Melanie's Review
Laurie's Review
Melanie's Review:You can't tell, just looking at a diamond, that there may be flaws within the crystal. A jeweler can examine it with a loupe and tell you about the flaws, and adjust the value of the stone accordingly, but the diamond is still a diamond: hard, brilliant and precious. That's what I Coulda Been a Defendant is to me. It's not perfect, and because I am an incurable nitpicker I can't help but tell you what flaws I saw with my loupe; however, the episode as a whole is definitely a diamond.
There are two elements in this story that make it so. The first is one that has already been discussed at length: the character of Bruce Spender. Delicately written, sensitively acted, Bruce is a riddle: a gentle, shy hero, who runs in fear from the police and who carries multiple identities and a loaded gun. Like him as we will, we also have to face the fact that he is no angel. He is a criminal who was offered witness protection, quite possibly because of his family connections.
Which brings me to the other excellent story element: Kevin Spender. Somebody asked if he was an FBI agent--no, he's not. He's a Deputy Director of the Justice Department, which means he's a political appointee and a Very Important Person. Remember when Ford and Deeter blew up Chinatown? Their boss wrote a memo about it to the Director of the FBI, and he passed it up to Spender. Get the idea?
We've seen betrayal before on Due South, but never like this. Gerard was a friend, Victoria was a lover. . . but Kevin is Bruce's flesh and blood. The very depth of Kevin's treachery is bone-chilling. And in true Due South tradition, there is a delicious ambiguity as well: did Kevin really plan the robbery? It's never actually said that he did; in fact, Bruce denied it outright. If Kevin was the mastermind, did he do it for the money--or did he use Bruce as bait in order to entrap the other three criminals, perhaps to promote his own career advancement? Or perhaps he didn't plan the robbery. Perhaps he was just too embarassed to have Bruce's own criminal past come up during the Senate hearings, knowing that he would be accused of abusing his political power to secure witness protection for his brother.
In any case, we get to see the self-assured Deputy Director gradually lose his tight reign over the situation, as events spins wildly out of control.
Kevin: Bruce, in six days I stand before the Senate. The Senate of the United States of America.
Bruce: It wasn't a boomerang?
Kevin: I am talking about a directorship. Don't you understand that?
Bruce: Will they ask about me? They'll ask about me and you won't know what to say?
Kevin: I can't take care of you any more.
Bruce: You can say that you're my brother and that you love me. You can say that. Just say that you love me.
Kevin: They'll find out about the robbery. You'll tell them. You won't be able to help yourself. And I will lose everything that I have worked for. I can't let that happen, Bruce. I do love you. Just get in the car and we'll work it out.
Bruce: No, Kevin, I can't do that.I never thought I'd see anything so chilling as this raw betrayal, and then just a few minutes later I saw Bruce--sweet, gentle Bruce--pointing a rifle at Kevin's back with deadly earnest. The story is allowed to end this way; nothing more need be said.
I Coulda Been a Defendant has a very simple plot, which is unusual for Due South or even for police shows in general. The hour is filled, not with chases and clues and arrests, but with character development and intensely telling conversations.
There were a few things that definitely didn't work for me, those flaws in the diamond. The first was Fraser's gymnastic routine and subsequent ride in the backseat of the convertible "to the end of the alley." Too silly, too time-consuming--he could have run to the end of the alley in the time it took him to talk to the woman.
And then there was this exchange:
Ray: Oh, nice place.
Fraser: It was Constable Turnbull's but he decided he didn't need anything quite so fancy.
Ray: Oh, so where does he live now? A cardboard box?
Fraser: Uh-huh. A very nice one, though. . .Turnbull is such an interesting blend of oddball characteristics, but this little piece of information doesn't fit. Fraser is the one who lives simply, first in his austere apartment and now in the back of his tiny office; to imply that Turnbull left his austere apartment to willingly embrace homelessness is both lame and offensive.
Another weak point in the episode was the graduation scene, especially the stuffed-shirt and slightly dimwitted superintendant, who reminded me of the similar buffoon character from the "Police Academy" movies.
The Nitpick of the Week is also the largest flaw in the diamond:Reporter: Well we have to find him.and later:
Ray: Why?
Reporter: Because the guy's a hero.
Fraser: She has a point, Ray. Historically, communities created myths to act as a mirror to themselves, from Glooscap, great hunter of the Meegamaage, to George Steinbrenner, who I'm told is a symbol of a sensitive and caring New York.Reporter: Yeah, but how do you know which slip is his?Neither the police department nor the bank is responsible for helping that reporter get a story. Puh-lease! That stuff about a community needing it's heroes was just verbal flim-flam. If a cop came into my bank and demanded information about a customer, I'd ask to see his court order--'cause confidentiality is confidentiality. If a reporter came into my bank demanding the same information, I'd call a cop. ;-)
Fraser: Well, there were 3 transactions at the time of the incident. One of these will be his. And the bank will have his name and his address.
Ray: Look, they're not going to give it to us, not without a warrant.
Reporter: They'll give it to me. I've got a camera.The idea that Ray would take time out of his (apparently) busy day to track down a Good Samaritan in order to satisfy a reporter is stupid enough; the idea that he would break into the Good Samaritan's apartment and chase him through the streets like a criminal is absolutely insane. Welsh said it best:
"Well, let's see if I got this right. A guy saves a kid's life, and to show our gratitude we go to his house, knock down his door, cuff him, drag him here, and grill the snot out of him."
Duesies:Ray: Fraser, can you not do that? It sort of gives it away.
Fraser: I'd like to talk to him.
Ray: Torture. . . That's a good idea. I never thought of that.
Fraser: That's - that's very funny, Ray.
Ray: Polite cop, bad cop. . . It might work. . . .Welsh [on phone]: Yes, sir, yes, sir. . . [covers mouthpiece]. . . Three bags full, sir. . .
Ray: We gotta ID him.
Welsh: All right, if he's Jimmy Hoffa, keep him. Anybody else, set him free.Elaine: Oh, and here comes my new replacement now.
Ray: I am going to pass a bullet through my brain.
Francesca: Not that I object to that, but thanks for the vote of confidence there, bro.Ray: Two magic words. Witness protection. Why didn't he use them?
Kevin: For security reasons I told him never to do that.
Ray: You rank that up there with one of your good ideas?Ray: That he masterminded the heist. Cause when I look at him, what does not come to mind is arch criminal. I mean, the guy can barely tie his shoes.
Bruce: The bank had three entrances. The doors were controlled after business hours by a central computer on relay. Well, that bypass was easy. The vault codes were logged in sequence through two networks. It took me months to sort through the algorithms but once I found the key it was just a matter of refining the sequence and bypassing the time clocks. Everything was planned with precision and detail. The operation was undertaken and completed in precisely 27 minutes and 13 seconds. . . And I can tie my shoes.Ray: Oh, come on, Fraser, we don't really have to sleep on the floor, do we?
Fraser: Yes.
Ray: Look, I do this, I want a badge. A tuck-in-on-the-floor-I-hurt-my-back badge.
Fraser: I'll get you one.Welsh: Why'd you pick this place?
Fraser: Well, I thought Kevin would be more forthcoming if he thought he had the upper hand.
Ray: It worked great but they do have the upper hand!
Runner-Up Moment of the Week:Ray's flailing effort to find his ringing cell phone inside the sleeping bag.
Moment of the Week:
Bruce pointing the gun at Kevin.
Super Mountie Power of the Week:Bionic hearing.
Fraser: Two men just entered the building.
Francesca: Well, they didn't follow me.
Fraser: That may be true but I believe that one of them just put a 32-round clip into a machine pistol. A Mach 10, if I'm hearing the mechanism correctly.
Fraser Factoid of the Week:Historically, communities created myths to act as a mirror to themselves, from Glooscap, great hunter of the Meegamaage, to George Steinbrenner, who I'm told is a symbol of a sensitive and caring New York.
Snack to enjoy while watching I Coulda Been a Defendant:Breakfast catered by the scout troop. June, who still hasn't earned her cooking badge, will try to boil water for tea.
Grading:
Bruce A+ Kevin A+ Graduation Day B- Overall Grade A+
Laurie's Review:This is one of those ep in which a performance turned in by a guest overshadows the stars of the show. Brent Carver is superb as Bruce Spender. Flawless acting and completely convincing in his role. Ray and Fraser are just along for the ride; most of the scenes belong to Bruce and Kevin. Not knowing exactly what is wrong with Bruce makes the story more intriguing. I think we can correctly assume that he's autistic but we don't know for sure since we're not told.
The plot is simple, but it wouldn't be nearly as compelling any other way. It's refreshing to now and then watch an episode which doesn't require one to be constantly on the alert for clues and signals. I Coulda Been a Defendant necessitated that the viewer concentrate on the relationship between the brothers. Their love for one another is obvious but in addition to betrayal, there's also years of pent-up resentment. Kevin had to protect his brother when they were kids and he's still protecting him, and he resents Bruce for being a hindrance.
I LOVE the final scene, filmed in the driving rain with the perfect accompanying music. I've tried to imagine it without the rain. I can't. It's so perfect. I do wonder though if that was intended or if it just happened to rain the day the scene was shot. It was clear later for the graduation but that could have been filmed separately. My opinion is that the script did not call for rain. How many times has it rained or snowed in various eps? Obviously, the crew tried to stay on schedule and within budget, weather be damned.
Moments that I like:The book Bruce is reading when Ray and Fraser show up at his apartment is You Can't Go Home Again. How appropriate.
When Bruce is running from Fraser, the look of panic on his face is so real. What an act!
There are so many examples of Bruce's childlike or trusting nature. One of my favorites is after he's been arrested. He keeps telling Ray it's a mistake and that he didn't do anything. Ray finally tells him, jokingly, that they screwed up and he's free to go. Bruce says "Really?" and starts to leave.
We get another look at Ray's apartment and a glimpse of Elaine's (contrary to popular belief, she doesn't live at the station). I like Ray's apartment, and Frannie made herself right at home, didn't she?
Ray forgetting the words to the Miranda Rights and looking to Fraser for help,
When Ray is asked "what do we do after we've controlled a suspect?" he answers, "Uh, kick him in the head?" I also like the looks on the faces of the cadets when he says it.
Fraser in the mud, hair plastered to his forehead.
Nitpicks:My nitpicks are so petty, and they have no bearing on anything:
The small TV (Philips) placed on the desk for convenience so we can see Ray, Fraser and the Good Samaritan on the news. There was a TV in the squad room in Ladies Man but it was a wall-mounted model, I think. It may be on Elaine's desk (she and Frannie are sitting there anyway) but if it is her desk, the TV isn't there a little later when everyone is gathered around the computer.
This one is really petty: when Fraser pulls the hook out of the hanger, it comes out too easily, no effort at all. I have some wooden coat hangers and they'd make nice boomerangs, if I could get the hooks out. I tried, they don't even budge.
Duesies:Fraser: Something's not right.
Ray: Yeah, he's nuts.
Fraser: No, he's frightened.
Ray: 'Course he's frightened. That's me, that's my thing. On the inside, I'm a poet. Outside, uh, shake, bad guys, shake.
Fraser: Huh. Does he seem like a bad guy to you?
Ray: He's polite, big deal. I mean, Jack the Ripper was polite.
Fraser: I'd like to talk to him.
Ray: Torture. That, that's a good idea. I never thought of that.
Fraser: That's, that's very funny, Ray.Fraser: It's an interesting pattern.
Bruce: It's, it's a rhomboid.
Fraser: So it is.
Bruce: Ah. I like to make different sized sides then try and figure out how many I can get into a fixed space, something determinate with few variables, I like to do that. I like your dog, seems like a nice dog, is he a nice dog?Kevin: Can you give the origami a rest?
Bruce: It's not origami, it's combinatorics.Ray: Two magic words: Witness Protection. Why didn't he use them?
Kevin: For security reasons. I told him never to do that.
Ray: And you rank that up there with one of your *good* ideas?
Welsh: You're a little out of line, Detective.
Fraser: Sir, I wonder if I might ask a question.
Kevin: Sure, if you can tell me how a Mountie fits into this. (Followed, of course, by the Explanation.)Ray (looking at the model of the Empire State Building): I could do that. I choose not to.
Dief Moment:The way he bonds with Bruce. That Dief so totally trusts him and wants to protect him is the biggest clue that Bruce has done nothing wrong.
Keepership:Mud-covered Fraser.
Grade: A+
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