Altair Aquila

That was the season six finale. Speaking of Shutout in Seattle, did anyone watch that for the first time and, after Roz and Niles chat in Cafe Nervosa, then the next day at the radio station, Roz tells Frasier she made a mistake with a one night stand, think that Roz and Niles slept together? It was my first guess. Classic misdirection, I suppose.

In Maris, the show certainly got a lot of mileage out of a character we never met. It wasn't just the jokes at her expense; so much of Niles's story was wrapped up in her and their marriage. They gave her quite the send-off in the final season.

I watched The Maris Counsellor last night, one of my favourites from season five. Poor Niles. When I saw this episode for the first time my reaction was 'Finally!' when Niles announced his marriage was over. I still feel that way. Some nice fraternal moments in this one, particularly when Niles tells Frasier of Maris and Schenkman's affair. And of course a rather lovely moment with all three Crane men lamenting their romantic woes. Interesting that in season six, during the divorce, Niles wonders if his feelings for Daphne affected his marriage and if Maris knew all along, and that drove her to have an affair. What does anyone think? Or do you agree with Frasier and the only reason that marriage lasted as long as it did is because of the effort Niles put into it?

It has one of my all time favourite Niles and Daphne scenes as well. Their talk in the bar is pretty much perfect, and the "I love you's" they exchange remain among my favourites from the entire show. They may not have been in a completely romantic context from both sides but they were very genuine all the same. A lovely, lovely moment between them.

Yes, definitely. And in Mixed Doubles, after Joe broke up with her, Roz demands: "Did you make her answer the door?!" "It's what she does!" Frasier protests. Shout out to Roz for her attempts to comfort Daphne: "Now, Daphne, if the jewellery wasn't that good and the sex wasn't that good, what have you really lost here?" :D Love that episode from start to finish. :)

I tend to get a bit irritated on Daphne's behalf when people treat her like their servant. Get this, get that, do this, do that... After ordering Daphne around in Agents in America, Part Three, Bebe was well and truly put in her in place when Daphne gives her a dog biscuit with her fussy tea request. The whole exchange is brilliant, culminating in: "This cookie tastes like meat!" "Yes, and it'll remove tartar, and give you a nice, shiny coat." :)

From Breaking The Ice: Frasier: Well, I mean, you know that Maris loves you, right? But it's still nice to hear it. Niles: I imagine it would be, but let's stick to attainable goals.

I watched Breaking The Ice last night. It's one of my favourites for the Crane men. I do get a bit emotional watching Martin telling his sons he loves them. :')

From Kisses Sweeter Than Wine. I love Kelsey's delivery of this one: Frasier: I cut myself because I was shaving without water. And why was there no water? Because I had to move your chair, which gouged the floor, which made me call for Joe, who found bad pipes, which called for Cecil, who ate the cat that killed the rat that lived in the house that Frasier built!

I agree. Niles and Daphne and their different backgrounds should have provided enough material for the later seasons without dragging in a mother and her drunken lout sons. Daphne has my sympathy since if we're to believe her stories of her family and her childhood, it appears that her brothers were inexplicably favoured over her, certainly by their mother, and it's clear that Gertrude and Daphne have a strained relationship. They're not close. I wasn't surprised that her brothers all left it up to Daphne to help their mum when their parents separated. No wonder she always wanted a sister.

The only part of the Charlotte arc I liked was Frank, and I like to think he found someone who appreciated him. I didn't care for Frasier's behaviour in these episodes.

From Secret Admirer, as Niles has another round of divorce woes with Maris in regard to a financial settlement, and Frasier has self-sabotaged another potential relationship: Niles: I'll be stripped clean and devoured like an animal. Frasier: And I WON'T be.

Martin is delightfully mischievous in The Two Mrs. Cranes. He really gets into the farce of it all. "I was an astronaut." "I remember the first time I ever drove a moon crane..." And of course when it's Roz at the door: "What do you know, it's Maris!"

Martin probably found a Wilma to complete his juice glass set before Frasier found another Catherine of Aragon.

"Anne Boleyn?" "Catherine of Aragon." Well, Frasier, at least it wasn't your Anne of Cleves cup. I love Mixed Doubles. Not just one of my favourites from S4, but of all episodes. "What are you doing for the rest of your life?" :)