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tori_reviews2023-12-28 11:41 pm
jedi_of_urth) wrote in tori_reviews2023-12-28 11:41 pm
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Frasier 3x16-20
1) I thought I had a few more FMA reviews done, and I kind of do, but this seems to have been a string of reviews where I'd get mostly done but then think of a couple stray points I meant to add to the review and then promptly forgot to write. Since I'm going to have to redo some of the watching anyway if I continue the reviews I might as well do any additions to the existing reviews then instead of trying to guess what I meant.
2) These may be the oldest reviews I could dig up that I never posted (...no the Selfridge reviews have been sitting in drawers longer...on top the season of Star Trek TOS I reviewed before I ever started this blog but weren't actually posted to my regular journal either), and having been sitting for...three years I definitely can't remember what I was trying to say in some points where my writing was muddled. But it's not a half bad time to post these, so I might as well throw them in. How is the new series of Frasier going anyway?
Frasier 3x16: Look Before You Leap
It is a fairly well known fact that trying to analyze comedy is a pretty sure way to kill it, but this episode is a really good comedy worth some analysis. It's a really good combination of easy to access jokes for those who just drop in for the episode; somewhat more Frasier specific jokes that show the characters and setting; and ones that mostly only resonate to the engaged viewer. There's some low brow humor, some high brow humor, and some slapstick thrown in. There's nothing that really stands out as wrong with the treatment of continuity or characters, but it never goes deeply into them, instead keeping everything funny.
And because of all that, I don't have a lot to further analyze. I suppose I could find something to discuss with Roz or Niles or Martin (not so much Daphne, though there are some good jokes around her) or how valid the initial advice in this episode was. But it's also all very easy to access and I don't think my opinions would provide any deeper ideas than that this is a good time.
Production: 9/10 the acting and timing in this one is great
Story: 7.5/10 it's not super deep, but it doesn't seem meant to be
Writing: 5/5
Characters: 4/5 everyone is in character (except maybe right after Martin comes home) but it didn't deepen much
Relationships: 2/5
Comedy: 4.5/5 I debated on a 5, but it's not quite as funny to me as it thinks it is, so it only almost gets full marks
Drama: 1.5/5
Personal: 8.5/10
Overall: 41.5/50 and this seeming a bit low is why having a balance of comedy and drama does so much in other episodes' favor
Frasier 3x17: High Crane Drifter
I'm having a bit of a hard time deciding how I feel about this one; which I think puts it in the I want to like it more than I do area. There's a lot to like here; it has good moments with each of the characters, it's a really good Frasier story which I don't often feel; it's certainly relatable to just run out of the ability to give a damn; and it has some interesting commentary on society and how to live in it.
So why don't I like it more than I do? I like it well enough, I can't shake the feeling that it just isn't quite enough. It's well told, the pace is appropriate, everything pretty much makes sense, I laughed a fair number of times, and yet I feel a little bit disappointed in it. This is why the personal scoring exists, for when I can't name a reason why something doesn't work for me, it just doesn't quite work.
There were a couple things that bothered me after the fight, and I think it can be summed up as a very high school attitude. But I guess without the acknowledgment we've gotten at other times that it's explicitly connected to the idea the the Crane boys didn't get in fights when they were young. From Martin continuing to encourage the boys to get in fights, to the glorification Frasier receives for what he did, even Niles' jealousy, it's all very the perception of standing up to a school yard bully and someone's wish fulfillment that doing so would be met with honor and respect. And if it felt more like Frasier was living out (or trying to) that fantasy, the one probably he had a lot as a kid, that would be a more meaty story than the world validating it so quickly.
It's not even that consistent, Niles and the Nervosa crowd were all worried and not quick to accept Frasier's behavior; but once the paper came out on his side, so did everyone else. And maybe that's part of the problem, the setup was about Frasier reaching the breaking point, but the fallout was about him being validated for crossing it, At least that seems to be the conclusion I'm coming to.
Or maybe I would just have a different opinion on a different day.
Production: 7.5/10 mostly for KG's acting throughout this one, everything else was fairly standard
Story: 6/10 barring the disjoint I identified I do have to give credit for including the cast pretty well
Writing: 4/5 I'm going to have that tune in my head too
Characters: 4/5
Relationships: 3/5 as usual some good brother stuff
Comedy: 3/5
Drama: 2.5/5
Personal: 6/10 it still wasn't bad, I just didn't love it and I feel disappointed in that
Overall: 36/50
Frasier 3x18: Chess Pains
Coming out of an episode feeling that I liked an episode more than I can clearly articulate why is a much nicer feeling that not liking something for ineffable reasons. In a lot of ways this episode should feel just on the good side of average, but I really liked it. It had a good main story, some good character beats, a couple fun subplots, and some meat to chew on for analysis.
While I do think the final verdict is not that Frasier was subconsciously letting Martin win for Oedipal reasons, I think Martin is just good at chess, Frasier's reaction after the fact is rather in line with the idea that he hadn't gone through that phase yet. And part of me thinks that's weird that he's in his 40s and only now beaten his dad at something like this; especially since it's clearly not something he would have seen his dad as the king of before now so that dethroning him would mean much. But at the same time, because the boys clearly from a young age saw themselves as so superior to Martin at the things they valued, they never really went through a time when they eclipsed their father at the things he stood for. It's a bit of a stretch, but it makes enough sense to me.
And then there's Maris-dog. I have to assume it started with one of the writers seeing this dog and building the idea from there, because they would have to know this dog existed before writing the plot. Because this is a find of a dog, for us to immediately understand that this is Maris-dog when we've never actually seen Maris; which as a consequence sort of makes this dog our visual reference for Maris. Although I question slightly if this didn't require a little bit of regression on Niles' character. I fully believe that he would miss the obvious parallel, but I also find it a little strange that at this point Maris-dog would be the dog he would immediately gravitate towards. Familiar sure, but comforting I've never understood to be the emotional response he has to Maris. If they'd made a whole plot out of this metaphor instead of leaving it at a single scene (how much to do we actually see or hear about the dog after this?) there would have been room. But the joke we get certainly works.
Production: 7.5/10 the acting is all good and I do have to commend them for Maris-dog
Story: 8.5/10 it gives everyone at least a moment to shine, it's pretty well constructed, though some of the bridges between sections aren't the smoothest
Writing: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Relationships: 3/5
Comedy: 4/5
Drama: 3/5
Personal: 7.5/10
Overall: 41.5/50
Frasier 3x19: Crane vs. Crane
This episode is...well it's weird. I like it, but it's a mess in terms of story construction and logic. It has good moments and I think it does some good stuff with the characters, but the plot doesn't work under the slightest bit of scrutiny.
I don't pretend to understand how court proceedings work, much less ones for reality TV, but this seems completely wrong. For one I'm pretty sure things are pre-taped and edited for broadcast once they know if it's even worth showing. In a connected sense, I'm certain wavers and such have to be signed, which would require the signatory to be ruled capable of doing so; so I don't see how this kind of case would be considered. Also, why are the psychiatry witnesses making these sorts of extended statements? Also, even I know that there are actual rules for things like which side goes first, it's not a matter of whim as it's presented here. In many ways this seems more like a mediation of some kind where the rules are looser, but they're having it in a courtroom.
But, if you can get past how much of a mess that part of the plot is, there's some good character thought going on here. It does give Frasier and Niles different places to stand on this one, not just because they disagree but because of how they're approaching the case. They're both petty and ridiculous (although I find them being dorky kids playing in the courtroom at the end adorable, if in a practical level nonsensical), but I actually think Frasier comes off worse. Niles gets caught up in the idea of being on television, but it's never presented as being why he took the case. Frasier may think so, but I think that's projection, because he can't stand the idea of being seen as less than his little brother for even a moment. Niles was clearly approached to be part of the case, he spent time with Safford and diagnosed that the younger Safford was right about his condition. Niles comments that Safford can seem lucid for long periods of time, which means he was either informed of that or he spent enough time on the diagnosis to see that for himself. Niles is a better and more thorough psychiatrist than Frasier, this isn't news.
I feel like the final statement on Frasier's attitude is (fittingly) the optimistic way of taking his behavior. It does make sense with what we see that Frasier could conclude that Safford was just eccentric and free-spirited instead of failing mentally. And I think a lot of us would want to lean that way. But, Frasier also doesn't put in extensive work on the case, to know if this is an average day for him or a good one; doesn't talk with anyone who spends significant time with Safford; doesn't observe him in any other circumstances than the ones he started in; and basically decides that after a couple hours of mostly play time he knows everything he needs to. Niles is thorough to the point of perfectionism, while Frasier is more comfortable making a quick decision and diagnosis; that's the conclusion I come to, even if the episode seems to equate Frasier's less than stellar behavior with Niles being a preening ninny about being on TV.
Production: 4/10 the acting is pretty good, but there wasn't a lot of thought behind this
Story: 4/10 the court stuff is terrible, but grade is slightly buoyed by the Ros bit which also shows Frasier as not being the authority he thinks he is
Writing: 2/5 basically everything on the practical side is getting penalized for the lack of care it shows
Characters: 3.5/5
Relationships: 2.5/5
Comedy: 3/5
Drama: 2/5
Personal: 6/10 I thought it was okay in spite of the flaws
Overall: 27/50
Frasier 3x20: Police Story
The episode is oddly put together, it gives me some whiplash at most of the scene changes. I can't decide if this is a cause or effect or just a connected issue, but it also doesn't seem to know who the focus of the episode is. It eases fairly naturally from being a Frasier episode to a Martin one, but then decides it needs to be about Frasier again, and doesn't shift back so easily. So the last few scenes have some gear grinding going on.
I'm also on record as not being a big fan of cringe humor, and the last few scenes lean heavily on that. I don't find them very funny, I just find them sad and pathetic. And to some extent I'm clearly supposed to, but I think the middle section shifting away from us following Frasier makes him look worse than if we had seen then as his story all the way through.
And just as a side note, early on when Frasier being especially...Frasier, Martin takes the opportunity to disparage Frasier's chances with Maureen; but considering Martin and Hester are the same cop and shrink combination I would have liked for that to get more attention.
Per this episode's suggested time frame, Frasier hasn't had sex in nine months, and that was with Edna; per my notes the last time we know he had sex was with Kate in Adventures and in airing those episodes are only about five months apart. Also the time frame between Last Time I Saw Maris and Look Before you Leap was said to be around three months, which was the difference in air time. And we have to lock in Christmas and Leap Day even if Diane's appearance is supposed to span weeks. So either there was a fair amount of time between episodes 3x07 and 3x08 or it's been a lot longer than the air date two months since Leap.
If I'm being generous it could easily enough have been six months since Kate (not too much of a stretch) and Frasier did initially say six months. But then why would he correct to nine? Roz knows about him and Kate; and everybody knows what happened in Adventures. Even assuming they didn't finish that time so Frasier's not counting it, they had already had sex at that point.
Also, whenever this is supposed to be, I'm pretty sure it doesn't stick as Frasier's birthday.
Production: 5/10 as noted the tone is all over the place, also Daphne's friends are not a great addition
Story: 6/10 it's a good idea that's well executed at times but not so much others
Writing: 3/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Relationships: 3/5 while I think Maureen sticks around in theory she isn't an ongoing concern so I basically only count the family relationships, but they're good
Comedy: 3/5
Drama: 3.5/5
Personal: 5/10 if the last few scenes hadn't been so cringy I probably would have fone a bit higher
Overall: 32/50
2) These may be the oldest reviews I could dig up that I never posted (...no the Selfridge reviews have been sitting in drawers longer...on top the season of Star Trek TOS I reviewed before I ever started this blog but weren't actually posted to my regular journal either), and having been sitting for...three years I definitely can't remember what I was trying to say in some points where my writing was muddled. But it's not a half bad time to post these, so I might as well throw them in. How is the new series of Frasier going anyway?
Frasier 3x16: Look Before You Leap
It is a fairly well known fact that trying to analyze comedy is a pretty sure way to kill it, but this episode is a really good comedy worth some analysis. It's a really good combination of easy to access jokes for those who just drop in for the episode; somewhat more Frasier specific jokes that show the characters and setting; and ones that mostly only resonate to the engaged viewer. There's some low brow humor, some high brow humor, and some slapstick thrown in. There's nothing that really stands out as wrong with the treatment of continuity or characters, but it never goes deeply into them, instead keeping everything funny.
And because of all that, I don't have a lot to further analyze. I suppose I could find something to discuss with Roz or Niles or Martin (not so much Daphne, though there are some good jokes around her) or how valid the initial advice in this episode was. But it's also all very easy to access and I don't think my opinions would provide any deeper ideas than that this is a good time.
Production: 9/10 the acting and timing in this one is great
Story: 7.5/10 it's not super deep, but it doesn't seem meant to be
Writing: 5/5
Characters: 4/5 everyone is in character (except maybe right after Martin comes home) but it didn't deepen much
Relationships: 2/5
Comedy: 4.5/5 I debated on a 5, but it's not quite as funny to me as it thinks it is, so it only almost gets full marks
Drama: 1.5/5
Personal: 8.5/10
Overall: 41.5/50 and this seeming a bit low is why having a balance of comedy and drama does so much in other episodes' favor
Frasier 3x17: High Crane Drifter
I'm having a bit of a hard time deciding how I feel about this one; which I think puts it in the I want to like it more than I do area. There's a lot to like here; it has good moments with each of the characters, it's a really good Frasier story which I don't often feel; it's certainly relatable to just run out of the ability to give a damn; and it has some interesting commentary on society and how to live in it.
So why don't I like it more than I do? I like it well enough, I can't shake the feeling that it just isn't quite enough. It's well told, the pace is appropriate, everything pretty much makes sense, I laughed a fair number of times, and yet I feel a little bit disappointed in it. This is why the personal scoring exists, for when I can't name a reason why something doesn't work for me, it just doesn't quite work.
There were a couple things that bothered me after the fight, and I think it can be summed up as a very high school attitude. But I guess without the acknowledgment we've gotten at other times that it's explicitly connected to the idea the the Crane boys didn't get in fights when they were young. From Martin continuing to encourage the boys to get in fights, to the glorification Frasier receives for what he did, even Niles' jealousy, it's all very the perception of standing up to a school yard bully and someone's wish fulfillment that doing so would be met with honor and respect. And if it felt more like Frasier was living out (or trying to) that fantasy, the one probably he had a lot as a kid, that would be a more meaty story than the world validating it so quickly.
It's not even that consistent, Niles and the Nervosa crowd were all worried and not quick to accept Frasier's behavior; but once the paper came out on his side, so did everyone else. And maybe that's part of the problem, the setup was about Frasier reaching the breaking point, but the fallout was about him being validated for crossing it, At least that seems to be the conclusion I'm coming to.
Or maybe I would just have a different opinion on a different day.
Production: 7.5/10 mostly for KG's acting throughout this one, everything else was fairly standard
Story: 6/10 barring the disjoint I identified I do have to give credit for including the cast pretty well
Writing: 4/5 I'm going to have that tune in my head too
Characters: 4/5
Relationships: 3/5 as usual some good brother stuff
Comedy: 3/5
Drama: 2.5/5
Personal: 6/10 it still wasn't bad, I just didn't love it and I feel disappointed in that
Overall: 36/50
Frasier 3x18: Chess Pains
Coming out of an episode feeling that I liked an episode more than I can clearly articulate why is a much nicer feeling that not liking something for ineffable reasons. In a lot of ways this episode should feel just on the good side of average, but I really liked it. It had a good main story, some good character beats, a couple fun subplots, and some meat to chew on for analysis.
While I do think the final verdict is not that Frasier was subconsciously letting Martin win for Oedipal reasons, I think Martin is just good at chess, Frasier's reaction after the fact is rather in line with the idea that he hadn't gone through that phase yet. And part of me thinks that's weird that he's in his 40s and only now beaten his dad at something like this; especially since it's clearly not something he would have seen his dad as the king of before now so that dethroning him would mean much. But at the same time, because the boys clearly from a young age saw themselves as so superior to Martin at the things they valued, they never really went through a time when they eclipsed their father at the things he stood for. It's a bit of a stretch, but it makes enough sense to me.
And then there's Maris-dog. I have to assume it started with one of the writers seeing this dog and building the idea from there, because they would have to know this dog existed before writing the plot. Because this is a find of a dog, for us to immediately understand that this is Maris-dog when we've never actually seen Maris; which as a consequence sort of makes this dog our visual reference for Maris. Although I question slightly if this didn't require a little bit of regression on Niles' character. I fully believe that he would miss the obvious parallel, but I also find it a little strange that at this point Maris-dog would be the dog he would immediately gravitate towards. Familiar sure, but comforting I've never understood to be the emotional response he has to Maris. If they'd made a whole plot out of this metaphor instead of leaving it at a single scene (how much to do we actually see or hear about the dog after this?) there would have been room. But the joke we get certainly works.
Production: 7.5/10 the acting is all good and I do have to commend them for Maris-dog
Story: 8.5/10 it gives everyone at least a moment to shine, it's pretty well constructed, though some of the bridges between sections aren't the smoothest
Writing: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Relationships: 3/5
Comedy: 4/5
Drama: 3/5
Personal: 7.5/10
Overall: 41.5/50
Frasier 3x19: Crane vs. Crane
This episode is...well it's weird. I like it, but it's a mess in terms of story construction and logic. It has good moments and I think it does some good stuff with the characters, but the plot doesn't work under the slightest bit of scrutiny.
I don't pretend to understand how court proceedings work, much less ones for reality TV, but this seems completely wrong. For one I'm pretty sure things are pre-taped and edited for broadcast once they know if it's even worth showing. In a connected sense, I'm certain wavers and such have to be signed, which would require the signatory to be ruled capable of doing so; so I don't see how this kind of case would be considered. Also, why are the psychiatry witnesses making these sorts of extended statements? Also, even I know that there are actual rules for things like which side goes first, it's not a matter of whim as it's presented here. In many ways this seems more like a mediation of some kind where the rules are looser, but they're having it in a courtroom.
But, if you can get past how much of a mess that part of the plot is, there's some good character thought going on here. It does give Frasier and Niles different places to stand on this one, not just because they disagree but because of how they're approaching the case. They're both petty and ridiculous (although I find them being dorky kids playing in the courtroom at the end adorable, if in a practical level nonsensical), but I actually think Frasier comes off worse. Niles gets caught up in the idea of being on television, but it's never presented as being why he took the case. Frasier may think so, but I think that's projection, because he can't stand the idea of being seen as less than his little brother for even a moment. Niles was clearly approached to be part of the case, he spent time with Safford and diagnosed that the younger Safford was right about his condition. Niles comments that Safford can seem lucid for long periods of time, which means he was either informed of that or he spent enough time on the diagnosis to see that for himself. Niles is a better and more thorough psychiatrist than Frasier, this isn't news.
I feel like the final statement on Frasier's attitude is (fittingly) the optimistic way of taking his behavior. It does make sense with what we see that Frasier could conclude that Safford was just eccentric and free-spirited instead of failing mentally. And I think a lot of us would want to lean that way. But, Frasier also doesn't put in extensive work on the case, to know if this is an average day for him or a good one; doesn't talk with anyone who spends significant time with Safford; doesn't observe him in any other circumstances than the ones he started in; and basically decides that after a couple hours of mostly play time he knows everything he needs to. Niles is thorough to the point of perfectionism, while Frasier is more comfortable making a quick decision and diagnosis; that's the conclusion I come to, even if the episode seems to equate Frasier's less than stellar behavior with Niles being a preening ninny about being on TV.
Production: 4/10 the acting is pretty good, but there wasn't a lot of thought behind this
Story: 4/10 the court stuff is terrible, but grade is slightly buoyed by the Ros bit which also shows Frasier as not being the authority he thinks he is
Writing: 2/5 basically everything on the practical side is getting penalized for the lack of care it shows
Characters: 3.5/5
Relationships: 2.5/5
Comedy: 3/5
Drama: 2/5
Personal: 6/10 I thought it was okay in spite of the flaws
Overall: 27/50
Frasier 3x20: Police Story
The episode is oddly put together, it gives me some whiplash at most of the scene changes. I can't decide if this is a cause or effect or just a connected issue, but it also doesn't seem to know who the focus of the episode is. It eases fairly naturally from being a Frasier episode to a Martin one, but then decides it needs to be about Frasier again, and doesn't shift back so easily. So the last few scenes have some gear grinding going on.
I'm also on record as not being a big fan of cringe humor, and the last few scenes lean heavily on that. I don't find them very funny, I just find them sad and pathetic. And to some extent I'm clearly supposed to, but I think the middle section shifting away from us following Frasier makes him look worse than if we had seen then as his story all the way through.
And just as a side note, early on when Frasier being especially...Frasier, Martin takes the opportunity to disparage Frasier's chances with Maureen; but considering Martin and Hester are the same cop and shrink combination I would have liked for that to get more attention.
Per this episode's suggested time frame, Frasier hasn't had sex in nine months, and that was with Edna; per my notes the last time we know he had sex was with Kate in Adventures and in airing those episodes are only about five months apart. Also the time frame between Last Time I Saw Maris and Look Before you Leap was said to be around three months, which was the difference in air time. And we have to lock in Christmas and Leap Day even if Diane's appearance is supposed to span weeks. So either there was a fair amount of time between episodes 3x07 and 3x08 or it's been a lot longer than the air date two months since Leap.
If I'm being generous it could easily enough have been six months since Kate (not too much of a stretch) and Frasier did initially say six months. But then why would he correct to nine? Roz knows about him and Kate; and everybody knows what happened in Adventures. Even assuming they didn't finish that time so Frasier's not counting it, they had already had sex at that point.
Also, whenever this is supposed to be, I'm pretty sure it doesn't stick as Frasier's birthday.
Production: 5/10 as noted the tone is all over the place, also Daphne's friends are not a great addition
Story: 6/10 it's a good idea that's well executed at times but not so much others
Writing: 3/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Relationships: 3/5 while I think Maureen sticks around in theory she isn't an ongoing concern so I basically only count the family relationships, but they're good
Comedy: 3/5
Drama: 3.5/5
Personal: 5/10 if the last few scenes hadn't been so cringy I probably would have fone a bit higher
Overall: 32/50