Reviewer Rating: 4.5/5.0
4.5
Worlds collide in Family Fun Season 2 Episode 8 as Fraser and Freddy use some of Rhodes’ frequent flyer miles to take a trip down memory lane in Seattle.
They set off from Boston, where it’s not surprising to see Rhodes sitting comfortably at a bar with the Harvard gang. After all, it feels like she’s been in more episodes this season than some of the main cast members!
But that’s just the first of many blasts from the past in this episode, which perfectly blends the OG show’s beats, strengths, and (it must be said) flaws to create an emotional turning point for the new series.
Bon voyage, Boston
The Harvard bar scene sets up the main storyline of Frasier visiting KACL for a special tribute show, as well as the smaller storyline of David leaving the show with Ellen.
But in my opinion, actual The only purpose of this bar scene is to tell us that Niles and Daphne now live in Sedona (??), where they drive a Tesla (???) and own a vineyard (well, there’s a track).
How did we not know this before?
Well, probably because it clearly explains why we won’t be seeing Niles and Daphne in Seattle, just like Frasier and Freddy won’t be seen much more during their visit.
This also allows the episode to focus on KACL and Frazier’s previous professional lives in Seattle.
Freddie follows the tour, questioning the fire department’s vacation policy.
They already seemed to think differently of him due to his constant drinking at the bar, so what about a few more days on the other side of the country?
broadcast day
Eve’s quip to Roz that radio is obsolete accurately foreshadows the disparagement of a generation. It was indeed painful to see Frasier’s old KACL studio filled with outdated equipment, such as forgotten storage rooms.
It reminded me of the original ending of Frasier, when everyone was starting a new chapter in their lives (Niles and Daphne were new parents; Martin and Ronnie were married and had moved out of their apartment).
I remember Rhodes being promoted to…webmaster of KACL? It seemed like a big deal at the time, and the position provided security and recognition of her true value as a producer.
So I’m just as shocked as Frazier to find out how far KACL has fallen, and Rhodes doesn’t realize it yet.
But until then, it’s great to see Fraser’s former colleagues (plus Bulldog’s gong!) flocking to his studio again?
I can only hope that Noel Shepsky’s absence is just because he’s attending a StarCraft convention.
It’s so exciting to see the KACL crew coming together again – almost like the show actually listened to people and gave people what they wanted!
Bulldog and Gil instantly revert to their old selves (well, there’s a lot more to come from Bulldog’s reveal), and the jingle-jangling conflict in the diner feels familiar yet like it’s from a different century .
I loved seeing these characters fall back into step with a steady, natural grace. And then… the show ended the scene by kicking them all out of the KACL studio!
you Know That scene was cut short because the cake was left intact on the table! Unless… the stuff from Frances’ welcome back party is still there?
Well, they did say they were on a tight budget!
Coffee shop on the corner
Our consolation from leaving KACL so suddenly was to visit Cafe Nervosa, which miraculously was still open.
It honestly doesn’t look that much different, no matter what Fraser says, I could have sworn I remember an old episode where he and Niles also complained about people bringing bikes into the cafe.
Another foreshadowing comes when Frasier complains that he can’t believe Rhodes still visits the Nervosa Café, which isn’t as charming as he remembers.
But the familiar café fit the bill perfectly for her tribute interview and for Fraser to meet an old visitor.
That caller is Lou, a random new character, although I kind of wish it was someone recognizable from the original show.
I was confused at first because it looks like building have only These questionable life changes were made, but the idea was also said to have come from a call to Fraser’s radio show twenty years earlier.
I’m not sure if this timeline difference has been completely eliminated. But we learn about Lou’s dreams of a magic career, his failed marriage, and how he quit the law firm based on Frazier’s past advice.
There are a couple of good magic acts, but the character of Lou isn’t all that compelling.
(However, I almost died laughing when Freddie picked up Lou’s “Ace in My Sleeve” playing card and said, “Here’s a seven.”)
What I’m most worried about is us still When I wanted to get back to KACL and all those sorely missed (and probably expensive) guest stars, I had a meal at Cafe Nervosa.
Plus, the “welcome back” cake won’t be eaten by itself!
There is always time to heal
Frustratingly, Frazier began to focus on helping Lou Just then, Although This would make him late for the radio show slot Rhodes had scheduled for him.
Seriously, he couldn’t wait forty-five minutes to correct a twenty-year-old mistake?
This obsession with one thing to the exclusion of everything else happened a lot in the old dramas. It’s often associated with an overt slight of class or morals, and is sure to make viewers anxious.
Frazier says he has a reputation to protect in Seattle, but judging by the shabby KACL offices, I think this is just a convenient excuse for him to indulge himself without guilt.
Roz bringing Frasier out of retirement for the “Last Call Show” was a sweet move that promises to be a landmark broadcast anniversary.
However, I can’t imagine a Fraser tribute show would give KACL the same digital boost it had before the podcast era.
I also wonder how many Seattle audiences will remember The Fraser Crane Show – and I say that with love!
Still, I felt really bad for Rhodes because she had a whole tribute show planned for him and flew him out of Boston and she had to scramble to get Jill to cover for Frasier.
What’s going on?
At this point in the episode, I Wondering if this The show will never stop snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
I mean, bringing all those beloved guest stars together just for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene? Give us random Lu and magic?
(Well, luckily, bunnies are super cute.)
But then the show works its own magic. In the process of helping Lou, Frasier made it clear to Roz that it was time to leave the familiar KACL and even the West Coast.
There’s also surprising tenderness and unexpected breakthroughs between him and Freddy as they maturely work through long-standing father-son issues and their guilt and grief over Martin’s death.
The only one who’s actually left on the ledge is Lou, but even there, Frasier’s obliviousness actually helps Lou become angry enough to figure out how to change his life.
It turned out to be a very funny and well-crafted scene that made me feel bad for doubting Lou’s character. And Lucky is well trained! I wish my cat could listen to me like this.
It wasn’t just the guest stars and KACL background that made Happy Days Season 2 Episode 8 feel like an episode from before. Part of it is the pacing, but mostly it’s seeing Fraser’s style as the psychiatrist.
Just as he gently advises Rhodes to let go of things that no longer work, he might ask himself whether returning to academia after retirement is his version of clinging to outdated dreams.
Back in Boston, the subplot about David growing tired of Allen’s constant criticism is akin to the idea of ditching an old character for a better opportunity.
It was impressive to see David defend himself against his respected professor, although I scoffed at the description of “he pulled his sweater on a little too hard.”
The whole little Harvard storyline was a lot more interesting than expected, and it makes me wish Olivia had a reason to speak in a Scottish accent more often or consistently! i like it That a lot of.
Olivia played a badass in Family Season 2 Episode 8, and I felt like the show was finally exploring different layers and directions for her character.
That, coupled with David growing a backbone beneath his delightful knitwear, proves to be a truly transformative episode for every character on the show.
even Allen He was forced to sit in a corner and think about what he had done and act accordingly.
Maybe I’m still addicted to Ellen’s version of The Parent Trap, but the show definitely missed a golden opportunity to cast Andskis as David and His replacement.
However, David and Alan’s lint roller joke at the end was good enough almost Make up for it if anyone asks.
Infatuated with so many feelings
This game-changing episode of Happy Family Season 2 allows Roz to move on with her life and allows us to say goodbye to the familiar voice of KACL.
Freddy’s regretful thoughts about his late grandfather provide a surprisingly poignant ending to the episode.
It’s impossible to think of the original series without remembering John Mahoney’s performance as Martin Crane, and it’s a (tenuous) testament to the new version that it acknowledged the character without necessarily doing him justice.
This episode managed to tie together a lot of loose threads that we didn’t even realize were loose and form an incredibly organic path forward for the series. It’s not perfect, but ultimately sublime.
TV Fanatics What are you talking about? Has Fun Season 2 finally found a way to balance tragedy and humor? Let us know in the comments!
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