Laurie's Review
Melanie's Review
Laurie's Review:This isn't one of my favorite eps and it's not a very strong one as far as Due South goes but it is watchable and has some good dramatic and comic moments. The story isn't complex or intense and there's no question that Ben and Ray will solve the case, so I focus on their friendship, which is still in the formative stage, and the sibling bickering. The strength of this ep lies in the interactions between Ray and Ben and brother and sister.
One of the most charming things about Pizzas & Promises is that the opening and end scenes are so similar, except Ray is now singing a different tune when faced with the prospect of having to pay for the pizza. This bit of conversation is classic: Ray says, "You believe these skinflints? They couldn't have just ordered from across the street?" and Ben remarks (throwing Ray's words back at him), "Maybe they wanted the perfect pizza at a perfect price."
The Markles are so stereotyped that it's laughable. It's hard to take them seriously, even when they're cheating people and stealing cars. Salesman Gary is good for a few laughs ("Be careful out there," "Chipped my plaque"). I didn't know that Patrick McKenna played dorky Harold on Red Green until long after I saw this ep and even now it's hard to spot the resemblance.
Lenny Milano is a likable kid, but he's disillusioned with the system and isn't used to anyone giving him a break. He knows how to deal with and what to expect from the Ray Vecchios and parole officers of the world, but he's not prepared for someone like Benton Fraser, who has faith in him and wants to help.
Observations:Ben's apartment looks so huge and empty in the earliest eps, and the floor positively shines.
There's a little touch of realism whenever Ben jumps out a window, onto a fire escape or rooftop: he never lands standing up. Somehow this makes his antics seem less like Superman.
Ben looks really funny wearing Ray-type flashy clothes and a gold chain. You can take the man out of flannel but you can't take the flannel out of the man. His undercover hair looks horrid, very fake. Actually, it looks like a pelt.
The man using the walker that Ray tries to sell the "chick magnet" to was in the Pilot, one of the people that Ben gave up a taxi for.
On several occasions Ben is visibly impatient or exasperated with Ray and Francesca, something we don't see or hear from him too often.
Moments I like:The way Ray whines "okay, fine" as he hands over his share of the money for the pizza.
Ben actually wincing and feeling pain after falling off Lenny's car.
Ray skidding around the corner, and Ray and Ben racing down the sidewalk after Diefenbaker.
Ray's reluctance to help Ben find Lenny's car, but we know he will, even though it's not his neighborhood.
The way Ray follows behind Ben as he tracks Dief.
I love that Ray knows the names of Ben's homeless neighbors. As they pass them, Ben says, "Evening, Jerome," and Ray adds, "Hey, Jesse."
The scene in Lt. Welsh's office as Ray tries to convince him that Lenny's car has been stolen and tampered with.
The conversation about going undercover, especially the line, "Well, I admit I'm not as familiar with the art of subterfuge as you are, Ray," Ray's grin throughout, Elaine telling Ben he's very good, and the way he grins, thanks her and twirls his hat.
Ray telling Ben that if he can't say something untrue, not to say anything at all. Ben then puts on his sunglasses, takes a deep breath and gets ready to lie. I like that he thinks if someone can't look him directly in the eye it won't be so bad. I also enjoy Ray's expressions as Ben spins his tale about driving to Africa.
Ben misunderstanding Tammy's flirting and wiping off his lips, and Ray's eeewww expression.
Ben rescuing Ray from a watery grave.
Nitpicks:I enjoy the interaction between Ray and Francesca, but she's a total ditz in this ep. There's no reasonable or logical explanation for her behavior, particularly when Ray is in imminent danger of drowning. She seems totally unfazed by the prospect. Her whole attitude here strikes me as careless and insensitive. Even Ben gets impatient with her. She just doesn't get it. I didn't expect her to be hysterical but even while Ben is rescuing Ray, she's still searching for the darn keys. At least in Seasons 3/4 there was usually some logic behind her words and actions.
Also, her outfit is horrendous. She's worn some unusual clothes but nothing this bizarre. Maybe it's her idea of appropriate undercover apparel. Her hair looks like a prom do, it's as bad as Ben's pelt.
Duesies:Ray: Drop the pizza, kid, you're late.
Lenny: Oh, you're one of those guys.Ben: Lenny, I will find your car.
Lenny: How?
Ben: I have a friend on the case already.
Lenny: What? The wolf?
Ben: It's his neighborhood too.Street Person: Fraser's looking for his dog again.
Lt. Welsh (asking about Lenny): Is he a friend of yours?
Ben: No, Sir.
Welsh: He's a relative?
Ben: No. He delivered a pizza to my apartment. At Detective Vecchio's request.
Welsh: Oh, you ordered the pizza.
Ray: It did not seem like a mistake at the time, Sir.
Welsh: Right. Just like bringing this case to me probably didn't seem like a mistake at the time.
Ray: Well, yes, Sir.
[At least Welsh humors them before he dismisses them. Priceless expressions all around.]
Ray: MY theory.
Ben: I was just trying to give you credit, Ray.
Ray: Okay, I did my good deed. I embarrassed myself to the fullest extent of the law for you. Now can I go back to work?
Ben: Well, of course. You did all you could. Thank you, Ray.
Ray: Damn, he's as bad as his dog.Tex: Let me take a shot in the dark here. Billy Bob's not your real name, is it?
Ben: No, Sir. It's Benton.
Tex: Well, that's a shame. I can see why you'd change it.Ben: The only thing I don't understand is how they can continually come up with new Vehicle Identification Numbers.
Ray: I do.
Ben: You do?
Ray: Yes. And if you hadn't been out test driving all the cars on the lot, you'd know too.
Ben: You know, I'm beginning to suspect that young woman wasn't interested in buying a car.
[Constable, your powers of deduction never cease to amaze me.]Tammy: Oh, hi there, Billy Bob.
Ben: Please, call me Fraser, Mrs. Markles.
Tammy: And you can call me Tammy.
Ben: Good, good.
Tammy: So, what can I do for you?
Ben: Well, uh, what I, um, what I think, I, what I think, I, um, uh, I don't know.
[Articulate as always]Ray: 100 women in my black book and you had to call my sister.
Ben: Well, I'm sorry but it was the only current number.Ben: You just turned again. Which way did you turn?
Ray: What am I, a Mountie? Right, left, I'm in the trunk for crying out loud.
Ben: Just tell me what you hear.
Ray: I hear my head smashing against the side of the trunk.Ben: Get the keys to the Comet. Get the escargot.
Francesca: Do you think he'll be hungry?Tex: Don't lie to me. There's another man, isn't there?
Tammy: Good God, there've been dozens of them. Where have you been?
Keepership:Tammy Markles' left hand. You know, the one that was on Ben's behind.
Dief Moment:There aren't many but I like his "no" bark at the end when Ray says, "What about him?" Ray doesn't want to pay for the pizza, Lenny says he's not paying, and Ben left his wallet in the lake and doesn't like to touch Dief's savings.
Grade: B-
Melanie's Review:This episode fits the pattern and style of many of the early DS episodes, but I don't think it sparkles as much as some of the others (Chinatown, Diefenbaker's Day Off, They Eat Horses, Don't They?). A likeable innocent is the victim of a small-time crime, the sort that is normally given little attention by the overworked police. But Fraser takes the case as his own, dragging Ray willing/unwilling into the investigation. Pizzas and Promises' best features are the interactions among the regular characters--Fraser, Ray and Frannie. The guest characters are given short shrift.
Given that Ray creates such creepily slick salesman personas for himself and Fraser, I think it would have been much more entertaining if the Markles and their employees had not been such sterotypically shallow, slimey used car hucksters. (Although I'm very grateful that they cast Patrick McKenna as their #1 salesman--I've never seen him in anything else but this and Red Green and it's a pleasure to see his adult side.) Not only are the car dealers two-dimensional, the customers we see are also "types" rather than characters.
I may be the only one to think that Lenny's fading hope of staying out of Juvie is the episode's "B" plot, but I'll stand by my choice and I'll stand by my statement that it's a particularly weak "B" plot at that. It's a pity they couldn't develop Lenny's story more than they did--he's more like an afterthought than an intregal part of the story. It's almost as if the story if having much too much fun with its silliness to dwell on the pathos of Lenny's situation for more than a few moments. I almost wish that they had used a less emotionally-charged backstory for their car-theft victim, so they could either ignore his plight or integrate him into the silliness.
And what wonderful silliness! I'm not sure which part of the story I like more--Fraser and Ray's undercover work at the dealership, or the delightful sting operation with Frannie and her picnic basket. I delighted when Fraser pulled Ray's chain back at the 27th, and Elaine's admiring, "You're very good." Frannie's atrociously ugly evening-wear was an absolute hoot, as was all brother/sister conversation in the story.
Duesies:Ray: There is no way he can get a pizza here from Michigan Avenue in under a half hour.
Fraser: You mean you're using some promotional ploy to get something for nothing.
Ray: Welcome to the United States of America, Fraser.Fraser: Ray! Stop Diefenbaker! Stop him!
Ray: Hey! Stop! Halt!
Fraser: Stop him!
Ray: Unmush! Unmush!Fraser: I have a friend on the case already.
Lenny: What--the wolf?
Fraser: It's his neighborhood too.
Ray: One pizza. That's all I wanted--one lousy Chicago style deep dish pizza. (sigh) Excuse me, have you seen a 1977 green Comet followed by a white wolf?
Street Person: Today?Fraser: Detective Vecchio also has a source that collaborates his theories.
Welsh: And that would be?
Ray: His wolf sir.
Welsh: Ah. Unfortunately wolves are such notoriously bad witnesses. In my experience, they tend to fold under cross examination.Elaine: You're very good.
Fraser: Thank you.Fraser: When I was a young scout working on my ecology badge I insinuated myself into a hunting party in order to catch a baby seal killer.
Ray: So what happened?
Fraser: Well, I was clubbed repeatedly, Ray.Lady: Did you ever drive this car?
Fraser: Yes, yes I did. In a rally race. From Whitehorse to Africa.
Lady: Do you mean you drove this car to Africa?
Fraser: yes. I did. Except for the Atlantic Ocean where where I had to row.Tex: Let me take a shot in the dark here. Billy Bob's not your real name, is it?
Fraser: No sir. It's Benton.
Tex: Well that's a shame. I can see why you'd change it.Tex: What an employee. That's what I need--more salesman who'll throw themselves in front of a car for me. Gary, give him one of your plaques.
Fraser: Ray.
Ray: Code names! We're on an open frequency here.
Fraser: (sigh) Penguin to Stallion, come in Stallion.Frannie: You have a corkscrew? Oh, that's all right, it's a twist off.
Frannie: You stay out of this Gelding.
Ray: Stallion.
Frannie: Yeah, in your dreams.Frannie: We've got the wrong place.
Fraser: No we don't. Get the keys to the Comet. Get the escargot.
Frannie: You think he'll be hungry?Tammy: What the heck does it look like I'm doing? I'm taking everything you own and I'm leaving you, you jerk.
Tex: Why?
Tammy: Well because I've been selling stolen cars, that's why.
Tex: Don't lie to me. There's another man, isn't there?
Tammy: Good God, where have you been? There's been dozens of them.Tammy: Gary darling. Shoot 'em. Shoot 'em all.
Tex: Can't believe this you're leaving me for for a. . . a salesman?
Tammy: Shoot him first.
Second Runner-Up Nitpick of the Week:"One pizza. That's all I wanted--one lousy Chicago style deep dish pizza." And yet, the pizza Ray received was not a Chicago style deep dish pizza. It was flat.
Runner-Up Nitpick of the Week:
No matter how badly Fraser needed to achieve his undercover "job," wasn't it a bit disappointing to see him sell that lemon to Gladys?
Nitpick of the Week:
The 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number contains a great deal of information about the vehicle; various digits identify the country of origin, the manufacturer, body style and model year. You can't just put the VIN plate from a '79 Comet on a '71 Riv and expect to fool the authorities. Unless Tammy Markle had a stockpile of Comet dashboards, she couldn't fool the police (or the insurance companies) by switching the VIN plates.
The VIN is stamped on the engine block and on a dashboard plate and on an undisclosed hidden part of the vehicle's frame. Even if that the little lime-green Comet had a replacement engine (no matching serial number) and the little dashboard plate had been replaced with a plate from another Comet, there's still that hidden stamp on the frame! You can't strip that off, or change it without the change being apparent.
Dief Moment:Street Person: Fraser's looking for his dog again.
Street Person 2: Yep.
(I wonder how often this has happened?)
Moment of the Week:Fraser's self-satisfied smile and hat-twirl when Elaine compliments his deviousness.
Mountie Superpower of the Week:Fraser: Stupid rookie mistake.
Ray: What do you mean?
Fraser: These last two blocks...I've been tracking a Lhasa Apso.
Ray: You've been tracking a Lhasa Apso?
Fraser: I know. If word of this gets back to the Territories, I'll never live it down.
Snack to enjoy while watching Pizzas & Promises:The perfect pizza at the perfect price.
Grading:
Undercover A The Sting & Frannie A+ The Folks at Markle's B Lenny Incomplete Overall Grade A-
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