Melanie's Review:"North" is just about perfect, as far as I'm concerned. The rampaging silliness of Fraser's addled behavior (and the correspondingly bizarre manefestation of his father's ghost) are neatly balanced by Ray's character development. I only wish this episode would work better as an introduction to the series for new viewers; unfortunately, the few people I've shown "North" to have tended to focus on the slapstick comedy and miss the seriousness of Ray's story--perhaps because they don't know Ray's background.
There are a number of elements of this story that are far different from the typical DS episode. One is that the criminal case is almost completely irrelevant to the main plot. Yes, there is a killer loose and yes, Fraser and Ray do manage to stop him, but that's so inconsequential as to be almost unnecessary. I honestly think that the killer's only useful purpose in the story is to disable the plane.
Another major difference between "North" and a typical DS episode is its Canadian setting. From the opening scene to the closing credits, it's Canada and nothing but Canada--except for two brief scenes involving only the slightest of glimpses of the folks back home. They have nothing to do but wait.
Although episode climaxes usually come just before the last commercial break, the crucial moment of the story to me is not the moment that Ray starts to swing that bola. To me, it's when Ray watches Fraser swallow the last of their water without even so much as a complaint. Fraser doesn't grow from this wilderness experience, he just gets injured and then gets better. Ray learns the truth about camping: it's not about sleeping in a tent or even building a fire. It's about facing nature with limited resources and surviving, and then going home stronger and more confident than when you started.
Somebody (I think it was Manna LaDroit) once pointed out that "North" is the last episode in which we see Ray's father. She believed, and I tend to agree, that Ray was able to put his father's influence and voice out of his life with this episode: "I don't care what that makes me but what it doesn't make me is you."
DuesiesFraser: No, I mean, I think he maybe a pilot, but I don't think he's our pilot. There's dandruff on the collar of his flight suit, none on his scalp.
Ray: And for that we shoot him?
Fraser: The Territories are northwest; we've been flying south for two hours. Also he's ignoring radio calls, and occasionally flying under radar coverage.
Ray: So what are you saying we're being hijacked?
Fraser: No, not necessarily. But the chaffing on his wrists is consistent with a man whose recently been in handcuffs add to that the blood on the back of his flight suit and the prominent bullet hole--well, I leave it up to you.Ray: This isn't a trick is it?
Fraser: On my word of honor. But I will have to arrest you, of course, once we land.Fraser: I'm blind, Ray, I'm not deaf. I've spent my whole life in the northern woods tracking criminals. I have a natural advantage here. There isn't a thing in this forest that I can't hear, taste, touch, smell, feel. It's a finely tuned ability gained from years of experience. So if you'll just stand aside I'll be on my way.
Ray: That was a tree.Robert: All right.. all right.. you're going have to move fast and drive hard if you're going to bring this man in -- alive. Now for all we know he's left a trail of bodies from here to the circle. Hunters, miners, sodbusters. . .
Fraser: Dad--
Robert: . . . poachers, claim stakers. . .
Fraser: Dad--
Robert: . . . a whole canoe full of Coureur de Bois.
Fraser: Dad, I don't know if it's escaped your attention but just recently I received a massive blow to my head.
Robert: Yeah, well you've still got a few good hours left in you. Go get him!Fraser: Ray, if at any point during our trip I should become a burden to you, you would let me know--wouldn't you?
Ray: Oh yes, Fraser.
Fraser: And you'd carry on without me.
Ray: Absolutely.
Fraser: Without hesitation.
Ray: Oh, in a heartbeat.
Fraser: That's good.
Ray: Oh, and if you at any point in time should be feeling better, you just let me know.
Fraser: Yes of course.Robert: He's slowing you down.
Fraser: He's slowing me down?
Robert: When I first joined the mounted police, all the equipment we got was a paper bag and a pointed stick. We used the bag to boil tea and the stick was for killing game and if you lost either they charged you!
Fraser: Are you ill?Ray: Don't worry, buddy. I'll have you out of here in no time.
Pop: Now you're thinking. You're going to ditch him and take the raft, that's what you're going to do right?
Ray: No.
Pop: Look a man would take that raft, a man would save himself.
Ray: What are you crazy?
Robert: Leave him, take the raft you can still get your man.
Fraser: Absolutely not.
Robert: They'll have you up on charges.
Fraser: Do you ever listen to yourself?
Ray: What?
Fraser: Not you--him.
Ray: Who?
Pop: Like I said, loony tunes. Now listen to me, why don't you!
Robert: Do you mind?
Pop: Yes I do.
Robert: I know you'll do the right thing, son.
Fraser: How? I have no legs.
Robert: It's in our nature.
Fraser: Look you don't just leave a man in the wilderness and hope that he'll survive... they don't thank you for it.
Ray: I'm not going to leave you here.
Robert: If they survive.
Pop: All right if you're not going to do it, I'll do it for you.
Ray: Get away from me!
Fraser: I'm nowhere near you!
Ray: I'm not talking to you! This man is going to die if I don't get him out of here. Now I don't care what that makes me but what it doesn't make me is you. Now back off, all right?
Fraser: Ray, who are you talking to?
[Ray releases the raft only to watch it disappear down the river]
Fraser: Well, shall we get in it?
Ray: I don't think now's a good time.Fraser: It would appear I miscalculated but I have a plan. Go on to the river and lure him out into the open, using the raft as bait. And you trap him with the bola.
Ray: I can't use the bola.
Fraser: I didn't say it was a good plan.Fraser: Okay, now we're coming up on a sandbar, Ray.
Ray: All right: speak to me sandbar!
Fraser: No, I would avoid it if I were you.
Ray: You can't avoid nature, Fraser, you got to work with it. See, we're perfectly fine. I know what I'm doing.
Fraser: I never doubted it.
Ray: Admit it: I know what I'm doing.
Fraser: You know what you're doing. Ray. . . .
Ray: What?
Fraser: Is that a waterfall?
Weird Moment of the WeekHearing Steve (Red Green) Smith's real voice.
Runner-up Nitpick of the WeekRay knows what he's doing and Fraser is directionally impaired. It's too long to post here. Read it on my soapbox page
Nitpick of the Week
So if Fraser's so good at survival in the woods, why didn't he help Ray find some edible plants?
Cringe-worthy Moment of the WeekUnfortunately, that honor goes to a line that used to be one of my favorite Duesies. Sadly, after 9/11 I don't think I'll ever again be as enthusiastically happy about "My God, Ray, another plane crash? What are the odds?"
Second Runner-up Moment of the WeekThe two ghostly dads finally meet--and they obviously don't think very much of each other.
Runner-up Moment of the Week
The cross-talk at the riverside, culminating with Ray losing control of the raft and Fraser's innocent, "Well, shall we get in?"
Moment of the Week
Ray's little two-step while carrying Fraser, with the fractured lyrics of I left my Heart in San Francisco sung to the tune of California Dreamin':
Left my heart in Frisco, (San. . . Fran. . . cisco) San Francisco Bay!
Fraser Factoid of the WeekStatistically, over 90% of all light aircraft fatalities occur during take off and landing. On a brighter note, over 50% of all crash victims crawl away with three out of four limbs intact.
Ray's City Wisdom of the WeekFifty of his friends are going to be waiting for us with Uzis. You know what happens to hostages, Fraser? Cop hostages? Bodies on the tarmac, CNN. I'm not going to be guest of honor at a human pinata party in the Baja.
Snack to enjoy while watching NorthA nest of furry nightcrawlers. I can still feel 'em moving around in there.
GradeI'm not even going to break this one down. It's A+, all the way!
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