Due South

Due South centers on Benton Fraser, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police constable who finds himself posted to the Canadian consulate in Chicago. Rather than patrolling back home, he teams up with the Chicago Police Department to pursue criminals who cross national lines. The setup sends Fraser into a bustling American city where his formal courtesy, civic code and Mountie discipline clash with streetwise police work and twists. The partnership with a Chicago detective yields an odd mix of procedural intrigue and wit as Fraser learns on the job while holding onto his own ideals. The show uses this cross border dynamic to explore loyalty, identity and the quirks of law enforcement in a world where borders are porous.

Production notes: The show debuted in 1994, created by Paul Haggis, and was produced as a Canadian crime drama with frequent cross border collaboration. It was directed by a rotating team rather than a single director, reflecting its anthology style.

The series carved out a distinct tone by mixing hard edged crime story with gentle humor and gentle Canadian sensibilities. Fraser's polite demeanor, respect for authority, and odd charm turned him into a memorable cultural figure who helped widen audiences for Canadian genre TV and inspired future cross border collaborations.

Critics praised how the show mixed suspense with warmth, using Fraser's manners and the cultural clash to probe loyalty and duty while highlighting that friendship can cross national borders. The series blends crime solving with a humane tone and humor that arises from character clash rather than gimmick.

Reception from the industry included multiple Gemini Award nominations for the series, recognizing its writing, performances and production. The show is often cited as a milestone in Canadian television for blending humor with crime drama and for launching Paul Gross into wider prominence and international recognition.