Ep 13. Things Become Extinct

Dr. Joel Fleischman, a Jewish New Yorker, is the main character in the television drama series Northern Exposure. In season 3 episode 13, entitled "Things Become Extinct," Joel explores the concept of change and the inevitability of extinction.

The episode opens with Ed Chigliak, a young aspiring filmmaker, documenting the work of Shelley Tambo. Shelley is an activist for the advancement of women in the traditional male-dominated field of hunting and fishing. She is leading a protest against the opening of a new hunting lodge in the area, which threatens to upset the natural balance of the environment.

Meanwhile, Joel is trying to adapt to life in Alaska, having moved from New York City to fulfill his debt to the government for his medical school education. He struggles with the harsh realities of the Alaskan wilderness and with the strange and quirky inhabitants of Cicely, Alaska. His relationship with his fiancée, Maggie, a bush pilot and the local mayor, is also faltering.

As Joel contemplates how he can keep up with the changing landscape of Cicely and Alaska, he also grapples with the idea that everything has an expiration date. He has been working on a manuscript that touches on the theme of extinction, and he struggles with the possibility that his life's work may ultimately be forgotten.

Throughout the episode, the characters of Cicely are faced with various forms of extinction. Chris, the local DJ and philosopher, reflects on the aging process and the eventual decline of his beloved nightclub, The Brick. Maurice, the wealthy owner of the local airline, faces his own mortality as he begins to experience chest pains.

As Shelley's protest against the hunting lodge gains momentum, she and Ed are forced to face the reality that their ways of life are also threatened with extinction. They realize that they must find a way to adapt to the changing times while still preserving their values.

The climax of the episode brings all of these storylines together as a devastating fire breaks out in Cicely, threatening to destroy everything in its path. As the townspeople work together to contain the fire, Joel's manuscript becomes a sort of time capsule, filled with the memories and stories of the people of Cicely.

In the end, the fire serves as a metaphor for the inevitability of change and the possibility of extinction. The characters of Northern Exposure must face the reality that life is fleeting and that everything they hold dear may be gone in an instant. However, they also learn that by working together and by cherishing the things that make life worth living, they can create a legacy that will endure long after they are gone.

Overall, season 3 episode 13 of Northern Exposure, "Things Become Extinct," explores the theme of change and how it affects the lives of the characters of Cicely. Through the lens of Joel's manuscript and the devastation of the fire, viewers are reminded of the importance of living in the moment and appreciating the things that make life special.