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Episode reviews for Episode 4.01 - The Two Mrs Cranes

Avg. Viewer Review: 91.8%
Number of Reviews: 31

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Great....but that accent!, Oct 26, 2006

Reviewer: Bosun from Kent, England


Like nearly everyone else I loved this episode. Everything that is apart from that appalling English accent by the actor playing Clive. Surely they could have found an English actor to play that role. Apart from that this was a fantastic episode with another superb script by Joe Keenan. Martin, always funny, had me in stitches with his astronaut story.


Rating: 92%

 

Funny stuff, Jan 06, 2008

Reviewer: Edd Jordan from Uk


Top work Pawawal from Manchester, UK. I agree if I ever meet the so called actors who played not only Clive but the other english characters in the show, i will vocally let them know what i thought of the accents! and maybe reserve a good kicking for Clive. Any who, I'm slowly building a stack of Frasier Dvds so all I can say is top work, one of the finest pieces of TV in history.
" I remember the last time i drove a moon crane, darn near rolled into the sea of tranquility."
Mint!


Rating: 95%

 

THE TWO MRS CRANES, May 26, 2005

Reviewer: Cake for Brains from Manchester, UK


If I had to pinpoint the episode that made me decide for certain that ‘Frasier’ was my favourite television series, it would be this one; and so ‘The Two Mrs Cranes’ is very special to me. I remember sat there, rocking uncontrollably with laughter, thinking to myself ‘there is no show as funny, clever, and sophisticated as this – this is a one in a million programme!’ As expected Joe Keenan delivers another script that is crammed with multi-layered dialogue that works on many levels and demonstrates his writing ability perfectly, It has pace and crackles with unexpected wit. I think this could be Mr. Keenan’s finest piece of writing to date, which is some feat seems as though he wrote some of the best episodes ever.

The premise of this show is quite hard to swallow, because every character has to pretend to be something or someone there not. This is because Daphne is desperately trying to avoid hurting her old Manchester boyfriend’s feelings. On the spur of the moment, when it seems clear that he has intentions of winning Daphne back, Daphne introduces Niles as her new husband, which is unimaginably hilarious. From this moment on, the jokes come like a swarm of wasps, thick, fast, and brilliantly sustained, with punch line after punch line. The best quality after this episode in my opinion is the fact that everybody has something to do and are all given superb lines. Niles’ wildest dreams are fulfilled as he gets to play doting husband to Daphne, not missing any opportunity to kiss her. His love toll is priceless as is:
DAPHNE: We’re still at that Honeymoon stage really; it’s sickening (kisses Niles)
NILES: Revolting (kisses Daphne), positively stomach wrenching (tries to kiss her again but she pulls away)

Frasier is forced to take Niles’ place, as he pretends to have had a spat with his wife, Maris, who is then played by Roz when Martin puts his foot in it. Roz, as Maris is a joy to behold, which is why I prefer this episode to ‘The Matchmaker’ because Roz has lots more to do and there is some superb character interaction. I loved it when Roz and Daphne were trying to win Clive other later in the episode:
DAPHNE: (after Roz has asked for more food) Are you sure that’s wise dear? Remember that blackout you had last month? Oh, what am I talking about, of course you don’t!
ROZ: Now, now Daphne, you have to keep your strength up, you are eating for two

As ever Martin puts in a great performance as he pretends to be an astronaut, completely fooling the gullible Clive. Clive, on the other hand is the only bad thing about the whole episode, as actor Scott Atkinson turns in a terrible cringe-worthy accent that sounds like a cat in pain, never get an American to attempt Cockney. Horribly reminiscent of Dick Van Dyke as Bert in ‘Mary Poppins’ - couldn’t they have got an English actor in? However Clive gets one noticeably funny quip:
CLIVE: You’re the worst family I’ve ever met

However I think my favourite quote of the episode is this, because it’s so stomach achingly funny and draws the episode to a great close:
DAPHNE: (after an appalled Clive announces he’s leaving) Really, we’re not the awful people you think we are
FRASIER: No, the truth is we’ve been lying to you all night!

A truly terrific episode that is an instant ‘Frasier’ classic. One of my all time favourite episodes, superb performances from the main cast and a flawless script – what more do you need?


Rating: 96%

 

Little to add to what's been said., Aug 23, 2012

Reviewer: Chris from Devon, England


Loved this farce, a great opener to Season 4! One of my favourite lines
was where Daphne turns to "husband" Niles and says pointedly how well
Clive is doing, and "still as handsome as ever". Niles says in a throwaway
manner "Well, send in the clowns", at the precise moment that Frasier
and Roz (playing Maris) appear from from the balcony. Whereupon Niles,
without missing a beat, adds "Don't bother, they're here"!!!


Rating: 96%

 

The first time I drove a Moon Crane..., Dec 06, 2011

Reviewer: Sammy J from Melbourne, Australia


Poor Scott Atkinson. He has the bad luck to appear in one of the
most hilarious episodes of "Frasier" ever written, which means
that his atrocious accent sees him savaged all across the internet.
Look, yes, it's odd that the British-born folk in the cast didn't
mention this during rehearsal, but I don't think Atkinson is really
as bad as everyone makes him out to be.

And even if he is, he's about the only negative thing in this
episode. The script does take a bit of time to get going, but once
it's firing on all cylinders, there's no stopping the hilarity. I adore
the fact that all of the ensemble get involved (and the moment
when everyone ponders what they should name the dog), but
what makes it work even smoother than Keenan's previous hit -
"The Matchmaker" - is that everyone has a reason for acting the
way they do. Martin decides to revel in living out his fantasy, while
Daphne and Roz do their best to flirt with Clive, an act which has
become more important than the fantasy.

This episode sets the tone for what will be another bravura
season of 'Frasier' very well.


Rating: 97%

 

A Brilliant Start To A Brilliant Season, Jan 07, 2006

Reviewer: roz11 from London


Without a doubt this is the best opening episode to a season. In my opinion it is one of many classic Frasier episodes. What seems to amaze me in this episode is how everybody gets brilliant jokes rather than just one or two of the main characters getting them. Watch this episode and you're bound to fall in love with Frasier


Rating: 98%

 

The Two Mrs Cranes, Apr 07, 2006

Reviewer: Amz from Wiltshire, UK


What a fab way to start season 4! This episode could possibly be a runner up for ultimate Frasier episode. The entire episode is just hilarious, but as soon as Daphne introduces Niles as her husband, it just gets a whole lot funnier. First of all, Clive tells Frasier he used to know Niles' wife quite well, (meaning Daphne, but Frasier thinks Maris as he hasn't been told what's going on yet) and Frasier says she can light up a room by leaving it, then Martin tells Clive he was an astronaut, and then Roz turns up, and Martin says "what do you know, it's Maris!" The mayhem carries on even more when Roz and Daphne start stabbing each other in the back to win Clive's affection, then Daphne says Roz has blackouts and Roz says Daphne's pregnant. It's total mayhem in this amazing must see episode.


Rating: 98%

 

The 2 Mrs Cranes, Oct 13, 2006

Reviewer: Katrina Kwok from Sydney, Australia


This episode was hilarious! I loved it when Daphne realises that her ex-boyfriend can actually be quite a catch, and nothing ends up going as planned! I loved it when Martin spices up the humour by saying that he was a retired astronaut. I thought that it would have been not as interesting or funny if everything went right, that is what made it so humorous!


Rating: 98%

 

side splitting episode, Dec 25, 2006

Reviewer: Marcie from California, USA


A charming farce that had my entire family slapping their knees and wiping tears from their eyes.


Rating: 98%

 

Hilarious!, Jun 13, 2009

Reviewer: Cat from Denver, CO, USA


This episode is absolutely hilarious with everyone playing a role other than who they really are. This is one of my favorites!


Rating: 98%

 

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