"I thought you were permanent."
Paul has never expressed any particular fear of being typecast as Fraser - indeed his love and enjoyment of the character are evident in his acting and writing of the role. But, eventually, it was time to move on.
"Shows, like boxers, have a certain life expectancy and it would be nice to think that we have reached the end before it got tired. Fawlty Towers only did 12 shows. If that had gone on and on it probably would've started to fall apart, so you want to avoid that." - Paul Gross: Dreamwatch, July 1998
So it was that due South reached its finale - this time for real. In an inspired and gloriously imaginative two-part episode written by Paul Gross and Rob Carney, Call of the Wild has a delicious symmetry with the Pilot as Fraser once again blows Vecchio's cover (a welcome return for David Marciano), investigates a case of international terrorism, and discovers the truth about his mother's death. And all accomplished with due South's trademark panache, warmth and wit - and no small homage to Orson Wells' The Third Man and to Shakespeare's Henry V. In an affectionate pastiche of the stirring "St Crispin's Day" soliloquy, Buck Frobisher rallies his troops with a speech that is simultaneously moving and hilarious.
As Paul Spragg wrote in the Cult Times Special #7 (Autumn 1998):
"This two-parter has all the elements that make 'due South' great: exciting action sequences, including parachuting Mounties, lovely comic touches, and top drama. If it has to go, this is a fitting ending."
And fitting too that due South should be awarded the coveted Chrysler People's Choice Award for Best Drama at the Gemini Awards in 1999. Here is Paul's message to due South fans after the awards ceremony:
Hello out there - Another Gemini season has come and gone and while I was slightly disappointed in this year's haul I was most gratified that we won the Chrysler Award - a feat that you were principally responsible for. I was fully intending to thank you as we walked up there but of course R. Lantos got to talking and once that man starts it's very difficult to persuade him to stop. If he hadn't used up our allotted 30 seconds I would have thanked you all for your fierce loyalty and extraordinary dedication throughout the years. It is to you that all awards due South ever won should be dedicated and I thank you kindly. Paul Gross |
"Period. Dot it, file it, stick it in a box marked 'Done'."
The last episode of due South was shot in April 1998 but the show continues in syndication and re-runs in countries around the world, having been sold to more than 160 countries. New fans continue to join those who watched from the start, on Internet discussion groups, chat-rooms and newsgroups, discussing and analysing the complexities and significance of every detail, each line of script in every scene. It is a testimony to the quality of the writing, acting and production that due South not only stands up to such scrutiny, but continues to yield treasures to new and old fans alike.
And maybe one day the possibility of a due South movie, occasionally mentioned by Paul, will become a reality. After all, Fraser does say, as he and Kowalski head off on their adventure to seek the Hand of Franklin:
"If we do find his Hand, the reaching-out one, we'll let you know."
"Great. That is greatness."
The final word on due South's uniqueness goes to Paul:
"I think the thing that separated us from a lot of other programmes was our lack of cynicism. I think this is what viewers responded to most strongly. So much of television, even some sitcoms, is such a cynical enterprise. One of the unique qualities 'due South' had at its centre was a very big heart." - ETV Magazine February 1997
Well, the final, final word:
"My hope is that most foreign nations will view this as an accurate portrayal of the Canadian character - that we are polite, honest, deferential, patient, etc. This should help us disguise the darker Canadian purpose: global domination." - Paul Gross, BBC due South website
If you've read this far, you're bound to be interested in the due South mailing list. The main topic is, of course, due South - discussion of episodes, explanations of all those subtle references you missed, alumni sightings etc - but you will also find it a mine of fascinating information on Canadiana in general and the cultural differences between Canada and the US.