Rating: - Chivalry's not dead - it's in Chicago, sporting a wide brimmed hat
Paul Haggis has had some great successes in film (CRASH, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA) and in television (WALKER, TEXAS RANGER, THIRTYSOMETHING). But it's DUE SOUTH for which I thank him the most. Whenever I watch a DUE SOUTH episode, I always somehow end up shaking my head. This was such a great and fun show, and it deserved more longevity. But, it wasn't meant to be, thanks to CBS, which, after every season of DUE SOUTH, persisted in pulling the plug (only to have the show resurrect itself each time, at least until the 4th and final season). But at least we get a consolation prize in this DUE SOUTH: SEASON ONE 4-disc dvd set. From which, by the way, a star or two should be lopped off for not inserting ANY special features. But, never mind, I'm just glad the dvds are out.

The Canadian-made DUE SOUTH started out as a made-for-TV film. It received such a warm response that it prompted CBS to pick it up for a primetime slot. And, really, what's not to like? With its prescription of whimsy, warmth, and gentle humor, this was a series which generously gave back to its viewers. Even if you do start halfway suspecting that Canadians just might be superior to Yanks. Anyway, the show excelled at gently poking fun at both American and Canadian stereotypes.

It's a great fish-out-of-water premise. A guileless, by-the-book Mountie plying his trade in jaded, crooked Chicago. Compulsively helpful, RCMP Constable Benton Fraser (Paul Gross) initially befuddles those around him as folks have trouble believing he is for real. Fraser is the only Chicagoan resident to not have locks on his door. He's an everlasting irritant (but at times a positive influence) to his cop buddy Detective Ray Vecchio (David Marciano), who himself is obnoxious, street savvy, and resembles a skinny rat in garish shirts. In the pilot episode, the two of them meet and strike up an unlikely friendship. And even though Fraser is assigned to the Canadian consulate - and thus has no official capacity to solve Chicago PD crimes - he proves invaluable to Detective Vecchio.

Himself the son of a legendary Mountie, Constable Fraser lives up to the stereotype held up to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. And then some. He is truthful, brave, trustworthy, and unfailingly courteous. He also is very literal-minded, which sparks some of the show's humor (although there's a sneaking feeling that he's not as naive as he seems). The Constable also has acute powers of observation and exceptionally attuned senses. In one episode, he decodes a computer password simply by recalling the typing sounds made by someone's fingers. His ability to smell and hear, as well as his habit of tasting (and identifying) objects picked up off the ground (to Vecchio's constant dismay), often breaks a case wide open. That he's oblivious to being a chick magnet is also a source of nettlement for Vecchio, as is Fraser's narrating of arcane trivia and of moralistic Inuit tales. Too, Fraser has a tendency of guilting Vecchio into doing the right thing. But Vecchio gets Fraser back by making turns without employing the turn signal. Occasionally, he'd run a stop sign, which drives Fraser crazy ("That was a stop sign, Ray."). Do I have to mention that these two actors have very good chemistry?

This is a such a well-written show, full of insightful wit, quirky humor, and quiet, poignant drama. And the soundtrack is great. One of the show's odder beats has Fraser's dead father appearing and having talks with his son. One episode even has Fraser's dead grandmother scolding his dead father, except that Fraser can only see and hear his dad, not the nana. But, whatever, it was all too metaphysical for me. An added allure to DUE SOUTH is that you never quite know where an episode is heading. Fraser's frequent forays into good samaritanship often leads him and Vecchio into the most offbeat of cases. Fraser's efforts to help a little girl unveils an insurance scam. A small time investigation into bad supermarket meat escalates into a high stakes horse-stealing racket. Fraser's gentle reprimand of an illegally parked man leads to a cache of stolen weaponry. And so on.

The cast is across the board excellent. Naturally, Paul Gross carries much of the load, and he's perfect. There just may be a hint of smugness in Gross's Benton Fraser, but he's such a great straight-arrow character that it's hard to not like the guy. He simply exudes sincerity and a wholesome charm, and his deadpan delivery is pitch perfect. He's a very good actor, who makes do here with a minimal yet very revealing use of expressions. His acting is never better displayed than in "The Wild Bunch" and the 2-part "Victoria's Secret." Plus, he irons his boots, which must be worth a few extra points.

David Marciano perfectly complements Gross as his wonderfully irascible but loyal partner and best friend. Marciano is particularly fantastic in the episodes "You Must Remember This" (in which he falls in love) and "The Deal" (in which he confronts a Chicago mobster). And then there's the soulful dog Diefenbaker. For the uninitiated, Diefenbaker is an intelligent, willful deaf wolf who reads lips and who had adopted Fraser back in the wilds. And he is a joy to watch, scene-stealer that he is. Several episodes give this dog ample time to shine, but especially "The Wild Bunch." Fraser, Vecchio, and Diefenbaker are the core of the series, and their interactions truly are what fuels the show.

DUE SOUTH has a way of presenting one with life lessons, but does it in entertaining fashion. If you pay attention, you may also pick some little known facts. One thing I learned is that the Canadian Mountie's motto isn't really "We always get our man" (it's actually "Uphold the law"). Which Constable Fraser does, and well. He may be a man out of his element and maybe out of his era. But he seems to be doing fine, maybe even more than fine. DUE SOUTH was one of the best shows out there in the mid-'90s, and we really should've been treated to more episodes. But it's nice to have the good Constable on dvd, anyway, in this exceptional first season. So to DUE SOUTH and its makers, I say, "Thank you kindly."