When the entire town begins to fall ill with the flu, Joel is overwhelmed and has no solutions. He knows that these things must run their courses, but that doesn't help. Marilyn eventually supplies some answers (or does she, really?). The townspeople turn on Joel. When he is asked about where flu comes from, one variety is the Russian flu. He, new to the area, is immediately blamed for bringing the flu to Cisely. That he was raised in Moscow and sent to Alaska across the Bering Strait to infect them. While this is going on, Joel's fiancee comes to visit. She hits it off with Maggie with drives Joel nuts because he is so self-centered. He is obsessed with fear that Maggie will set out to destroy their relationship. There are some great scenes where Ed shows up in Joel's bedroom at the most inopportune times. Ed has taken over the radio station while Chris has the flu. The final scene where Joel's intended finally levels with him about what Maggie has said is a real scorcher and about time.
Review of Russian Flu
