Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 3 -> Episode 3.19

Crane vs. Crane

Niles has been asked to testify, on Court TV, against an old millionaire Harlow Safford. His son believes he is mentally unfit to run his own estate, and wants it handed over to him, citing Harlow's recent decision to sell some of his estate for far less than it's worth among a number of actions he has taken recently to prove his point. Martin is upset that Niles could take on such a case, but Frasier believes it's the fact that the case will be shown on TV that swayed Niles' decision to take on the case as he suspect Niles has always been jealous of Frasier's celebrity status - something that Niles, of course, dismisses.

After one of his radio shows, Frasier is approached by Mr Giroux who represents Harlow Safford, who wants Frasier to assess Mr Safford himself and hopefully represent Harlow at the incapacity hearing. Frasier is initially wary of taking on a case his brother is already on, but is persuaded into it, and finds Harlow to be a charming, if at times eccentric person, and sees no reason for him to be declared mentally unfit. Frasier is finally persuded to take on the case after a bitter argument between him and Niles when he tells him of being asked to represent Harlow. At the hearing, Frasier speaks first but is interrupted by Harlow who thinks the courtroom is a train station and goes round asking everyone for tickets - it seems Niles was right, after all, evn if he didn't get a chance to read his testimony out on TV.

- Martin wonders what will happen to his stuff after he dies:
Frasier: Niles and I have decided to donate all your things to charity. We're donating your clothes to the blind (!)

- Mr Giroux tries to convince Frasier to see Harlow Safford:
Frasier: You sound like my father - a man who believes burial is a form of age discrimination!

- Frasier tries on Harlow Safford's firemans hat:
Frasier: It is sort of fun, isn't it?
Harlow: Not on you.

- Martin settles down to watch a video of a boxing match:
Martin: The fight was last night on pay TV. One of my police buddies has a pirate antenna so he taped it for me. Then it was messengered to over to me in an envelope marked "Official Business".
Frasier: Another inspiring tale of our men in law enforcement (!)

- Niles refutes Frasier's suggestion he is wearing make-up for the cameras:
Niles: This is medication - something my dermatologist recommended for me.
Frasier: Dr Revlon (?!)

Even a series as good as 'Frasier' has it's off days, and this episode is sadly one of them. It's central storyline has some good points to make about whether being eccentric is a sign of mental incapacity but the script contains too many weak jokes and is completely let down by it's ending of Harlow launching into his railway conductor routine. This is an ending that would suit a mediocre sitcom as it is obvious the episode has been setting us up for a fall by making us think Frasier is right, but being disproved at the last minute, something I didn't think the writers would sink to using. The episode also throws away the promising idea of Niles being jealous of Frasier's celebrity, leaving us with a disappointing and dull episode in what is a rather good season. Shame.

Rating

70 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 68.0%
Total Number of Reviews: 4