The BEST episodes of Northern Exposure season 2

Every episode of Northern Exposure season 2, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Northern Exposure season 2!

Dr. Joel Fleischman (Rob Morrow) graduates from Columbia University medical school thanks to a scholarship from the state of Alaska. Though he was promised a placement at the large hospital in Anchorage, he is instead whisked away to the tiny town of Cicely, where he must work off his education debt as the local General Practitioner. The location is remote, the people are weird and quirky, and all Joel wants is to return to New York. The show thrived on this "fish out of water" storyline and the "will they or won't they" dynamic between Fleischman and Janine Turner's Maggie O'Connell.

Last Updated: 3/26/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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Spring Break
star
8.00
244 votes

#1 - Spring Break

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/6/1991

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.

Directors: Rob Thompson
Writer: David Assael
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Slow Dance
star
7.57
200 votes

#2 - Slow Dance

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/20/1991

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.

Directors: David Carson
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The Big Kiss
star
7.54
253 votes

#3 - The Big Kiss

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/15/1991

Ed's wish to know who his parents were summons up a 256-year-old Indian spirit named "One-Who-Waits" who offers to help him find out. Chris finds his voice has been stolen by a beautiful woman passing through town, and comes to believe in a folk cure he hears about-that he must sleep with the most beautiful woman in town, Maggie.

Directors: Sandy Smolan
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What I Did for Love
star
7.51
269 votes

#4 - What I Did for Love

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/29/1991

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.

Directors: Steve Robman
Writer: Ellen Herman
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Goodbye to All That
star
7.45
287 votes

#5 - Goodbye to All That

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/8/1991

Joel receives a "Dear John" letter from Elaine, who has decided to marry an older judge, and a concerned Ed enlists Maggie to help him deal with it. Holling regrets buying a satellite dish for Shelly, who soon develops into an international television junkie.

Directors: Stuart Margolin
Writer: Robin Green
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War and Peace
star
7.40
233 votes

#6 - War and Peace

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/13/1991

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.

Directors: Bill D'Elia
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All Is Vanity
star
7.36
268 votes

#7 - All Is Vanity

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/22/1991

Holling decides to be circumcised to please Shelly, Chris and Maurice organize the town to keep watch over an anonymous man whom died in Dr. Fleischman's office, and Maggie persuades Joel to pose as her boyfriend to please her father.

Directors: Nick Marck
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