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| TV,
Richard Young,
15 January 2001 |
Rating: F4
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2001 begins optimistically for the UK’s window into the Crane household, as we finally get to catch up on the aftermath of Niles and Daphnes’ eloping, and we are again reminded of the enduring qualities of one of the longest running American comedy shows. The last series of Frasier ended with the image of brother Niles hijacking a family sized motorhome with true love Daphne in the passenger seat, still in her wedding dress. And yes, for the first time ever
she actually refers to him as “Niles”. About blinkin’ time.
Of course things were never destined to run smoothly for the Crane brothers, and this hour long season opener has much of the trademark bittersweet comedy and faux pas that has plagued the love lives of the pompous Seattle doctors. The fallout from Daphne jilting Donny at the altar causes the typically well meaning but misguided Frasier to try and make amends, only to place himself in more hot water – by getting sued by Donny for encouraging Niles and Daphne to be truthful about their feelings for each other. Meanwhile, the equally well meaning but hopelessly timid Niles tries his best to see that former lover Mel doesn’t drag him through messy divorce proceedings (they had a shotgun wedding just days before). This involves Mel making Niles promise to maintain the public image of the perfect happy couple, and of course Daphne is hardly over the “Moon” about that.
Frasiers role takes more of a backseat despite what is probably the fiercest shouting match between him and Niles that still remains funny, mostly due to his outdated pomposity: “I
am
WOUNDED!” But its not all drama and vase throwing, as we see in the touching but cheesy final scene which sees the happy couple re-united once more on the roof of the apartment building, thanks to some cunning pre-planning on the part of Frasier and his father.
What will be fascinating in the weeks ahead, is to see exactly how Niles and Daphnes’ relationship will evolve, because we are now so familiar with the successful formula of two brothers, the housekeeper, the father and his dog. One hopes it won’t turn into another painfully protracted “Ross and Rachel – on or off?” scenario because, if I remember correctly, it was around that time that Friends started to lose much of its humour and charm (remember the awful London based debacle?). As long as the characters, the plotting, and the writing continues to remain this good, Frasier will continue to be the King of Comedies, for the time being. Here’s to the happy couple.
Channel 4 9.30pm Fridays
NBC 9.00pm (8.00pm Central) Tuesdays
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