Ep 6. Mail Fraud

In "Mail Fraud," the sixth episode of the third season of Corner Gas, the residents of Dog River find themselves embroiled in a scheme involving a dubious "mail-order" company and a seemingly endless stream of unwanted and highly suspicious packages.

As the episode opens, we see Brent LeRoy (Brent Butt), co-owner of the town's gas station and de facto leader of the local "posse," get a visit from Manfred (Karl Pruner), a slick and fast-talking salesman representing a company called "Ideal Health." Manfred is charming and persuasive, but Brent senses that something is off about the operation he's shilling for. His suspicions are confirmed when he and his friends discover piles of cheap, knockoff products at the Ideal Health warehouse, all of which have been shipped to Dog River en masse.

At first, the residents of the small town are taken in by the flashy advertisements and improbable promises of the Ideal Health campaign. But as the packages continue to arrive, it becomes clear that there's something wrong with the whole enterprise. Hank (Fred Ewanuick), the perpetually hapless gas station attendant, is convinced that he's struck it rich when he receives an envelope stuffed with "diamonds" (which turn out to be glitter glued to bits of plastic). Meanwhile, Lacey Burl (Gabrielle Miller), owner of the local coffee shop and perhaps the smartest person in town, grows increasingly suspicious as she tallies up the mounting list of complaints and grievances against the Ideal Health operation.

As the episode progresses, the tension ratchets up and the stakes get higher. Lacey and Brent team up to investigate the shady business, all while trying to avoid the wrath of their more gullible neighbors. They dig into the company's history and discover a slew of lawsuits and complaints, all related to fraudulent practices and theft. At the same time, Emma Leroy (Janet Wright), Brent's mother and co-owner of the gas station, organizes a town meeting to address the mounting concerns of the residents. But even as she tries to calm everyone down, the Ideal Health representatives are nowhere to be found.

The climax of the episode involves a high-speed chase, a pile of stolen goods, and a surprising twist that sees one of the town's most beloved figures revealed as a key player in the shady enterprise. As the dust settles and the scam is exposed, the residents of Dog River breathe a sigh of relief and return to their usual routines. But as the final scene suggests, there may be more trouble on the horizon, as Brent and Lacey catch wind of a new company looking to set up shop in the town.

Overall, "Mail Fraud" is a classic episode of Corner Gas, full of the show's trademark mix of irreverent humor, small-town charm, and sly social commentary. It's a reminder that even in the most unlikely places, people can come together to sniff out a scam and protect their community.