"Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" (1993) TV series 1993-1998

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Creator:

Beth Sullivan

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

1 January 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Western

Plot:

The trials and adventures of a female doctor in a small wild west town.

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Female Doctor | Children | Medical | Multiple Actors For One Character

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 15 wins & 35 nominations

Cast

Jane Seymour	...	Dr. Michaela 'Mike' Quinn / ... (149 episodes, 1993-1998)
Shawn Toovey	...	Brian Cooper (148 episodes, 1993-1998)
Chad Allen	...	Matthew Cooper (147 episodes, 1993-1998)
Orson Bean	...	Loren Bray (146 episodes, 1993-1998)
Joe Lando	...	Byron Sully / ... (143 episodes, 1993-1998)
Jim Knobeloch	...	Jake Slicker (129 episodes, 1993-1998)
William Shockley	...	Hank Lawson / ... (122 episodes, 1993-1998)
Frank Collison	...	Horace Bing / ... (119 episodes, 1993-1998)
Geoffrey Lower	...	Rev. Timothy Johnson / ... (113 episodes, 1993-1998)
Henry G. Sanders	...	Robert E. (108 episodes, 1993-1998)
Jonelle Allen	...	Grace (106 episodes, 1993-1998)
Barbara Babcock	...	Dorothy Jennings / ... (101 episodes, 1993-1998)
Larry Sellers	...	Cloud Dancing / ... (76 episodes, 1993-1998)
Helene Udy	...	Myra Bing / ... (75 episodes, 1993-1997)
Jessica Bowman	...	Colleen Cooper Cook / ... (65 episodes, 1995-1998)

Runtime:

60 min | USA:60 min (147 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:M (some episodes) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Paramount Ranch - 2813 Cornell Road, Agoura, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Quotes:

Cloud Dancing: At Washita, I watched my life drain away with the blood of my people... Snowbird... Black Kettle. I came to the reservation where Utes fight Pawnee, Pawnee fight Arapaho. But now, the spirits have shown me a way to bring peace. They have shown me we are one blood... one people.
Dr. Michaela 'Mike' Quinn: Cloud Dancing, this is admirable, but you can't sacrifice yourself.
Cloud Dancing: You asked me before if I was protecting someone. I am protecting them all.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Married with Children: A Man for No Seasons (#9.11)" (1994)

Engaging Western series portrays frontier town's lady doctor

While I was not a faithful devotee of the series, I tuned in whenever the opportunity presented itself and invariably enjoyed the stories revolving around a frontier town's lady doctor. I view the program strictly as entertainment, and missed too many episodes to comment accurately on any social issues depicted or historical liberties taken. However, I will note that the show does justifiably denounce racism and tends to cast native people in a sympathetic light.

Set just after the Civil War, the series portrays the ongoing story of a lovely young Boston doctor, Michaela Quinn, who following the death of her own physician father, moves to the frontier town of Colorado Springs. There Dr. Mike sets up her medical practice, to the consternation of those upset at the novel prospect of a female physician. Byron Sully, a rugged mountain man (and friend to the Cheyanne) helps her adjust to frontier life, and naturally the pair develop a mutual attraction. She is aided by a midwife, Charlotte Cooper, who on her deathbed following a snake bike, places her three children (Colleen, Brian, and the older Matthew) in Dr. Mike's care. Thus the doctor takes upon herself the responsibility of three adopted children. Later Dr. Mike marries Sully and they have a baby of their own, little Katie, to add to their previously existing foster family.

The beautiful British actress, Jane Seymour, is radiant, appealing, and sympathetic as the frontier doctor. Dr. Quinn certainly displays an admirable strength of wit and character, tackling both a challenging career and an instant family in this rugged pioneer setting. Yet she also reveals a touching vulnerability. The chemistry is electric between her and Sully (charismatically played by actor Joe Lando) and that factor is probably responsible for much of the show's success. On the whole, it's an engaging series and when it first aired, proved from my perspective superior to much of that era's TV programming.