Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 4 -> Episode 4.15

Roz's Krantz & Gouldenstein Are Dead

Frasier and Niles are driving back from a squash game when Niles spies Roz among a group of people picking up trash from the side of the road. They stop and get her attention, but Roz is embarrassed and jumps in the back of the car. She explains that she was caught speeding and after being offered a fine or community service, Roz opted for community service. She really hates picking up everyone else's rubbish, but the only other choice was helping at an old people's home, so thanks to Roz's fear of ageing, that's why she's picking up trash from the side of the road. Frasier, though, manages to convince her that she has to tackle her fear of ageing and so starts at the old people's home. Things get off to an auspicious start, though, when the first 2 people she cares for - Mr Krantz and Mr Gouldenstein - both die on her. This earns Roz the nickname of "The Angel Of Death" around the home, leaving Roz close to quitting.

Frasier persuades her to stay on, and goes down to the home with her for some moral support. Once there, she sees people run from her, but enjoys a chat with the lively Moira, who enjoys cigarettes and recently hacked in to the computer system at the home and changed the schedules so that all her sponge baths are by the dishy male nurse Eduardo. Frasier, meanwhile, strikes up a conversation with the blind patient Norman who is a regular listener to his show and, thanks to Frasier's advice, now has a cast of his late wife's face by his bedside so he can run his fingers over it and remember her by. Things take a turn for the worse, though, when Frasier manages to drop it and break off the nose.....

- Frasier is puzzled why Roz chose to pick up litter instead of helping at an old people's home:
Niles: Well, walking the streets picking up trash - you can see how Roz would go with the familiar (!)

- Roz sees her supervisor and asks Frasier to drive off, but he refuses:
Roz: Move or your brother gets it.
Frasier: Absolutely not!
Roz: All right, then - the head rest.
Frasier: Off we go!

- Bulldog is annoyed at Roz's attitude towards guys that 'die' in bed:
Bulldog: If you chicks needed a little less booze to get from maybe to yes, maybe we'd be more alert when the moment of truth arrives!

- Martin is showing off Eddie's new trick:
Martin: Look Frase - he's practically doing a polka.
Frasier: Oh good - that should up his price when I sell him to the carnival (!)

- Niles took Maris to a wedding because he knew she'd be lonely - it's cruise season:
Niles: She never partakes, she has a fear of buffets.
Frasier: Ah, yes - the legendary smorgaphobia!

- Roz is caring for Moira, and she wants her cigarettes:
Roz: You know these things come with a warning.
Moira: So do you, dear, and I let you in.

A sweet episode that features 2 good cameos from Lois Smith and James Earl Jones - in particular, Jones' performance as blind Norman is quite affecting when he reveals he keeps a face cast of his wife by his bed to remember her by. Both he and Lois Smith as Moira play characters with a wonderful outlook on life, making the most of the time they have left. While never overtly hilarious, it is an amusing, enjoyable and quite touching episode.

Rating

75 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 84.9%
Total Number of Reviews: 7