Frasier intro - 1x06

[jedi_of_urth]

Frasier intro

So apparently, not content with the projects I have going on, my brain decided I wanted to rewatch Frasier; and because I find myself wanting to do reviews of so many things I watch these days I couldn't just watch Frasier, I must review it. I actually think there's probably a fair amount to say about this, especially for a sitcom, but I fully expect some of these reviews to be pretty short too.

Ever since I got this idea in my head I couldn't decide how I wanted to approach it. Part of me thought I should start all the way back on Cheers, but the more I thought about it the less interested I became in that prospect. I think I've only watched Cheers all the way through once, so I don't have the same relationship to the characters that I do with the Frasier group (which I think I've seen 2-3 times, but also more scattered episodes that I've seen more often). Also, the ratio of things I like to things I don't like is much less favorable with Cheers. There are certainly things I like about the show, that's not what I'm saying, but my average level of enjoyment is much lower.

But in spite of the fact that there's no way I should think of this as consistent full length reviews as opposed to a mini-review set, it took me a bit to get my head around the idea. To that end I put together a grading sheet that I can use for every episode, especially for those where I mostly just want to say that the ep was fine and move on. But I am going to need to explain some things on my grading sheet.


Production: /10 This is basically a catch-all category for acting, directing, music, editing, etc.
Story: /10 This covers the bulk of the story-craft of writing, the plot, in episode and connected to others, whether the story builds on itself and sticks the landing of its tale.
Writing: /5 This is specifically the writing and dialog aspect of the story, witty comments and effective turns of phrase or just well constructed scenes.
Characters: /5 Are the characters well served by what happens here?
Relationships: /5 Are there good stories about the characters' relationships (and I don't exclusively mean romantically)
Comedy: /5 Does it make me laugh?
Drama: /5 Am I moved and invested in the heart of the story?
Personal: /10 This is a stat I just stand by in most grading, because something can be good but I don't like it, or bad but I love it, so this is sort of an adjustment for strict opinion points (not that the others aren't opinions too). Can also just mean if what we got happens to focus on a plotline I care about.

Overall: /50 the astute reader might noticed that the above categories add up to 55 not 50, but as comedy and drama can be at odds with each other I'm letting it be graded out of 50, if they can do both they deserve the extra credit.

Obviously any of the stats impact the rating of the others, but I think this will work out. If it doesn't we'll reevaluate down the line, same as I kept adding and refining the TXF questions. Plus scores will be given in the immediate aftermath of viewing and therefore may be inconsistent.

The other thing to do before we get started is own up to some of my opinions entering into the project. I have been poking at some episodes of the series while figured out if I wanted to review the project, so some of these I feel fairly confident in assuming will stand.

-I pretty much ignore the radio show segments, especially the episode openers; they can be fun but rarely engage me that much.
-The whole drama around the radio station is definitely not what was ever important to me on this show. Also, I think I still hate Bulldog (when I remember he exists).
-The line between cringe humor and farce can be a narrow one, and it moves so I can't predict how everything will strike me.
-I love Lilith. I will further gush at the appropriate time.
-I definitely still ship Niles/Daphne, but I expect to have a lot to comment on about it these days.
-Frasier's dating life is rarely interesting to me; on occasion, but rarely.
-This time around I am totally here for the Crane family feels.
-I'm pretty sure character ages and things like birthdays aren't kept consistent, so expect me to keep a chart of things like that.

I don't really feel like getting into my history with the show at this time, maybe down the road. I do however wish I had thought of this before the show went off Netflix.



Frasier 1x01: The Good Son

Basically every review series I've done has started with some version of noting that pilots are inherently weird. This one is actually less weird in a lot of ways than many, but a few ways where it is at odd with the long view are still notable.

Mainly that they don't seem to have figured out how to light or shoot the sets yet. Everything looks a little cheap in a way I can't quite put down to the time it was made (or my middling quality copies), it just doesn't look like it's settled in yet. I suspect this could be said about other shows, but because some elements on screen do seem to lock in from the start (not all by any means) that the production doesn't seem to have found itself out the gate is notable.

For obvious reasons Frasier does feel locked in; but KG had been playing the part for nine seasons or so by this point, so even with a soft reboot, he ought to know what he's doing. I'd say Roz feels the most decided on after that, but she also doesn't have to carry a lot of the weight of what's going on; so it's probably more accurate to say there's nothing wrong that I can spot with her to start with, but probably not developed beyond the surface. It's debatable that Martin and Niles are the same level of figured out from the start, but because who their characters are and their relationships to each other are doing more to drive the story, it's more noticeable that they aren't quite fully fleshed out yet. They're not wrong exactly, the basic ideas of who the characters are supposed to be are put out there; first to be deepened beyond the surface before starting to develop them and move them away from that starting point.

I'm a little less gracious with Daphne. She only really has the one scene in this one, and it is laying on her character quirks full force. She's not really carrying any of the story, just one more problem element messing up Frasier's life; she's basically human Eddie as far as her plot relevance. Going forward it's not as if the show immediately walks away from her character quirks in some sort of post-pilot review, but they do mellow a lot of them (and add more human characteristics), but I don't know that I feel she was conceived as a full character or just that series of quirks for the intro and the character constructed after the fact.

But beyond pilot weirdness, this is also kind of weird just as a show. I'm not sure if I saw it today I would be drawn in from the start (and I might as well say that I did not watch it from the start back in the day); it's definitely not a modern show, so I don't know how well it would appeal to a modern audience. But it also can't quite seem to decide, right from the start, what kind of show it is and who it's meant for. That dichotomy is part of what I ultimately like about the show, but as a pilot trying to grab an audience I'm not sure how it would play. It's not that funny, but it's also straining against the limitations of half hour sitcoms before the audience knows what kind of show it is.

So I wouldn't say it's a great beginning, but it's a fine story as a place to start things from.

Production: 5/10 mostly for the acting, as discussed the style hasn't gotten here yet
Story: 7.5/10 it's well structured to introduce the aspects of the series, if a little basic for now
Writing: 2/5 I can't remember too many outstanding lines, but there are a few good turns
Characters: 3.5/5
Relationships: 3.5/5 Frasier and Martin's relationship is at the center here, and as a starting point it works
Comedy: 2.5/5
Drama: 3/5
Personal: 6.5/10 I can't give it a glowing review, but it's fine

Overall: 33.5/50



Frasier 1x02: Space Quest

As often happens, a lot of the issues evident in a pilot are helped by the second episode. This isn't exactly a two-parter, but as this follows so closely from the first ep that it could almost be called one, and there's a lot more to recommend them as a unit than individually.

I'm not sure I'd call the limited Niles in this one a problem, even for me who usually counted Niles as my favorite character. This episode is about Frasier's situation, especially at home but also at work and at this point Niles isn't part of that situation. I assume starting pretty soon we start to see Niles becoming part of Frasier's routine more than he is now, but so far Niles is off doing his own thing, living his own life; and here that especially stands in contrast to Frasier whose life is being forced to change. Niles is sort of Frasier a year ago; he's married to a unpleasant woman he claims to love, he has a thriving private practice, he has an excuse not to take in Martin; and in a way, Niles' presence in Frasier's life at the moment is akin to Frasier's relationship to the Cheers gang, they get together, drink some coffee instead of beer, talk in snippets about their problems, and then go back to their own circles.

It also highlights to me how much Daphne is probably a huge reason Niles ends up such a part of Frasier's routine. Frasier's been back in Seattle for a while now, and Frasier and Martin have been living together for a bit (not to mention that Niles and Martin have been in Seattle together all along), but for now Niles' life is still separate. Then, next time, he meets Daphne and from then on he'll be at the apartment consistently. On an even broader meta-textual level, it would have happened anyway, it's not like the writers would have kept Niles away I'm sure; and I don't exactly think Daphne was inserted as a reason for Niles to be there all the time; but the confluence of events comes back to in the text basically as her being the turning point.

I feel like Roz here is developed about the same amount as in 1x01. Though with more focus on her dating instead of her as Frasier's producer. We're not getting a ton of depth (and to be fair I don't remember Roz getting as much depth as most of the others) but the two sides together create almost the illusion of depth and for just two episodes maybe that's enough (arguably more than Niles so far, I just have more to say about Niles).

This is a much better introduction to Daphne than the pilot. Her quirks are already toned down to a quirky-human level instead of just weird as she was in the pilot considering she was on a job interview. They're definitely still finding her voice and character, but at least we have her role better defined.

I also think this is a better introduction to who Martin is going to be for the series. He isn't really changed from the pilot, but he also seems more like a person. Seeing this episode does highlight how rushed the pilot actually was on its own, even though it didn't feel like it as I watched it. We got rushed outlines of each of the characters but they didn't become fully realized. Niles still hasn't beyond 'also-Frasier'. And maybe the fight in the pilot is part of what gets Martin to act a little better here, as while he's still gruff and has his own problems he's dealing with he does show that he wants to improve things with Frasier and is making an effort, it's just got a long way to go.

I do identify with both Frasier and Martin a lot this time out. Frasier's resentment over not being able to be by himself and just be in his space, always having people around...that apartment really isn't big enough for people who each want their own space. And Martin not knowing what to do when someone tries to force a deep conversation. And just not knowing how to be with people, in a variety of ways. I felt this one pretty strongly.

Production: 6.5/10 it does look better than the pilot, but it's still finding itself
Story: 6/10 it's still doing a lot of building, and it leaves Niles out mostly, but more works than doesn't
Writing: 2/5
Characters: 3/5 improved on some characters, stood same on some, left Niles out
Relationships: 2.5/5 still basically resting on Frasier and Martin's relationship
Comedy: 2/5
Drama: 3.5/5
Personal: 7/10 I liked it a bit more than the pilot, but you needed to see the pilot first

Overall: 32.5/50



Frasier 1x03: Dinner at Eight

In some ways this feels like the first real 'Frasier' episode, and actually that's pretty good that the show found its footing so quickly. We'll see if it holds that footing as this was also the episode that stood out most in my memory of the early part of this season, so it would make sense that it feels the most like what I know.

While things are still being set up for the long game of the series, the previous two eps have mainly focused on setting up circumstances, while this is doing a lot of character set up. At least for the Crane men, Roz is still just getting a few moments and Daphne is very much a supporting part of the story; and in some ways she's being reestablished, this time through Niles' eyes rather than Frasier's in the premier. I would say that the introduction of the Niles and Daphne story is the most enduring legacy of this episode, but there's actually a lot brought up in the Timbermill scene that does a lot to establish each of the Cranes. But I am going to talk about Niles and Daphne first.

I have a theory that I'm going to try and track as the series progresses, that whose headspace we're in regarding Niles/Daphne changes throughout the series. In the first couple season we're viewing it from Frasier's perspective, by some time in s3 (certainly by Moon Dance) we're very squarely in Niles' perspective of the relationship; then when Daphne explicitly finds out about Niles' feeling we shift fairly quickly into her perspective in a way we hadn't been before since the audience had to buy that she didn't realize his feelings before. But obviously that's ages off.

I've had a bit of a think on how I would describe Niles' early infatuation with Daphne; because I don't know if saying it's love at first sight is quite right, but I'm also not wiling to call it basic lust. Maybe that's my hopeless romantic but not particularly sexual perspective talking, but that is my perspective. What I've landed on is besotted; he's draw to her, and yes attraction is definitely part of it, but it somehow manages to be both inappropriate and innocent at the same time; which will pretty much be the folding pattern for a while I think.

The dinner scene is where I really feel like the writers locked down the Crane family. As I said I don't remember this as much from previous watches, but it does finally lock in elements that I do know resonate across the series, and an important part of that is doing more to establish Hester's (not that I think she's been named yet) place in everything. Martin can chastise them as himself, but what cuts to the core in invoking Hester and telling the boys how she would feel about this.

That said, I don't think the boys were behaving as badly as Martin acts like they are. They're elitist sure, and have perhaps have lost some simple pleasures (which is weirder with Frasier since he didn't leave Cheers that long ago), they certainly were looking down their noses at everything here and they could have been nicer about everything. But while they're snobbish the waitress, they're not mean; and I don't think it's unreasonable to be a little weirded out by the meat trolley. And again, Niles' attitude when not ordering from the trolley was priggish, but Martin presuming their orders was going to lead to problems. Niles wanted filet minion, Frasier wanted something that wasn't on the meat trolley, maybe neither of them wanted medium rare or at least wanted to know what the cook here thought of as medium rare, maybe there are fixins that won't agree with them; and that's not what they got because Martin took things too far his direction to put a stop to the boys taking it too far their direction. While the writing seems to be on Martin's side, and the boys are more clearly behaving poorly, I was getting frustrated with how the meal was playing on the boys' behalf rather than being Martin's side.

Production: 7.5/10 the acting and production quality continue to improve, but the Timbermill set didn't work for me
Story: 8/10
Writing: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Relationships: 4/5 introduces Niles/Daphne and locks in the Crane family
Comedy: 3/5
Drama: 3/5
Personal: 8.5/10 while the Timbermill scenes are really important and character building, I feel like the story fails to properly climax on what was set up

Overall: 43/50



Frasier 1x04: I Hate Frasier Crane

This one wasn't another step forward, but it was only a step back because 1x03 was so good. This is just more like average, and it sets a fine average.

I don't know how much of this is a gender difference, a class difference, or a generational difference, but I don't think I've ever been in a situation where someone was encouraging someone else, especially their kid, to get into a fight. Of course I also don't remember being around that many fights, even the few I remember happening in high school I always seemed to show up after the fact. And since here we're talking about adults, and not even just getting a little over-amped at the bar one night, I find Martin's attitude that Frasier should go through with it odd and really hard to take his side. Or for an in-universe examination, I don't see Frasier being that bothered if Freddie ran away from a fight; yeah he'd want Freddie to win if the fight happened, but avoiding the fight seems like something Frasier would understand. Of course Frasier probably has a lot more experience being the bullied than Martin did.

Production: 5.5/10 the lighting seemed odd again in some scenes, and setting the fight the off-stage highlights how stagey it is
Story: 5/10 kind of like the fight, the story seems to just get moving when it comes to an end
Writing: 3.5/5
Characters: 4/5 a lot of Frasier characterization in this one
Relationships: 3/5 a bit of an odd step with Frasier-Martin, but the best Frasier-Roz we've had so far
Comedy: 4/5 I got a couple really good laughs out of this one
Drama: 2.5/5
Personal: 6/10

Overall: 33.5/50



Frasier 1x05: Here's Looking at You

Another good solid episode, that I don't have a lot to say about. I don't recall that we ever hear from Irene again which keeps them from really exploring the issues brought up in this one to any real extent; and that's kind of a shame but also kind of understandable for s1. While even this early, the show is certainly willing to go to some serious places, having a full serious plot might not seem like something they're ready for.

But I do think there is truth in both of Martin's reasons for backing out on Irene once it moved beyond the texting stage. I definitely get the impression he hasn't dated much if at all since Hester died, and therefore probably not since he was shot. Since as I recall the Hester side is what actually gets more attention across the series I'm not going to give Daphne full credit for sniffing out the truth. Yes Hester might well agree that Martin has plenty of life left to live without her, but that doesn't mean he's in a rush to start dating again, especially with the added hurdle of the hip and cane that he's obviously had trouble adjusting to since he still needs full-time help after a couple years.

The portrayal of Frasier and Daphne in this one is a little weird. In that, if I was Irene I'd probably think they were married, but their actual dynamic is much closer to siblings joining forces to help dad. While Niles is off in his own hellish subplot, not quite so much part of the family.

Production: 6/10 if someone tells me that it's just my copy where the lighting still seems off, I'd buy it, but this swung more dark than the previously noted times did. Also I feel like the acting, while settling in quickly was nothing special
Story: 7.5/10 well constructed, though some of the plot mechanics of telescope texting seem awkward to me
Writing: 4/5 there are some well written scenes
Characters: 4.5/5
Relationships: 3/5
Comedy: 3/5 definitely several chuckles, not a lot of big laughs
Drama: 3/5 I may be dinging it for not sticking with this plot
Personal: 7/10

Overall: 38/50



Frasier 1x06: The Crucible

Back when I started this side project I said I thought I had seen this show 2-3 times; and while I kind of still do think that's true, it seems that it's been long enough since the last time that I barely remember and what I remember more is the scattered episodes I saw when I first saw it when I was young. I wonder if whenever the last time I watched the show was, it also wasn't a full watch-through and more akin to what I've been doing lately and just watching bits here and there. This turns out to be the earliest episode I kind of remember seeing once upon a time, though only a few bits of it at the party and none of the resolution.

And the resolution turns out to be surprisingly heartfelt between Frasier and Niles, and to a lesser extent with Martin giving life lessons. While it apparently didn't stick in my brain the way everything surrounding Maris and the coat pile did, I appreciate it a fair bit on this round.

As a general comment though, I don't really get what was so special about the painting in the first place. I do get if that's kind of the point, Frasier didn't really care about the painting, he cared about being able to say he had a Paxton, it made him smile because he appreciated it as a thing that he owned not for the thing itself. But while I'm sort of deriding him for that, I will take his side in not wanting to look at it by the end. Even if he had appreciated the painting in its own right, now it reminds him of feeling humiliated and taken advantage of, so of course he no longer gets the same enjoyment from it.

Production: 8/10 no complaints that I noted
Story: 7.5/10
Writing: 4/5 quite a few good bits at the part and a good ending
Characters: 3/5
Relationships: 2.5/5 just because I love Niles' super obvious crush, and the brothers bonding
Comedy: 3.5/5
Drama: 2.5/5
Personal: 6.5/10

Overall: 37.5/50