Basically it is a 'two hander' although the ghosts of the boy's fathers are on hand to give 'advice'.
The clever thing about the epsiode is that the obvious, i.e. Benny in his home territory with Ray as the 'fish out of water' is immediately upturned through Benny's injuries.
But, as well as their fight for survival, there is also the interaction with their fathers. I know that Jeff King subtitled this "I never camped with my Father' and a lot of the show has Ray trying to overcome his father's 'lesson' of 'look after number one'.
I think both actors come well out of this - PG 'looking' with unseeing and keeping his face straight to the line "You're really, really blind ?" and DM playing the city boy who finds he can cope a little. I loved his cry of 'I got one' when he finally succeeds in cutting down a tree.
The character of Ray grows in this story as he confronts demons from the past and realises he can become a better man than his father.
I think this is a very funny episode but it is also unbelievably poignant at times, like the best of comedies. Both characters really care for each other and wouldn't dream of leaving each other to die in the wilderness.
Incidentally this episode was nominated as the 'best ever' episode in a Special Edition of the magazine 'Cult Times'.
And why were they so good? Because at the foundation was the show's strength - the relationship between Ray Vecchio and Benton Fraser. Victoria's Secret set in motion events that would take that relationship to a new level. And North was the first real look at that new relationship. There weren't any car chases, no scenes at the station, nothing extraneous. Just the guys, Dief and a criminal to chase/be chased by. Stripped down to its barest elements, the actors and writers came through with a thoroughly absorbing and winning episode.
This is possibly one of the greatest episodes in the entire series. The insight of Fraser and Ray's childhood through their fathers is magnificent, and the acting is terrific.
****1/2 (out of five)
"North" happens to be one of my two favourite episodes....my two and a half favourite epodes ( Letting Go) is GRREEEEEAAAAAT....till this curious nurse shows up...
Well, didnīt I want to talk about "North"? Right. Have you ever seen a delirious not-able-to-walk-alone THAT sexy?! Wow! I wish I wouldīve been Ray....well, I think, I could have thoght of something else than carrying him. A Mountie whoīs unable to move...hmmm.....
Okay, where was I? Paul Gross really is great as a blind man. Verry convincing in this looking-always-ahead-style. My comliments, I think, thatīs pretty hard to do. And that running against a tree...Marvelous.
And David...well, he should have get a atheletic-oscar or something for carrying his partner ( he really did, didnīt he? ). What extra money did they have to pay him for that?
My favourite scene is the fireplace lesson about "you dodnīt forget what you learned" ( I only watched it in German. ). Rays gaze at the fire! Great!
Didnīt you ever wonder how the wolf got that plastic package of peanuts open? I have a dog myself, and he would have eaten the wohle thing! But then of course heīs not Dief. Mybe wolfs know how to open peanuts. ( By the way, kinda stupid idea to give the only foot to the wolf, right Ray? )
Speaking of food.....if I were Ray and would have been forced to eat insects, necessary or not, I would have left that damn Mountie and go searching the civilization!
But the great thing about that episode of course is this father-son-relationship, right? A chat between both seniors wouldīve been nice.
I liked that weapon. Had style. Or, quoting Ray: "Wow!"
And, to finidh with, I hope I will be able to visit that river one day. Seems to be a pretty little miracle water running there - healing the paralyzed and blind and so on.