Yeah, I'm one of those who is still utterly mystified by the due South fascination.
Not that I think it's bad - in fact, I haven't really watched it much at all. It just seems a very strange choice to get fannish about, to me.
I eagerly await effusive posts about the beauties of Mountie fannishness.
Our show is about Benton Fraser, a Mountie who first came to Chicago on the trail of his father's killers and for reasons that do need to be explored at this juncture he stayed as liason to the Chicago police department.
(usually it's for reasons that don't need)
Basically Fraser's dad's killers were Mounties and the Mounties were embarrassed and since Fraser really likes cold and remote places and hates the city (and for the sake of a show) he was left in Chicago as a laison between the Canadian Consulate and the Chicago police department.
There he worked with Raymond Vecchio, a police detective who became Fraser's best friend. Some people say more than friends, other people don't see that. Then after 2 yrs the show went off the air.
However it was saved by fans and shown on TNT (it was originally on CBS). However the actor who played Ray didn't want to come back, so instead of killing him off he was sent undercover to Vegas.
Fraser had gone off on vacation.
When Fraser came back he discovers there's this strange man claiming to be Ray Vecchio. He doesn't look, dress, or talk like Ray Vecchio. However this new guy is one Stanley Raymond Kowalski, who was placed undercover as Ray Vecchio so no one would realize the real Vecchio had gone undercover. (Yes the premise is weak).
Fraser and RayK (as he's known to simplify things) became friends, and more most people say.
Also Fraser has a deaf half wolf named Diefenbaker aka Dief.
Hmmm...Hi Due South folks! I have no idea what your show is about....
(I have never seen an episode of the show.)
So there's this Mountie, Benton Fraser, who came to Chicago on the trail of his father's killer. And he has a wolf. Who is, I believe, deaf. And he gets partnered with this guy named Ray Vecchio, and they run about for two years Fighting Crime. Then Fraser goes on some sort of a trip, and when he comes back there's a new Ray, except he's pretending to be the old Ray (despite being Polish and blond rather than Italian and dark-haired). They continue to Fight Crime, and have quite a bit of sex (according to fanfic), and then they ride off into the sunset together on a dogsled (I'm fairly sure that's actually canon).
Plus, magical realism! Ghosts! Chicago!
That last switcharoo sounds a bit like Dr. Who.
So, which Ray is CKR?
The second one - Kowalski.
The show itself combined humor, drama, and magical realism. It's a cop buddy show, a fish out of water show.
Fraser has to deal with not only being a Canadian for small town, but also seeing the ghost of his dead father, Bob Fraser.
Fraser has to deal with the city, which he's not used to. Being hit on by women, which makes him uncomfortable. Especially being hit on by Frannie, Ray Vecchio's sister.
Also his commanding officer Meg Thatcher has a thing for him to.
The actors are really good also good looking. And there's great chemistry.
And there were huge RayV vs RayK wars in the fandom, not unlike the Doggett Wars of XF seasons 8-9. I am right, yes?
Katie, you've never seen an episode, and managed to come up with all that? Damn, I'm impressed!
I've seen maybe three episodes of Due South. But I have many more sitting in my living room, waiting to be watched. When my friend got her Season 1 DVDs, she loaned me her tapes...and I had to loan her my Buffy Season 5-7 tapes. Hmm. Somehow, this doesn't feel like a fair trade...