Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 4 -> Episode 4.22

Ask Me No Questions

Frasier is thrown into a state of confusion when Niles asks him whether or not he and Maris are meant for each other. Not knowing whether to answer truthfully or to lie politely, Frasier launches his own crazed fact finding mission to find out if Maris has changed for the better. After seeking advice from Maris' housekeeper, Marta, Frasier becomes obsessed with deciphering everyone's hidden motives, including his own. Frasier's strange behaviour ruins his blind date, and forces him to walk the midnight streets, a la Film Noir, in search of the answer. At midnight he arrives at Niles' doorstep to deliever his decision. Meanwhile, Daphne gives Martin a gift for no reason which causes Martin to anguish whether or not he needs to return the favour.

- Martin's a bit annoyed that Daphne has given him a gift for no apparent reason:
Frasier: Didn't you ever give Mom something with no warning?
Martin: Yeah - you!

- Frasier doesn't want to play 'God':
Niles: If you were ruler of heaven and earth, who would you do?
Frasier: [Looking at Eddie] For starters, I'd recall someof my lesser species (!)

- After Daphne buys Martin a gift, he's bought one for Daphne:
Daphne: Is this for me?
Martin: You know anyone else around here who uses eucalyptus bubble bath?
Daphne: Well, your son occassionally does.

- The scene where we think Frasier meets Maris, but meets Marta instead.

- After Frasier has agonised over his answer, he tells his brother he has an answer to his question:
Niles: What question?

- Frasier realises Maris in in Niles' bedroom:
Frasier: How could you do something like this without waiting for my opinion?
Niles: Someone certainly has a high opinion of their opinion!

This is a peculiarly frustrating episode as it contains some typical brilliant 'Frasier' touches such as when both Martin and Daphne leave Frasier talking to himself and then re-join the conversation without him realising they've been anywhere, as well as the visual metaphors we see as Frasier goes on his night-time walk as he tries to come up with an answer. Tricking into thinking we had seen Maris was also great, as was the minor sub-plot of gift giving between Martin and Daphne, but the central story of Frasier agonising over what to tell his brother in answer to his question just isn't strong enough to sustain an entire episode.

Rating

75 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 78.2%
Total Number of Reviews: 5