Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 5 -> Episode 5.08

Desperately Seeking Closure

Frasier gets dumped by Sam, without any explanation, and becomes obsessed to find out why. He thought they were so happy during their recent ski trip in Colorado where Frasier had the opportunity to hobnob with the likes of Jodie Foster, Tom Brokaw and Salmon Rushdie. Frasier tracks Sam down at the courthouse, asks for an explanation but gets none. Frasier demands that his family tell him his character flaws so that he can figure out why Sam dumped him. They oblige, pounding Frasier with criticisms until his ego is crushed. In a heart to heart with Niles, Frasier realises there is nothing wrong with him, but rather his indifferent feelings for Sam: the truth is that he liked Sam only for her famous friends. After Frasier deletes all of Sam's messages on her machine (including some pathetic ones from Frasier begging for reconciliation), Frasier must go and find Sam to tell her about the one important message from the office. At the restaurant, Sam has changed her mind, offers reconcilliation, and tempts Frasier with a trip to London to party with Alec Guinness, but Frasier stands firm. Until Lesley Stahl arrives.....

- Frasier is in the cafe telling his brother all the celebrities he rubbed shoulders with while in Aspen with Sam:
Waitress: Can I get anything else for you here?
Niles: Just a dustpan and broom to sweep up some of these names (!)

- Frasier is trying to work out why Sam wants them to break up:
Frasier: I know I played the piano for too long in the lodge but who knew General Schwarzkopf would be so crazy for show tunes ?!

- Niles is frantic as Frasier is late and they have reservations at "Bavettas" where if you're late they make you sit in the kitchen with the owner's mother:
Frasier: Oh Niles, what a pleasant surprise
Niles: Thats just what Mamma Bavetta will say when we pull up a chair (!)

- Frasier wants everyone to list things they find unlovable about him:
Martin: Pretentious
Frasier: Dad, I've already got that one down
Martin: Underline it (!!)

- Frasier says he's set Sam's answerphone access code to his birthday as it's easy to remember:
Martin: What's so easy about May 7th?
Frasier: I wouldn't know, Dad - my birthday's in March!

- Martin starts off another list of Frasier's good qualities when Daphne comes in from the kitchen:
Daphne: Conceited!
Martin: Different list, Daph!

- Frasier greets Lesley Stahl just after he's told Sam he liked Sam becuase he got to meet her famous friends:
Sam: What kind of sick bastard are you ?!

A notch down from it's predecessor, this is still an enjoyable conclusion to Frasier and Sam's relationship, though dispensing with her so quickly was perhaps slightly disappointing. Still, there are again some excellent moments along the way - the opening scene where Niles has his order mixed up in a new way of ordering coffee at the Cafe, and the superb bit where Frasier gets Niles, Daphne, Roz and Martin to list his faults which they all seem to enjoy just a bit too much. Again the ending is slightly disappointing as the appearance of Lesley Stahl didn't mean anything to me, but it wraps a well written and enjoyable 2-part episode.

Rating

79 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 74.7%
Total Number of Reviews: 3