Season 2, Episodes 26 & 27: The Return Engagement

When the Season Finale is two episodes, you know it's gonna be HUGE!

The Gist:
Myra and Horace are getting hitched!   Bit by bit, Myra loses control over her wedding until she learns to voice what she wants.  They get married and you can't help but feel so happy for them.  Sully is derelict in his Best Man duties for a minute because he has a huge migraine, but manages to pull through. 

Meanwhile, Sully and Michaela are more solid than ever. And then her old fiance, David, whom she presumed to be dead, shows up.  Of course, he's pretending to be someone else, Andrew, and commissions Sully's help in navigating the countryside. And oh, Michaela is tortured!

Commentary:
1.  I'm a believer in the Power of Poetry, and so I love it when a poem takes center stage in anything the way it does in this episode.  While planning the bridal festivities, Michaela recites the poem that was read at her engagement dinner -- A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns. When "Andrew" recites the poem, Michaela knows for sure that it's David.

2.   When "Andrew" takes Sully out surveying, there are some clips very obviously from an old nature special.  Two elks locking horns. In competition for a female. IN CASE YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, THERE WILL BE A CONFLICT OVER MICHAELA.  But because we are humans, the men will not lock antlers. Not even Sully.

3.  Dr. Quinn goes to treat Sully's migraine and he winds up building a sweat lodge.  During his time in the hotbox, Sully has a vision of her walking away from him.  He calls out for her and she (the real she, not the vision one) runs to him. He promises that he will love her all of his days and asks for her to marry him. Michaela says yes, of course, and you feel so gosh-darn happy that you could explode.

4.  Myra's wedding dress is one of the most hideous dresses I've ever seen.  Hank shows up at the wedding just in time for the objection part, but makes a big show of not objecting.  If looks could kill, though, Horace would be so very dead.

5. And speaking of Horace -- he gets absolutely hammered at the reception and it's amazing. As is the confrontation it leads to between Michaela and "Andrew."  Even better is the group of pranksters and well-wishers that follow Horace and Myra to their home on their wedding night.

6.  I can't believe Michaela isn't more angry at David for deceiving her -- not only for the few short days he was pretending to be Andrew -- but for the six years he let her believe he was dead.   That's pretty much the least loving thing he could have done to her. And Sully is so decent. I have to agree with Jake Slicker, "if it were me, I'd run that flower-picking jackass right out of town."  Preach.

7.  It turns out, David did some time as a POW at Andersonville, which does make him a bit more sympathetic as a character. As does the chilly reception he receives from the Cooper Kids at dinner. 

8.  Because not enough truly horrific things have happened or been referenced in this episode, a glass of preserves or something that Grace is cooking explodes in her face. Her eyes are filled with glass. Fortunately, David is there and can help (Michaela is 100% into getting retired doctors back into the saddle).  It is super shitty for Sully to watch them doctoring together, and I can't help but wonder if it's a good idea for a man with one eye (David) to be performing surgery. Won't his depth perception be a problem?

9.  Sully wins man of the century for his controlled response to the David debacle.  He tells Michaela that he just wants her to be happy and that he will stand by her no matter what.  How she does not choose him then and there is beyond me.  David does make an excellent move in protesting some local deforestation because he can sense that she likes environmentalists, I guess.  But he is too bold in telling her that he still loves her and wants them to be together; he is too explicit about his expectations for what they will accomplish together.  And then Sully gives Michaela space to breathe and think.  So how could she ever choose anyone else?

10.  And to come full circle, Michaela puts a ring on it.  She proposes to Sully:

"I want to tell you how much I appreciate what you did."
"What's that?"
"You left me free to decide."
"So you must have decided --"
"How do you know that?"
"I know. You love David."
"Yes, I'll always love him. But that's the past and you're the present.  We're the present. If you'll have me. Will you, Sully?"
"Will I what?"
"Will you marry me?"
"Yes."

And then they frolick. No, really. It's a full-on frolic.

Season 2, Episode 25: The Man in the Moon

The Gist:
Myra adjusts to her new life outside of the saloon.  On a bender, Hank shoots up Myra and Horace's engagement party.  To prevent him from killing Myra, Sully has to knock Hank out.  Although he initially recovers, he winds up in a coma. And Dr. Quinn has to operate on him. When Myra demonstrates concern, Horace gets possessive and clingy ... so she has to tell Horace HOW IT'S GONNA BE.

Meanwhile, Colleen is wicked jealous when Brian gets a special package from Grandma Quinn featuring a telescope and a probably-boring-anyways Jules Verne novel about sending a man to the moon.  She winds up breaking his telescope before the big eclipse.


Commentary:
1. I do love it when Dr. Quinn and Hank interact.  There were some great moments between them, particularly where he confronts her for being cold and when she answers his accusations as he lays unconscious.

2.  I love Myra for making it clear to Horace that while she left Hank in part so she could be with him, she will not obey him the way she did Hank. And I love her for standing by Hank, even as he's hurt her. Grace, too.

3.  I love Horace for accepting and meeting Myra's needs.

4. I love these characters.  While Dr. Quinn and family are clearly the centerpiece of the series, I really like that the writers put a lot of care and effort into developing the supporting cast.  They're real people -- a real community. 

 

Season 2, Episode 23: The Campaign

The Gist:
 Everyone in Colorado Springs is tired of how long and ineffective Town Hall meetings are and they wind up deciding that they need a mayor.  Loren nominates Jake Slicker and Horace nominates Michaela. When Hank says a lady mayor would make them look like a town full of sissies, Michaela accepts the nomination. Oh boy.





Meanwhile, Horace and Myra are hoping that if Michaela wins, she will outlaw prostitution, and then Myra won't have to stay the duration of her contract.  When she is forced to entertain a client who she's heard is rough with women and gets hurt, she decides to break her contract with Hank.  When she shows up to vote, she tells him that she owns something.  And when Michaela agrees not to ban prostitution, Myra tears up her contract and walks out.


Commentary:
1. I like that Michaela lost for several reasons, but most chiefly because Jake Slicker needed it much more than she did.  Becoming mayor provided him with an opportunity to make better decisions and grow as a person.  And he mostly rose to that occasion.  Particularly in following through on his first promise: to allow women to vote, regardless of whether they own property or not.

2.  Robert E.'s sexism drives me around the bend.  Then again, I suppose it might be unfair of me to expect more compassion out of him, as he has overcome a tremendous amount of oppression himself.  But maybe not ... because if you don't feel compassion like that, what is wrong with you?  Even so, when he steps up to the ballot box, all nervous and proud, and the tender way Grace watched him ... my heart swelled.  Actually, every time I go vote myself, I think of that scene and feel that feeling.  And I love that we don't know who he voted for.

3.  And speaking of votes ... Sully! Sully who sells off his land to all the women so they can all vote. Sully's amazing.

4.  The extras on this show are incredible. You can tell many of them are reeeeally into the 19th century. I would have loved to be an extra on this show. I mean, really I wanted to be Colleen Cooper because WHAT A ROLE! ... but I could have settled for the role of an extra.

Season 2, Episodes 21 & 22: The Abduction

Man, these double episodes are excellent. So full of drama and adventure.  This one in particular, though, is seriously excellent.

When Michaela and Sully get caught up as the Dog Soldiers attack some army fellows, all hell breaks loose.  Michaela lets it slip that the Dog Soldiers are the ones who killed the US soldiers, which leads to attacks on the town and increasing severity of violence and destruction.   The tension grows even more as Cloud Dancing's son, despite his father's wishes, joins up with the Dog Soldiers, who kidnap Michaela.  Sully, of course, rescues her in some daring, dramatic moments.

Meanwhile, Hank winks a horse in a poker game and abuses her. Brian wants to buy the horse, and makes a deal to work off the cost of the horse for Hank.  When he's thisclose to paying for her, Hank regeges, until everyone in town freezes him out.  Brian gets the horse and names her Taffy.

Commentary:
1.  This is when Jason Lelend Adams takes over the role of General Custer.  He is a marvelous villain.

2.  When the stagecoach the Reverend was riding on was attacked by Dog Soldiers, the Reverend's response was one of hatred, saying he hoped they'd burn in hell. Whoa. The Reverend's been in a dark place, though, so it's not too surprising.

3.  When Michaela and Sully are chased into a house by a war party, oh my goodness. Scariest thing ever.   How awful for Sully to have her taken from him that way. I love how Brian asks "Well, why didn't you stop them?" Duh.

4.  I have to say, though, if I were kidnapped by Dog Soldiers, I would definitely want Sully to be the one looking for me.  Plus wolf.  

5. And then when Michaela escapes! Terrifying.  The worst part is when she is hiding in some shrubbery and must remain absolutely still -- and a fly lands on her. I swear, you can feel that fly on your own skin. Thd dread.

6.  And then Sully's looking for her and delivering passionate pleas to the little villages.  "She's my heartsong," he pleas.  I was eleven years old the first time I saw this and, to me, this was the most romantic thing I'd ever heard.  Twenty years later, it is still pretty moving.  I still rolled my eyes, though. Particularly when he gets on his knees and meditates and sends vibes to her. It's really uncomfortably new age ....

7.  When Michaela tries to run away the second time, they take her shoes and she is forced to trek over terrible surfaces in her bare feet.  I think this is just about the worst thing that could have happened.  Well, that plus the fact that Custer rounded up all the women and children (and Cloud Dancing, who is like THE most-captured Cheyenne ever) and will begin hanging them, four at a time until Michaela is returned. Holy shit.

8.  When Sully rescues her -- it leads directly to what struck my 11-year-old self as one of sexiest scenes ever! Because they had to swim away from the Dog Soldiers, they lay their clothes out to dry. So Michaela wakes up in her underclothes, while Sully feeds her berries and honey and chokes on the words "Did they hurt you?" And then they share a pretty amazing kiss.  Oh, this show gave me such unreasonable expectations about love!  And I found myself so very, very confused. A big part of me wanted to be Michaela -- to have someone like Sully to save me and call me his heartsong; but I also wanted to make out with Michaela.   Nonetheless, I assumed that when I fell in love it would be full of many stares and lots of passionate longing. When I really started falling in love, I realized that a lot of the time it's hard to make eye contact because those feelings of longing are way too overwhelming to have and sustain eye contact all at once.

9.  Cloud Dancing is about a minute away from being hanged when Sully and Dr. Mike come galloping in on horseback.    Custer still moves to hang them -- so Sully breaks the gallows with his tomahawk.  That's the second time this season!

10.  Cloud Dancing and The Reverend have a beautiful conversation about gratitude for their respective spirits. And then Michaela has to tell him that his son died, helping her to run away the first time.  And that he was not killed by the army, but by a fellow Dog Soldier.  It's just such a happy, relieved, hopeful moment ... and then you're met with crushing sadness.

Season 2, Episode 21: Just One Lullaby

At long last, Colorado Springs gets its very own schoolteacher. But not for long.

The Gist:
 Louise Chambers is chosen as the new teacher at the Colorado Springs school.  She turns out to be more than strict, but actually abusive.    Michaela, who was initially quite taken with her as a fellow independent career gal, then campaigns for her dismissal (or at least formalized policy on corporal punishment).

Meanwhile, the Reverend and Miss Chambers rekindle a former romance.  The relationship becomes strained over the discipline issue but is killed when Louise reveals that she doesn't ever want children of her own.

Commentary:
1.  I often feel bad for the Reverend.  He seems so lonely so much of the time. And then he proposes to Michaela and she turns him down ... at their engagement party.  And then Louise shows up and they're happy and in love ... and she turns out to be a terrible human being. And then he goes blind. Poor guy.

2.  Brian is really excellent in this episode.  He is frightened and angry and really ... real.  And then he stands up to her, saying "You're not supposed to hit people. Don't you do it." And is beaten himself.

3.  One of the great motifs throughout this episode is how survivors of physical address their demons.  Dorothy redeems herself somewhat from her bad behavior in the previous episode. As a physical abuse survivor herself, she is part of the few adults who take a firm stand against corporal punishment. Jake sinks back into darkness as he recalls how his mother would beat him with a barber strap; he reiterates to Loren that beating children is unconscionable.  And then Benjamin (a student played by a young Eric Balfour!) retaliates and beats up Louise, doing serious damage.

4. I do not condone violence of any kind, but a huge part of me was hoping that Michaela would throw down with Louise.  Particularly after Brian showed the welts on his legs from Louise's cane.  If Benjamin hadn't done it ...


5.  The Reverend delivers a wonderful story in a closing scene:

Once there was a shabby town where all the people were unhappy, poor, and ignorant and one day a king came to visit and he told them that he had secretly switched a baby in the town with one of his own. Now, after the king left, the people were afraid. They were worried that, when the king returned again, he would punish them if the royal child was unhappy. But since they had no idea which baby it was, the whole town began to treat each child as though that child were royalty. Many years later, the king did return. By then these children had all grown up and had children of their own and the town was very different. There were libraries and schools and hospitals and churches. All of the families were hard working and happy. You see, these grown up children had no idea. They’d never heard the story of the king. They had no idea that there was a prince or princess among them. They were productive, creative, happy, and kind simply because they had been loved and educated and protected, treated as if each child were royalty. An old woman on her deathbed, she asked the king, she said “I know my wonderful grown up daughter, she’s the princess, isn’t she?” and the king told her “They are all the one.”

Season 2, Episode 20: The First Circle

 Robert E. and Grace win a bidding war on a house in town and can't wait to fix it up. The bank salesman -- who did everything he could to prevent Michaela from buying the clinic -- is not too keen on selling to black people. He turns out to be a klansman and entices other men in the community to join.

Much of it can be summed up in Michela confronts the bank man: "Is it just our town, or do you cause this much trouble wherever you go?"

This is one of the toughest episodes to watch, and I'm not really going to snark because it would feel really wrong, so I'll just give a rundown of the episode:

1.  It begins with the promise of a new social club for the men of the town, which Matthew and Horace readily join.  From there, the violence quite quickly escalates -- on their first outing in uniform they set Robert E.'s horses loose, attack him and destroy his property. Matthew and Horace immediately take Robert E. in to the clinic -- and Matthew is crushed. 

2.  The next day, Robert E. is doubly determined to get his horses back and get into his house, convinced things will all blow over.    Michaela gives the men a talking-to, saying they should help Robert E. and welcome him.  Jake pretends to agree, only go to over and vandalize the property.  In a particularly harsh moment, Jake dumps a bucket of white paint of Robert E.'s head, saying "Now you can live here."

3.  There's this exchange between Robert E. and a frightened Grace, who wants to sell the house back to the bank.  This exchange, which is ... everything:

"I don't believe your'e talking like this. Aren't you the one who's always telling me how we've got to stand up to the white folks, how we're equal --"
"We are equal."
"Well somebody forgot to tell them that."
"It doesn't matter what these people think --"
"Yes it does!"
"You don't understand what I'm saying.  I don't want you hurt. I will live in that barn if need be to keep that from happening again."
"Well I won't.  I want to give you a home, woman.  I want to carry you across that threshold. I want to have fires in our own fireplace and pictures on the walls and our friends to come to dinner and our children to feel safe.  And I want to walk up those stairs every night and see your smiling face.  And I want us to live there and love each other for the rest of our lives."
"It's hard to do that if you're dead, Robert E."

4.  To pressure Robert E. back into selling back the home, Mr. Bank-man threatens to sell Michaela's mortgage. She's pissed.

5.  The next night, the Klansmen raid Grace's cafe. Loren is visibly upset by the fact that they're shooting guns off.  Sully shows up and attacks some of them.  Robert E. shoots at the intruders.

6.  When Loren turns up with a buckshot wound the next day, Michaela puts two and two together.  Dorothy is outraged that Robert E. would raise a gun "to a white man" and writes an article berating Robert E. In an epic confrontation, Michaela berates Dorothy's segregationist and apologist attitudes and goes on to confront the bankman in an epic flounce, proclaiming, "Take the clinic. Do whatever you want to do with my mortgage.  I'll practice in the street if I have to.  I'll pitch a tent, I'll work from my wagon, but I'll never, never give in to the likes of you!"It might be her best flounce of the season.

7.  And in a horrible scene, Grace is assaulted -- her hair crudely razored off -- by three klansmen at her now-deserted cafe.  Throughout the vignette, we see Robert working away as he sings "By and By" (Will the circle be unbroken? By and by, Lord, by and by ...).  Sensing danger, he runs over to the cafe only to discover Grace, brutalized and traumatized, shivering at table.

8.  When Michaela offers her home to Robert E. and Grace that night, Robert E. asks her why she's so different.  She explains that her father was an abolitionist and believed all humans to be equal and that she will insist on raising her children the same.  The Klan rides again and lights a cross outsider her home.

9.  Robert E. then has a really heavy conversation with Brian about racism and slavery, what it meant for him to be owned.  He shows Brian where his former owner branded him and tells Brian never to forget what he saw.  Grace comes to buy a bonnet at the store and Dorothy is horrified to realize the consequences of her actions.  Grace is a model of strength and determination as she walks with her new hat and then sees Robert E. back at work on their new home.  They are warriors together.

10.  Michaela enters the saloon and confronts the bank-hole.  He goes on to threaten her children.  And Sully makes it clear that he'll kill him if he tries. They then have a very lovely family talk with the Cooper Kids and the five of them go over to help Robert E. and Grace.

11.  At night, Robert E. the klan is all fired up.  Robert E. is nearly lynched, which finally scares some sense into Loren, Jake and Hank. And, of course, Sully saves the day. Or night. Michaela, again, delivers a passionate speech. 

12.  The next morning, Loren helps Grace and Robert E. move in.

It's intense.

Season 2, Episode 19: Life and Death

The Gist:

Dorothy's son comes to town and it quickly becomes clear that he is a morphine addict.  He bewitches everyone in town until he begins to steal. Then he beings to  get violent, breaking into Michaela's home and scaring the shit out of Colleen.  When people begin to hold their bottom lines, he then begins to make a true recovery, but winds up stealing money and skipping town.

It's a sad episode.

Commentary:
1.  When Michaela realizes her fiance might have been one of Tom's doctors ... it's an important and heartbreaking reminder that she has suffered loss, too.  And this is great foreshadowing of what's to come at the season's end.

2.  Dr. Quinn SHOOTS Tom when he breaks in to her home! Dr. Quinn is amazing. Hank agrees.  She then has to perform reparative surgery on the very same leg that she shot. And THEN amputate it!  And it's her BFF's son.  Wow.  Small town living, eh?

3.  Much like we're beginning to see lots of television shows address the issues of PTSD in Iraq/Afghanistan veterans, this episode addresses one of the less-often considered consequences of the Civil War.  A stark reminder of how war ravages society even after truces have been called.  Hearing the discussion about addition (or "Morphinism") is enlightening -- denial, anger, confusion.  It's amazing and wonderful that we understand so much more about how addiction works now. And it makes me very, very sad for those people who didn't have vocabulary for it.

4.  The varied responses from the Cooper Kids was excellent.  Matthew feels guilty for not being in the home.  Colleen is suffering some PTSD of her own and is overwhelmed with anxiety.  Brian becomes obsessed with the shoot-em-up theatrics of it all until Sully gives him a stern talking-to. 

Season 2, Episode 18: Luck of the Draw

Matthew's inability to become financially secure enough to get married is really leading him down a dark path.

The Gist
Hank is  holding a high-stakes poker tournament and Julius Hoffman, a Grade-A creep, shows up to play.  After lots of insinuations and obnoxious "I know something you don't know" scenes, he pushes the reverend into confessing to a sordid past that revolved around gambling.  Wow. Who would have thought?

Meanwhile, Hoffman is targeting Matthew for annihilation. Poker annihilation.  He draws Matthew in, building his confidence and enjoyment of the "easy money" he can make, appealing to his shaky grasp on manhood and his thirst for adrenaline. And he schemes to scam him (and some other townsfolk) out of lots of money, causing him to gamble away Ingrid's engagement ring, become a breaker of promises, and get his ass beat by thugs. It's very dramatic. Of course Julian is found out, confronted and sent packing.

Commentary
1.  Hank/Michaela have a lovely dynamic.  They barely interact directly, but when they do it's comedy gold:

Michaela: "Competition for what?"
Jake: "You ain't interested."
Michaela: "How do you know?"
Hank: "Ain't you learn nothing yet? Poker, Michaela. Bunch of stinking drunk men sitting around smoking, talking dirty and we'd like for you to come.  Interested?"
Michaela: "No thank you."
Hank: "Darn."

 Well, Hank with anyone, really

Julius: You sure you don't want a drink? I'm buing
Matthew: I'll have a ... sarsparilla
Hank: ... whaaat?

The moment doesn't really translate that well in text, but it was fucking hilarious.

2.   There is a whole bizarre subplot where Brian is working to earn money so he can buy a bald eagle on display in a cage at the general store. He wants to set it free, you see.  Anyway, he earns enough money but the eagle is too freaked out and takes some time to fly free. Which it does.  Eventually.  All I can figure is that Brian's story is perhaps intended to be a parallel to Matthew's.  It's super stupid, though.

3.  I love that as Matthew begins his moral descent, he still sticks to drinking sarsparilla. 

Season 2, Episode 17: Buffalo Soldiers

The Gist:
A group of black soldiers rides in to town.  It soon becomes clear that they have been attacking the Cheyenne and that this particular cavalry is responsible for a recent raid on women and children (claiming that they have been housing Dog Soldiers). Although they are commanded to carry out further attacks, the Sergeant has a predictable change of heart when he realizes that <i>Indians Are Humans, Too</i> and disobeys his direct orders, which leads to an elaborate

Meanwhile, Colleen cheats on a scholarship exam.  Everyone expects her to win, and doing well on the exam will entitle her to a trip to Washington, D.C.  So she brings in a fucking crib sheet!  And wins the prize!  Anyway, Brian sees her and is profoundly disappointed.  He then Jiminy Crickets her into telling the truth.



Commentary:
1.  I love that when the troops are being all sexist and shitty about Dr. Quinn, she is the only person who is willing to offer medical assistance or room and board.  Which she then rescinds when she realizes what the troop has done.  Dr. Mike, as always, holds the moral high ground.  

2.  I love Robert E.'s evolving relationship with Sergeant Carver -- the move from admiration to disgust back to complex admiration and concern.   Hell, I just love Robert E.  He's got so much integrity and gumption.

3. Okay, the insanely awesome antics of Dr. Mike in this episode:  she breaks the law to discover official army orders (which she only knew had been made because she, as a doctor, eavesdropped); she transmits this information to Sully and the Cheyenne; she encourages Sully to act as a double agent ... and then she hatches an elaborate plot to break federal law:

a.  Purposefully warn the Cheyenne that they will be attacked, thus getting herself arrested for treason. When Sergeant Carver realizes what she's done and is outraged but gives her a chance to get out, she stays true and owns up to what she did. 
b.  Helps Sully convince Sergeant Carver to disobey a direct order, resulting in his arrest and plan to be court marshalled.
c.  Fake a surgery on a federal prison her so she can poison him so that he can fake his death (Juliet style), so he can escape a probable death penalty.

And what I love even more is that she openly discusses with Colleen the difference between her deception and Colleen's deception.  This discussion involves the phrase "Remember when we read Thoreau ..." It's a great conversation about personal responsibility and civil disobedience.  And it's when she reflects on this conversation with Colleen that she commits to telling the truth about warning the Cheyenne.  She says "I believe that what you are doing is unjust and it's my responsibility as a citizen to stop it." 

4.  After she's arrested Loren says "Ohhh ... she just does stuff like that sometimes!" Ha!

5. I love how much glee Colleen experiences (before she knows that Brian caught her). I would have expected  do-gooder like her to experience more initial guilt. Get it, girl.

Season 2, Episode 16: Orphan Train

Back when I was a new teacher and taught a scripted curriculum, my students had to read this Historical Fiction piece about the orphan trains.  For those of you not in the know, orphan trains were kind of a precursor to institutionalized foster care. And so, so fucked up.

Anyway, so I brought this episode in and my students were completely (1) confused, (2) intrigued, and (3) pissed off.   It was the best day ever.

The Gist:
The Orphan Train comes to Colorado Spring and Michaela winds up temporarily housing all the orphans. She and the Reverend work closely together and he winds up proposing. Sully (understandably) freaks out

Meanwhile, as Hank considers adopting an orphan to be a new prostitute, Myra moves further away from him.  Trying to reinforce his hold on her, Hank offers to tear up her contract if she stops trying to prevent the girl from signing one of her own.  Realizing she can save this girl years of servitude, Myra agrees to stay out the end of her contract.



The Commentary:
1.  One of the worst parts of the orphan train is the way it must have impacted the children.  I cannot believe how brutally clear that aspect comes through in this episode.  The townspeople -- and even Michaela and the Reverend -- have no qualms about talking about these children as if they're not even there.  So dehumanizing.

2.  Robert E. is visibly moved by this behavior, finding it reminiscent of his own experiences as someone who had been up for auction.  This is another great example of how this series echoes the civil war and the lasting impact of slavery so beautifully.  His storyline with the little boy who had a leg amputation was particularly moving:

"It's hard when you're not like everybody else, ain't it, when you're different? People look at you and that's all they see -- the difference. They don't know, do they?"
"No. They don't know."

3.  Ugh. Hank is so perfectly disgusting in this epsiode.  As one potential adoptive parent muses about a 15-year-old girl, she asks whether she's been baptized.  Hank leers and says, "It don't matter to me if she ain't been baptized.  Michaela freaks out and says "Hank, I don't even want to ask about your intentions!" It is a fucked up and hilarious moment.

4.  The storyline with Myra/Hank/Jennifer is excellent.  I love when Myra tells her what's what:

"Well all I know is there ain't no one else out there who wants me.  And Hank does."

"Yeah, and he'll have you, too, because you'll belong to him. Do you know what that means?  I didn't when I first came here, but I do now.  And I wish there had been someone there to tell me."

And when Myra tells Hank off:

"I'm staying on extra in her place."
"I know why you're doing this ... because you've got feelings for me."
"No Hank, that ain't it. I just don't want her to go through what I did ... remember how you said I belong to you? Well you're wrong.  I love Horace.  I might work for you, but I belong to him.
He ain't any kind of man, not like me."
"What kind of man makes his woman spend the night with other men?  ... I feel sorry for you, Hank.  You don't know what love is."

5.  In the previous episode, I wondered about the source of Michaela's jealousy. What's amazing is how quickly and seriously she considers the Reverend's proposal. Perhaps the source of her jealousy is her own failure to be truly committed?  I do love how everyone's reaction to the engagement is initially "WTF?" but then "Well, it does make perfect sense." 

6. The apprehension that Colleen and Brian feel as Michaela fosters and considers adopting the orphans is wonderful.  It is easy to forget that their mother died less than two years before and it stands to reason that they might feel somewhat insecure. 


6. It's also just super fucked up about how the orphans head off on the train at the end of the episode. The whole tone is "Oh ... well ... we tried. Sorry!" And, like, they tell the orphans during the celebration of the engagement. It's just ... whoa.

Season 2, Episode 15: Another Woman

In case you ever wondered what Sully would look like as a woman, this is the episode you've been dreaming of.

The Gist:
Dr. Mike and Sully continue to negotiate boundaries for their relationship. Things are rather unfortunately complicated when they meet Catherine/Shivering Deer, a white woman who has been adopted by the Cheyenne.   In between fits of epilepsy, Catherine puts some moves on Sully, breaking Michaela's carefully-guarded heart. And they break up. Or take a break. I'm not quite sure (obviously, as this show is 20+ years old, I know how it winds up ... but this episode ends with her saying "I can't be with you right now" and him saying he'll wait).   

 Meanwhile, Jake is putting some moves on Dorothy.  Dorothy's attracted, but basically tells Jake that if he wants to get with her, he needs to be less of a dick to everyone else in the world.  So he lays on a sob story about abandonment and and neglect and Dorothy kisses him.  She decides that she's too fond of her independence (after years of an abusive marriage) to let herself be tied down again so soon and lets Loren know that she is open to
Commentary:
1.  One thing I really love about this show and the relationship between Michaela and Sully is that while theirs is a great romance in the grandest of traditions, there is quite a good deal of realism in there.  Rather than being made up of sweeping gestures left and right, there are a million negotiations and adjustments that go into two independent adults deciding to begin a life together. 

2. Maybe this is just evidence of poorly-developed skills in Joe Lando's craft ... or maybe it's just really excellent skills. I'm not sure. But Sully will never, ever have chemistry with anyone as he does with Michaela.  Sully's clearly feeling some of Catherine's vibes (and she is his true female equivalent) but he always looks shocked and scared. Again -- is this excellent acting or poor acting? I don't know.  What I do know is that in an earlier episode, Dorothy tells the oft-jealous Michaela* that Sully could never have room in his heart for anyone but Michaela, and that he "is like a needle on a compass, points true north."

3.  Why is Michaela so jealous all the time? Like ... ALL the time.  Besides being one of the most beautiful women ever, Sully is one of the truest, most steady individuals ever.

4.  As Sully tries to explain to Brian that Catherine kissed him:

"It takes two people to kiss, Brian. It's like when you want to go fishing and I don't, but I go anyway because I don't want to hurt your feelings. Do you think you can understand that?"
"I think fishing is fishing and kissing's kissing ... that's what I think!"

Brian is learning all of Michaela's flouncing skills. 

5.  Dorothy Jennings is a badass mutha, too.  I love the way she has evolved into a woman who can stand up to anyone.  It took a good half of the season, but this episode really crystalizes her transformation.  She stands up to Jake* and to Marcus (or his tombstone, but still) and to Loren and is like "Hey ... I'm going to date anyone I feel like. So ask me out, guy."  Love her.

6.  And have we all forgotten that it was only Episode 2 that Jake wanted to have Dorothy hanged for killing her husband? I know that in frontier days people had to forgive pettier disputes for the sake of survival ... but dang. It's only been six months ...

Season 2, Episode 14: The Circus

Okay, a lot of people like to talk shit on this episode (like ... how it makes no sense at all), but I kind of love it.

The Queen of Hearts Circus comes to town -- and with only two crew members, they force the citizens of Colorado Springs to become the performers. Of course, their performances force the citizens to confront their personal demons.  I dig it.

Sully and Michaela become the trapeze artists, which is just browbeating us with symbolism. Michaela takes some risks and they learn to trust each other more. There are some very adorable and giggly moments while they train.  Mr. Bray and Brian become a clown act. Mr. Bray discovers his joy.  Jake is the Ringmaster because he's full of shit. No, really, this is what the Queen of Hearts tells him.  The Reverend becomes a magician in a fun play on faith and Dorothy gets all sexy as his lovely assistant.  Horace, for whatever reason, is the wet blanket of the town and frets and fusses about responsibilities the whole time.

Matthew and Colleen are walking the tightrope.  Colleen is, you know, learning to take risks too and Matthew is just eye candy for Atlantis.  She crushes hard on Matthew and is devastated when she realizes he's engaged. 

Oh, I should add that Atlantis has webbed hands: she is self-conscious and wants Dr. Quinn to fix them; her mother feels like this means she's trying to conform and not proud of herself; her mother worries this means Atlantis is leaving her. You know the drill.  But then she tries to "fix" her hands by cutting out the webbing herself and Dr. Quinn fixes the damage and fixes her hands.

Season2, Episode 13: The Offering

The Gist:
Sully is helping the army to carry out the terms of its treaty with the Cheyenne.  The army will provide food and shelter (blankets and tents) to make up for all the buffalo killed. Unfortunately, as anyone who knows anything about American history can tell you, these blankets are very obviously infected. We're looking at typhus, though, not smallpox.

In case any of you do not obsessively read about 19th-century epidemics, here's a little taste of what typhus is: fever, severe back/muscle/joint pains, a rash, light sensitivity AND delirium!

Michaela and Sully wind up trapped on the reservation when an inevitable outbreak hits.  Matthew took a blanket for Ingrid (which of course infects not only him but the entire immigrant camp) and winds up getting quarantined in the clinic with his siblings and Horace (wtf?) while Hank gets a posse together to burn down the camp.

Meanwhile, the town is putting together a pageant for President's Day. Horace will be Abraham Lincoln (naturally), and wants Myra to be Mary Todd Lincoln. Mr. Bray decides to change the policy from "no whores" to "only engaged whores." lovely.


Commentary:
1.  I showed this episode to a class once and they were horrified that there might be some historical basis behind the events seen here.  Although it's never been entirely proven that it happened on PURPOSE (perhaps the very real smallpox infestation of 1763 was just an accident???), we do know that at least one high-ranking military official of the period considered purposeful infection as a potential tool for biological warfare/genocide.

2.  Poor Sully. And poor Michaela.  Every time they think they're helping their Cheyenne friends, they only screw things up more. It's amazing the Cheyenne haven't turned on either of them entirely. Still, Michaela's guilt is real and raw here, as is Sully's outrage.

3.  This town's unity is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it inspires them to do amazing things, like build a schoolhouse and defeat the corrupt silver miners.  On the other, it empowers and emboldens them to do really rash, fucked up things like board up the clinic and nearly burn down the immigrant camp in angry mobs. 

4.  Wolf is amazing at doing everything. He is one competent animal. 

5.  I've said it before and I'll say it again: Cloud Dancing is a wonderful part of this show. His friendship with Sully is probably the most epic bromance  I've ever seen.

Season 2, Episode 12: Crossing the Line

Ahh, labor unions!

Fun fact: this episode of Dr. Quinn and that episode of Saved By The Bell where Zach exploits a conflict with the teachers' union were my first introduction to the notions of unions and strikes.

The Gist:
Silver mine workers are protesting wage cuts and unsafe working conditions.  Matthew, desperate to become financially secure enough to marry Ingrid, decides to become a scab, despite the misgivings of, you know, EVERYONE AROUND HIM. Of course, there are several cave-ins and he nearly has to have his leg amputated (but Dr. Mike and Sully saaave him!).


Meanwhile,

Commentary:
1.  This is one of those episodes of this show that provide a really important glimpse into American history.  The history of labor unions is not only really interesting, but really important if you want to understand anything about how the American economy works.  This particular episode is where I learned about things like scrip pay -- horrifying.

2. I kind of love how everyone in the town is so pro-union.  Like, without any hesitation. Except for Mr. Bray.  And this  really illustrates the core of the problem: when there's money to be made, those who are making money will do just that, no matter who gets cheated or hurt. And it we don't find some way to regulate things ...

3. It's nice to be reminded why Sully is so anti-establishment. Sometimes his behavior just strikes me as really juvenile ... but then there's an episode like this one and you're reminded that he has been fucked over pretty badly by just about every societal institution that there is. 

4. Michaela is a boss-ass mother.  Although  she worries for Matthew, she supports him. Although she doesn't want to work with Mr. Stone's mining operation, she knows she has a duty to protect anyone who could get hurt.  And when Brian starts asking questions about those who are boycotting the store, she just asks him, "Well ... what do you think?" And when she knows she might have to amputate

Season2, Episode 11: Mike's Dream... a Christmas Tale

Oh wow. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas all in one season!


The Gist:
 Michaela loses a patient (Mr. Marley, see below) and proceeds to freak out and push Sully away and because that's her total MO -- and causing her to be on edge with everybody. And then, of course, she has to deliver a baby in a stable. Because it's Christmas; please, beat us over the head with it.  To follow this up, we get our very own Colorado Christmas Carol.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mike's Christmas gift (from BOSTON!) has not arrived, which has the Cooper kids in a snit.  And of course Dr. Quinn doesn't care, because it's the thought that counts.

Commentary:
1.  Are we seriously going to have a show titled "Mike's dream" that begins with a dude named Mr. Marley dying? Jeez Beth Sullivan, I've seen more subtlety on an episode of The Real World.  Of course, she goes on to read A Christmas Carol to her children before a Christmas party -- and Michaela shares that they would read the entire book aloud every Christmas Eve.  Is it just me or is that just ... a lot of reading? I could see over several sessions, but day-um!  Maybe this is just my 21st century sensibilities.

2. Charlotte's ghost appears! Michaela Quinn, ghost whisperer.  They talk about the guilt they feel for missing holiday functions because of the nature of their jobs.  Then Charlotte takes her on a Dickens-style mystery ghost tour. Of course, we begin with her past (Michaela is pouring over textbooks on Christmas Eve instead of partying with her family; Michaela is attending rounds with her father while some dude flirts with her to get Mike to cover his shift so he can go make out with his fiance), where we are reminded how much Michaela sacrificed to serve her medical career over the year.  We then go to Michaela's more near-past -- we see her father's funeral and her first Christmas, where Sully showed up and gave Matthew a puppy.

3.  In the present, we see that the labor is taking for-ev-er and this young crazy couple is about to get busted by her family. And Charlotte is all happy-sad as they watch the kids at a Christmas party. And Michaela is outraged when she hears all the townsfolk berating her for being opinionated and pushy, but warm and fuzzy when she sees Sully defending her.  Are we really meant to believe that Michaela was unaware of how Hank & Co. viewed her?  Really?  And then they reflect on how Michaela has saved pretty much everyone in the town. So they'lll let her stay.

4.  In the future, Colleen is a new doctor, still fighting the patriarchy.  There are some mysterious children (who it seems belong to  Matthew), and Brian is playing yet another of Matthew's kids.  They're waiting for Brian to arrive.  They listen to some more goddamn Charles Dickens.  Brian (a soldier -- wtf??) shows up as she finishes the novel.  And I have to admit, I get some shivers.  Just as we're about to see who Michaela's husband will be, Charlotte drags her back to the present. 

Season 2, Episode 10: Sully's Choice

Hm. This is one of those "while the cat is away ..." type episodes about what disasters befall the family when Mom leaves (to take care of a flu epidemic in the next town over).

The Gist:
Michaela has gone over to the next town and Sully is watching the children.  Of course, he gets into the middle of a conflict between the Army and Railroad Workers and the Dog Soldiers and winds up with a bounty on his head.  He gets himself shot and Colleen has to oversee the operation to remove a bullet (in secret! because of the bounty).  Oh, and of course the Reverend has to pistol whip Hank.

And then Michaela comes home and they all do some Three's Company style posturing to show that they have a secret!


Commentary:
1.  It is so fucked up when Brian thinks he's hearing Sully be executed.  Fortunately, it turns out to have been a snake the soldier shot, but still.  And he DOES find Sully's shot body later on ...  Children must have been made of more solid stock back then; they'd have to.

2.   Is it just me or do the people of Colorado Springs spend an awful lot of time evading law enforcement and the Army in general? This is the land of the liars.  I must admit, I love every second of this show that is devoted to pulling one over on those Army assholes. 

3.  It is also so fucked up that all of the men in town (Hank, Jake, Loren) are willing to kill Sully. Like .... not a second thought. Of course, they all make the right choice in the end (well, not so much Hank), but it's bone-chilling that so many of them would see the bounty and be struck first with the thought that they'd go for the reward.  No wonder Sully never hung out with them before Michaela came along.

Season 2, Episode 9: Best Friends

This is another episode that I remember pretty vividly and think of as one of the very classic episodes. 

The Gist:
It's the Sweetheart Dance! Michaela is hoping to be asked, Sully eventually does and it's adorable.  And then they practice dancing and it's a disaster.  So Sully takes secret dance lessons from Dorothy, who believes she is pregnant but is really going through menopause. Michaela sees them together and assumes the worst, particularly upsetting as she has been confiding in Dorothy with all her nervous feelings about intimacy and commitment.

Meanwhile, Colleen finds herself in a love triangle with Becky and Richard (unremarkable -- other than the fact that he's played by Rookie of the Year superstar Thomas Ian Nicholas; the girl who plays Becky was in a whole bunch of things throughout the 90's too. Also, she married Jonny Lang).  The triangle is messy and really immature and a seriously perfect story arc. 


Commentary:
1.  Women's Health -- big-ups to this show for dealing with issues like menopause and uterine cancer.  This episode also got into some issues about consent and negotiating intimacy within relationships.  As an adult, I have so much more appreciation for how well this show managed, as a family program, to address a lot of real issues.  Of course, issue No. 1 in this episode is how important CLEAR COMMUNICATION is, which is not particularly groundbreaking, but still -- I love how many episodes are devoted to women's health.  this also makes me really glad to live in this day and age where medicine is so much more exact. 

2.  Colleen is the sweetest girl. I want a friend like Colleen!  I love that she is such a loyal friend -- she is truly torn up about this Richard business -- but she's also a totally realistic thirteen year old girl who is just completely befuddled when she realizes someone could find her attractive.  And I love, love, love the BFF necklace she and Becky have made!

3. I seriously want to attend one of this town's parties. The dances look like so much fun!

4. Loren and Dorothy. I've always kind of loved this story line -- how much he has always loved her and how she will never love him in the same way.  He's so cranky in his heartache.  And then there's that moment where he lovingly gazes at her and confesses, "When I look at you, I see a girl of sixteen with fiery hair blowing all about ... that's the way I see you, Dorothy. That's the way you always look to me."

Season 2, Episode 8: Giving Thanks

Aah ... a Thanksgiving episode. Season Two of any television show is where you really see them start to follow a regular timeline.

The Gist:
This is your basic Thanksgiving tale. Immediate upon their return, the Cooper-Quinn clan are met with a drought. This puts a serious dent in their Thanksgiving plans. Of course, Cloud Dancing and the tribe are willing to help the ungrateful citizens out.  Of course, the citizens are complete unyielding assholes about it and wind up getting dysentery and then having a rain-drenched Thanksgiving Supper. You know, the classic tale.

And also: Sully is so ready to jump into a serious relationship with Michaela.  Michaela is as awkward as anything and it's downright adorable. They have some hilarious(ly uncomfortable) discussions about expectations for the relationship, sometimes veiled in discussions about other things (namely animal mating habits) and sometimes surprisingly direct (about what "courting" means). 


Commentary:
1.  What I really like about this episode is that it pick sup immediately after (like, minutes after) the hugely romantic final moment of Where The Heart Is. It would be easy to skip over the awkward stage of settling in for the new couple, but the writers knew that going into that adjustment would be great fort he characters. There's also some great continuity with the haircut Michaela is still urging Matthew to get.

2.  Sully is a little bit overly intense in this episode. Several times, he gazes deeply into Michaela's eyes and vows to share "everything" with her -- "his world." At one point she's like "Uh ... it's Colorado. We both live here, remember?" and he goes "Oh, there's so much more. And I want to show you everything."  Oh my. To my ten-year-old self, this was just the pinnacle of romance, but my thirty-one-year-old present self cannot manage the cheese factor.    Jane Seymour does a perfect job of acting uncomfortable with it all.

3.  "Sully's world" mostly involves some really crappy lean-to. Michaela, for some reason, is shocked by this. Mike, do you not know this man at all?


4. Horace and the divining rod twigs. Amazing! You know what i love about this town? the way everyone can drop what they're doing to go out on larks like this.  As they all struggle to live with the drought or figure out how to move on with their lives, I'm reminded just how much living in the 19th century colorado fronteir would really suck.

5. I really love Cloud Dancing. His storyline over the entire series is incredibly compelling.  

Season 2, Episodes 6 & 7 : Where The Heart Is

Oh, boy. This is one of my all-time favorite episodes. Love, travel, and raw, emotional pleas! ... 19th century Boston!

The Gist:  This is a double episode, folks! 88 quality 90's made-for-tv magical minutes.
Mama Quinn is very sick, so Michaela and family  run out to Boston to wish her well. Of course, Michaela discovers that her mother's fancy Boston doctors have misdiagnosed her hepatitis as cancer of the liver -- and she rallies and saves Mama Quinn via a Cheyenne detoxification remedy. Oh, snap! Go Michaela! So Michaela winds up staying in Boston for somewhere between five and eight weeks, between healing her mother and making some presentations about her own experiments with Indian remedies. 

And Also: One of Mama Quinn's physicians - the young and creepy-handsome (see below) Dr. Burke - is quite taken with Michaela's boldness and resourcefulness and makes several moves. Including a marriage proposal.   Sully, concerned about the length of Dr. Quinn's time in Boston heads out there.  He makes some attempts to fit in with her Boston lifestyle -- which are met with various levels of success.  

Commentary:
1.  One thing I love is when the potential threat is some kind of creepy-looking smiley dude.  Every time Dr. Burke looks at Michaela, he's either dripping with condescension or  awash in obsessive glow. Or maybe it's just all the soft focus. At any rate, we know he's not the right guy because his bland, generic (and somehow CREEPY!) good looks are no match for Sully's rugged handsomeness.

2. I love the motif of taming wild creatures; it's woven throughout the series. In this episode, we see many attempts to tame Michaela (from her sisters, from doctors, from her mother).   Sully tames himself in an effort to win her.  Matthew cannot be tamed. Michaela desperately tries to "tame" or norm the Cheyenne remedy, making it palatable to the Boston elite.

3.  There's a great moment when Colleen is having tea with her adoptive cousins.  She stumbles over her words, clearly feeling insignificant beside the grandness of Boston.  She is shocked, however, to learn that these young girls, for all their sophistication and opportunity, want nothing more than to become picture perfect wives.  When they express doubt that women can ever attend medical school, Collen simply states, "Yes. They can." Go Colleen!

4. Matthew's relationship with Michaela is probably the most complex of all the Cooper children.  Nearly a legal adult when he's adopted, he never sees her as a 100% maternal figure.  This episode really highlighted the relationship he developed with Sully.  From the attempt to grow out his hair to the overwhelming sense of constraint he feels in Boston ... and then Sully's role in understanding Matthew's heartache over being away from Ingrid. There's a really lovely dynamic with these two in this episode.

5. When Sully desperately tells Michaela that he loves her ... and when Michaela finally returns the words some time later. The music is so very lovely. Michaela and Sully are lovely.  Perhaps this is what makes Dr. Feelgood so utterly unlikeable. Damn the man who would ever come between Michaela and Sully! Seriously, though, the frantic way Michaela chases him down on the train and the incredible dance it takes for either of them to get the words out.  These are deeply damaged people, battered and bruised by the 19th century; for either of them to open up to a new person is a terrifying prospect.  And they realize that there's something worth fighting for in each other.