Hawk and a Handsaw

Synopsis: In episode 12 of Season 1, Fraser investigates strange occurences in a private mental institution by posing as a madman. Hamlet’s "I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw" (II.ii.379-380) is the crucial tenet in this episode which seems to be all about learning to face painful truths.
Series: Due South
Language: English
Country: Canada
Medium: Television
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Transmission details: 19 Jan 1995 (Channel: CTV)
Duration: 45 mins

Notes: The episode is available on DVD as part of the Complete First Series set. Transmission time of the original broadcast of this episode unknown.
General: DUE SOUTH is an award-winning cop and comedy series that follows the adventures of Canadian Mountie Benton Fraser. The overall plot seems to be loosely based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet: Fraser moves to Chicago to solve the murder of his father, whose ghost regularly returns to haunt him. The title of this episode is a quote from Hamlet II ii, in which Hamlet tells Polonius: "I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw" (II.ii.379-380).
History: DUE SOUTH made its debut as a one-off television drama which was transmitted on CTV in Canada and CBS in the United States on April 23, 1994. Due to its success with viewers, it was turned into a drama series which was launched on CBS in September 1994. According to Wikipedia, "It was the first Canadian-made series to earn a prime-time slot on a major U.S. network". In Britain the series was launched on BBC1 in May 1995. The BBC Online website lists it as a cult show (http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/duesouth/).
Awards: The series won 15 Gemini nominations, including Best Dramatic TV Series and Best Writing in a Dramatic Series.
Reviews: Wikipedia entry for DUE SOUTH: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Due_South (accessed on 2 November 2006)

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