The complete second series of the upscale sitcom about a middle-aged Seattle psychiatrist, beset by problems largely of his own making. In 'Slow Tango in South Seattle', Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) feels his teenage past come knocking when a romantic affair that he had with his piano teacher is included in a friend's steamy novel. Frasier insists on looking up the piano teacher to explain. In 'The Unkindest Cut of All', Martin's (John Mahoney) longterm canine companion Eddie has been getting local bitches in the family way and finally Martin agrees with Niles (David Hyde Pierce) and Frasier, it's time to get him neutered. If only it were that simple. In 'The Matchmaker', Frasier sets lovelorn Daphne (Jane Leeves) up with hunky new manager at the radio station, Tom (Eric Lutes). In the ensuing comedy of manners it seems only Frasier has failed to realise Tom's true orientation. In 'Flour Child', Niles, facing the future exigencies of fatherhood, takes to Seattle's streets carrying a sack of flour in an empathetic gesture of baby simulation. In 'Duke's, We Hardly Knew You', Martin's favourite bar is being threatened by a big investment group, but can Frasier and Niles admit to their father that they themselves are investors? In 'The Botched Language of Cranes', a comment on Frasier's radio show offends the whole of Seattle. In penitent mood, Frasier embarks on a charity benefit appearance to heal the situation, with disastrous results. In 'The Candidate', Frasier's attempts to support a local election candidate come up against his notorious scruples at the last possible moment before campaign filming begins. In 'Adventures in Paradise', Frasier's trip to the Polynesian island of Bora Bora turns into disaster when he runs into his ex-wife Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth). In 'Adventures in Paradise (2)', Frasier's island idyll goes from bad to worse with an appearance by Diane (Shelley Long) from his Bostonian Cheers barfly days. In 'Burying a Grudge', Niles' trip to visit Maris in hospital is enlivened by a chance meeting with Martin's old partner on the force, Artie (Lincoln Kilpatrick). Niles attempts to reconcile the estranged relationship. In 'Seat of Power', Frasier employs a plumber at his apartment only to discover this 'Danny Kriezel' (John C. McGinley) was Niles' high school bully. In 'Roz in the Doghouse', Frasier's producer Roz (Peri Gilpin) is tempted to step in as producer on Bulldog's (Dan Butler) sports show, denying that this might just be an attempt at seduction by the gonzo sports broadcaster. In 'Retirement Is Murder', Martin's detective skills are dusted off as he tries to solve 'The Weeping Lotus' murder, a case he was never able to close whilst on active duty. In 'Fool Me Once, Shame On You, Fool Me Twice...', Frasier's case is stolen and a man starts wandering around Seattle imitating him. In 'You Scratch My Book', Frasier is torn between his romantic interest in comely pop-psychologist Dr Honey (Shannon Tweed) and his horror at the thought of endorsing her lowly self-help book with the introduction he has agreed to provide. In 'The Show Where Sam Shows Up', the serial badboy (Ted Danson) who ran 'Cheers' bar in Boston comes to Seattle to ask Frasier for help, having once more jilted his betrothed at the altar. Frasier elects to help his old friend, with mixed results. In 'Daphne's Room', the live-in Mancunian considers her options following a series of invasions of her privacy by Frasier, jeopardising Niles' access to the object of his love into the bargain. In 'The Club', Niles and Frasier vie bitterly for the single opening in the membership list of the Empire Club, a prestigious gentlemen's club full of the great and the good. In 'Someone to Watch Over Me', Frasier seems to have acquired a stalker and employs a lady bodyguard to protect him at an annual broadcasting awards ceremony. In 'Breaking the Ice', Frasier seizes upon the fact that Martin has never told him he loves him, and so accompanies Niles on one of their father's ice-fishing trips. Never the practical types, the Crane boys soon end up causing more heartache than familial love in the unfamiliar circumstances of the freezing countryside. In 'An Affair to Forget', a caller to Frasier's show gives the impression that Maris, Niles' never-seen wife, is cheating on him with her fencing instructor. In 'Agents in America Part III', Frasier's indomitable agent Bebe (Harriet Sansom Harris) advises he fake illness to put pressure on the station to up his salary. But when the station removes his parking space, the plan looks like going disastrously wrong. In 'The Innkeepers', Niles and Frasier decide that their knowledge as bon-viveurs makes them excellent material to run a restaurant. Their eaterie, 'Les Freres Heureux', proves anything but, however, when all goes awry on the all important opening night. In 'Dark Victory', the final episode of series two, Martin's birthday finds everyone at odds with each other, plus Seattle's power goes down and Frasier must use all his wisdom to bring everyone back together.
By Navin Thammanna from essex , 27 May 2005
By dally (297 reviews) from Belfast , 08 Mar 2010I am a great admirer of cleaver wit and believeable characters and this series has it all. Even the dog can act.
By a customer from London , 18 Jan 2009I am a big fan of Frasier but I wasn't particularly impressed by these episodes. Still, a good basic quality standard.
