Melanie's Review
Laurie's Review
Melanie's Review:The Man Who Knew Too Little is one of the episodes I would use to introduce a new viewer to Due South. It's a classic example of the show, a little more comedy-driven than most episodes, but an excellent showcase for the series' both-sides-of-the-border teasing. As is so common in the earlier episodes in the series, Fraser has a job to do and Ray gets dragged into it against his will--a contrast with the series' later episodes which as often as not involved Fraser's participation in Ray's investigations.
Ian MacDonald could have been a bit of a cliche, but he's saved by his backstory. The title is very well chosen; Ian's cheerful liberty with truth has wedged him into a corner from which he can see no escape.
"You do have to appreciate the irony in the situation. I mean I tell a lie and say I saw Danny the Bull do it and I go free. I tell the truth that I saw absolutely nothing and they're never going to believe me. I'll go to jail for perjury. That's the story of my life."
This episode is very well paced, with one plot that never slows down and never fails to amuse. The very first scene establishes a wealth of information in an amazingly short period of time--Ray's dreams of a business trip to Miami, Fraser's duty to extradite a perjurer, and Ian's gutsy talent for sowing chaos. I think the bribery business was a little overdone, which costs the episode a couple of points.
Is this the first time that Ray is shown to have an obsessive love for his car? I can't remember any previous references to him having any kind of special bond with the Riv. Naturally, after this episode the sanctity of the Riv was assured--but was it so special before?
I was impressed with the patience they showed in the scene where Ray prepares to shoot his car. For continuity's sake, I have to point out that Ray's aim has improved a great deal. I take this to mean that he and Benny have been practicing at the target range, adjusting Ray's sights.
The denoument at the diner in Windsor is such a sweet touch. I wonder what Ian's decision was? He was free and in business a year or so later.
DuesiesWelsh: Detective Vecchio, have you caused a riot here this morning?
Ray: Not that I'm aware of sir.
Welsh: Good. Gardino, give him your shirt.
Ray: Woooo! I'm going to Miami!Ray: Okay, so at ninty-five miles per hour, how long is that going to take?
Fraser: I can't tell you that, Ray; it would recklessly endanger the lives of thousands of motorists.
Ray: Okay, So say ninety.Ray: There's gotta be a hundred cars on this lot.
Fraser: Unfortunately they're all reserved. I didn't realize Spiro Agnew's birthday was that widely celebrated. Also I thought it was in November.
Ian: You know, my mother had an affair with Spiro Agnew but it was all hushed up--which is why they won't let me in the Secret Service.Ian: [to Dief] Would you--back off! Get off me! [to Fraser] What is he? Deaf?
Fraser: Yes. You know I think he feels sorry for you. He senses you're in some kind of trouble, he'd like to help. You see wolves have a very difficult time understanding incarceration.
Ian: [to Dief]: Undo my seat belt. Yeah!
Fraser: But they do understand the law, don't they Diefenbaker?Ian: Is it too much to ask for a person to be allowed to relieve himself?
Ray: Look, you and I both know you're stalling for time. If you really had to go you could have gone back there. I've already lost twenty minutes of pool time. We're not stopping.
Ian: Is this the original upholstery?
(You gotta know the right threat to use--that one did the job!)Laurier: I'm telling, it was Alaska.
Norman: It wasn't Alaska, it was Nebraska.
Laurier: It was Alaska. It was yellow and shaped like a Polar Bear and said 'Alaska.'
Norman: Alaska is gold and blue. The Northwest Territories is shaped like--
Brock: If you two don't shut up, I'm going to pull the car over and shoot you both.Ian: They're rogue Mounties. The RCMP doesn't want me to testify.
Fraser: I don't think they can be Mounties, Ian. The man in the hat appears to be in his mid fifties so he would have had to join up when the height requirements were still in place and would have narrowly missed qualifying.
Ian: His nick name is Stumps, he chased a guy through a lumber mill and lost 2 inches off his legs.
Ray: Here. Don't slap him, shoot him.
Ian: Alright. Fine. You want the truth? You hear about the Basque separatist movement?
Ray: Next!
Ian: Alright fine, here it is. Those guys are part of the Canadian mob.
Ray: There's no such thing.
Fraser: On the contrary, Ray, organized crime is a growing problem in Canada.
Ray: Oh yeah, what are we talking about here? Conspiracy to commit jay walking? Organized littering?Fraser: Ray, brandishing a weapon is not going to encourage motorists to come to our aid.
Ray: Fraser, look at me, I have one shoe, I am covered in mud and I'm standing with a wolf and a guy dressed like who knows what? No one in their right mind is going to stop and give us a lift without the threat of deadly force.
Brendan: You folks stranded eh?
Ray: Canadian?
Brendan: Go on, eh? How'd you know?Fraser: What we need to do is get the other two close enough to be hit by the explosion.
Ray: But there's two guys behind their car. Why can't I just shoot it?
Fraser: Well I didn't read their manual, Ray.
Moment of the WeekRay: Did I tell you he was yanking your chain?
Fraser: (chew, chew, swallow) My mistake.
Fraser Factoid of the Week"Well, actually Ray, the legal scholars seem to be fairly equally divided on this point. One argument extended to it's logical conclusion would provide if you were traveling west at a rate of speed high enough to cross one time zone every hour then you would never actually have to feed a prisoner. That is of course until you cross the international date line at which point you'd have to force the prisoner to immediately consume four meals."
Ray's Big City Wisdom"So is that one time with eight bullets or eight separate times? Because in America, after the third trip down the same alley we start to get a little suspicious."
Snack to enjoy while watching The Man Who Knew Too LittleBlueberry pancakes, the best in the world--with six kinds of syrup, all warm.
Grading
Ian A+ Mobsters B Ray & the Riv A+ Road Trip A+ Miami Trip B Overall Grade A+
Laurie's Review:This ep is exquisite and almost flawless. It's possibly my favorite Due South comedy. Dead Guy Running gives it a run for the money but since it has a much more serious undercurrent, The Man Who Knew Too Little is truly more deserving of the comedy title. The most serious moments, though few, involve Ian. Despite the tragic overtones, he's not pathetic and I don't find myself feeling overly sorry for him. Melanie mentioned this is one of the eps she would would use to introduce a new viewer to the show. I whole-heartedly agree. The essence of Due South is beautifully captured.
There are a couple humorous parallels that I find very clever: Ben is unable to rent a car because, he's told, it's Spiro Agnew's birthday and all the cars are reserved (yeah, right), and Ray is also unsuccessful at renting a car in Canada because of their "damn Maple Syrup Day"; and Ben and Ian drive around in circles, or at least the block, until they're back at Ray's house, and at the end of the story, Ian and the Mounties go in circles and end up back at the restaurant. Both times Ian has been giving directions. Maybe he knows his way around Windsor, but Chicago?
This is one of the first Season 1 eps I saw and though I already liked Ray Vecchio, this is the ep that made me love him, in all his whining, complaining glory. I know there are fans that don't care for some of Ray V's qualities, but I think they make him adorable and endearing.
As far as car chases go, the one in The Man Who Knew Too Little is the most watchable, maybe because it's Ray being chased for a change instead of the other way around. So much of this ep takes place on the road so a car chase feels natural. I've commented before that the Riv is a member of the cast - the guys spend so much time in it.
The Canadian mobsters have some good scenes, especially their encounters with the same State Trooper.
One of my all-time favorite Due South scenes is contained in this ep. The road trip has many great moments, and one of the best series of events occurs when the Riv gets stuck in the mud: Mother Nature eating Ray's shoe, Ray getting drenched in mud, Ben saying, "Oh, Ray, look! I think I found...." then using the poor shoe for traction after seeing the look on Ray's face as well as what's on Ray's face, Ray yelling at the "slime sucking toad," and Ben and Ray walking down the road engaging in what has to be one of the funniest ever conversations:
Ben: My father said something that's always stuck with me, Ray.And I love Ben's somewhat futile attempt to clean his boots and Ray pronouncing that he's the law and standing in the road with his badge.
Ray: Your father never shut up, did he?
Ben: He said a man with no future will always run to his past.
Ray: And when did this come up, Fraser? Were you were sitting around at breakfast when he came up with these things? Or did he come running into your room and just blurt them out?
Ben: Ray, there's no need to be sarcastic.
Ray: No, I'm just curious. How did he work these things into everyday conversation? Did he say, 'Son, did you see the size of that moose? And by the way, a man with no future will always run to his past'?
Ben: Ray, I'm sorry about your shoe. I thought you didn't want it anymore.
Ray: You know what my father used to say? A man without a car is nothing. And I don't want to be nothing anymore, Fraser. It's hard on my socks.
Ben: He went that way.
Ray: Why? Does a man with no future always turn left?I can watch this scene over and over and it's as funny and refreshing today as the first time I saw it. PG and DM work so well together the entire ep but particularly in this scene. Their timing is perfect; in fact, their acting is so effortless it doesn't seem like they're acting at all.
In a word, The Man Who Who Too Little is FUN!
Favorite Moments:The expression on Ben's face when Elaine says Ian tried to convince the cops who pulled him over that he was taking a short cut in the Cross Canada Rally.
Ray slapping Ian for playing with his Statue of Liberty.
Ray's excessive use of "shut up." I think he says it more in this ep than all others combined!
Ben knowing that Spiro Agnew's birthday is in November. Who, besides Mr. Agnew's family, would know that? Fraser, of course.
Ray heading into his house, reconsidering and waiting outside in the rain for the inevitable return of Ben and Ian.
Ray getting Windsor and Winnipeg mixed up.
The 5/8's rule.
Ben clearing the dishes in the diner and Ray trying to get the attention of the waitress.
Dief watching Ray dive off the road when he tries to get out of the way of the car that won't stop because his badge can't be read from that distance. . . .
The way Ben looks at Ray when he says to Ian, "Oh, feeling a little remorse, are we? A little guilt for leaving us stranded out in the middle of nowhere to freeze to death? Well, it's too late, pal. God can see right through your feeble attempts at redemption when you think the end is near."
The car crammed full of passengers, a wolf and packages. Customs officials don't bat an eyelash, even when the driver says he has nothing to declare. But they stop the next car with two "innocent" looking people. I wonder why Dief was Brenda's lap when there would have been more room in the back seat (only three people there as opposed to four in the front seat).
Duesies:Ray: Elaine, can you find out what the weather's like in Florida?
Elaine: Do I look like a travel agent?Ray: Now in the care and operation of this vehicle, there is one thing to remember and hold above all else. Never, I repeat never, use the lighter. Of all the original parts in this car, it was the most difficult to replace. It took me seven years to find that lighter, and since I've owned it, it's never been depressed.
Ben: Then how do you know it works?
Ray: I know in my soul.Ben: So, Ray, once you drop us off at Windsor, your trip to Miami should be fairly simple. You take Highway 18 west toward Leamington then catch the ferry. . . .
Ray: Ferry! Is Florida on an island?
Ben: No, this is the shortest way across Lake Erie. You know, you might want to call ahead for the shedule.
Ray: What's a shedule?
Ben: It's like a schedule.Ben: And then from Milan, which, parenthetically, most people tend to mispronounce as Mih-lan, you would stay on the 250 through Norwalk--
Ray: I go south, okay? That's all I need to know! I go south!Later in the ep:
Ben: Ray, this road isn't on the map.
Ray: We're going east. That's all I need to know.Ian: Oh, that did it! My kidneys are gone. We have to find a washroom.
Ray: We don't have washrooms in America. We have restrooms. The minute I see a sign that says washroom, we'll pull over.Ray: Look, we can't just pull off and start driving in circles looking for help. I mean, how long do you think it'll take 'em to catch up to us?
Ben: Well, if we keep going in a straight line, we aren't exactly going to be difficult to find. (I like this one because it's not often Ben has a retort for something Ray says.)Ray: I think I got the windshield.
Ben: Every little bit helps, Ray.
Dief Moment:Sitting on Brenda's lap as the motley group goes through Customs.
Keepership:Mud-covered Ray. He's soooo pathetic looking.
Grade: A+
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