While Maggie (Janine Turner) obsesses over a package that has traveled the globe for the past four years, Maurice (Barry Corbin) deals with a group of Japanese tourists who have come to Cicely to see the town, the Northern Lights, and take in the wonderful sights.

The Final Frontier was written by Jeff Vlaming, this episode was first broadcast on 27 April, 1992.

Maggie asks Joel (Rob Morrow) to help out with figuring out what is in the box by running it through the x-ray machine, but he refuses. He does say that she could always break the law and just open it.

Ron (Doug Ballard) and Erick (Don McManus) make an appearance, as their hotel is the one hosting the Japanese tourists, much to Maurice’s chagrin. But they slowly win him over (again) by making him a key part in the tourists’ visit.

Holling (John Cullum) gets news that Jesse the Bear has died, and this shakes Holling to his core. He has a hard time relating the recovered bones to the creature he’s known and wanders out into the wild to find who Jessie is or was.

The package, when it’s opened, reveals something wonderfully poetic, and does something that inspires the town. In fact, the entire episode is all about the frontiers we find ourselves on, emotionally, as we discover a world bigger than our own and our places within it.

Of course, Chris (John Corbett) is able to verbalize this for most of the town, but it’s also fascinating to see how the characters experience it first hand.

It Happened in Juneau sees the return of Chris’ brother, Bernard (Richard Cummings Jr) from his trip to Africa, and Joel and Maggie find themselves sharing a hotel suite, which puts a damper on Joel’s plans to socialize with female doctors while they are in Juneau.

Written by David Assael and Robert Rabinowitz from a story by Assael, this episode was first broadcast on 4 May, 1992.

Chris, unfortunately, seems to be having some trouble with his language and his connection to Bernard. This causes him some consternation, and he begins to worry that the two are drifting apart.

While Joel is away, Marilyn (Elaine Miles) has to tend to the office, and look! John Billingsley comes in for a check-up as he’s not feeling so great. In fact, Marilyn seems to be getting very good at diagnosing issues and helping everyone out.

Joel is intent on meeting someone and does, but self-sabotages the entire time while Maggie seems to be having a great time. But this just continues to generate their undeniable attraction to one another. And damn, they get close on this one…

It’s a fun and enjoyable episode. I’ve always enjoyed Marilyn’s character, and I love when Bernard shows up. And honestly, Chris is always my favorite character so Corbett is great to watch, especially with the way he’s fumbling through this story.

Next time, we finish up season three!