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Episode reviews for Episode 3.03 - Martin Does It His Way

Avg. Viewer Review: 94.3%
Number of Reviews: 9

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Odd but successful, Dec 04, 2011

Reviewer: Sammy J from Melbourne, Australia


"Martin Does It His Way" has an unusual atmosphere to me that
doesn't really sit in "Frasier"'s usual format. Each of the two
storylines feels like it would be a subplot to a far better A-plot,
and neither of them follows anything like the typical writer's
structure of "situation-problem-obstacle-success".

Instead, what we essentially get are two meditations. Martin's
dark secret - his songwriting for Sinatra - leads really to the
crushing of his optimism, and some lovely bonding moments for
the Crane men. Meanwhile, Frasier's inability to eulogise his
unpleasant aunt simply allows him to ponder the meaning of
family and life. Perhaps I'm overanalysing (although with what
show would that be more appropriate?) but this is one of the
least-formulaic episodes of the series. Even the climax - which
features one of the best uses of the old "person's ashes get
everywhere" trope - is mostly a personal victory that is not so
much laugh-out-loud funny as it is heartwarming.

If I sound negative, however, you'd be mistaken. Somehow, the
unusual tone works. Seeing Marty and the boys at the piano is a
glorious moment (akin to their "Antiques Roadshow" viewing of
season 7), and the episode manages to meditate on death and
life far more powerfully than either the slightly awkward attempts
in season 1, or the more heavy-handed explorations that we'll
see toward series' end.

A success.


Rating: 89%

 

Martin Does It His Way, Jun 22, 2010

Reviewer: Linda from NC


I have the complete DVD set of Frasier, and this is my favorite episode. No matter how many times I watch this one, I find myself laughing out loud!!!


Rating: 100%

 

Martin Does it His Way, Apr 21, 2010

Reviewer: Norm, Jr. from Somewhere, CA


Now, we're back on track. After the lackluster She's the Boss and Shrink Rap to open season 3, the scribes at Fraze Land weave an involving, multi-layered piece. Not just the plot points, but the laughs are varying as well, ranging from goofy song lyrics, to sick jokes involving cremated ashes ending up in the shoes of still existing humans. There's even time for Martin and the boys to bond, culminating in a perfectly fitting final scene. "Ohhhhhhhh, yeahhhhhhhhh."


Rating: 95%

 

Ring-A-Dings and a Funeral, Jan 13, 2009

Reviewer: David Sim from Skelmersdale, Lancashire


Martin Does It His Way has a very special place in my heart. You see I don't collect Frasier on DVD. I'm content to watch it on Paramount. While that means I have to wait for certain episodes to show, and because I don't have them available to hand, I discover episodes I knew nothing about. Like Martin Does It His Way.

I thought I'd seen all episodes of Frasier. And then this one comes along. A completely new one. One I didn't know a thing about. And written by David Lloyd no less!

The fact that it somehow managed to get by me is what makes it so special. The same thing happened with Daphne's Room. An utter classic that eluded me. Now Martin Does It His Way is not quite a classic. But its hugely enjoyable, loads of fun and surprisingly warm too. A little gem.

The episode is made up of two disparate plotlines that converge over 22 minutes. Something that would be done far less successfully in the Season 10 episode Farewell Nervosa. The first is Frasier's Great-Aunt-Louise has passed away. But there was nothing great about her! Frasier hated her. And the feeling was mutual. Now Frasier has the thankless task of planning a memorial for a woman he despised.

The second is Martin's secret wish to write a song to Frank Sinatra. He started one, She's Such A Groovy Lady! But he never finished it. After a bit of prompting, the Crane Boys get Martin to finish the song its taken him 30 years to write.

I probably enjoy this episode a bit more than most. But there is so much to like about both plotlines. Niles has Aunt Louise's ashes but he hasn't got a clue what to do with them. This throws up a lot of good laughs and good lines:

Niles: I would take them to the beach but she hated seagulls. And vice versa.

Even better is when Niles tries to dispose of them in the park. In a nice bit of visual comedy, Frasier and Martin are talking in the foreground while Niles is in the background and can't get the top off the urn. When Frasier helps, they wind up covered in her ashes. I also liked the running gag. Frasier has to write a eulogy for a woman with not one nice thing to say.

But its Martin's story that's the heart of the episode. Its nice to see all the Crane men around the piano sharing in something together. David Hyde Pierce, who's an accomplished pianist in real life gets to belt out some great jazzy, catchy chords. And its a great song too. David Lloyd's lyrics are intensely hummable. And I liked some of Frasier's suggestions, like "She makes the bravest cat go fraidy!"

Two weeks later, and its the day of the memorial service. Frasier still can't write the eulogy, and Martin's got a reply from Sinatra's people. They rejected the song. In a very moving scene between Frasier and Martin in the car, Martin can at least take some comfort from the fact that he managed to finish a 30-year old dream. Both Kelsey Grammer and John Mahoney really shine here. You could easily believe them to be father and son.

Then comes the service, and what proves to be the crown jewel of the episode. Frasier's haphazard eulogy is hilarious ("she touches us still", referring to the ashes). And this is the point where the episode's two storylines cleverly meld together. Frasier has the choir sing "She's Such A Groovy Lady" in honour of Aunt Louise (and Martin). Funny and touching.

I really loved Martin Does It His Way. I think its a rather underrated episode in David Lloyd's excellent repertoire. Its never won the acclaim of Ham Radio or The Innkeepers. When I think its every bit as worthy. Roz doesn't get very much to do sadly. She only appears in the opening scene. Although its just as hilarious as anything else in the episode. Her pretending to come on to Frasier is one of the funniest things Peri Gilpin has ever done on the show.

A great little episode I'm proud to have discovered. I'm not embarrassed to say that it left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling for days afterwards. Frasier has never been more likable then he has here. And anyone who's ever had frustrated ambitions will find much to admire. One of Season 3's finest offerings.

This made my heart go hidy-hady!


Rating: 95%

 

It's Such A Groovy Episode, Sep 04, 2006

Reviewer: David Jones from North Wales, Great Britain


This episode is one of my favourites and I think it is rather underrated. The song, "She's Such A Groovy Lady" really helps to make this a great episode and the scene when Frasier, Niles and Martin are all trying to work on the song is a pleasure to watch:

Niles: It seems to me, you're heart is either going hydehady, ringadingy or scooby dooby.

Martin: Look, I don't need another critic.

Niles. No. Perhaps a Cardiologist!


Rating: 100%

 

Groovy!, Aug 17, 2006

Reviewer: Steve Scott from UK


One of my favourite Frasier episodes from the season when the sitcom truly hit its stride.

Where else can a show produce two completely different storylines - the funeral and Martin's effort to finish his Sinatra homage - and dovetail them so effortlessly?

The episode is packed with classic Frasier moments, both physical (the effort to get the urn open) and cerebral ('Aunt Patrice touched us all') and a delicious streak of black humour ('How I wish I had that ashtray now').

It's also a great episode because it doesn't try to to big things, it just revells in being a good show. Frasier's speech about following your dreams is beautifully understated and thus never sentimental (and followed by some hilarious conducting!). Memo to future seasons: *this* is how you do emotional moments.

Groovy indeed. And Martin's 'baaapiddy-baa-baaaaas' and the looks on his sons' faces is truly priceless.


Rating: 100%

 

Does Frasier make your heart go hidy-hady?, Aug 12, 2005

Reviewer: Leanne from Midlands, UK


A heart-warming and charming episode, combining two seperate plots which fuse beautifully at its conclusion. The first plot shows Niles with the unenviable task of disposing of his late Great-Aunt Louise's ashes and Frasier having the even more unenviable task of performing the eulogy.

In the second plot, Daphne reveals Martin's ambition to send a song he's written to Frank Sinatra. Upon hearing this the Crane brothers waste no time at all in encouraging their father to follow this through, and proceed to write the music with their father's help. Martin's singing of 'bappaty bappaty baaaa-aaaa' is just hilarious. I've always loved the piano-playing scenes in Frasier, notably Frasier's forgetful tinkering in Forty-Something, and Niles' passionate playing in A Mid-Winter's Night Dream (both from Season 1).

On their way to the funeral, Niles decides to scatter Louise's ashes in a wooded area. In the car, Martin sadly admits to Frasier that his song was rejected by Sinatra's people. This emotional heart-to-heart is punctuated by Niles' amusing banging of his Aunt's urn on a tree in order to scatter her ashes, culminating in Frasier grasping the urn from Niles and covering both him and his brother with the ashes. A great scene.

Even better, however, is the final scene at the funeral. Frasier has proven himself time and time again that he is a kind and caring son, yet he almost surpasses himself here when it's revealed he has organised the choir to sing Martin's Sinatra song. It's a catchy tune called 'She's such a groovy lady' that just makes you smile as Martin grins and taps his feet.

A great early episode in a really great season.


Rating: 94%

 

'Martin Does It His Way' review, Jun 01, 2005

Reviewer: Jocelyn from London, UK


A strange sort of episode in that it switches between two seemingly unrelated plots, both of which are highly entertaining and which eventually combine at the climax in a way that is nothing short of inspired. The plot concerning Frasier's deceased great-aunt Louise is a source for some wonderfully black humour as Frasier has to give the eulogy at her funeral but struggles to come up with anything nice to say about her, but best of all are all the jokes concerning the urn - particularly Niles' forceful attempts to unscrew the lid which results in he and Frasier being covered with the ashes. Martin finishing off his song for Frank Sinatra is also good fun, it's always a treat to see the Cranes huddled around the piano and the closing sight of Frasier conducting the congregation singing 'She's Such A Groovy Lady' - a nice gesture for a dejected Martin - is simply wonderful, as absurd as it is heartwarming.


Rating: 83%

 

MARTIN DOES IT HIS WAY, Apr 16, 2005

Reviewer: Cake for Brains from Manchester, UK


This episode was coined by David Lloyd, who I firmly believed was responsible for some of Frasier's finest hours. This episode is no exception and proves itself to be a thoroughly enjoyable, engaging triumph. Two sub-plots are used in this episode, both managaing to sucessfully run beside one another, before melding together in the end sequence with hilarious consequences.

The first story sees Frasier having to deliver the eulogy to his late Aunt Louise, except he cannot find anything nice to recollect about her life. Niles undertakes the job of scattering the ashes, but his attempts prove fruitless because he cannot find a suitable spot. I loved it when he says:
'I know, the beach - no, she hates seaguls and vise versa.'

The second plot is stomach-achingly funny and sees Martin completing a life long dream to write a song for Frank Sinatra. There are some funny lines from everone, most noticeably the lyrics 'she's such a groovy lady' and Martin's inceasant 'bapty-ba's!' I particulary liked it when:
NILES: 'It seems that your heart is always either going hidy-hady, ringy-dingy or scooby-dooby?'
MARTIN: 'I don't need another critic'
NILES: 'Fine - perhaps a cardiologist'

The whole episode draws to a wonderful climax which proves both touching and hysterical. Frasier orchestrates Martin's rejected song at the funeral, with everyone singing along. Another wonderful edition to the third season for this episode manages to sustain throughout and not a scene is wasted. From Roz's 'guess the caller' cherades to Martin 'it must be liver and onions day at the cafeteria' when the whole rest home shows up for the funeral. Plenty of great moments to treasure in this one.


Rating: 93%