Melanie's Review
Laurie's Review
Melanie's Review:After last week's Flashback wallow, it was a real pleasure to pull out my first season one tape and watch an episode I enjoy every time. Free Willie isn't in my top ten, but it's a solid example of what makes Due South such a fine series.
There are two intertwining storylines, neither one of which retreats to the background as a B plot. They fit together very well, somewhat in a similar manner to the two parallel plots of Chicago Holiday, but neither one quite captures my imagination. The robbery plot, starring the oft-frustrated Caroline Morgan, is very clever but lacks any sense of a personal touch. Morgan and her nameless henchmen never made much of an impression--she was much better served by her turn in Vault. Willie, on the other hand, was cute and fun but a little heavy on cliches. I knew with absolute certainty, for example, that he would run the second they walked out of the police station. (Willie's card game with Welsh at the end, on the other hand, was kinda sweet.)
But Morgan and Willie don't have to carry this story, because Benny and Ray do so very well. This episode is very rich with wonderful Benny/Ray conversations, and serves very well to set the tone for their abiding relationship. This episode contains my favorite F/V slash moment, when Ray tosses his wallet to Benny and resignedly asks for an allowance.
Of the three action sequences in the episode, the only one I actually enjoy is the first one--the rooftop pursuit of Willie the purse snatcher. But the confrontation between Fraser and Willie over the gun pales in comparison to the confrontation between Fraser and Morgan over the bonds.
This episode does an excellent job of quickly and efficiently introducing four new characters: Welsh, Huey, Gardino and Elaine. It seems to me that this represents an intentional shift in direction from the Pilot, where the action at the 27th was very limited and emphasis had been placed on Fraser's workplace, Moffat and LeeAnn Brighton. With Free Willie, the Canadians at the consulate fade quickly into the background, not to be seen again until Invitation to Romance--and LeeAnn disappears altogether. :-(
Talk about poor follow-through! Why did they establish that Willie would be looking after Dief, then show the wolf running around loose in the very next episode? If they didn't intend to use the young actor on a regular basis, why have Fraser offer him the job? I'm glad they brought Willie back for The Wild Bunch, but he was conspicuously absent in other episodes.
Ray says that Fraser acts as "Canada's last line of defense here, guarding your consulate against marauding cleaner salesmen. . . ." That makes me wonder: exactly what is Fraser defending the consulate from? It's a public building, so he's not supposed to prevent people from approaching the door (the fact that he allows Ray to walk right past him to the door in the Pilot is evidence of this). He's not armed, so his presence is purely symbolic anyway. What a silly way to earn a living!
Runner-Up Nitpick of the WeekWillie is nowhere near as tall as Morgan. A careful viewing of the videotape of the robbery would have gotten him off easily.
Nitpick of the Week
Bearer bonds are not the same as cash. They may not be registered to a particular owner (and therefore belong to the "bearer," hence the name) but they do have serial numbers. If bonds #C11111101 through C11111120 from a particular issue were stolen, the paying agent would be able to trace and prevent any attempt to collect interest or redeem them. If you're gonna steal bearer bonds, you gotta make sure the legal owner--the brokerage firm, in this case--doesn't realize they're missing.
Runner-up Moment of the WeekAs Fraser calmly collects the gun from Willie, Ray finally catches up--falling to the ground in a blue-shirted blur.
Moment of the Week
Fraser leaps from a rooftop, and immediately says, "This. . . was a mistake."
DuesiesRay: Oh yeah I can see what draws you to this place. Decorative graffiti motifs, the cleaver use of plumbing to create the waterfall effect and the ease and convenience of being able to dump your garbage right into the hall.
Fraser: I forgot to ask if they take pets. Diefenbaker.
Ray: Oh yeah. A dog could easily throw off the delicately balanced ecosystem.Fraser: Mrs. Garcia,[door slams] Mr. Campbell.[door slams] Hello Mr. Mustafi.[door slams]
Ray: You know these people?
Fraser: No, I memorized their names from the mailboxes.Ray: Does the word 'incarcerate' mean anything to you?!?
Fraser: Well it's from the Medieval Latin, incarcerata . . .
Ray: Medieval Latin? You let a perp go and you're giving me Medieval Latin?
Fraser: Actually, perpetrator is also Latin, from perpetrare . . .Fraser: Benton Fraser, Deputy Liaison Officer.
Louis: Jack Huey, Louis Gardino, actual detective.Ray: This is what's wrong with you! You don't know what's important and what's not. The name of the vending machine guy is not important. This is a detail you do not need to record. You want to record a detail? Try this. That was my case!
Fraser: Thanks, Elaine.
Elaine: Want me to call you at home?
Ray: My case, Elaine, me. Detective Vecchio. Police officer. You talk directly to me, okay?
Elaine: But I should probably have the number just in case.
Fraser: Oh, uh--I'm afraid I don't have--
Ray: He uses smoke signals. We'll call in. Willie? Come on, mush.Fraser: You know Ray, When I was a young man, my father told me one thing to always remember about thieves. Well, actually he told me two things, but I've forgotten the other one. Anyway, the important one is that despite the adage, you will rarely find honor among thieves.
Ray: You can't remember the other one?
Fraser: It was something about tying a wallet to your underwear. I was very young at the time.Morgan: Dead in your tracks right there. Take out the gun and drop it on the floor.
Ray: Don't do it Fraser, Take the shot.
Fraser: I'm afraid I'm not carrying a gun.
Morgan: Drop the gun.
Fraser: I honestly don't have one.
Ray: Sharp shooter first class. He can take the head off a pin.
Fraser: He's right about that.
Ray: Drop it or he takes you out.
Fraser: I would if I had a gun, Ray.
Morgan: Show me the gun!
Fraser: Well, we'd have to go back to my office. I do have this knife.
Ray: Oh, that's good Benny. Threaten her with camping utensils.
Fraser: Can't afford to bluff Ray. She's already shot one person.Fraser: She shot my hat, Ray.
Ray: She shot you in the hat?
Fraser: I can feel air coming in through the hole.
Ray: She shot you in the hat, all right.
Fraser: How does it look?
Ray: Doesn't look good.
Fraser: We'll have to go home and get my other one.
Ray: We can do that, Fraser.Fraser: Yes. You did.
Ray: No. I didn't.
Fraser: Well of course you did. Maybe you just weren't fully aware of it.
Ray: I was very aware of my feelings toward you, Fraser.
Fraser: Well, if you didn't know what I was planning, then why'd you play along?
Ray: I wasn't playing along. I was begging for my life!
Fraser: Oh. Oh. Well. Uh, my mistake.Fraser: It's twenty five dollars a week as long as you stay in school.
Willie: Wait a minute that uh --
Fraser: I know, I know, I'm sorry. Ray, would you mind?
Ray: Here, take the wallet, just give me an allowance.
Dief MomentHis pursuit of Willie over the fences. What amazing athletic grace!
Snack to enjoy while watching Free WillyA salmon sandwich. (Thanks, Hugo!)
Grading:
Morgan and the Robbery B Willie B+ Fraser and Ray A+ Welsh and Duck Boys A Overall Grade A
Laurie's Review:This isn't a deep ep but it's not mindless either. It's mostly fun! I don't look for much when I watch Free Willie; I'm content to be purely entertained.
This ep is all about cementing Ray and Ben's friendship and giving the viewers insights into what makes them tick. I would have loved an ep with nothing but dialogue between Ben and Ray (and Dief) but that's not the way the world of television usually works so throw in a plot line such as a robbery and a cute kid and you've got a recipe that most people will like.
The friendly banter, Ray's sarcasm and their easy give and take is enough for me, and often when I watch this ep I fast forward through everything except the conversations between Ray and Ben. One of my all-time favorite exchanges occurs early on when Ben says, "Ray, Ray, Ray. Is my lanyard straight?" and Ray snaps, "He's a slum lord!"
I also love the rooftop pursuit and the musical accompaniment. Ben's graceful ease is a sharp contrast to Ray's stereotyped but perfectly timed comic awkwardness. I think Ray positively shines. It's not always what he says but how he says it and the expressions that go along with it. Two of his best moments are when they're looking for the purse and Ray has reached the end of his rope with Willie. I love the way he approaches Benny and says the kid is making him angry. Ben nods in sympathy and agreement. Later when they're going into the building to talk to Hamlin, Ray ends up holding the door for a few people. Gotta love the look on his face and the way he rolls his eyes.
Minor nitpicks:Ray conveniently finds a parking space in front of the brokerage firm on Michigan Ave. I don't think so. But he always seems to find a place to park right out front, doesn't he?
One of Morgan's cohorts breaks a window on the Riv but a short time later it's not broken. Also, as they're driving to the Post Office it's obvious it had rained, but it was sunny in the park a short time before.
I have a problem with the wild ride through a crowded park, but I love Welsh's comment afterwards: "Perhaps if you had thought to call in before you went cantering through the park, but these judgment calls are so difficult to make.
Duesies:Almost every thing spoken by B & R is a duesie. I'll add the previously mentioned "Is my lanyard straight?" "He's a slum lord," along with:
Huey: Okay, the kid said he'd only talk to the guy in the hat. Could you?
Ben: Thank you kindly.
Ray: I'm with the guy in the hat, fellas, you're not.Ray: Lieutenant? Could I help it if the kid'll only talk to a Mountie?
Welsh: Ah, yes, the Mountie. I thought they sent you back up to the Yukon.
Ben: Well, they did, Sir. And then they sent me back here again. I'm afraid I'm not all that well liked up there, Sir.
Welsh: By up there you mean. . . .
Ben: Pretty much all of Canada, Sir.Ray: Did you know that he pins his wallet to his underwear?
Elaine: Cool.I've never been able to figure out Ben's response to the "Like your dog" comment, "He's white." What the heck does that mean?
Dief Moment:Pursuing Willie through the back streets and alleys, closely followed by getting Willie off the bus.
This really is an enjoyable ep and dS at its light-hearted best. It deserves an A.
If you want to sound off, or if you'd like to add a review to the site, let me know!
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