Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 5 -> Episode 5.20

First Date

Niles finally decides to ask Daphne out on a date. However, when the moment arrives he chokes and gets cornered into pretending that he is having a date with Phyllis, his downstairs neighbour. Daphne takes it upon herself to make sure that Niles' date comes off perfectly and arrives at his door to help him get ready. While Daphne is cooking dinner and lighting candles, Niles is still not sure how to tell Daphne that there is no Phyllis. Meanwhile undeniable chemistry develops between Niles and Daphne, especially when they break into song while slicing vegetables. Things get complicated when the real Phyllis shows up in order to return Niles' misdelivered mail. Meanwhile Frasier is hooked to a mini-series and is desperately trying to find the opportunity to watch a tape of the climactic final episode before anybody tells him what happened. However, Martin makes Frasier drive him to the funeral of Frasier's God-uncle.

- Roz is surprised that Frasier actually likes the mini-series:
Frasier: I think some of the intricacies of the plot are downright Dickensian
Roz: Yeah - Angie Dickensian!

- Niles is over at Frasier's eager to tell Daphne his feelings for her:
Niles: What's that perfume you're wearing?
Daphne: Leave it to you to notice - it's "Obsession"
Niles: No, it isn't - I'm just curious.

- Daphne wonders why Niles has celery in the house if he hates it:
Niles: Maris liked to have it in case she felt like binging.

- Frasier drops by Niles' apartment and is surprised to see Daphne cooking there:
Frasier [to Niles]: Daphne is cooking dinner for your date with a fictitious woman?! Why not set a place for the March Hare and The Mad Hatter ?!

- Niles assures Frasier his date with 'Phyllis' won't blow up in his face, as he answers the door:
Niles: Phyllis!
Frasier: Ka-boom(!!)

A highly enjoyable episode that sees Niles yet again come within a whisker of telling Daphne his feelings for her, only to choke at the last second and tell her he is in love with Phyllis (one of his neighbours), which leads to some great scenes as Daphne comes over to help Niles prepare dinner for his 'date' - the pair of them singing 'Heart and Soul' in harmony as they chopped vegetables, for example, as well Frasier's reaction when he pops by and sees Daphne helping Niles cook for his date with 'Phyllis'. The scene is topped off brilliantly if a touch predicatably) by the real Phyllis showing up at Niles' apartment. I thoroughly enjoyed Frasier trying to watch his mini-series too, despite all the obstacles put in front of him, and the episode is rounded off nicely with a rather touching scene where Daphne and Niles end up having dinner together after Phyllis leaves. Although this is isn't the best Niles and Daphne episode ever (and I do wonder how many more times the writers can make Niles almost admit his feelings), it still remains a confident, winning episode from Rob Hanning that gives David Hyde Pierce and Jane Leeves yet another chance to shine.

Rating

81 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 90.1%
Total Number of Reviews: 8