I used to love this show when it originally aired. However, I never got to see the last season with the 'new' Ray. I heard that Paul Gross intentionally added an element of homoerotocism between Fraser and Kowalski. Is this true? If so, how? Anyone who has seen the last season remember specific moments?
not sure. you probably wont believe me, but there is an out-take from season 3 where paul gross bends over callum k rennie and pretends to bum him. i saw it on youTUBE. it is a bloopers reel about 10-13 minutes long. if you happen to find it can you post the link so i can watch it again.
Hillarious! And now that I started watching some of the third and fourth season shows, I can see the subtle touches of homoeroticism. Like Ray K asking Fraser if he finds him attractive, and Fraser saying Yes, very much so. And all that talk about Partners! I got the feeling they were hinting at more than just partners on the job. And they did go off together on the very last show...in the end, who does Fraser chose? Not Thatcher, or Francesca or Victoria. Ray! Ah, the slasher in me is singing!
My thoughts exactly! =) I love those subtle hints that suggest there might be something more between them, yet it always stays pure, crystal friendship...
Just found out that there is a big gay following with fanzines being published of benton and stanleys relationship. Check out these pics, they really are priceless.
i thought byt the last season there was a touch of homoerotism which fraser never followed because he was troo nieve and new ray was too scared of losing someone who agatually got him like fraser
And then there's the episode from Season 2 -- Some Like It Red -- where Fraser looks so HOT in drag! And he carries himself so beautifully, VERY ladylike and believable as a woman! Leaves no doubt as to who would be the submissive in THAT relationship.
There was so much homo-eroticism they were practically having sex in each episode. Paul Gross was actually credited with saying that he was going to add homo-eroticism into the show even more because he found Callum K Rennie so attractive!! He's okay but he has nothing on David Marciano!! I honestly didn't think the series could get any more homo-erotic than the first 2 series-I WAS WRONG!! The "buddy breathing scene was excellent" paul gross is an amazing actor and so GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your comment made me laugh really hard :D Ahahaha~~ You're so right, too~ Nobody has anything against David Marciano~! Yeey~~ I only just started watching the third season, so I hope it's as good as the first two~! The whole part with Kowalski asking Fraser if he was attractive took me by surprise, also~~
To be honest, i think that the series was less good when David left, there was so much chemistry between him and Paul, and the characters Benny and Ray. He is/was brilliant in The Shield, i seem to watch this sporadically, i'm not too sure whether he is still in it. Due South rocks!!
Just found out that there is a big gay following with fanzines being published of benton and stanleys relationship. Check out these pics, they really are priceless.
I bought the box set (the UK one as I am a sucker for pointlessly more expensive quality) and am in the last third of season 1. I had to stop reading here becasue I was getting too excited at the things I will find as I keep watching.
I don't think I saw a lot of the final season when it was on BBC2. I do look forward to it in the coming weeks.
you know, I get the whole vibe of this going on, but then I watched the 2 Victoria's secret episodes, and they were incredibly hot between Benton & Victoria. It seems like he has a ton of pent up stuff in there, and keeps it under such tight control that the only safe relationship he can really have is with Ray. God it was sad to watch.
There's an interview from Elm Street (reposted here: http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/7658/tvfilm/art/elmstreet-pg. html) in which he talks about this, in response to the reporter showing him some Due South slash zines. He seemed amused but compelled, and apparently did read some stories on his own.
So, yeah, I think some of it must have been intentional!
HAHA. i love it!! it's now sending my brain into over-load that Paul Gross read some slash. I wonder which he preferred-Vecchio or Kowalski slash. I hate the Kowalski/Benny slash. Vecchio's my favourite, although there's not that much out there compared to Kowlaski slash, so I've had to write my own. i find it hard to think up proper stories, all they do is have sex!! I'm spending the entire Christmas period re-watching All Due South series. I doubt there will be any questions on it in my final year exams, but what the hell. Paul Gross and David Marciano-HUBBA HUBBA!!!!
this to me a bit distasteful – I don’t know about later episodes, if some jokes were thrown in – and getting away here from judging ‘homoeroticism’ per se – if Paul Gross admittedly a good-looking guy, why should it elicit this response – in same way, if an actress a beautiful woman do people automatically jump to a connection with lesbianism (in some cases that happens – but not necessarily so) And me being a Canadian, goes further, let’s "respect the uniform", in this portrayal at least Fraser is the epitome of traditional respectability, and being a member of a dignified group. compare with the riff-raff in the bar scene for example. and even in his ‘straight’ persona – there’s a nice co-worker (probably ‘Leann Brighton’), but somehow a romantic interlude with her, lovemaking scene whatever, in the film I’d say would be out-of-place. a chivalrous type – and like asked in another post, when ‘Francesca’ shows up in sexy outfit, later episode, does anything happen? (the consensus, no). the Mountie role here meant to be a bit distant, a near-sacred vocation, like a man-of-the-cloth. some things were maybe done later in humorous vein, dunno, but here very straight-laced, somehow inappropriate to view him as anything but.
I know what you mean--I'm not a slasher, and I don't think Benton ended up romantically or sexually with either Ray. I love what you said about traditional respectability, too...but I think that's part of the point of the show. Even the most respectable man is still a man, and living up to that level of respectability requires self-denial that can eventually take its toll. That's part of the deeply compelling storyline of this show--how can Fraser live up to his ideals and still be his true self?
But because of that inner conflict--sometimes torment--within Fraser, I can see the attraction some people feel toward the idea of Fraser finally ending up with someone who gets him and cares for him. Ultimately, both Rays come to know and love Fraser, and that is one of the few things that brings Fraser peace. If people want to see a romantic element to that, it doesn't bother me. I think that the deep bond of male friendship covers everything in the show, but others may interpret it differently.
I support your analysis whole-heartedly and because of all the UST (Unresolved Sexual Tension) going on, I find it very tempting to imagine Fraser getting involved with either of the two Rays (RayK being my personal favourite).
Through the Fraser/RayK [relation/friend]-ship I actually got introduced to the saucy world of slash and therefore they will always and forever be my OTP (One True Pairing).
I really appreciate a person who can consolidate what they see and how other people feel about it, so thank you very much. You really did sum up my adoration - for Fraser/Kowalski - so implicitly. By the end of the series the best thing they had in their lives was each other - while I like to romanticise and suggest that it was sexual it didn't have to be sexual to still be a beautiful thing.
To the OP - though this post is so old you probably don't care any more - while they added a tinge of 'homoeroticism' [I mean, RayK was jealous of every single woman that Fraser showed an interest in, come on] it was done tastefully and credibly in my opinion.
Also there are leagues of people who believe the affection between RayV/Fraser was much more important than RayK/Fraser, and we don't want to start THAT war again ;)