Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 7 -> Episode 7.17

Whine Club

Martin has embarked on an affair with Claire Wojadubakowski, whose husband Stan was buried a few weeks before. He is feeling quite guilty over this, but Claire tells him not to worry. Frasier, meanwhile, is very excited about being made Corkmaster at his local wine club. He tells Roz that Niles is nominating him, but hopes Mel doesn't make him change his mind. Roz asks how he can be so sure, forcing Frasier to admit he doesn't know Mel all that well, so he suggests having Sunday brunch that week to get to know her better and invites Roz along. While Niles is getting ready for the wine club meeting, Mel subtly manages to convince Niles to run against his brother for the position of Corkmaster - to which he agrees. Frasier is a bit stunned when Niles reveals his intention to run against him, and as luck would have it, Frasier and Niles are the only two nominees for being made Corkmaster. The votes are counted for them - 14 apiece - which means a blind taste-off off 5 bottles of wine is required to decide the winner. After 4 bottles, it's neck and neck but on the 5th bottle, Frasier and Niles differ in opinion - Niles believes it to be Merlot while Frasier believes it to be Cabernet. The judge says that the final bottle was a blend - of 45% Cabernet and 55% Merlot, which means Niles is crowned Corkmaster!

So we get to the Sunday brunch Frasier is throwing for Mel, with Frasier himself still fuming over losing out to his brother. Martin tries to sneak Claire out of the door after sleeping with her but Frasier sees her, thinking she has just arrived and invites her to brunch! Finally Mel and Niles arrive, and Mel instantly gets on Martin's nerves with her dislike of Eddie, and asking him to put Eddie out on the balcony. In fact, during the course of brunch, she manages to alienate everyone - especially Frasier when he learns it was Mel who suggested he run for Corkmaster. Frasier in particular is concerned that she is controlling and emasculating him - in other words, Maris all over again. He wants to say something, but Martin warns Frasier he will just drive a wedge between him and Niles. However, Daphne says she can't stand her and soon Niles learns that everyone agrees with her.....

- Frasier is excited about taking on the role of Corkmaster:
Frasier: If I'm elected, we're gonna have vertical tastings, guest speakers and a trip to Portugal, where the finest corks come from!
Roz: I wish I had a cork right now (!)

- Frasier invites Claire to lunch after she returns Martin's tupperware with chilli in it, unaware Martin has just slept with her:
Frasier: I'm not sure we can give you a treat as hot and spicy as the one Dad gave you, but....

- Daphne has made Bloody Mary's, but Martin is unsure Claire has time for one:
Daphne: Mrs Wojadubakowski, Mr Crane was wondering whether you had time for a quick one.

- Frasier tries to persuade everyone to go easy on Mel:
Frasier: We are having this brunch to get acquainted with Mel. We owe it to Niles to give her a chance.
Daphne: I agree with Dr Crane - we should all have another Bloody Mary!

- Roz has just about had it with Mel:
Roz: When you invited me, did you say 'Brunch for Mel' or 'Brunch from Hell'!

This could have been another in a long line of enjoyable sibling rivalry episodes, but instead it turned out to be an episode whose only point, it seemed to me, was to make everyone (including the audience) start to dislike Mel. The writers probably have an ulterior motive for doing so, but it seems it was at our expense. There are some entetaining innuendos about Martin's relationship with Mrs Wojadubakowski, and the way in which Niles found out everyone hated Mel was very well done, but somehow these weren't enough to create a good episode. There was also an interesting speech from Daphne about her having impulses that she hasn't acted upon which presumably will become apparent in later episodes. Overall, this was a slightly disappointing episode - thankfully a rarity with this series.

Rating

73 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 80.5%
Total Number of Reviews: 2