There has been a lot of debate in the Due South fandom about Seasons 1 and 2 and the difference between those seasons and Season 3, i.e., the last 26 episodes (Seasons 3 and 4 outside the United States). I’m not writing the following in order to present some bland, namby-pamby, "Why can’t we all just get along" type of reconciliation viewpoint. Rather, this actually represents my opinion after re-watching each and every episode of Due South several times and reading other people’s comments on mailing lists and message boards and thinking about how much I love this show and how rare it is to find anything as enjoyable as this on television or elsewhere as far as entertainment is concerned.

I first started watching Due South during reruns on TNT. The first episodes I saw were Season Three episodes. I fell in love with the show. The Ray that I first saw was Ray Kowalski. When TNT started showing Season One again with David Marciano as Ray Vecchio, the real Ray Vecchio, I have to admit, it took some getting used to. I missed Callum Keith Rennie. Now, of course, I love David Marciano and the way he played the character of Ray Vecchio. The two Rays are very different characters with different relationships with Fraser but both are played by excellent actors. Both characters are developed by excellent writing.

I think change is difficult to accept. I find it hard to accept, however, some of the statements from some of the fans such as the third season is not the Due South that they came to know and love and they won’t watch it, etc. Some of this bitterness I think is simply due to the fact that they miss David Marciano and can’t accept change. What bothers me is that I detect just plain old prejudice in some of these statements. I detest prejudice of every kind. They won’t even give the last season a chance. On the other hand, perhaps I am reading too much into these statements and perhaps these individuals just have different likes and dislikes. Maybe.

I am certainly used to people disagreeing with me since most shows that I like on television don’t last very long due to poor ratings. It is therefore understandable that I might be in a minority within the subgroup of fans who love Due South. I’m pretty confident in my own opinions so I don’t really get upset. I know what I like. I am always ready, however, to listen to differing opinions.

I think the show changed but grew during the last season and, in some ways, got better. We certainly got to see a lot more of the supporting characters in the last season. It is amazing to me that a television show could have included such a well rounded and high level of acting talent such as Ramona Milano, Beau Starr, Tony Craig, Dean McDermott, Camilla Scott and Tom Melissis and, best of all, Gordon Pinsent. Boy, are they good!

Season Two, although I like it, is my least favorite of the seasons of Due South. Season One, in my humble opinion, is beyond compare as far as writing, story lines and character development. Episodes such as Victoria’s Secret, the Pilot and the Deal have no equals in the rest of the series’ episodes. Even some of my least favorite episodes from Season 1 have some of the most memorable scenes in all of Due South. I love The Edge from Season 2, as well as the episodes Vault and Red, White or Blue but I can easily skip most of the rest of Season 2, when pressed for time. Although the Season 2 episodes all have their "moments," I find that I have the least desire to watch most of those episodes again in comparison to the other seasons. I happily re-watch any episode from Season 3 (3/4). Now, of course, I have watched every episode from Season 2 several times and enjoyed some aspect of every one of them but I am speaking in comparative terms.

The humor in Season 3 is quick, fast-paced and utterly delightful. Ray Kowalski has so many great lines that it is difficult to decide which of the many to list. When the humor descends into slapstick and questionable areas of humor such as in Call of the Wild, it is offset by well written dialogue and excellent acting. There are few really dramatic moments (such as Ladies Man, parts of Call of the Wild, Good for the Soul) but the overall lighthearted presentation of even some serious plots brings a smile to my lips just to think about and joy to my heart just to remember.

Just one woman’s opinion.