Melanie's Review
Laurie's Review
Melanie's Review:This episode fires well on all cylinders, with a complicated investigation full of blind alleys and red herrings. There are a multitude of viable suspects, all lurking about and looking suspicious. The conflicting motives of the many nations represented by the characters make for a very lively show that kept me guessing right up to the extremely satisfying conclusion.
I don't know what wigs me out more--Thatcher and the museum guy, or Ray and Louise.
Duesies:Thatcher: it was the summer I spent at the Sorbonne. I was young and a trifle naive, I'm afraid
Curator: Yes--what artist model isn't? Do you still have the sketches?Thatcher: Thank you Fraser I think we should let Mr. Robinson get home to his family.
Curator: Well, it'll be a long drive, my parents live in Pensicola.
Thatcher: Really I love Pensicola--where is that exactly?
Ray: She wants him.
Fraser: For what?Ray: So you fell?
Fraser: Yes, I fell.
Ray: You fell.
Fraser: Yes Ray, I fell.
Ray: Oh no. You see, that just doesn't make any sense because Mounties don't just fall; they leap, they bound, they grad-jete but they don't just fall.Ray: Au revoir.
Duchamp: Au revoir....
Ray: Women 101--learn at least one word in every foreign language.
Fraser: Understood.
Louise: Vecchio.
Fraser: For this one?
Ray: Vamoose?Victoria: We're just happy to be here Fraser.
Fraser: And why are you here?
Victoria: We were worried about David, and I've always wondered about the architecture here.Curator: I'm sure you must be feeling very conflicted at the moment. But I want you to know that because of your efforts thousands of people are going to be able to share in the beauty of those masks. Thank you.
Eric: Will they pay?
Curator: What admission? Yes of course. . . three fifty. Why?
Eric: Oh, just doing some math.Fraser: Sir. Regarding the masks--is the curator quite satisfied?
Thatcher: Yes.
Fraser: And Mrs. Kelly and Ms Dechamp?
Thatcher: Absolutely.
Fraser: And yourself sir?
Thatcher: I don't want to hear this do I?Eric: Party huh?
Ray: Black tie, a hundred a plate.
Eric: Plus three fifty admission. . . .Ray: The Canadian? The Canadian is the killer? On that's so un-Canadian...
Ray: Let me guess: Eric's disappeared.
Fraser: He does seem to have a knack for that.
Ray: Yeah, so I noticed. Well, at least you've got your masks back.
Fraser: Yes, it would seem that everything's where it should be.Thatcher: Look--I had one perfectly innocent lunch with a criminal. All right--one lunch and one dinner. . . and a couple of drinks. I think. . . .
Moment of the Week:The celebration for the recovered masks.
From the "Inappropriate Duties for an RCMP Officer" file:Thatcher: Why don't I suggest a more constructive use of your time: sell these.
Fraser: Tickets?
Thatcher: For the opening night gala. You have a table to sell. . . get cracking.
Fraser: Yes Sir
Snack to enjoy while watching The Mask:Hamburger with special sauce. I'm tracking a happy meal!
Grading:
The Investigation A- Eric and his Family A Museum People B+ Raven and the Mask A+ Overall Grade A
Laurie's Review:This is one of those eps that had to grow on me. For the longest time I was rather indifferent even though it has many outstanding scenes. I have reached a point where I really like it. Not one of my favorites but I will watch it just for the sake of watching it. The cultural link to Ben's homeland is a nice touch, along with the clash of cultures and also the blending that we see when Victoria and Albert stay at Ben's apartment.
The action moves along at a fairly fast pace and despite a theft and a murder, it's far from grim. It's not a comedy, but the humorous scenes leave more of an impression on me.
Almost everything I know about the Inuit and Tsimshian I learned from Due South, accurate or not, though I think the writers were sensitive to remaining factual. It's easy to draw parallels and look for similarities between this episode and Easy Money, and one of my favorites is Ben hanging off the roof of a building in both. Of the two, I prefer The Mask. The story isn't necessarily better, it just appeals to me more.
One of the best musical selections in the Due South repertoire, Ragged Ass Road, is featured in the opening. Just as I didn't pay much attention to the ep initially, I also overlooked this song. The musical coordinators do an incredible job of matching music to scenes.
One of the most curious scenes in this ep is when Ray, Ben and Dief stop on the sidewalk outside the hotel and Eric keeps walking. He turns around and says, "Yes, of course. I would've missed it. You're still sharp, Fraser." He knew that was the hotel David was staying in. Did he think Ben and Dief would walk on by? He also knew they would find the masks there. I don't quite know what to make of his innocent act. And you can tell by the look on Ben's face that he knows Eric is aware this is the right place.
I enjoy the three separate endings. Thatcher trying to find out what Ben has written about her in his report only to find out he has no idea what she's talking about, or so he says, and the brief exchange between Ben and Dief, "What?" "Oh, please." Then we have Ray and Louise in the sweat lodge. I wonder how Ray managed to finagle the use of Ben's apartment. Maybe he was just calling in a favor for all the times he drives him around. And I love the Tsimshian in formal attire as they celebrate the return of the masks to their rightful place.
Favorite Moments:Ray having to call Fraser three times before he finally leaves the exhibit. We hear "Ray, Ray, Ray" so regularly and this was a nice little switch.
The water cup being passed around: Ben to Ray, Ray to Louise, Louise to unidentified policeman.
David outwitting Ben at the train station and then waving to him as he escapes.
Ben in long johns.
Ben being awakened by a ball hitting him in the head. It is 6 a.m., after all. Time to get up, half the day is gone.
The idea that an entire family of Tsimshian moved into his apartment overnight and he slept through it all!
Ben's confused expression when Ray wonders if the Tsimshian are trying to elect a pope, after seeing the smoke coming out of one his apartment windows.
Ben and Eric not understanding what Ray is talking about when he tells them what women expect on a date. Love the looks they exchange as Eric says, "Remind me to ask you later," and Ben responds, "I have no idea what he's talking about."
Ray hitting the bell at the car rental place even though the clerk is right there.
Dief whining for the hamburger from the stripped car and Ben giving it to him.
The look of delight on Ben's face when he affirms that there's a sweat lodge in his apartment. All his neighbors are there, and Mr. Mustafi actually asks to borrow something from him!
Ray and Ben are talking outside the interrogation room. Ray says, "She didn't kill him," and Ben replies, "I know. Look out." Of course, Louise is coming.
Nitpicks:Ray comments on Thatcher's "nice shirt," and she says, "Yes, well, you caught me changing." Come on, fastidious, meticulous Meg who never has a hair out of place makes an appearance in an official capacity looking unkempt? Uh uh. I don't think so.
This is more an observation than a nitpick: The clips of Dief on the rug in Ben's apartment are from "Chicago Holiday." I always thought they looked familiar, and not just from this ep, so today I watched the opening bit from "Chicago Holiday." I don't recall any other eps where old footage of Dief was used.
Duesies:Ray: The Dragon Lady and Mr. Museum guy. Oh, she must be desperate. [I like Ben's reaction]
Ray: So you fell?
Ben: Yes, I fell.
Ray: You fell?
Ben: Yes, Ray. I fell.
Ray: You fell. Oh, no, you see that just doesn't make any sense as Mounties don't just fall. They leap, they bound, they grand jeté, but they don't just fall.Albert: I brought a TV. I hope you don't mind. We don't want to miss our programs.
Ben: No, please, make yourselves at home.
Albert: Chicago doesn't seem to have a very good selection.
Ben: I was unaware of that.
Victoria: We're just happy to be here, Fraser.
Ben: And why are you here?
[Chicago doesn't have a very good selection. As opposed to what? Satellite in the Territories? This is so funny.]Ben: Eric, I have to confess to feeling a little bit of embarrassment regarding my incompetence as a host. And not to mention some real concerns about overcrowding.
Eric: I guess none of us figured on your apartment being so small. Good thing Sara and Patty didn't come.Ben: Excuse me. If the information he gave you regarding his address was false, would it not follow that the information he gave you vis-a- vis his intention to pay for the car or to return said vehicle would also be false?
[I love the looks on the clerk's and Ray's faces when he recites this.]Ray: Why is this my life? Mounties, wolves, Tsimshian. . . .
Thatcher: Good work, Constable.
Ben: I hope so, Sir. Sir, regarding the masks. Is the curator quite satisfied?
Thatcher: Yes.
Ben: And Mrs. Kelly and Ms. Duchamp?
Thatcher: Absolutely.
Ben: And yourself, Sir?
Thatcher: I don't want to hear this, do I?
Ray: No, Constable Fraser believes it was too easy.Ray: The Canadian? The Canadian is the killer? That is so unCanadian.
Keepership:Gotta have a pair of those red long johns, preferably with the Mountie still in them.
Grade:Strong B, possibly B+.
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