Jean
McQuaid- Mississauga, Ontario, Canada- First
Runner Up
Point Blank
I found it extremely difficult to pick just one episode
from the series,Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman which I liked
the best simply because I loved them all. However, I decided
instead to pick the episode, which I felt left a lasting
impression on my own personal life.'Point Blank.'
They say less is more and in this case this two-word title
says it all. I remember the first time I saw 'Point Blank'.
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman was in its usual Saturday nighttime
slot on CBS and since I hadn't seen any previews for this
particular episode I was just as startled as the townsfolk
by the blast. I must commend Carl Binder and James Keach
for not showing the actual shooting. One didn't need to
see it; we just knew that something terrible had happened.
An unknown assailant, a cold-blooded killer who took it
upon himself to seek revenge on all doctors for his wife's
death, had shot Dr. Mike. The impact it had on her usual
courageous and unyielding personality was a complete turnabout
from the woman we'd come to respect and admire. This episode
showed us the darker side of human nature and how something
so devastating and horrific can happen to anyone no matter
who they are or how they live their life. This was inevitably
the case for both Dr. Mike and her assailant. The first
question one usually asks is, "Why
me?" There is the possibility that the doctor in question
could have very well been negligent prompting such strong
hatred in the husband that his initial reaction was a symbolic
act of revenge against any doctor. There was nothing personal
about this shooting because when it comes to human emotions,
all rationality is set aside. Bad things can happen to
good people at any time and no one on this earth is immune
to tragedy. This sadly became a reality for all of us following
the events of September11th.
Jane Seymour did an extraordinary job of portraying a woman
so consumed by fear that she tried to lock herself away
from the rest of the world believing that the only safe
place was her own home. The normally strong and determined
Michaela Quinn proved to us that even the most courageous
and steadfast of people could be paralyzed and almost destroyed
by one single ruthless act. Jane did an amazing job of
making you see just how devastated a human soul can become
when overcome by fear. We not only felt her helplessness
but the helplessness of her family and friends as they
watched her vitality and stamina slip away.
One very heart wrenching moment came when young Brian sat
by his mother's bedside. We could feel his anguish as he'd
already watched his first Ma die and was now faced with
the possibility of losing Dr. Mike as well. I was equally
touched by the anxious and caring people who showed deep
concern for her from Hank rushing to her aid to Cloud Dancing
praying to his spirits to spare her life. I was so caught
up in the emotional factor of this episode I started to
cry and still do to this day. However, the most poignant
and heart breaking scene of all has to be when Dr. Mike
finally collapses into Sully's arms and declares she's
not that strong woman anymore.
But this episode also showed us the other side of human
nature and that fear no matter how great or ruthless, can
be overcome. They say that time is the greatest healer
of all however, one thing I learned from this particular
story line was that understanding and dealing with your
fears are equally important. The patience and compassion
Michaela Quinn received from her loved ones was crucial
to her recovery, but her real strength to overcome the
inner turmoil she faced came from within. She had to confront
those fears head on or at 'Point Blank' range as the title
suggests and like any obstacles life threw at her, learn
to deal with them. There is a certain irony to this story.
The split second it took for that stranger to pull the trigger
at the clinic door was about the same amount of time it
took for the bolt of lightening to hit the tree at the
homestead. It just goes to show you how suddenly your whole
world can change. Things that took a great deal of time
and effort to create can be gone in a mere heartbeat.
This episode is a constant reminder to me of how I overcame
some of my own fears after I'd experienced my first anxiety
attack. I too wanted to lock myself away from the rest
of the world but came to realize as Michaela Quinn did,
that bad things can happen even in the sanctuary of your
own home. I well remember one day looking out the window
at my sister who lives across the street. While watching
her work away in her garden I got the urge to go talk to
her but like Michaela, felt paralyzed to even open my front
door. It's very difficult to explain an anxiety or panic
attack to someone who's never experienced one. The worst
part is feeling so out of control of your life and stress
over the fact that if it happened once, it experience like
Dr. Mike but I did come up with plenty of excuses as to
why I should stay at home. And just as Sully told the children,
it won't go away until you talk about it, admit that you
have a problem and face up to it. I connected with Michaela
Quinn in this episode and gained a great deal of respect
for the way in which the writers handled her recovery.
Fear, anxiety and worry will never go away, they are as
much a part of us as love and laughter and security. But
if we allow them to take over and consume us, we'll miss
out on all of life's wondrous miracles. As Michaela Quinn herself
said, "There are things in this world you
can't control. You just have to live your life and hope
for the best."
The character of Michaela Quinn portrayed by Jane Seymour,
was that of a strong, independent woman who showed us that
by overcoming prejudice, uncertainty and fear of the unknown,
life can truly be rewarding. This episode is not only a
testimony to the strength of the human spirit in both men
and women and it's struggle against good and evil but also,
for me it's like a dose of therapeutic medicine from the
good Doctor herself. I could watch it a thousand times
or more and still get strength and inspiration from it.
I'm not saying that it cured me but it is comforting to
know I'm obviously not alone. Let it be a lesson to us
all that there is always hope, there will always be a tomorrow
and that light at the end of the long dark tunnel really
does exist as long as you believe in your ability to overcome
fear.
And last but certainly not least, the wonderful Dr. Quinn
signature ending. What better way for Dr. Mike to start
back to work in her clinic than by tending to Loren who'd
been nicked while getting a shave from Jake. Things as
we knew them in Colorado Springs were back to some form
of normalcy. Tomorrow would be another day. The past is
history; get all you can out of life today and let tomorrow
take care of itself.
As I stated earlier, I found it difficult to pick one episode
that I liked the best. I know it's true for all of us who
love this wonderful show. Throughout it's course, Dr. Quinn,
Medicine has given us so much to think about and taught
us some very valuable lessons about life and the human
spirit. We came to love and respect all the characters
and shared their many triumphs and tragedies. We cried
and we laughed but most of all we were always left with
a good feeling at the end of each episode.
My thanks to William Ovis for the flawless score of music
that further added to the severity and tension of this
particular episode and a thank you to James Keach for his
amazing direction. But most of all I would like to thank
Carl Binder for writing such a beautifully dramatic and
emotional story and to dear Beth Sullivan for her creation
of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Thank you to everyone who
worked on this series and for creating something very specialand
unique that will surly stand the test of time and live
on forever.
'Point Blank'
The deed was done - revenge taken
Silence shattered - a town left shaken
Tears were shed - a spirit was broken
Fear controlled - evil had spoken
Slowly painfully - courage rebuilt
Dashing nightmares - fears and guilt
The scars healed - the soul mended
Peace returned - the crisis had ended
Second
Runner Up |