"Due South" (1997)TV series 1997-1999

Creator:

Paul Haggis

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

14 September 1997 (Canada)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Plot:

The spin-off picks up shortly after the original left off. Fraser returns to Chicago, to find a blond has assumed Ray Vecchio's identity...

Plot Keywords:

Police Officer | Chicago Illinois | Mounted Police Officer

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Paul Gross	...	Constable Benton Fraser / ... (16 episodes, 1997-1999)
Beau Starr	...	Harding Welsh (15 episodes, 1997-1999)
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Det. Stanley Raymond Kowalski / ... (15 episodes, 1997-1999)
Draco	...	Diefenbaker (14 episodes, 1997-1999)
Ramona Milano	...	Francesca Vecchio / ... (13 episodes, 1997-1999)
Tony Craig	...	Jack Huey / ... (13 episodes, 1997-1999)
Tom Melissis	...	Thomas E. Dewey / ... (13 episodes, 1997-1999)
Dean McDermott	...	Constable Turnbull / ... (13 episodes, 1997-1999)
Gordon Pinsent	...	Robert Fraser / ... (12 episodes, 1997-1999)
Camilla Scott	...	Margaret Thatcher / ... (12 episodes, 1997-1999)

Also Known As:

Un tandem de choc (Canada: French title)

Runtime:

60 min | 60 min (26 episodes)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Canmore, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Alliance Communications Corporation

Trivia:

"Stanley Kowalski" and "Stella Kowalski" are character names taken from Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire".

Goofs:

Continuity: Fraser's left hand is stepped on in "Easy Money" yet Quinn tends to the right hand.

Quotes:

Robert Fraser's ghost: Close the door, son. Anyone would think you were born in a barn.
Benton Fraser: I was.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ride Forever (2006) (V)

Later season a marked improvement.

The third and fourth seasons of DS saw it develop as a unique work and leave behind its pedestrian beginnings. The setup was clearly enough to interest CBS, CBC and many viewers when the show premiered, but the first two seasons seldom moved beyond the most superficial level. Fraser was overly stiff and robotic; while they were trying to make a point about the cultural differences between him and Vecchio, there was no need to smash it in our face. Vecchio likewise seldom moved past a rather stereotyped characterization. Kowalski was just what the show needed. He was an original, and Fraser loosened up considerably from their first meeting. The chemistry was instantaneous and obvious. The plots likewise were quirkier and less indicative of television conventions. I too wish more time had been possible to develop characterizations and subtexts, but at least we have these shows to enjoy.