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Frasier - Season 8
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Seemingly not content to win all those Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series, Frasier made a convincing bid in its eighth season for Best Drama. Make no mistake, Frasier still serves up its unique blend of sophisticated wit and farce with the usual panache. But season 8 finds Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) in a contemplative mood and mid-life crisis mode. The episode "Frasier's Edge" resonates throughout the season, as a lifetime achievement award and a suspect (only to Frasier) congratulatory note from a mentor sends him into a characteristic tailspin. "Thank you for honouring my life," a subdued Frasier remarks at the awards ceremony. "I just wish I knew what to do with the rest of it." It is just one of several powerful moments on which many of the season's best episodes fade out. In the season finale, Frasier finds himself torn between a new, "perfect" woman in his life, Claire (Patricia Clarkson), and the tempestuous Lana (Jean Smart reprising her Emmy-winning role, and winning her second consecutive statuette). In an affectionate phone call with Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth), he asks, "Do you think I know how to be happy?" In the cleverly constructed "Sliding Frasiers," which takes its cue from the film Sliding Doors, parallel Valentine's Day storylines illustrate how "the tiniest decision can change your whole destiny." In "Cranes Unplugged," Frasier feels like he and his son Freddy are growing apart, but on a predictably disastrous camping trip they manage to share "a golden moment." John Mahoney, too, gives an Emmy-worthy performance in "A Day in May," as Martin attends a parole board hearing for the man who shot him. But it's not all sturm and drang. "The Show Must Go Off" features an Emmy-winning performance by Derek Jacobi as a former Shakespearean actor Frasier rediscovers at a sci-fi convention and mounts a one-man show, only to discover that he is a talentless ham. In "Motor Skills," Niles (David Hyde Pierce) and Frasier enroll in an automobile repair class and take on unaccustomed roles as the class bad boys. This season also resolves all the obstacles keeping Niles and Daphne (Jane Leeves) apart, including a lawsuit by jilted groom Donny (Saul Rubinek), the vindictive schemes of Niles's jilted fiancée, Mel (Jane Adams), and Niles and Daphne's own illusions about each other. For longtime viewers with an emotional investment in Frasier and company, this is a richly satisfying season worthy of this gold-standard series. --Donald Liebenson
Not the best Frasier season but better than almost anything else
Review date: 2008-08-14 Rating: 8 out of 10
Season 8 is another enjoyable run of witty and intelligent humour from Dr. Frasier Crane and friends. This is the season when after all the near misses Niles and Daphne finally get together.
The season started strongly by continuing immediately from where Daphne leaves husband-to-be Donny at the altar, to be with Niles. However Frasier is still single and searching for his true soul-mate. The middle of the series was relatively weak as it required the design of stories to accommodate Jane Leeves' (Daphne) real-life pregnancy. However, things got good again by the end of the season.
The best episodes were:
'And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon' (in 2 parts) - what happens next after Daphne and Niles leave Donnie and Mel respectively.
'The Great Crane Robbery' - Frasier mentors the new KACL owner, a young billionaire lacking social skills, who decides to copy everything about him!
'Taking Liberties' - Frasier hires a refined classical English butler.
'Legal Tender Love and Care' - Frasier falls for Daphne's lawyer but finds her expensive.
'Forgotten But Not Gone' - Frasier and Niles quarrel over wine and Martin gets a new therapist.
'Semi-Decent Proposal' and 'A Passing Fancy' - Frasier gets chummy with Lana to get closer to one of her friends.
It's not the strongest season but it still was very funny and way better than most other sit-coms.
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Reviews
Still fantastic But Not Quite Up There With Season 1-7
Review date: 2008-04-04 Rating: 10 out of 10
Season 8 is the first season of Frasier that didn't quite reach perfection. Daphne and Niles are now together and although the show handles it very well in general it does take an edge of their characters. Jane Leeves who plays Daphne fell pregnant during this series and an overeating story line develops until about half way through when Daphne goes to the "fat farm" to seek help. While in real life Jane Leeves gave birth and she returns later in the season. We don't have the wonderful character of Bulldog anymore but instead we have the return of Lana. A lover of Frasier in the previous series and now a friend who has you in stitches the same way Bulldog did.
I would rate seasons 1-7 at 10/10. However, season 8 drops to 9/10. It's still a fantastic show but some of the story lines (e.g. "fat" Daphne) and episodes don't quite reach the heights of previous season. It's also disappointing to find that there are no extras at all - they could have at least included some interviews with cast/makers about the Daphne/Niles relationship.
In transition
Review date: 2007-12-19 Rating: 8 out of 10
After the explosive ending to season 7 where Daphne & Niles finally get together expectations were perhaps always going to be a little too high for season 8.
The Season starts with the fallout for the new couple as the jilted Donnie & Mel go from unhappy to angry & wreak their revenge. This is tied in with Jane leeves who plays Daphne being pregnant & a need to have an excuse for her increase in size. This is accomplished by having Daphne fret over her increasing frustration as she & Niles are kept apart & so comfort eating. In truth this is not very subtle or kind in it's execution & does the series no favours. When daphne leaves for a 'fat farm',(Jane Leeves having her baby), upon her return things seem to even out & the show finds it's feet once again. There are some superb episodes with Niles becoming a sports star in 'Hooping cranes', the 2 brothers showing a rebellious streak in 'Motor skills' & a typically manic holiday in the Caribbean that is the series' conclusion.
All in all this is not the greatest season the show produced but all that means is you get a moment to catch your breath between laughs. Frasier has yet to be equalled and this is a welcome addition, albeit a late one,(the 1 remaining season left to be released in the states has just come out, we are 3 seasons behind!),.
So basically the same advice as ever, if you haven't seen any/many before go to season 1 where all will be explained but if you're an old hand then you already either have the region 1 or this pre-ordered, if it's the latter then sit back, relax & laugh your socks off at the finest television has to offer.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
David Hyde Pierce
Peri Gilpin
Jane Leeves
John Mahoney
Kelsey Grammer
Creators:
John Mahoney (Primary Contributor)
Kelsey Grammer (Primary Contributor)
Recording label: Paramount Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Entertainment
EAN: 5014437946232
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 4
Format: Box set, PAL,
Release date: 2008-02-04
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 500 minutes