Ep 5. Russian Flu

In Northern Exposure season 1 episode 5 titled "Russian Flu," the residents of Cicely are hit with a new strain of flu that starts spreading rapidly throughout the town. The flu leads to an interesting chain of events that causes the town's inhabitants to reflect on their own personal struggles and relationships with each other.

Dr. Fleischman, the town's doctor, and Joel's love interest Maggie O'Connell, are the only two people in town who don't seem to get the flu which provides them the additional barbs to throw at each other. Fleischman tries to find a way to stop the influenza outbreak, but he soon finds out that it is much easier said than done. The infected patients are quarantined in a school and Joel works tirelessly trying to come up with a cure before it gets worse. Meanwhile, Chris and Bernard decide to play a game of chess, but when the flu strikes Bernard, he is forced to reevaluate his life.

Adam, one of the residents of the town, is visited by his ex-girlfriend Michelle who comes to Cicely looking for him. However, Adam is too sick to receive her, and Michelle ends up spending the night caring for him, leading to some old feelings resurfacing between them. Elsewhere in town, Holling finds out that he has been unwittingly spreading the flu and he fears he will die.

The episode takes an interesting turn when the residents of the town start to hallucinate due to the illness. The hallucinations take them to different parts of the world, and they see things that they never imagined before. The hallucinations are a way for the characters to explore their innermost desires and hidden fears. Fleischman, for instance, sees his parents and brother and realizes how much he has missed them. Maggie, on the other hand, sees Joel in a different light, and her hallucination helps her to understand her relationship with him.

In all, "Russian Flu" is an excellent episode that showcases the wide range of characters and personalities that make up the town of Cicely. The flu serves as a catalyst for the characters to explore their deepest fears and desires, leading to some interesting plot twists and turns. The episode is packed with humor, pathos, and great performances by the cast. The writing is top-notch, and the direction is excellent, helping to create a unique and entertaining episode of Northern Exposure.