Laurie's Review
Melanie's Review
Laurie's Review:This is an intense, amazing ep, one of my favorites from Seasons 3/4, and the best for RayK. It's very emotional and Ray's feelings run the spectrum. At the beginning he's angry and upset, as he gets into the investigation, he's cocky and aggressive, and as the story winds down, it all finally catches up with him until he is so overwhelmed he breaks down.
Ray has his attitude down pat in this ep, especially when he's talking to Bedford. The way he deliberately hesitates before saying "Sir," the slight shake of his head. Bedford calls his a smart-ass, and he sure is in this scene, but I love it and Bedford deserves to be put in place. Welsh intentionally stays out of it, almost as if he's giving Ray free rein to express himself.
Beth Botrelle is so convincingly real, both in the way she looks and the way she acts. She's been hardened by prison life and we see the harsh physical effects. She has to be one of the most heart-breaking guests to appear on the show.
I wonder if she kept her house. It doesn't make sense since she was sentenced to die and her husband was dead. At one time I thought she and Ray were just visiting the scene and that someone else was living there but that doesn't seem to be the case. Beth doesn't leave when Ray does and there's no sign of other occupants.
Carolyn Sherman is very believable too. She's there for her client to the end, she's compassionate and looking out for Beth's interests. I like that she comes down hard on Ray and Fraser at first. After all, their motives aren't entirely clear. We never find out if she believes Beth is guilty. As she told Fraser, it's an irrelevant question; the real question is whether she thinks Beth should die.
The sting operation interwoven with clips of Beth being led to her execution is very dramatic, even if it does stretch the imagination a bit. Is anyone else reminded of the end of "The Duel"? Franklin calmly accepts his fate - he knows it's over. He really did like Ray, despite the lies and deception.
The final scene is one of the most emotional from Due South, and similar to the end of Juliet Is Bleeding. Both times Fraser is there offering silent comfort and support to his friends. Ray's reaction is perfect and so is Fraser's. He looks away to give Ray some privacy but keeps his hand on his shoulder. Even Dief wants to comfort him.
I'm kind of surprised Francesca wasn't in this ep, considering that several scenes were shot at the station, but we do have the pleasure of seeing the wry-witted desk sergeant again.
Moments I like:The fake, taped-on sign on the women's bathroom at the evidence lockup, and Fraser and Ray have no qualms about going in.
Ray tossing Fraser's hat to him.
The way Ray and Fraser point their fingers in unison at Lt. Welsh as they're leaving his office.
The flowers on Ray's desk. He is sick, you know. I wonder who sent them?
Ray referring to himself as a pig and a slob, with an infestation.
Dief making himself comfortable on Ray's couch.
The familiar blue van in the alley. Does anyone know how many times it shows up?
Nitpicks:Ray's a rookie at the time Jake Botrelle is killed but he doesn't have a partner with him and he doesn't have backup. I find this totally unacceptable.
Fraser and Ray are led through the general prison population on their way to visit someone on death row. And what are the odds of two American women in the same prison being familiar with singing Mounties and the Musical Ride? For that matter, would they even recognize a Mountie? How often on dS have people been puzzled by the uniform or who he is?
Fraser singing in the prison is so inappropriate and one of the most wince-worthy moments ever.
When Beth is strapped to the table awaiting execution, she's only restrained by the wrists and ankles.
Duesies:Fraser: Excuse me, I don't think you want to do this. You want to shoot a man?
Guy in alley: Sometimes.
Fraser: You realize it's a felony.
Guy in alley: I don't care.
Ray: He doesn't care, Fraser.
Fraser: You'll go to prison.
Guy in alley: I don't care.
Ray: He doesn't care, Fraser.
Fraser: Or you could be attacked by a wolf.
Guy: In prison?
Fraser: No, right now.
(the wolf business always throws them off guard, doesn't it?)Ray: Hold the story. There's the man (indicating picture of Ronald Reagan with two other men).
Fraser: You know, we used to watch his movies at the cinema in Dawson Creek. Few were more surprised than we were when he became president.
Ray: Not Reagan. The guy beside him.Bedford: No, it's not personal. You have a job and I expect you to do it.
Ray: I just want to do what's right...Sir.
Bedford: I'm suggesting you're not. Now this woman was sentenced by the people to be put to death with cause. That's our mandate. Personally speaking, she deserves it. Now the longer we drag this thing out, the more negative PR we attract to one of the greatest cities in America.
Ray: So we should kill her to avoid any bad press? [pause] Sir?Welsh: Detective, I have never met anyone with as great a capacity to piss off people as you.
Ray: Just people I don't like, Sir.
Fraser: Well, no, actually Ray, even people you do like.Dewey: You want a lift?
Fraser: Uh, not in that car. Thank you kindly.
Dief Moment:Sitting in a chair at the precinct watching Bedford on television.
Keepership:The turtle on Ray's messy coffee table (I wouldn't mind adding it to my meager collection).
Grade: A.
Melanie's Review:I'm not sure why I haven't watched this episode more often. It's not a happy story, but I usually like the dark, dramatic stories. This one is very dark indeed, with little humor or charm to leaven it. I thought the conspiracy plot and the background bout Jake, "Mermaid" and Calahan's was rather difficult to follow.
One of the ongoing themes in this episode is the media circus that surrounds the impending execution. There are reporters at the prison, politicians making politcal hay out of the event, and the cops celebrating the countdown. They don't draw much attention to it, but it's an atmosphere I don't find very pleasant.
My ears perk up every time when Beth Botrelle paraphrases an old camping song, "We're here because we're here because we're here because we're here." And then she finishes off the phrase with the odd word, ". . . because I'm queer." Is she really? I doubt it--but what did she mean by that? Regardless, that scene at the prison is my favorite of the episode. Her distracted, impatient ramblings, her irritation, her tender, caring lie to sooth Kowalski's troubled conscience. Had she really convinced herself that she was guilty?
Perhaps this belongs more in the nitpicks section, but it's a fairly large issue. I find it a little hard to believe that Botrelle would have gotten the death penalty for killing her husband, even though he was a cop. Not every murder trial results in a death sentence, and not every homicide is charged as 1st degree murder. I usually associate the death penalty with serial killers, mass murderers, career-criminals and particularly horrifying crimes--like rape/murder or the murder of a child. Not that I know what I'm talking about (everything I know about the law I learned from watching Law & Order) but crimes of passion--like the murder of a philandering spouse--sound more like 2nd degree murder to me. And yet Botrelle's lawyer didn't even introduce Jake's philandering ways at the sentencing! Whether or not it would have influenced the outcome of the trial, it might have been a mitigating factor at sentencing.
The ending, with the step-by-step review of the crime scene followed by Ray's breakdown in the car, was very well done. It's good to know that they're not trying to sell this as some kind of happy ending, where everything has been put right.
Guest Star of the Week:Dixie Seatle as Beth Botrelle. The visit to the house at the end was very good, but the scene at the prison was just amazing.
Lots of nitpicks this week!Fifth-Runner up Nitpick of the Week:
Beth has been on death row for how long? Eight years? Has the house been sitting empty all these years?
Fourth Runner-up Nitpick of the Week:
State's Attorney Bedford is apparently considering a run for governor. However, just a few episodes earlier, A.S.A. Cahill was running for. . . State's Attorney. Given that Cahill was totally humiliated by the end of Asylum, I think it's safe to assume that Bedford won that election. So just a few months into his term he's eyeing a higher office?
Third Runner-up Nitpick of the Week:
Ray said that the paper would be in evidence bag # 26. But Fraser described the pattern of tampering as, "One for six, two for seven. One up to twenty where it repeats itself so I think the piece of paper should be in the bag one hundred and eleven marked 'eyebrow pencil'." This makes absolutely no sense at all.
Second Runner-up Nitpick of the Week:
The evidence from the Botrelle case had been tampered with--the contents of every fifth bag had been switched. Why bother? If you want to make the blood-soaked suicide note disappear, just put a different piece of paper in the proper bag and nobody would raise an eyebrow. With all the contents are switched around, there's a clear sign of tampering with the evidence--which a good defense attorney should have been able to take advantage of.
Runner-up Nitpick of the Week:
Beth told Ray that she had been to the "death room" four times before. One time the needle pricked her skin before the execution was stayed. Given the lack of controversy surrounding her impending execution this time, I have to wonder how she managed to get last minute stays four previous times. For that matter, are we to understand that Ray went into the same violent tailspin the previous four times?
Nitpick of the Week:
Fraser managed to get a confession from Bedford just as Beth is about to be executed. Time is up, and the phone rings! Who is on the phone? It takes a judge or the governor to stop an execution. And what would they have done if Bedford hadn't confessed in time?
Snack to enjoy while watching The Ladies' Man:Windflowers, a little bit of dried codfish, some St John's Wort. It's a little concoction I call "Despondency."
Grading:
Ray & Beth A The Investigation A- The Conspiracy B- Overall Grade B+
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