‘Twin Peaks’ Sister Show ‘Northern Exposure’ Now Streaming: Discover the Hidden Gem!

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With David Lynch’s recent passing and the newly released box set of “Twin Peaks,” it’s an ideal moment to re-explore a series that shares some similarities with it. Originally airing on ABC in 1990 and 1991, “Twin Peaks” was contemporaneous with “Northern Exposure,” which premiered its initial two seasons on CBS during the same period. Despite being overlooked by executives, they frequently switched broadcast days, airing on Monday nights one week, then Thursdays the next, and eventually ending up in primetime on Saturday nights. Sharing themes, settings, cast members, dream logic, and surrealism, these shows even had a moment where one directly intersected with the other.

The TV series “Northern Exposure” creatively explores deep themes like community, the human psyche, identity, and more, using a fish-out-of-water narrative style. It’s not only thought-provoking but also consistently funny, with characters that are unique and endearing. The show captivated over 20 million viewers per episode from its third season onwards, winning numerous Emmys, Golden Globes, Peabody Awards, and Television Critics Association Awards. Despite its success, it was never available for streaming. Its physical media releases also had their share of issues. However, this changed in the year 2024.

It’s now been a full year since “Northern Exposure” started streaming on Prime Video, yet there wasn’t much advertising for it. This is surprising given its dedicated fanbase who would have eagerly watched it. The show boasts a vibrant community on Reddit and numerous fan sites like the comprehensive Moosechick and the insightful Alaskan Riviera.

Music Prevented ‘Northern Exposure’ from Streaming but Connected it to ‘Twin Peaks’

Fans have assembled an extensive catalog of 371 tracks that make up the soundtrack for the TV series “Northern Exposure” (through tunefind). What makes this list intriguing is not just the high-quality music it contains, but also because the show’s prolonged absence from digital platforms has been due to the difficulty in obtaining rights for these songs. Given the cost of acquiring these rights, the show became quite expensive; however, most of the original tracks appear to be preserved now, albeit some episodes still feature replacement tunes. The role of music is significant in “Northern Exposure,” as one of its memorable characters, Chris Stevens, runs a local radio station and selects records for each episode.

A standout musical sequence in “Northern Exposure” involves a tune originally from “Twin Peaks,” and for a moment, the typically idyllic “Northern Exposure” takes on a surreal, David Lynch-like quality. Here’s a link to the scene: [Insert Link]

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2025-02-01 08:01