Frasier (2023) - First two episodes

Lead actor Kelsey Grammer still manages to hit the right note in the first two episodes of the reboot of Frasier (2023) as the enthusiastic neurotic psychiatrist Frasier Crane.

The first episode of Frasier (2023), along with the second episode, premiered on October 12, 2023 on Paramount+. In the Netherlands, most Paramount+ programs can be seen on SkyShowtime, but a Dutch date has not yet been announced. The series revolves around the well-read and sometimes very pedantic psychiatrist Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer, Cheers). Frasier is a very good listener to other people's problems, who can often give good advice, but does not always have his own life on track. In fact, this series is the third series to feature this character after Cheers and Frasier (1993).



Frasier Crane had moved to Chicago in the last episode of 2004 and had a beautiful life there with his girlfriend and a successful career with his radio show 'Dr. Crane' built up. We now learn that Frasier's relationship has ended and his father has died. Frasier is on his way to Boston with his nephew David (Anders Keith), the son of Frasier's brother Niles and his wife Daphne. David goes to study at Harvard University and Frasier is invited as a guest speaker at the same university by his old friend Professor Dr. Alan Cornwall (Nicholas Lyndhurst, Only Fools and Horses).

The visit to Boston offers Frasier a great opportunity to visit his now 33-year-old son Frederick (Jack Cutmore-Scott, Deception) again. His unannounced visit does not immediately go down well with his son. Frederick gave up his studies at Harvard University to pursue a career in the fire department. This naturally causes friction between the two men.



Frasier was actually on his way to Paris to do research for a book he was planning to write. But he has barely arrived at Harvard's Psychology department when he is offered a job by ambitious head Olivia (Toks Olagundoye, The Rookie). He now plans to restore ties with his son and wholeheartedly accepts that offer. Naturally, Frasier has everyone's best interests at heart and is determined to be the perfect father for Frederick. But is Frederick ready for that?

Frederick shares his apartment with Eve (Jess Salgueiro, The Expanse) who works at the local bar, but the exact nature of their relationship remains unclear at first. The other family member that Frasier often encounters in Boston is his nephew David, who, in addition to his intellect, is characterized by his clumsiness. In that respect, he certainly resembles his father Niles Crane.

I sometimes found And Just Like That... the renewed Sex and the City cringe-worthy and was afraid that Frasier (2023) might also be less successful. Fortunately, my fears turned out to be unfounded. Lead actor Kelsey Grammer still manages to hit the right note as Frasier Crane, the enthusiasm is clearly visible in the first two episodes. The new characters that have been introduced are interesting enough to make the series attractive to new viewers. Furthermore, after introducing all the characters in the first episode, the second episode immediately picks up speed and the series seems to quickly find its own tone and charm.

Of course, it takes some getting used to without most of the original cast.

Of course, it takes some getting used to without most of the original cast. Brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce, Julia) and physiotherapist Daphne (Jane Leeves, The Resident) in particular are characters that I miss. They will not get any guest roles either, but ex-college Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin, Make It or Break It) and ex-wife Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth, Madam Secretary) have already been signed up for a guest role later in the season. Ten episodes are planned with the final episode titled Reindeer Games scheduled for December. The first season therefore ends with a Christmas episode, which can be glimpsed very briefly in the making of Paramount+ about the series 'Frasier - Inside the series' that can be found on YouTube.