Critic’s Rating: 4 / 5.0
4
Despite being stuffed to the antlers with holiday trappings, Frasier Season 2 Episode 10 was a surprisingly sober (in tone, definitely not in practice) finale that ultimately displayed more Christmas than cheer.
The episode wrapped up most of the subplots introduced this season and featured a steady stream of laugh-out-loud zingers from Frasier as he navigated a holiday-themed meddling scheme.
Did the season finale go bigger on pathos than party favors? Perhaps. But I think it was necessary to dispense with a couple of larger storylines so that those characters and the show itself could move forward for a potential third season.
I liked a lot of what this episode accomplished, even if I may have wished for less of an elegiac mood.
It was deceptively intricate on the story side, which was great, but it still clung to some aspects of the show (David!) that haven’t worked too well this season.
It’s Christmas Time Again
Has it only been a year since we were invited to a Christmas fete hosted by Dr. Frasier Crane??
Even with the magic of streaming and selective memory, it seems like Frasier Season 2 started just moments ago.
For once, the obligatory info-dump-with-drinks opening scene at the Harvard bar actually made sense. Its crowded and convivial setting supported the jumble of characters and different motivations we saw in a short amount of time.
Somehow, this scene seemed more “real” than so many others have this season in this exact same setting.
Like, it was a revelation for the camera to follow Freddy and Olivia over to the bar for a casual discussion between just the two of them — which I don’t think we’ve seen before? — about what Christmas gifts they had gotten for Frasier.
I loved the ease of their conversation and how comfortable they seemed with each other; it made me wish that they could be buddies like Freddy is with Eve.
It was just so great to see the group all together and then fracturing into different components before moving back, like in a real bar environment.
Let’s Talk About Alan
We saw Alan do a good Scrooge impression at the bar, which honestly was low-hanging fruit for him, but then we learned that his estranged daughter was in town, which may have upped his Bah-Humbug-ness.
The subplot of Alan and his daughter Nora was introduced earlier this season and has popped up occasionally ever since.
This family situation seemed to surprise everyone, including Frasier, so it was hard to fully integrate that backstory into what we already knew (and loved!) of Alan as a bachelor dilettante and alcohol enthusiast.
Alan loathed Christmas more than usual this year since Nora still wouldn’t take his calls and had recently given birth to his only grandchild.
I love Alan’s character, but this estrangement storyline has felt a little forced to me. It came out of nowhere, and it’s a big ask for him to be seen as a contrite family man based on very little information.
Earlier in the season, it seemed like Nora was Alan’s only child, which upped the stakes of their conflict.
But in this episode, we learned that he also has at least one son, with Nora as the eldest of his children and the only one who’s a parent.
The estrangement from Nora has apparently been an undercurrent of regret and grief for Alan, but how will their reconciliation change Alan’s character going forward?
His worldview and drinking seem based on much more than just this one broken relationship. When did he lose interest in his career? And why didn’t we hear about his son(s) before now? So many questions!
Let’s Not Forget Frasier
Frasier’s romantic foibles weren’t a huge part of this season, but during the finale, I kept wondering how he would navigate a relationship at this stage in his life.
We didn’t get to see his almost twenty-year relationship with Charlotte (Laura Linney) in Chicago, which might have been the longest one he’s had. So it’s new territory for us to see Frasier coupled up!
It also raises the question of how being in a couple will affect his meddling with others — maybe not so much if his beekeeping outfit (???) plans for Olivia are anything to go by.
At the very least, Frasier’s new relationship with Holly will hopefully quash for good any lingering hopes for a romance with him and Roz. C’mon, she’s already moved cross-country; she can’t suddenly stop dating around, too!
Mission Impossible: Gingerbread Village
It was such a kick to see Frasier presiding over a map of his plan like the world-weary military leader of a non-military heist. He was entirely in his element, moving shot glasses around the same way he meddles with people.
As Alan later noted, Frasier means well, but his madcap capers leave a lot of damage behind. Still, I do wish we could’ve seen David fold himself into a bar cart!
Historically, it must be said that this was probably the most even-keeled of all Frasier’s schemes.
It had very few moving parts, didn’t require finding obscure items, and used the personal connections they already had on hand.
Frasier even managed to stay on track by delegating his usual distractibility to David and his pastoral gingerbread village.
This hearkened back to those zany days of yore when Frasier would completely derail a plan because he couldn’t let some minor point lie (much like the Seattle episode this season).
But the gingerbread village was still an odd subplot that existed in somewhat of a vacuum despite being good for a few big laughs. I expected it to have a decent callback, at least.
Even though Eve and Roz effectively bailed on their jobs, Frasier’s plan actually worked! It just didn’t get the desired results.
I was scared that Alan’s anger at Frasier would lead to them avoiding each other or the silent treatment, so it was nice to see them have a very adult conversation of apology and expressed hurt.
Alan even showed a lack of Scrooge-ness by bringing Holly to the party for Frasier, even though he was alone. So, he’d grown emotionally and was now ready for — or deserving of — reconciliation with Nora.
Freddy As MVP
Freddy probably evolved the most this season. He took steps to deal with grief over his best friend’s death, really seemed to forgive Frasier for childhood stuff, and made peace with his choice of career.
I always forget that he’s in a service-oriented career (‘cos he’s always at the bar!), so maybe that’s why I was surprised when he took the initiative to seek Nora out on his own and make a case for Alan.
Freddy’s talk with Nora was a compassionate, Frasier-free way to hear what he really thought about his dad leaving Boston when he was young, and it reinforced the closure he’d found during the Seattle episode.
Perhaps that’s why Freddy was now open to admitting he has some of his dad’s less-than-admirable traits, aka the meddling gene. Seriously, what ARE he and Frasier going to do with that beekeeper‘s outfit?!
Santa Pub Crawl Thoughts
When did these Santa Pub Crawls become a thing, anyway? I know it’s been a while, but I feel like it must’ve been around the same time as gender reveal parties.
In any event, the tipsy Santas in this episode seemed like they were there to add holiday color, and they also confused the timeline of events.
At the hotel bar and lobby, everyone kept talking about meeting up at eleven o’clock, and I thought, That sounds pretty late at night for this “stakeout-stakeout-stakeout” to go down.
But it was actually eleven in the morning, which meant that the Pub Santas, Alan, and Freddy had all started drinking incredibly early that day. I know, I know — I’m quibbling!
Then Holly said she couldn’t make dinner because she had to work until eleven. But she told Alan she was getting off in an hour when it was daylight, and… you’re right; I’m overthinking this.
It was nice to see the gang (literally) off campus at the hotel, but truly delightful to see Alec Mapa as Thomas, the “uncool” hotel desk manager!
Okay, but I have to ask: Who was watching Nora’s baby when she was in the hotel lobby and bar? And where was her husband during this ENTIRE episode??
Last Minute Gifts
The subplots involving Olivia and David were on about the same level of pleasant yet unnecessary, and each had their moments.
This time, Eve and Roz got the “David” treatment, where they could have been removed and not missed in terms of the story.
But the MVP of being MIA goes once again to Eve’s toddler son, John!
We haven’t seen him since the opening of that art gallery; he could have his driver’s license by now.
The Road Ahead
Well, as they say in the biz, that’s a wrap for Frasier Season 2!
It was nice to see Alice again, even if she didn’t really have much to do.
It was a relief that Nora gave Alan a second chance, plus tying up that storyline leaves room for more interesting ones in the future (I’m sorry! I just didn’t get any feels from this one).
What do you think, TV Fanatics? Did Frasier Season 2 Episode 10 feel more like a series rather than a season finale? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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