October 14th 2023.
My strong obsession with the show started instantly and it was clear to see why. TV revivals are everywhere these days, and in the past few years alone Sex and the City, Gilmore Girls, Roseanne, and Will and Grace are among those to have been given an update.
I had tuned in for an episode or two of those rebooted sitcoms, but nothing got me more excited than hearing about the revival of Frasier, the beloved show from my teenage years. I wasn't just a fan, I LOVED Frasier. I was obsessed - taping all episodes and re-watching them back-to-back, writing scenarios about the characters in my diary, and even forcing myself to love coffee to suit the café culture of Seattle.
From the moment I started watching the show aged 12, I was hooked. I loved the witty quips, even though some inevitably went over my head, and the heart of the characters. And there was one character in particular that I was infatuated with.
Unlike many girls my age growing up in the mid-90s, I didn’t have posters of Take That or Leo Di Caprio adorning my bedroom wall. I had a framed picture of Niles Crane - Frasier's younger brother - instead. My strong and, some might say, slightly weird obsession with him pretty much began from the beginning of watching the programme.
I loved Niles’ quick wit, his pompous put-downs, and fierce loyalty to his family. I was such a fan that a framed photo of the blond psychiatrist took pride of place on my bedside table. And even when I heard the exciting announcement of the show's revival, I assumed that the full cast, minus John Mahoney who played dad Martin and passed away in 2018, would be taking part.
But, alas, I was disappointed. David Hyde Pierce had no interest in doing a repeat of his old performance and his absence meant that the reboot can never truly be as good. Without Niles, there’s a gaping hole at the reboot’s heart.
During Covid, the cast had a mini reunion over video call, which was released online, and it cemented my love for them all. And, as for my fellow Brit and Niles’ love interest Daphne, I wanted to be her.
Despite the lack of Niles, I couldn’t resist giving the new show a watch. The music and skyline intro in the first new episode made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up – it felt like Frasier. But being an only child, I was always drawn to the dynamic of brothers Frasier and Niles. They loved each other but their sibling rivalry added so much to the show – something that the new version is sorely missing.
We do have Niles’ and Daphne’s son, David. Anders Keith plays him pretty much exactly how I imagined him. He doesn’t have his dad’s pompous wit, but he does carry around a laminated list of his allergies and medication for all occasions, so a small part of Niles was there.
Despite the show being called Frasier, Niles was always the lead in my mind, stealing virtually every scene. Frasier needs Niles to compete with and to antagonise. However successful either of them gets, the other was always there to knock them down a few pegs.
So, I’ll give it a chance – even without Niles. I didn’t have great expectations but was emotional towards the end. I might just have to look at that framed picture of my beloved Niles every now and then.
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