Frasier - Series 1 (Box Set) > Reviews > Frasier - The Complete First Season

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Standard
How does it compare to similar films?	Not applicable

Advantages:	Funny, dry, and something a bit different
Disadvantages:	Seen by some as too 'high - brow'

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

You may be familiar with Dr. Frasier Crane, played by Kelsey Grammer, from his time as a bar-fly in the show 'Cheers', or as the voice of Sideshow Bob in The Simpsons. He decides to up roots and leave Boston to begin his new life in Seattle, leaving his ex-wife Lilith and son Frederik behind. Things seem to be looking up for him and soon he finds himself on the radio air-waves with his own Psychiatric advice call-in show. He gets a beautiful new apartment with some designer furnishing and a fantastic view of the City. But, alas, his luck runs out as he and his brother Niles realise their father Martin (John Mahoney) is unable to take care of himself. Marty, an ex-cop, was shot in the hip during an armed robbery and now relies on his cane to walk. Of course it is down to Frasier to take care of him, and Martin brings his scruffy recliner (and his scruffy dog, Eddie) along as he moves into Frasier's apartment. He appoints a young English-women from Manchester called Daphne Moon (Jane Leeves) as Marty's physical therapist.. Frasier's radio producer goes by the name of Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin) and it seems she has a reputation of being a little, um, 'easy', if you catch my drift.

To me, Niles is the show's best comedic weapon. He starts lusting after Daphne despite being married to strange women by the name of Maris who, as it happens, never appears throughout the show's length. Niles obviously denies having any interest in Daphne but it's patently obvious he has. There are frequent jokes about his therapy groups that are rather excellent, for example: "I better go, I've got a multiple personality class and it takes forever to wrote out the name-tags".

'Frasier' seems to have a reputation as being too high-browed for most people, but that's just not true. Apart form the main characters having their fair share of snobbish moments, most of the comedy comes from simple but effective run-on jokes and puns. I must say, I don't think this show is as funny as other sitcoms (Friends, etc.), but it's a very enjoyable show with a great story-line, good acting and it does have more than it's fair share of funny moments. It blends dry wit with visual humour/slapstick very well.

The DVD can be bought for £14.99 and has all 24 episodes, although there really isn't much in the way of extras to bother mentioning.

Here's the episode list:

1. The Good Son
2. Space Quest
3. Dinner At Eight
4. I Hate Frasier Crane
5. Here's Looking At You
6. The Crucible
7. Call Me Irresponsible
8. Beloved Infidel
9. Selling Out
10. Oops
11. Death Becomes Him
12. Miracle On Third Or Fourth Street
13. Guess Who's Coming To Breakfast
14. Can't Buy Me Love
15. You Can't Tell A Crook by His Cover
16. The Show Where Lilith Comes Back
17. A Midwinter Night's Dream
18. And The Whimper is...
19. Give Him The Chair!
20. Fortysomething
21. Author, Author
22. Frasier Crane's Day Off
23. My Coffee With Niles
24. Travels With Martin