Due South
Season 1
The Pilot
I really liked this episode. We are introduced to
the character of Benton Fraser by learning, right from the
beginning, that he is persistent in his pursuit of justice. He
is willing to give up being a Mountie, if necessary, in order to
find his father's killers. The episode shows his wilderness abilities, vulnerability,
and basic human qualities. I see Fraser as somewhat of
a caricature (but entirely loveable) in this episode. 
He goes
into a bar and demands that the denizens place their illegal weapons on bar;
asks hoods to watch the Mercedes; gives pemmican to charity women in airport;
shows empty gun to miscreants. He is referred to by Canadian
coworkers as "certifiable"; lets everyone else have taxi and has to
walk into Chicago. He lets everyone else into an elevator and walks up
stairs with Ray. He also gives $100 to a complete stranger in the airport.
This episode establishes the basic friendship
between Fraser and Ray Vecchio. This friendship gets off to a
shaky start when Ray refers to Fraser's father case as "the
dead Mountie thing." He, of course, does not realize that the
dead Mountie is Fraser's father.
Ray apologizes and he also thanks Fraser for saving him from the Internal Affairs setup which might have caused Ray a lot of trouble--entrapping Ray on an entrapment charge. There is a degree of gratitude on Ray's part for Fraser's observation.
It helps to explain why two such diverse characters would establish such an immediate and strong bond.
There are good action scenes at the end. We
rarely get to see Fraser using his skills in his native
environment. This episode and the very last episode of the
series, Call of the Wild, give us this
opportunity.
"Everyone says he [Fraser Sr.] was the last of a breed. It's not true.
You are."
(Underhill to Fraser)
Free Willy
I
liked this episode. Willy is cute. Excellent scenes include: Fraser in process of
renting apartment--"Is my lanyard straight?"; Fraser's eyes when
confronting Willy with gun; scenes with Fraser and Elaine and
policewoman and Ray's reaction "What, they don't have women in the
Yukon?".
In Seasons 1 and 2 and in Seasons 3 (3 and 4
outside of the United States), there is a pervading theme of helping the unjustly accused, the downtrodden, the unrepresented and the simply misguided. This is usually spurred by Fraser's interest in some aspect of an unusual case in which he involves Ray Vecchio or Ray Kowalski, often having to counter their initial reluctance. They never fail, however, to get involved and to deliver their best efforts (under the circumstances). Ray Vecchio and Ray Kowalski are both good men, which they prove over and over again throughout the series.
We are introduced to this theme in this, the
first episode after the Pilot. I was impressed with the persistence that
Fraser demonstrates here and Ray's reluctant but all-out help. It is established
by the end of the episode that Ray is Fraser's best friend. I like the reactions
of Elaine and the other women in the station to Fraser, as well as his to them.
Diefenbaker's Day Off
I loved this episode.
Great scenes include: Fraser and Mackenzie King are getting
dressed for the date with "American Woman" playing in background;
and Fraser contemplating underwear including starched boxers and long
johns; holding up two suits that look exactly alike; smelling wrist
corsages; previous scene where he states that he can handle any
situation because "I am a Mountie" but he puts the milk into the
cabinet. You also get a good idea of what type of place he
lives in when you see the people lined up for the bathroom--it's
rather shocking.
"I am perfectly capable of handling myself in any situation. I am. I am
a Mountie."
Chicago Holiday
I did not
particularly like this episode. The young girl is a brat, very
dishonest and has no redeeming features that I can discover,
whatsoever. Benton Fraser is made to look ridiculous in this
episode, chasing her all over Chicago, jumping onto the roof of a
taxi, etc. I also did not understand why he would lie for her
to her father. OFM does not tell lies and this one had no
worthwhile purpose. If anything, the father should have been
alerted to how desperate his daughter is for excitement and
attention. By covering for her and stating that it was his
idea to go to the club, Fraser is doing her no favors. His efforts
are justly rewarded by her sneaking out again and getting into more
danger. I found the episode annoying and very little was added
to Benton's character development.
Good scenes, however,
included: Fraser ironing his boots and "unlocking" his Stetson brim;
Fraser's conversation with Dief over Dief's attitude and opinions;
Fraser jumping onto the top, front and rear of moving vehicles; his
discomfort over not having the proper accessories for his formal
dress uniform (Ray had to go pick them up). I also like the
reference to the Yukon Light Opera. The club scenes were good, e.g.
the scene where he asks for handcuffs and several pairs appear, and
scene "I am an attorney." The music was great--e.g., Que
Sera by the Holly Cole Trio. Vecchio
was so easily suckered by Eddie's girlfriend; and she steals his
watch. I would have loved Fraser's choices of things to do--La
Boheme, museums, gallery, even the Gilbert and Sullivan
alternative--and with such a handsome escort. The kid was not only
bratty and obnoxious but uncultured and most definitely
unappreciative. I like the use of the MacGuffin device. Other observations are that the uniform
does not look as good with the formal belt as with the Sam Browne
belt. His uniform does look like a doorman's uniform--"Do you
work here?"
Elaine: "Someone asked me out. This man has been after me for months,
but I said no, I want to get some sleep. Next time I'm going to say yes. I mean,
you can't keep someone waiting forever, now can you?"
Fraser: "Well, no, that would be unfair."
Ray: "Want to concentrate here, Elaine? Every sketch you draw looks like
Fraser in drag."
Gift of the Wheelman
This is another winning
episode. Good scenes include:
excellent speech by Fraser to Father regarding what a father leaves
to a son--brought tears to my eyes; Fraser's father's ghost first
appearance and his inability to cope as well as Ray's question and
his answer "In what sense?" then the reversal of the question and
answer when we see Ray with his father--funny and
poignant.
"I said elves, you moron! ELVES!"
(Louis Gardino)
"I think there's only one thing that a father needs to leave his son,
and that's a good example of how a man should live his life. Anything else, the
son can learn for himself. The greatest gift my father ever gave me was the
courage to trust my own abilities, and I learned that through his example."
(Fraser to Porter)
Invitation to
Romance
This is one of my favorite episodes. This is a
light-hearted episode that I didn't like the first time I saw it but
on re-watching, I now consider it one of the most delightful and
entertaining and even touching things I have ever seen on
television. The annoying Ms. Burns, played by Jane Krakowski, grated
at first but the funny predicaments that she drags Fraser into are
truly hysterical. It starts off with Inspector Moffat telling Fraser
that he is too polite and is thereby hurting Canada's image.
Favorite scenes are: "Where are you from, young man?" "I'd
rather not say."; Ray as doorman at the Canadian Consulate-- "What,
is your arm broken? Open the door yourself!"; Inspector
Moffat-"Have to send
Fraser for R&R"; "Perhaps just one bottle;" Fraser's gentle
explanation of mistaking love; throwing the
Stetson.
Now, the scene with Fraser under her wedding dress with
his eyes closed was ridiculous
but I laughed anyhow. Each dialogue
with bureaucrats--post office, marriage license--was priceless. The
MacGuffin device was obvious but effective. "I don't work
here." "Then how can you help me." The Mountie and the Damsel in
Distress conversation was entertaining. Dief running to safety
and being chastised by Fraser later; Miss Burns' confusion--"I love
him," poignant although badly timed. Fraser: "Nothing happened. Ray:
"Big shock there." Clerk: "I get off at four." Fraser: "Then I won't
keep you." In fact, there is not one wasted scene or piece of
dialogue in this entire episode.
The dance at the end was lovely. Ray's
reprise performance as doorman at the end was so funny that I'm laughing just
typing this. This episode gets better each time I watch it. It is
truly clever, funny and delightful in every way. This episode is one of
the underrated gems of Due South.
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He goes
into a bar and demands that the denizens place their illegal weapons on bar;
asks hoods to watch the Mercedes; gives pemmican to charity women in airport;
shows empty gun to miscreants. He is referred to by Canadian
coworkers as "certifiable"; lets everyone else have taxi and has to
walk into Chicago. He lets everyone else into an elevator and walks up
stairs with Ray. He also gives $100 to a complete stranger in the airport.