Free Willie

Season 1, Episode 1, Aired

Episode Summary

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After a young purse snatcher named Willie sees an armed robbery, Fraser is determined to prove the boy wasn't involved. Ray reluctantly agrees to help Fraser prove the boy's innocence as well as find the true criminals, even though he's risking his own job to do so.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (2)

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  • Weird, that I call the first episode a series classic but it true.

    9.8
    "Superb"
    By MeandtheFarmer, Apr 03, 2007
    This episode shows in my opinion the character of Fraser even better than the tv film which is always considered to be the pilot.

    The small things Fraser shows theaudience during the episode are really defining Fraser as a character. He is friendly, respectfull, trustworthy and puts his trust in other people and wins in return their trust - Willie is the best example for that. He's a boy who started his criminal career at ten and has stolen things ever since and no one especially not the Chicago police tried to save the kid until this huge mountie comes along and does the job.

    I also liked the very beginning of the episode when Fraser gets his new flat. Fraser is so afraid that he even brought references ... for a dump. Funny! This episode is a MUST-SEE - go and check it out!moreless

  • Fraser gets settled into the big city.

    8.5
    "Great"
    By dani917, Jun 19, 2006
    Free Willie is the first episode of the actual series aired after the made-for-television movie. It's a really solid start. Ray and Fraser get involved with a purse snatching kid who just happens to be holding the gun used in an armed bank robbery. Everyone thinks Fraser is naive to believe that the boy found the gun, but he sets out to prove it anyway. Diefenbaker is given the job of making sure Willie doesn't run away, much to Willie's chagrin. Dief, however, seems to enjoy the job. Fraser checks out of his hotel because the windows won't open and moves into a "convenient, centrally located" apartment in a horrible neighborhood. The main thing to be learned from this episode is: never shoot a Mountie's hat!moreless
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  • TRIVIA (2)

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    • Fraser refers to the Lieutenant using the pronounciation 'Leftenant', which is the traditional pronunciation of the word, and still in use in Canada.

    • Just before the cleanser salesman comes into frame, there is a shot of Fraser from the pilot telemovie where his strap is on the wrong shoulder.

  • QUOTES (10)

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    • Benton Fraser: She shot my hat, Ray. Ray Vecchio: She shot you in the hat? Benton Fraser: I can feel air coming in through the hole. Ray Vecchio: She shot you in the hat alright. Benton Fraser: How does it look? Ray Vecchio: It doesn't look good. Benton Fraser: We'll have to go home and get my other one. Ray Vecchio: We can do that, Fraser.

    • Benton Fraser: You know, Ray, when I was a young man my father told me one thing to always remember about thieves. Actually, he told me two things but I've forgotten the other one. Anyway, the important one is that despite the adage you will rarely find honor among thieves. Ray Vecchio: You can't remember the other one? Benton Fraser: It was something about tying a wallet to your underwear. I was very young at the time.

    • (Fraser holds the door for several people.) Benton Fraser: After you, sir. After you. Ray Vecchio: Do all Canadians grow up longing to be doormen? Because that would explain the uniform.

    • Willie Lambert: Fraser, you know crack dealers are even afraid to come into this neighborhood? Benton Fraser: Good night, Willie. Willie Lambert: Fraser, why is this money pink? Benton Fraser: Good night, Willie.

    • Lt. Harding Welsh: Ah yes, the Mountie. I thought they sent you back up to the Yukon. Benton Fraser: Well they did, sir, and then they sent me back here again. I'm afraid I'm not all that well liked up there. Lt. Harding Welsh: By 'up there' you mean ... ? Benton Fraser: Pretty much all of Canada.

    • (Fraser stands completely still while on guard duty.) Ray Vecchio: Okay, I know you're acting as Canada's last line of defense here, guarding your consulate against marauding cleanser salesman, but we got a problem.

    • Ray Vecchio: Where is he? Benton Fraser: Who? Ray Vecchio: The kid, the purse snatcher. Where is he? I want to book him. Benton Fraser: Oh, I let him go. Ray Vecchio: You let him go? Benton Fraser: Well, he apologized and promised never to steal again. Ray Vecchio: You just let him go? Benton Fraser: Not without a stern warning. Also he gave me this. (hands Ray a gun) Ray Vecchio: Does the word incarcerate mean anything to you? Benton Fraser: Well, it's from the Medieval Latin, incarcerati. Ray Vecchio: Medieval Latin. You let a perpetrator go and you're giving me Latin? Benton Fraser: Perpetrator is also from the Latin perpetrare. Ray Vecchio: Shut up, okay? Just shut up!

    • Benton Fraser: Ray, Ray, Ray! Ray Vecchio: What? Benton Fraser: Is my lanyard on straight? Ray Vecchio: (yelling) He's a slum lord!

    • Ray Vecchio: Fraser, you do not want to live in this neighborhood. Cops don't live in areas like this. Most of the people we bust wouldn't even live here. Benton Fraser: Why? It's central, convenient. I can walk to work in seven minutes. Ray Vecchio: Not without back up.

    • Ray Vecchio: Yeah, I can see what draws you to a place like this: the decorative graffiti motif, the clever use of plumbing to create the waterfall effect, and there's the ease and convenience of being able to dump your garbage straight into the hall.

  • NOTES (1)

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  • ALLUSIONS (1)

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