Bit of a drag?, May 15, 2013

Reviewer: Sammy J from Melbourne, Australia

After the climax of season 7, perhaps nothing would suffice, and indeed I'm not overwhelmed by the 8th season's premiere. I don't want to be churlish; after all, this episode had a lot of plot to sort out, and an entirely new template to devise for the series. Everyone does great work here, from Hyde Pierce and Leeves anchoring the hour to Jane Adams, continuing to be a cruel delight as Mel and - I'm gonna be controversial here - Anthony LaPaglia as Simon. Look, Simon is an annoying character, and I'm grateful that he'll move on after this little arc, but he provides a nice foil to Frasier in an already hectic environment.

Perhaps for me it's that the tension overwhelms the comedy without working in harmony with it. Some scenes, like Donny's "Mr. Chump" breakdown, earn mostly a nervous audience response, rather than being fully effective. Credit for giving Donny the full weight of the reaction, admittedly.

Things resolve in a sweet manner, which I think is necessary. As my future reviews will point out, I do wish that Niles and Daphne had had a bumpier ride to love - although production elements had an impact on that too - but I can't use the future to analyse this one episode; it seems fitting that the season premiere end on a hopeful note. Given that - at least for the casual fans, if not us hardcore ones - Niles/Daphne was a huge selling point, it would have seemed a wise choice to centre a major season premiere around them. After eight years, we don't need any further proof that Niles cares for Daphne. What we need - and get - is evidence that he can successfully woo her beyond just the hullabaloo of the wedding day.

Season 8 certainly has its share of lovely episodes, and I can't fault any of the individual performers here. At an hour long, this episode doesn't really earn its running time but perhaps that's because no subplot would be very effective when weighed against the dramatic arc that has been building since the show's second episode. A competent work, but not much more.

Rating: 75%

For fans only, Sep 20, 2012

Reviewer: Emil from Sweden

This double episode plays out the aftermath to Niles and Daphne's finally confessing their love to one another. Their first insecure steps as a couple, and the vengeful reactions from Donnie and Mel, are the themes.
This episode is the kind that pedals the story forward, and thus it is most rewarding for the fans to watch - but the casual viewer who expects a piece of sitcom will be greatly disappointed. There are not many comic moments in this episode.
And even for the fans, most scenes will make you cringe: Mel's evil plot, a storyline that will last for a few episodes, just leaves me with a bitter aftertaste; the same goes for the row between Daphne and Niles. A bitter Donnie playing with a cake decoration is not fun at all. A few scenes - notably Frasier's brilliantly worded toast at the reception - are great but overall this episode is not worth watching too many times.

Rating: 75%

Very enjoyable, Mar 20, 2012

Reviewer: Tid from SW England

Several reviewers have said how the drama and emotion of this episode
has beaten the comedy into second place. I agree, but unlike them, I
don't think that's a bad thing. What marks out great American sitcoms
in an unbroken line from "Taxi" through to "Friends" and beyond, is
their willingness on occasion to depart from pure comedic values, to a
more in-depth exploration of the characters and their reality. After all,
that's what we love about them - they're 'real' people, and it would
seem artificial to always have them dropping one-liners just for laughs.

The only thing I hated about this was the annoying presence of Simon
Moon, a character who adds nothing to the show, and whose laughable
pseudo-Estuary accent grates horribly (he's supposed to come from
Manchester!) Otherwise this was an excellent episode and easily one of
the best things about Season 8.

Rating: 95%

And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon, Jun 20, 2011

Reviewer: Jeremy from Dallas, TX USA

As with most Frasier fans, after having watched the brilliant season seven finale, my expectations for the season eight premiere were high. I anticipated a continuation of the excellence captured by the previous episode and of the overall quality expressed throughout season seven. Although this episode comes nowhere close to being stellar, I'm happy to report that I enjoyed it quite a bit and thought the cliffhanger was handled in a generally satisfying manner. That being said, this episode had so much potential to be a classic. For instance, I think the writers had a terrific opportunity to make a great situation out of the revelation of the union of Daphne and Niles (especially during the wedding), but instead they give us only a short scene where Niles and Daphne explain the situation with ease to Mel and Donny, respectively. However, this episode definitely has its moments. Niles and Mel's fake wedding reception and the fight between Niles, Daphne, and Frasier stand out particularly. Niles pretending to be Mel's husband provided for some great comedic moments as well as Martin's nonchalant attempts to alleviate the drama by saying something completely arbitrary. The ending is also quite touching, and even though I'm a bigger fan of drama when it is balanced with comedy, I felt that the resolution of the tension between Niles and Daphne late in the episode by their finally getting to have their first date on the roof contributed much to the good quality of the episode.

Even though it is the case that the quality of the season eight premiere is rather good, I can't help but feel as though the decline in quality from season seven to season eight came as a result of the direction in which season eight was headed as a result of this episode. Although Niles and Daphne do not get through this episode without their fair share of conflict, I believe their union came across as too easy. I'm happy that the writers made the situation realistic by giving their union hefty consequences, but aside from these conflicts (and their fight toward the end of the episode), I felt that this episode paved the way for Niles and Daphne to have their "happily ever after" much too soon. In spite of these problems, this episode is certainly not bad by any means, but will unfortunately prove to be one of the best season eight has to offer.

Rating: 84%

a bit of an anticlimax, May 12, 2011

Reviewer: baj from england

I didnt enjoy this episode niles and daphne could have got together in a much more charming way.I am also irritated by simons presence-hes an awful actor and why is his accent cockney when daphne is clearly from up north? They probably just thought oh well its another english person no one will notice,but it is completely stupid for them to have such contrasting accents.
This episode just makes you feel sorry for mel and donny,and makes you question niles and daphnes characters.All the way through they have been nice moral people and suddenly their willing to hurt their current partners in such a way that they supposedly love and respect.

Rating: 43%

Sensitive, Oct 28, 2010

Reviewer: Michael from Netherlands

This episode has the most touching moment in the whole series so
far. The scene on the rooftop is very touching! Just wanted to
express that!

Rating: 87%

Some lovely dialog..., Aug 20, 2009

Reviewer: MaryM from San Francisco

I loved it when Frasier spoke to Daphne and Niles as he settles them in on the roof top, with a fancy meal before them, champagne on ice, and dreamy music.

Frasier: "... and if dancing at the Starlight Room was impossible, we'd give you the real thing..."

Rating: 100%

Good episode apart from the accent, Jul 29, 2009

Reviewer: Sam Selwood from Uk

This episode was great, apart from giving us possibly the worst English accent in the history of film, thanks to Anthony LaPaglia. I don't know if there's a shortage of English actors but whoever cast him in that role and thought he was good had clearly never heard an English accent in his life!

Rating: 85%

Good Episode, Disappointing Story, Jan 25, 2009

Reviewer: Jen from Canada

I enjoyed the episode, as I was finally able to see Daphne and Niles together. What I didn't like, though, was the way the writers decided to bring them together. I thought it was so messy with Mel and Donny and I don't think they should have been dragged into the story. It would have been better if they had gotten together on one of the 'teaser' shows like Moon Dance, where it was romantic and they were both single.

Rating: 85%

Daphne's Wedding Day, Jan 01, 2009

Reviewer: Jessica from Arizona USA

I love this episode because I think that Daphne and Niles are a perfect match. They might not have alot in common but they look good together, don't you think so to? Well that is my opinion. And by the way I love this show it is so cool.

Rating: 100%

Continue to Page 2