Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman hit the TV scene in 1993, nine months before I was born. Along with other classics, such as Little House on the Prairie, I grew up with it playing in the background of my childhood. For years I thought the main character, Dr. Michaela Quinn (Jane Seymour), was entirely too demanding and feisty. Her endearing quality for me was that she is basically my mom’s doppelganger.

First of all, the show is set in the ate 1800s. Being the history nerd that I am, I loved the historical aspects. Dr. Mike (Quinn) became one of the few female doctors of her time. As a little girl with medical aspirations, this was so amazing to me. Her defiance for what was expected from her in favor of pursuing her dreams still inspires me.

Now as a grown woman watching this how, I feel like I can relate more to Michaela’s crazy, overly ambitious personality. She pushes what she believes without apology, and never gives up. Traits that seemed so annoying as a child, I’ve now developed.

And since these traits are not always (or hardly ever) endearing, enter my first and still a current crush, Mr. Byron Sully (Joe Lando).

Literally one of two men who can pull off the long hair (the other is obviously Chris Hemsworth). Sully had a deep and sorrowful past. He married the sweetheart of his youth, endured the hate of his father-in-law (Orson Bean), lost said sweetheart and his daughter in childbirth. Due to the grief, he joined the army and became a sniper. Once he decided he was done with the violence, he joined the Cheyenne Indian tribe of Colorado Springs and became a patient man. The kind of man who takes care of the woman (Quinn) he loves from afar, and puts up with all her crap. This, of course, has kept my crush going as an adult due to my commonalities with Dr. Quinn.

Quinn also had an amazing best friend Dorothy Jennings (Barbara Babcock).

Dorothy tells Michaela when she’s being ridiculous, holds her when she cries, and is independent enough herself to start and single-woman run the town’s newspaper. Yet another great female role model.

Lastly, there’s the mention of Dr. Quinn’s adopted kids, which she inherits in the pilot episode. The first person to befriend her is the local midwife, Charlotte Cooper (Diane Ladd), who is a single mom with three kids. On Charlotte’s deathbed she gives her kids to Michaela.

Michaela has always been ambitious and studious, and doesn’t really know how to relate to/raise kids. When I became an aunt at 16, I completely related to that feeling. I’ve always adored babies, but kids, that was a whole different thing. As my oldest nephew grew (he’s now five) I learned little by little how to love older kids.

In the show, Sully helps the entire family out for years before trying to pursue Michaela (yet another reason to love Sully).

And if that was enough, Dr. Quinn also got to befriend some interesting town visitors played by legendary people, such as Johnny Cash.