Melanie's Review
Laurie's Review
Melanie's Review:This episode comes very close to excellence, but suffers from a little bit of a split personality. When I first saw it, I was absolutely blown away by Leslie Nielsen as deadly-serious character in a dark drama. Buck is truly a figure of pathos: raging helplessly against his own advancing age, desk-bound career and deteriorating physical condition. His deeeply depressed state in the earlier scenes of the episode, as he sits in the corner of his flea-bag hotel room with a loaded gun, a bottle of pain pills and a can of beer his only company, makes the first half of this episode sparkle for me.
When the mood shifted about halfway through (when he showed up galloping down the street in his rented uniform) I lost that sense of gravely important character development and never quite got it back. I would have preferred that they keep Buck in his bleak mood until the final confrontation with Geiger.
I thought the scene at the school was cute, but a little long--the kid with the toilet obsession wasn't *that* cute. As for Julie Frobisher, I would have preferred that they leave out the romantic subtext ("I just married the wrong man. I was in love with someone else." and then later, "Yeah. Nice guy. Kind of guy who'd never let a friend down.") It was pretty mild, but I think it added an emotional dimension (Julie/Ben) that detracted a bit from the relationship between Julie and her father, as well as whatever background relationship there may have been between Ben and Buck. I'm not sure if I'm saying this very well--but I would have preferred that the request for help would have been from Buck's daughter to Buck's partner's son rather than from Julie to her old friend Ben.
The scene in the bar is such a close copy of the scene from the Pilot that I might have objected to it--but the twist ending to the confrontation (total cooperation!) saves it from the nitpick file.
Ben's injury was well done and marked an important milestone for the fairly young series--that this was not going to just be the adventures of the indestructable super-mountie. Ray's visit to Ben's hospital room was just lovely, especially his solemn sympathy about the boots (much like his reaction to Fraser's injured hat in Free Willie).
Here's what Paul Haggis had to say about Leslie Nielsen and Manhunt:When we first started coming up with ideas for the first season, after I did the pilot, I thought it would be terrific to get Leslie to play a dramatic role. He'd done a lot of fabulous dramatic work, years earlier, on TV and films -- I was a real fan. In any case, I called his agent and found out that he wasn't in LA, where he lives, but shooting a video on a golf course about 60 miles from Toronto. I thought luck was with me, so Jeff King and I hopped in my car and drove out to the golf course and introduced ourselves. The show hadn't aired yet, so he had no idea who I was or what in God's name I was talking about. (I'd thought about strapping my Emmys on the hood of my car and parking nearby him, but I couldn't figure a way of doing it subtly). So I just asked him if he'd be interesting in playing this epic character of a legendary mountie fallen on desperate times, and, his father being a mountie, he sounded interested. He said he'd read a script and decide. So I drove home, wrote Manhunt over the weekend and sent it to him. And a couple days later he agreed -- and I was absolutely thrilled. It's still one of my favorite episodes. And he is such a pleasure to work with -- a real gentleman.
I remember seeing somewhere (I can't remember where) a photo of Nielsen showing PG the proper way to lace up his boots. Apparently, he'd been doing it wrong. ;-)
DuesiesRay: And you think this is the man who stole your cat? Paw marks on his cardigan. Yes, that's very conclusive. Um, you know it's going to be a little difficult for me to break away from the case I'm currently working on. But if you'd like to call back and ask for extension 312, Detectives Huey or Gardino would be glad to help you. Yes. They've been, uh, specially assigned to handle all animal-related offenses. No, no ma'am. The pleasure's all mine.
Ray: How's it going?
Fraser: I need your help, Ray.
Ray: Does it involve domestic animals?
Fraser: Not that I'm aware.
Ray: Then I'm your man.
Fraser: Personal matter.
Gardino: Violent crimes, Detective Gardino. Cat ma'am?
Ray: And this guy's coming here to my city?
Fraser: I believe so.
Ray: God I hate tourists!Ray: Okay. This is going to take some teamwork, so listen up. Here's how it's going to be. I go to the front door, you stay in the car. I go into the bar, you stay in the car. I'll question the locals of the where abouts of a Walter Ho, you stay in the car. When I get back, where do I find you guys?
Fraser: In the car?
Ray: Exactly.
Frobisher: Let's go.
Fraser: Right. Oh--Dief, when I come back, I expect to find you in the car.Frobisher: Tager, James. Born, February 13, 1937. Died November 2, 1993.
Ray: Okay, I'll get the shovel, you handle the interrogations.Fraser: They tried to cut off my boots.
Ray: No!
Fraser: Right up the side. I wouldn't let them.
Ray: Well I don't blame you. Lose a leg, sure--but a good pair of boots isn't easy to replace. Does it hurt?
Fraser: Yes, Ray.
Ray: Would you like a little more fluid?
Fraser: No thanks. How's Dief?
Ray: Oh, I rented him "Rin Tin Tin," he's thrilled.Ray: Where are you going?
Fraser: To get my uniform.
Ray: Then what?
Fraser: Then we go after Frobisher.
Ray: Oh yeah, this makes sense. We got half the police dept after this guy, but is he going to worry about it? No, he's got two limping Mounties on his tail.Ray: Do you have any idea what's in this water?
Fraser: I would suspect a high percentage of ammonia, phosphorus and cyanide.
Ray: Wrong. Rats. Rats this big. And you know what they're doing? They're laughing at us. I'm in a canoe with two wounded Mounties and I'm being humiliated by rats.
Moment of the WeekLook, I'm Buck Frobisher, you little piss ant. I've taken more men down than you've ever met. The day I take help from a boy like you the day I'll put this to my own head. Want to do something for me? I'm out of beer.
Second Runner-up Nitpick of the WeekJust before the episode ended, Frobisher told Fraser to stay off the injured leg--and Fraser agreed. Yet there is no sign in subsequent episodes that Fraser has been injured at all.
Runner-up Nitpick of the Week
Why Chicago? So maybe Frobisher picked Chicago at random, and Geiger came to Chicago to meet up with his old friends. Coincidence, much? How the hell did Geiger find Buck?
Nitpick of the Week
If Ray's the only one with a gun, and taking them out one at a time is a sensible plan, then why do they immediately split up?
Snack to enjoy while watching ManhuntHere's a quarter--buy me a beer.
GradingBuck (1st half) A+
Buck (2nd half) B+
Geiger A-
Fraser, injured A
Overall grade A-
Laurie's Review:Only one story in this ep and what an intense one it is. Even the few light-hearted moments don't take the edge off the search for Harold Geiger. Many eps are studies in contrast, but there's not much to contrast in Manhunt. The opening scene detailing Geiger's and Buck's escapes is followed by Ben telling a group of bored school kids about Canada. Now that's a contrast, but aside from that the story moves along in one direction, but on two parallel tracks; one the hunt for Geiger and the other, Buck's search for himself. Fortunately, Buck finds himself rather quickly.
Manhunt is a marvelous episode but I have to be in the mood to watch it. The violence and darkness can be overwhelming, so the dashes of humor are especially refreshing. Too much humor would have had a detrimental effect, however.
When I first saw Manhunt, and for several viewings after, I felt really sorry for Ben and thought Buck was unnecessarily cruel to him but it eventually dawned on me that those weren't Buck's true feelings, Ben was aware of that, and he didn't seem to take offense at anything Buck said to him. He knew Buck was trying to drive him away, and he understood why.
The rooftop scene when Geiger and Ben fight gives me the chills, it looks so realistic.The moment when Ben is stabbed, screams and falls to the ground gets to me every time I see it. It's almost as bad as when he gets shot in Victoria's Secret. The grim reality of the stabbing is nicely balanced by the hospital scene, especially the gentle teasing Ben gives the nurse when he tells her he knows her nephew, and the light banter between Ray and Ben. I love it when Ray points to the IV and asks Ben if he'd like a little more fluid.
Harold Geiger is probably the creepiest guest role ever. He makes me think of a great white shark with his almost immobile face and his glassy, unblinking eyes. SHUDDER. I don't think I care to say anything more about this heartless animal.
I enjoy Leslie Nielsen in his most serious stint as Buck Frobisher. I'm not that big a fan and was surprised to see him in Call of the Wild, the first Due South ep I saw him guest star in. I've heard many fans comment on his role in Manhunt and how much his character had changed by the time he appeared in All the Queen's Horses and Call of the Wild. I saw the eps in reverse order so I made a different kind of comparison. The role he portrayed in his second and third guest spots seems to be more consistent with the Leslie Nielsen most people are familiar with, myself included, so I was expecting more of the same when I saw Manhunt the first time. I was favorably impressed and pleasantly surprised.
I think it's interesting that we see the 27th on two different occasions in this ep. Elaine makes a brief appearance and so do Gardino and Huey, but no Lt. Welsh.
Favorite Moments:The look on Ben's face while the bathroom-obsessed boy is asking him questions.
Ben's conversation with Julie, his stammering, and the wide grins that show off his dimples.
Ben catching Ray's basketball in his stetson.
Ray playing the cat joke on the Duck Boys. The expression on his face as he's leaving the room is priceless.
Hearing Bob for the first time through Ben's reading of his journal.
The look on Ben's face and his smile when Buck tells him to hop on, they have a villain to catch. Even though Buck is not Ben's superior officer, he is a superior officer, so I guess he has the authority to tell Ben to leave his post.
The surrealness of actual Mounted Police galloping down the streets of Chicago.
When Ben, Buck and Ray go to the bingo hall looking for Walter Ho's father, we're treated to the lovely sight of the woman who played "Miss Arkansas" in Victoria's Secret and one of the ladies whose shoes were checked out in The Deal. Is the woman next to her Paul Haggis's mother? I seem to recall hearing that.
I love the look Ray and Ben exchange after Buck tells the old man with the walker to put his hands in the air, but I don't think it's at all funny that he fell over and had to be transported to a hospital. That was a very weak joke.
Buck telling the story about the wallet Ben made for his father when he was a boy, and Ben's pleasure hearing about it.
Ray heading to Ben's room with flowers and magazines, munching away on something.
Ray, Buck and Ben canoeing through the sewer! Another bizarre, quirky moment from the folks at the helm.
Nitpicks:I think much of the violence is gratuitous and didn't further the story. The most effective use of violence was unseen: Ben telling Ray about Geiger's ghastly killing spree. I can only take so much fighting, and I'll admit to fast forwarding through much of the fist fighting and kicking at the end.
If I didnąt think the aforementioned canoe scene was so inanely appropriate and in character for Due South, Iąd be nitpicking it to death, but I do so I wonąt.
Duesies:Ray: How's it going?
Ben: I need your help, Ray.
Ray: Does it involve domestic animals?
Ben: Not that I'm aware.
Ray: Then I'm your man.Scow Captain: You really his friend?
Ben: I am.
Captain: Some of the men billet over at the St. John Hotel. Try there.
Ben: Thank you kindly.
Ray: Yeah, you're a real prince, Popeye.Ben: I came to offer you.... My friend, Detective Vecchio, is waiting downstairs. He's willing to place you under protective custody until Geiger is apprehended.
Buck: That long, eh? They must have quite the budget.Ray: I've never been so humiliated in all my life.
Ben: Would you hold the lantern a little higher, Ray? If we bump the sides, we'll have to return the canoe scuffed.
Ray: Do you have any idea what's in this water?
Ben: I would suspect a high percentage of ammonia, phosphorus and cyanide.
Ray: Wrong. Rats. Rats this big. And you know what they're doing? They're laughing at us. I'm in a canoe with two wounded Mounties and I'm being humiliated by rats.
Dief Moment:Jumping against the door to the roof until he gets it open so he can help Ben. He's relentless and so loyal.
Keepership:The talked-about wallet that Ben stitched for his dad.
Grade: A.
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