(and some of the second) season were the common, underlying themes in the
episodes.  Looks like it was tough for their writers, too.)

>This show was featherweight compared to most NX episodes.  Definitely
>a 5.0, with peaks into 7 or so for all but the last Maggie/Joel
>scene, and for some of the basketball coaching.  I'm actually looking
>forward to the Bubble Lawyer--the writers need new blood.

I didn't think it greatly different than the average episode from last year;
I apparently enjoyed it more than you did.  (But I admit that I'm
automatically screening the Holling/Shelly subplots out these days.)

[Damn!  Forgot to tape the show last night.  Now I have to hunt an episode
 up within the company.]

                           "Frankly, I'm very surprised that this is all being
                            taken the wrong way.  We're in the comics
                            business.  We specialize in stereotypes."
                                           -- Mike Carlin
---
                                        Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
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