Ep 13. Duets

As suggested in the title, Duets is an episode of the fourth season of the popular-nineties show, Northern Exposure. The episode opens with a shot of Dr. Fleischman's house, where Maurice is shown fixing up his yard, watering his plants, getting rid of weeds and basically working at his little piece of paradise when he has a heart attack. The ambulance comes and he is taken to the hospital, where it is revealed that he needs an emergency bypass surgery.

As the surgery is critical, Maurice is worried that he might not make it. He begins reflecting on his life's deepest thoughts and regrets. One of the regretful aspects in his life was not being able to spend ample time with his estranged son, Daryl. So he calls up his son, who is a famous musician and requests him to visit him. Upon his arrival, Daryl surprises him with his rendition of "Bird on a Wire," in which Maurice participates on harmonica.

Meanwhile, Ed and his friend Lester are working on their comic strip titled "Floaty," a story of a person who lives in the future during a time when people can fly backward. The comics ends up creating complications between Ed and Lester, forcing the latter to announce that he’ll be leaving to pursue another job.

Moreover, Joel's love interest, Shelly, is caught between pursuing her dreams of becoming a singer and staying in Cicely. She is in a dilemma and does not know what to do. The episode showcases the dilemma that Shelly is in and how she ultimately makes her decision.

As one can see, Duets is an episode of Northern Exposure that has multiple storylines taking place simultaneously, making it a true ensemble piece. The episode is beautifully crafted, as it manages to tackle serious issues of loss, regret, ambition, and self-doubt, all while keeping a light and humorous tone.

Throughout the episode, the cinematography and music complement the narrative perfectly. The heart-tugging moment between Maurice and his son is perfectly set to the tune of "Bird on a Wire," as the harmonica matches perfectly with the guitar and vocals. The floating comic strip from Ed and Lester is a joyous piece of visual art, which is accompanied by an apt electronic soundtrack. And finally, Shelly's singing is given a proper audience through the hopeful songs of the epoch.

In conclusion, if the aim of art is to take one deep into the human spirit and evoke the universal emotions within us all, then Northern Exposure truly triumphs in the episode, Duets. It's a must-watch for anyone, who loves heartwarming stories that stick with them.