Due South

[tharpdevenport]

Any other fans? I loved this series. I watched it when it first aired, watched it when it came back after cancellation, and watched some re-runs.

I can't think of anything about this series I hate. The characters are wonderful, and the stories are always fun.

And the show's scores (tri-composed by John McCarthy, Jay Semko, & Jack Lenz) fit nicely and have some good moments. I have four tracks from a John McCarthy promo and listen to them fairly often.


For those who don't know, it's about Benton Fraser. A Royal Canadian Monthy Police officer who hunts down his dad's killer in the pilot. After all is said and done he's kind of forced to relocate and choose Chicago, where he had been working with Ray Vecchio. Vecchio is more of a city guy who's jaded by the realities of car thieves, lying kids, and what not, while Fraser is always kind, polite, thinking, and helpful.



A sampling of a good exchange between the two:

Ray: "Over 400 numbers in my little Bacl Book and you called my sister?"

Frasier: "Well, I'm sorry -- it was the only active number."

 

[firehawk12]

One in a while a Due South thread comes up here.

I haven't watched it in a while and the fact that it's Paul Haggis kind of taints it for me now after Crash, but I loved this series. Before the very poor quality DVDs came out (double sided, really?) I bought tapes off a woman from a Due South mailing list... complete with local commercials from Wisconsin, so I was pretty committed.

I think it got a little too "cute" when Gross got more involved - in the last season basically - but it was a decent show... and probably the only truly successful Canadian show to hit the US in the 90s.

 

[bigdaddy]

My sister loved it, I have no clue why besides the fact she has no taste.

 

[fennrysha]

Loved the show. Loved it more before they replaced Ray with "Ray" though.

 

[S. Gomez]

"And you are...?"
"Constable Benton Fraser, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I first came to Chicago on the trail of the killers of my father and for reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture, I have remained attached as liason between the Chicago Police Department and the Canadian Consulate."

That, I swear, was purely from memory. I haven't seen it in years, but I loved the show. Should watch it again some time.

 

[firehawk12]

I never understood why the "consulate" would let him dick around investigating crimes with the Chicago PD anyway.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

My sister loved it, I have no clue why besides the fact she has no taste.

Thanks for posting that -not only insulting fans of Due South but also insulting your sister. Thank you kindly.

 

[IndyJones]

Loved the show. Loved it more before they replaced Ray with "Ray" though.

I used to enjoy this show in reruns. I just recently realized that new Ray was played by Callum Keith Rennie - Leoben from BSG.

I'd like to see it again sometime.

 

[bigdaddy]

My sister loved it, I have no clue why besides the fact she has no taste.

Thanks for posting that -not only insulting fans of Due South but also insulting your sister. Thank you kindly.

The face should be...



I don't remember the show at all, so I can't judge, but my sister most likely just had a crush on one of the guys.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

I used to enjoy this show in reruns. I just recently realized that new Ray was played by Callum Keith Rennie - Leoben from BSG.

When I saw him in the pitiful Slap Shot sequel and the BSG miniseries, I just squealed "It's the new Ray!".

 

[TimmyWl]

I watched it off and on. Great stuff!

 

[Australis]

Yeah, I was a bit put out when it didn't come back on.

Some have speculated that Fraser had a lot of similarities with the character Captain Carrot in the Discworld series. I think the producers gave a little hint when Fraser senior says in one of the l;ater episodes that her had a friend called Weatherwax, the name of another Discoworld character. Or he was named after the guy who trained Lassie. Either works for me. MAybe a Due South Ten Years Later MOW could ber made?

 

[Hugo Rune]

The first season was basically perfect in my opinion. A glorious blend of cop-show, daft fantasy, gentle humour and wolves. The penultimate two-parter "Vicoria's Secret" is one of the finest pieces of TV out there, and the build up to it alluded to here and there through the season is quite beautiful too.

Watching Benny open up his cool exterior to Ray for the first time revisiting his true love, only to look over to find Ray asleep was just beautiful.

The second season was a drop in quality, (with the loss of Paul Haggis) with the cute humour racked up a touch. Still lovely, though. The third season (with the loss of David Shore and Jeff King)... things started to fall apart. The humour TOO broad and the drama rather lacking.

If nothing else, this show really gave David Shore his proper big break, and you can see quite a bit of House's humour spattered through early Due South.

I've not watched the show in some time, and I do think it's time for a review again. But getting hold of the second half of season three over here is somewhat tricky...


Hugo - Thank You, Kindly

 

[firehawk12]

The R1 DVDs are cheap as hell now... might be worth importing.

 

[ITL]

Yeah, I was a bit put out when it didn't come back on.

Some have speculated that Fraser had a lot of similarities with the character Captain Carrot in the Discworld series. I think the producers gave a little hint when Fraser senior says in one of the l;ater episodes that her had a friend called Weatherwax, the name of another Discoworld character. Or he was named after the guy who trained Lassie. Either works for me. MAybe a Due South Ten Years Later MOW could ber made?

Yeah, I always thought of Fraser and Carrot as very similar in manner and outlook. Great show.

 

[Reverend]

I'd never noticed the Carrot connection before but you're right, it's rather striking right down to the smarter than it should be wolf. Though in Due South it doesn't turn into a naked and mildly irritated woman.

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

"Unmush, unmush!"

 

[Hugo Rune]

Diefenbaker really is the star of the show... well, Dief from season 1/2 at least


Hugo - "You know, you let a wolf save your life, they make you pay and pay and pay... "

 

[John Clark]

Another vote from a fan here

I preferred it with the original Ray though

 

[deh34]

another Due South fan here! I have my faded Diefenbaker t-shirt ready to go on moments notice.

Seasons 3 and 4 (syndicated) were terrible, taking the show into Leslie Neilsen Naked Gun type comedy (tho not nearly as funny) with no drama. Seasons 1 and 2 (on CBS) were beautiful dramas with just the perfect touch of quality humor. When Paul Gross got his hands on writing it all, the characters became totally unbelievable and one dimensional. Oh well... I also remember the cinematography to be the best of any series I've seen... And the 2 soundtrack cd's are great!!!

Life on Mars (US remake) reminds me of Due South Seaons 1 and 2 a bit - very artful drama that takes itself seriously with deep, multi dimensional characters and some good humor as well.