TV Shows I love - Frasier

Before I talk about Frasier, I would like to do two things - provide context and set a baseline. Different people have different tastes, and knowing what shows I like and dislike would let you know where I am coming from.

Over the years, I have watched my fair share of shows, among them there is a special place reserved for sitcoms I love. I rarely tend to revisit media. Be it games, movies or shows, sitcoms are the exception. I tend to rewatch them instead of picking a new one. I find the sense of familiarity comforting. The Office, Community, and How I met your mother are shows I could talk about in my sleep. When someone suggested I watch Frasier, I was apprehensive about the whole ordeal. After all, anything which has 11 seasons of it means a huge time investment. Nonetheless, I did, and I want to share my thoughts on it. This is not to be mistaken for a full review.

What makes it great in my eyes!

When I first started with Frasier, I didn't find the character nor the show to be relatable. The show shows its age and is a product of a bygone era. Half the things on the show, won't fly in 2022. Frasier Crane, the character is an opera loving, sherry drinking, rich psychiatrist, has little in common with me or my lifestyle. On paper, I would have dismissed this show as something not for me.  

Despite my gut feeling, I did enjoy the show for what it is. The staples of a sitcom are all present and even for the time it aired, I don't think there was anything groundbreaking. Rather, it takes the sitcom formula and elevates it up a notch through well written characters and outstanding performances. These two things turn what would have been a decent, funny sitcom into a memorable one.

Kelsey Grammer who plays Frasier, isn't afraid to chew through the scenery when the script calls for it. His commitment to this and David Hyde Pierce's, who plays Niles (Frasier's sibling), nervous physicality brings an interesting contrast to everyone else's performance. Frasier and Niles are, written to be out of touch, rich, eccentric elites, while others are normal people. Within this context, the contrasting performance compliment each other and is what makes the show. They both own their characters and got me invested for the whole 11 seasons. For example, around season 10, Niles (David's character) has to undergo a surgery. In my head, I knew they were not going to kill a main cast member in a sitcom, still, I had to pause and check the episode list to make sure.

Each character in a vacuum is nothing to write about. Instead, the interplay between them is what makes the show. This is where the contrast I mentioned earlier shines through. In fact, this is a first for me, I liked the relationships between the characters more than the characters themselves. Even the scripts and the longer arcs in the show fall apart when examined seriatim. On a whole, everything weaves together in a beautiful yet organic way, creating one of the most satisfying TV experiences.

Conistently good!

As for the writing, the consistency astonishes me. Sitcoms do not always tend to age well. The Office's last two seasons were awful. HIMYM's last season dipped in quality. While Friends turned Joey into a caricature by the end. For me, the highs of Frasier aren't as high as the other sitcoms I love, at the same time the lows of Frasier are a small dip below the baseline unlike the rock bottoms of the other shows I mentioned earlier.

Around season 5, I was feeling the writing was getting predictable. Maybe it is my one nitpick. It trades taking risks for consistency and to be honest, I don't think it is a bad trade.

Conclusion

All of this doesn't matter if the show isn't funny. And Frasier is funny and a lot more. Yes, it is a product of it's time and parts of it are outdated to the point I felt queasy watching. Thankfully, they can be ignored and are scarce in the latter seasons. The writing is consistent, and the performances are great, that I found myself laughing and enjoying the show.

If you are looking for a new sitcom to get into, I highly recommend Frasier. If you think I missed something or don't agree with the points I have made, feel free to reach out to me.