Critic’s Ranking: 4.5 / 5.0
4.5
Worlds collided on Frasier Season 2 Episode 8 when Frasier and Freddy used a few of Roz’s frequent flier miles for a visit down reminiscence lane in Seattle.
They left from Boston, the place it wasn’t stunning to see Roz seated comfortably within the bar with the Harvard gang. In spite of everything, it appears like she’s been in additional episodes this season than among the foremost solid!
However that was simply the primary of many blasts from the previous in an episode that completely melded the beats, strengths, and (it should be mentioned) flaws of the OG present to create an emotional turning level for the brand new collection.
Bon Voyage, Boston
The Harvard bar scene arrange the primary storyline of Frasier’s go to to KACL for a particular tribute present and the smaller considered one of David leaving his job with Alan.
However to my thoughts, the precise sole objective of this bar scene was to tell us that Niles and Daphne now dwell in Sedona (??), the place they drive a Tesla (???) and personal a winery (Okay, that tracks).
How did we not know this prior to now?!
Effectively, in all probability as a result of it neatly defined why we wouldn’t see Niles and Daphne in Seattle any greater than Frasier and Freddy would throughout their go to.
It additionally allowed the episode to deal with KACL and Frasier’s former skilled life in Seattle.
Freddy tagged alongside on this journey, calling into query his hearth division’s trip days coverage.
They already appear to look the opposite method together with his frequent day consuming on the bar, so what’s one other few days on the opposite aspect of the nation?
Radio Days
Eve’s quip to Roz about radio being out of date was correct foreshadowing disguised as a generational put-down. It was certainly painful to see Frasier’s outdated KACL studio full of outdated tools like a forgotten storage closet.
This made me assume again to the top of Frasier’s unique run when everybody was beginning new life chapters (Niles and Daphne have been new mother and father; Martin and Ronee have been married and shifting out of the condominium).
I keep in mind Roz being promoted to… KACL’s station supervisor? It appeared like an enormous deal then, a place that provided safety and recognition of her true worth as a producer.
So I used to be as shocked as Frasier to see how far KACL had fallen and the way Roz hadn’t acknowledged it by now.
However earlier than all that, how nice was it to see Frasier’s former coworkers (plus Bulldog’s gong!) crowded into his studio as soon as once more?!
I may solely hope that Noel Shempsky was absent just because he was away at a Star Trek conference.
It was severely thrilling to see the KACL crew collectively once more — it’s virtually just like the present truly listened and gave the individuals what they needed!
Bulldog and Gil have been immediately and completely themselves (nicely, with somewhat bit extra from Bulldog’s revelation), whereas the restaurant jingle battle felt acquainted but in addition as if it have been from a unique century.
I liked seeing these characters fall proper again into step with one another with regular, unforced grace. After which… the present kicked all of them out of the KACL studio and ended the scene!
You know that scene was minimize brief as a result of the cake was left on the desk untouched! Except… it was nonetheless there from Frances’s welcome-back occasion?
Effectively, they did say their price range was tight!
The Coffeeshop Round The Nook
Our comfort prize for leaving KACL so abruptly was a go to to Cafe Nervosa, which was miraculously nonetheless in enterprise.
It truthfully didn’t look a lot totally different, and regardless of what Frasier mentioned, I may swear I keep in mind an outdated episode the place he and Niles additionally complained about individuals bringing bikes into the cafe.
One other crumb of foreshadowing was dropped when Frasier grumbled that he couldn’t imagine Roz nonetheless patronized Cafe Nervosa, which wasn’t as charming as he remembered.
However the acquainted cafe was very a lot consistent with the scope of her tribute interview and Frasier assembly an outdated caller.
That caller was Lou, a random new character, although I used to be type of hoping it’d be somebody recognizable from the unique present.
At first, I used to be confused as a result of it appeared like Lou had simply made these questionable life modifications however had additionally supposedly gotten the thought from a twenty years in the past name to Frasier’s radio present.
I’m unsure that this timeline discrepancy was ever totally cleared up. However we realized all about Lou’s dream of a profession in magic, his failed marriage, and the way he stop his legislation agency primarily based on Frasier’s previous recommendation.
A few the magic trick sight gags have been good, however Lou wasn’t all that compelling of a personality.
(Nonetheless, when Freddy picked up Lou’s “Ace up my sleeve” taking part in card and mentioned, “It’s a seven,” I virtually died laughing.)
I used to be largely anxious that we have been nonetheless at Cafe Nervosa once I needed to return to KACL and all of these much-missed (and presumably costly) visitor stars.
Plus, that “Welcome Again” cake wasn’t going to eat itself!
There’s At all times Time To Heal
It was irritating that Frasier grew to become fixated on serving to Lou proper then, although that may make him late for the radio present slot that Roz had arrange for him.
Critically, he couldn’t wait forty-five minutes to appropriate a twenty-year-old fallacious??
This fixation on one thing to the exclusion of all else occurred loads on the outdated present. It was often tied to a perceived slight involving class or ethics and was undoubtedly anxiety-making for the viewers.
Frasier acknowledged he had a status to guard in Seattle, however judging from KACL’s shabby places of work, methinks that was only a handy excuse for him to indulge his ego with out guilt.
Roz bringing Frasier out of retirement for “one final call-in present” was a candy gesture that was hopefully pinned to a milestone broadcast anniversary.
Nonetheless, I can’t think about Frasier’s tribute present giving KACL the identical numbers increase it may need within the pre-podcast period.
I additionally don’t understand how large a Seattle viewers would even keep in mind The Frasier Crane Present — and I say that with a lot love!
Nonetheless, I felt actually unhealthy for Roz having to scramble and get Gil to cowl for Frasier after she’d organized this complete tribute present for him and flown him out from Boston for it.
What Is Going On Right here?
At this level within the episode, I questioned if this present was ever going to cease snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
I imply, gathering all of these beloved visitor stars collectively only for a blink-and-miss-it scene? Giving us random-guy Lou and magic tips as a substitute?
(Okay, Fortunate the rabbit was tremendous cute.)
However then the present labored some magic of its personal. Within the strategy of serving to Lou, Frasier confirmed Roz that it was time to depart the familiarity of KACL and maybe even the West Coast.
He additionally had a surprisingly tender and surprising breakthrough with Freddy as they maturely addressed long-standing father-son points, in addition to guilt and grief over Martin’s passing.
The one one actually neglected on a ledge was Lou, however even there, Frasier’s obliviousness truly helped Lou grow to be offended sufficient to determine the best way to change his life.
This turned out to be a very hilarious and beautifully choreographed scene that made me really feel unhealthy for ever doubting Lou as a personality. And Fortunate was so nicely educated! I want my cat listened to me like that.
It wasn’t simply the visitor stars and KACL setting that made Frasier Season 2 Episode 8 really feel a lot like an episode of yore. A part of it was the pacing, however most of it was seeing Frasier in his aspect as a psychiatrist.
In the identical method that he gently instructed Roz let go of what now not labored, he may need requested himself if his post-retirement return to academia was a model of his holding on to an outdated dream.
Again in Boston, the aspect plot about David getting fed up with Alan’s fixed criticism was just like the thought of discarding an outdated function for the possibility at a greater one.
It was spectacular to see David rise up for himself in opposition to his revered professor even whereas I snort-laughed on the description, “tries a bit too laborious together with his sweaters.”
This complete minor Harvard storyline was method funnier than anticipated, and it made me want Olivia had a purpose to talk with a Scottish accent extra usually — or continuously! I liked it that a lot.
Olivia was type of a badass in Frasier Season 2 Episode 8, and I felt just like the present was FINALLY exploring totally different layers and instructions for her character.
That, plus David rising a spine below his pleasant knitwear, proved that this was a really transformational episode for each character on this present.
Even Alan was compelled to sit down within the nook and take into consideration what he’d performed and act accordingly.
Possibly I’m simply nonetheless obsessive about Alan’s model of The Mum or dad Entice, however the present completely missed a golden alternative to have Anders Keith play each David and his substitute.
Nonetheless, the lint curler gag with David and Alan on the finish was sensible sufficient to virtually make up for it, if anybody asks.
Hooked On So Many Emotions
This game-changing episode of Frasier Season 2 gave Roz permission to maneuver on together with her life and allowed us to say goodbye to KACL’s acquainted voices.
Freddy’s regretful ideas about his deceased grandfather fashioned a surprisingly poignant ending to this episode.
It’s inconceivable to consider the unique collection with out remembering John Mahoney as Martin Crane, and it’s a (flimsy) testomony to the brand new iteration that it acknowledges the character with out essentially doing him justice.
This episode managed to tie collectively lots of threads we hadn’t even realized have been unfastened and fashioned an extremely natural method ahead for the collection. It wasn’t excellent, nevertheless it ended up being elegant.
What do you say, TV Fanatics? Has Frasier Season 2 lastly discovered its method by way of balancing pathos and humor? Tell us within the feedback!
Watch Frasier Season 2 On-line
