Due South

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CTV (ended 1996)
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Show Summary

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In this popular series that ran from 1994 to 1996, Benton Fraser comes to Chicago in an attempt to find out who killed his father. After solving the murder, he decides to stick around and work for the local Canadian consulate. He has made friends with a local detective, Ray Vecchio, whose sister, Francesca, has a major crush on him. Although Vecchio is often confused by Benton's strange way of doing things and Benton is often confused by how things are done south of the border, the two get along famously, having an incredible on-screen chemistry.''''Due South was originally a made-for-TV movie on CBS, with location shots done in Chicago, but most shots were in Toronto. After the end of the 1994 - 1995 season, CBS dropped the show, and CTV had to secure outside funding to finish off the year, even though CBS did order more episodes as a mid-season replacement in 1995 - 1996. The show was cancelled in 1996 due to low ratings, with the final episode airing in Canada in May of 1996.''''A year later, they resurrected some of the cast and crew to create the 1997 - 1999 spin-off. While many of the cast from the original show returned, they were unable to secure David Marciano to continue his role as Ray Vecchio. The ratings never lived up to the producers hopes, and the spin-off was cancelled after 26 episodes.''''There is often confusion as to whether the 26 episodes with Callum Keith Rennie is part of the original series with David Marciano, because the two series were combined and presented together in the United States as one series with three seasons.''''See Due South (1997-1999).''moreless
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Episode Guide

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S 2 :  Ep 18 Aired 5/30/96
S 2 :  Ep 17 Aired 5/23/96
S 2 :  Ep 16 Aired 5/2/96
S 2 :  Ep 15 Aired 4/25/96
S 2 :  Ep 14 Aired 4/11/96

Due South News

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  • Five Great Canadian TV Shows 47

    Five Great Canadian TV Shows

    By Seth Abramovitch, Jul 01, 2011

    On this day in 1867, three of England's North American colonies fused into a proud, new nationone predicated on the people's fundamental right to unlimited hockey, Tim Hortons donuts, and universal healthcare for all. That's right: It's Canada Day! And… more

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    FX hit by Crash

    By Lila Holland, Jun 30, 2005

    Paul Haggis' Crash, a movie about a group of Los Angeles residents whose lives intersect after a violent carjacking, is headed for a second wind as an FX TV series. Crash from the theaters to your living room." link="/crash/show/22528/summary.html"> Crash… more

Cast & Crew

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Fan Reviews (32)

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  • My all-time favorite tv show.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By tdiggity43, Jun 29, 2011 Report Abuse
    Due South was very clever, entertaining, educational, and edifying. It was one show the whole family could watch and enjoy. Children should even be encouraged to watch it; the main character, a Canadian Constable living in Chicago (don't ask), is an excellent role model. Constable Fraser and his American buddy, Detective Veccio, were masterfully portrayed by Paul Gross and David Marciano, respectively. The supporting cast were likewise excellent, and occasionally actors who made guest appearances went on to stellar careers. Even though there was quite a lot of fast-paced action, there never seemed to be any shocking violence; Constable Fraser was too vigilant to allow the scenario to degenerate to that. He treats everyone with respect, whether they be his quarry, his derelict neighbors, high-ranking officials, or innocent bystanders. He manages to bring out the best in his American partner, who down deep is a good person but who has been hardened by late-20th-century cynicism.
    The only thing wrong with Due South was that most Americans were too stupid or shallow to appreciate it (and as an American, I can say that).
    Fortunately, the show is available on DVD.moreless

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  • They don't make shows like this anymore. Simple, funny, effective, beautiful score.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By dushred, Jan 15, 2011 Report Abuse
    The new bread of shows are amazing, never have we seen what is basically film effects week in and week out. But they simply don't make shows like this anymore. Due South has a charm about it. I've tried to put my finger on it before but misplaced it. I used to think it was 'innocent' until someone pointed out to me it really is quite brutal. I dunno. It's just the perfect mix of humour and drama. The comedy in some episdoes is absoultely brilliant and in others the action.

    If you were to live your life by any character it would be Benton Frasier, unlike Jack Bauer, Jason Bourne, Clark Kent or who ever Fraiser is actually beliveable and principled to the extreme.

    I know many people did not like the change of lineup in the 3rd series. This was necessary because the show was canned and David Marciano signed on for another show. I thought they handled it really well. I can still remember watching it for the first time and just thinking "what the hell" the whole episode. It was brilliant. The new Frasier I liked alot so I'm glad for the change of lineup.

    Everyone I ever speak to about the show knows of it. It usually goes something like

    "you ever watch Due South?"
    "No"
    "you know, the show with the mounty and the dog"
    "OH YEAH! I loved that"

    So basically if you haven't seen it, get it on DVD it's out or watch reruns wherever it is. ITV4 currently in the UK. I'm absoultely bent against the license fee in the UK we have to pay for BBC television but at least some of that money went to saving this great show for 2 more seasons.

    In the efforts of full disclosure though I have to say three eps stick in my mind that absoultely sucked. I hated Victoria's Secret (1) and (2) which most Due South fans adore. But I mostly dislike it when shows go away from their bread and butter and explore too much into the characters life.

    Anyway watch it!moreless

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  • Good mix of humour, drama and friendship, but above all lots of fun to watch. A fantastic feel-good show. I really recommend it.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By WitchyWeasel88, Sep 10, 2010 Report Abuse
    Since I rediscovered this show (being too young to really remember much about it from the original airings) it has become one of my favourites. It's definitely something to watch when you are feeling a little low. Yes it's cheesy, yes it's unbelievable, but it knows this and flaunts it. It's quirky charm will win you over.

    Overly-polite Constable Benton Fraser, the archetypal Mountie, comes to Chicago on the trail of his father's killer. His deaf (although at times this is questionable), lip-reading half-wolf, Diefenbaker, is in tow. Fraser has an unwaveringly positive outlook and trust in human nature which on the surface seems somewhat nave and yet in many situations appears to work for him. Whilst in Chicago he teams up with streetwise cop, Ray Veccchio and they develop a strong working partnership and a firm friendship which forms the foundations of the show. Eventually the ghost of Fraser Sr. will turn up to offer no end of questionable advice and to pester his son incessantly.

    It is a premise which could so easily be terrible but it really does work. I do feel that the show lost something after the second season, not so much with the new Ray, Stanley Raymond Kowalski, but the tone of the show shifted more towards the OTT comedic. It is definitely still good viewing with some things the early series lacked, but the quality dropped in my opinion. That said, the first two series were thoroughly enjoyable, mainly due to the relationship between Fraser and Ray and the drama and comedy in a perfect blend. Some episodes focused mainly on comedy; those penned by Paul Gross (who plays Fraser) spring immediately to mind and a trainload of unconscious Mounties simultaneously waking from unconsciousness and bursting into song has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Other episodes are surprisingly serious in tone, such as the 'Victoria's Secret' two-parter with a shocking ending which I won't spoil for anyone who may not have seen it. The vast majority of episodes however contain a wonderful mixture of the two.

    So if you have never seen this show before I heartily recommend it and if you have seen it, then re-watch, and fall in love with Fraser all over again.moreless

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  • I truly loved this series.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By sandbur, Apr 08, 2009 Report Abuse
    A cop show, yes, but there the similarities ended. It was in turn hilarious, touching, dramatic, and quirky...and it came together in one sweet ride!
    Paul Gross is mega-talented and he can simply walk into a room better than most of us mere mortals!
    Created by Paul Haggis before the creative world truly knew his genius, his presence ensured the show would be genius as well.
    Paul Gross' and David Marciano's characters played off each other brilliantly, and the recurring roles by Gordon Pinsent as Fraser's dead father, and Leslie Nielsen as dead father's best friend, were to die for. Forgive the pun!
    There aren't too many shows I can think of that I would watch if they came back, but this one is worth a M.o.t.W. at least...surely??!!moreless

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  • The best show, Paul Gross is unbelievable.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By samantha0123, Oct 13, 2008 Report Abuse
    I love Paul Gross as 'the Mounty', which my family and I call him now. This show is a shear classic, Benton Fraser is lovable, questionable(about his sanity)and truly a great and original character. The writers created a chemistry that is hard to repeat between Fraser and both of the Ray's. On the topic of Ray, I didn't think I would like the third and fourth season of Due South because they changed Ray. When I saw the episodes, I immediately fell in love with him. He was a very good replacement. I wish they would do one more TV movie of Due South, I miss it, but I will have to make due with Paul Gross' Paschendale.moreless

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