Customer Reviews

Northern Exposure: The Complete First Season [Import]

5 star:		(96)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

Like many others here, I've been waiting (patiently but anxiously) for the DVDs of Northern Exposure, my favorite show ever. And I was charmed, I'll admit, by the external packaging (the mini down jacket).

But it's all downhill from there:

* Package includes only two two-sided DVDs, despite the fact they're charging such a high price for just 8 episodes.

* Episodes are completely out of order. The pilot episode, for example (which sets up the premise of the show) is on the reverse side of disc 1.

* WHY WHY do they torment us with those darned previews? I UNDERSTAND why they include previews on a CURRENT movie release that they're going to sell to me cheap. But don't make us fast-forward through previews on a 13-year-old show that's being sold at a premium price!!!

* IF YOU OWN A LASONIC PLAYER, READ THIS. Side 2 of Disc 1 is apparently unplayable on my all-region DVD player (a Lasonic DVD-8090: I receive a "data error"). This happened on two copies of the show. I returned my first copy assuming the disc was damaged; when my second copy also failed, I decided to test it on a standard player (where it worked fine).

In all, a sloppy marketing and manufacturing job. Disappointing for such a great show...

Norther Exposure is probably one of the best cast, best written, & best Location-scouted TV shows ever aired. My wife & I eagerly awaited for the show's arrival to DVD. When we purchased the show--for an outrageous $50.00--we were shocked at what we received. Yes, the innovative packaging was fun, but it hid the fact that there was nothing inside. As others have noted, the price is horrible when you realize that there were on 8 episodes! What makes it worse is that there is absolutely no information included. No booklet with stills from the show, no list of episodes, nothing at all. On top of that, they do not even give you multiple discs, they give you cheezy 2 sided discs with 2 shows on each side. What were they thinking? Others have noted that seasons 1 & 2 should have been combined. I agree. If you are a fan of the show & want the episodes from season 2, you'll get reamed gain... there are only 7 episodes!

OK, the 1 star is not because I don't like Northern Exposure. On the contrary. The one star is for the pathetic organization of this DVD.

Not only is this DVD too overpriced for 8 episodes (give me a break!)

It is incoherently organized on two sides of each DVD, which are not clearly marked.

I was willing to overpay for the DVD. But aren't we, the fans, entitled to a quality DVD in exchange?

From TVShowsOnDVD.com:

Fans have been eagerly awaiting this news since the July '03 report from USA Today that it was in-the-works. Today, TVShowsOnDVD is pleased to tell you that Northern Exposure - The Complete 1st Season will arrive on DVD this May 25th.

The series premiered with a short 8-episode run in the Summer of 1990, an hour long "dramedy" about a Jewish doctor (played by Rob Morrow) who's deal to get paid up for medical school meant he had to go where he was assigned...in Alaska, since the state was the source of the money. Dr. Joel Fleischman is assigned in the end to Cicely, Alaska, a town full of strange but lovable characters including former astronaut Maurice J. Minnifield (Barry Corbin), a radio D.J. ("Chris in the Morning", played by John Corbett) with a strange outlook on life, Ed Chigliak (Darren Burrows )...and Maggie O'Connell, of course, played by co-star Janine Turner.

Universal Home Video announced the DVD release of the debut season this morning, on a 2-disc (double-sided "DVD-14") set running at 384 minutes. List price is $59.98 for this set, which comes in a special limited-edition "Parka" packaging that is sure to be a collectible item. 4x3 video and English Dolby Surround Sound represent the original over-the-air presentation of this show, and on the DVD you also get French and Spanish subtitles to choose from. The discs are closed captioned for the hearing impaired, too.

With such a short season, Universal didn't want to disappoint the fans with too short a DVD release, so they are adding some nice bonus material to this box set. Look for these extras:

Deleted Scenes
Video Documentary Footage
Mock Movie Footage
"Unexposed" Footage

This is a long-awaited, highly-anticipated release that fans have been clamoring for. Universal has delivered with a set that is sure to please everyone. Stay tuned, because we'll be back soon with pictures of the "Parka packaging" cover art.

People, people . . . It's absolutely no use complaining about how high the price of this set of DVDs is. You can't say, "I bought it, but I'm unhappy about it." The company already has your money, and they won't change their pricing based on your expressed unhappiness -- what they learn from the transaction is that you *are* willing to pay their price. If you really think the price of this set is too high (as I do), you've got to grit your teeth and NOT BUY IT! That's the only thing that will genuinely signal to the company that you aren't willing to meet their price. Six or seven bucks an episode? It's crazy. Release a combined set of seasons 1 and 2 for this price, and we can talk.

It was fun to recieve this DVD! I love the cute little parka that it is dressed in!

My only complaint about the DVD is that it has 2 sides and trying to read the "teeny tiny" print on the DVD itself is difficult. But I managed to figure it out and am enjoying watching the first season of one of my favorite TV programs.

I will certainly buy the other seasons.

I am giving this DVD 5 stars because that's what the show is worth. You can't find TV like this now days and perhaps never will again. I have watched late night re-runs and fell in love years ago. I cannot wait to revisit Sicily Alaska again.
The 1st season is only 8 episodes so yeah it is a little short. I can guarantee it will only leave you wanting more though. Because the show is so amazing I am not to concerned about price. I am crossing all fingers and toes that they will release the rest of the seasons on DVD or I will be forced to buy the A&E VHS copies.

I remember watching the TV show when it was in it's 2nd or 3rd season and I became completely hooked on it. I'm very glad I got this DVD that contains the entire 1st season of shows and the extra goodies that come with it. I can hardly wait for the 2nd season to be released on DVD.

This was great. My friends were able to see how the story all started and I got to see it all over again. But only 8 episodes, I would agree with other reviewers, they should have gave the first two seasons. Definitely better than a lot of other TV to DVD issues out there right now.

Yes and no.

If you are a diehard fan, obviously it is worth it. The packaging is fantastic (probably where most of the cost comes from) and the extras are interesting, though not particularly compelling.

However, if you enjoyed the series and are considering purchasing some but not all of the episodes, wait until the third season is released. While the show is great from the beginning, it didn't really hit its stride until the third (and first full-length) season.

I hate to dissuade people from purchasing this set, but it's just not worth the price for eight episodes.