Blind Date – The episode opens at a bar with Eve (Jess Salgueiro) inviting Alan Cornwall (Nicholas Lyndhurst) and Olivia (Toks Olagundoye) to a play on Saturday written by her friend Kiki (Jessica Mckenna). Eve tells them that although they are still figuring out the plot, she’ll be playing the lead as Detective Murderfinder. The discussion is soon interrupted by the laughter of an approaching Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) and Freddy Crane (Jack Cutmore-Scott). When Eve mentions his good mood, Frasier claims to feel completely satisfied for the first time in his life. She says that’s too bad because she has the perfect woman for him. He jokingly says he can be ready in 5 minutes. Alan comments about how proud everyone is of Frasier’s optimistic outlook on love, despite one failed marriage after another. When Frasier admits to having some relationship hang-ups, Freddy reminds him that he’s still young. After Olivia mentions Professor Salazar’s interest in Frasier, Eve claims to be the perfect matchmaker and offers to set him up. Freddy warns him against trusting her, claiming that she set him up with a real dud of a lady. Eve blames Freddy’s lack of dating success on him and Frasier agrees that Freddy might suffer from an emotional vulnerability. Once Freddy denies the accusation, Eve dares him to let her arrange a blind date. Frasier loves the mystique of the unknown and asks to be set up as well. Eve agrees and promises to keep an eye out for prospects for Alan.
June Gloom – While Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor blares over Frasier’s speakers, he scurries around the room lighting candles to set the mood. His progress is soon interrupted by the arrival of June Patrick (June Diane Raphael). After quickly introducing himself, she admits to already knowing who he is. She also admires his excellent taste in classical music as well as his Christian Lacroix throw pillows. While Frasier tends to the wine, Freddy arrives and blames his late arrival on the baseball game going extra innings. His mentioning of the game leads to them discovering that they share several things in common, including a love for a little deli named Yancy’s on Blaine Street. Frasier arrives with the wine just as Freddy retires upstairs to drop off his bag. Frasier shares the dinner menu with her before going back into the kitchen. When he’s gone, Freddy returns to model his newly changed clothes and asks if she likes Italian food. Using different entrances to the kitchen, Freddy and Frasier continue to narrowly miss each other. When they finally meet in the kitchen, neither can hide their giddy excitement over how well they are clicking with their blind dates. After a bit of back-and-forth, they realize they are talking about the lady.
Like Father? Like Son? – Realizing their oversight, a small argument ensues. Frasier claims June is far too refined for Freddy before suggesting they phone Eve and ask who June was sent to meet. Eve doesn’t answer because she’s right in the middle of unmasking the murder of the butler in the play. Frasier suggests asking June, but Freddy claims the answer will be obvious when the other blind date arrives. Although they agree to wait, they both suspect they might be able to uncover the answer by seeing who has more in common with her. The situation only grows more confusing when June expresses an interest in art as well as softball and partying. Their attempts fail further when Frasier attempts a seating experiment to see who June will choose to sit next to. She shocks them both by sitting between them. This ends up with them back in the kitchen at each other’s throats. The evening is soon interrupted by the arrival of a pushy older Ida (Annie Abbot), who claims to have been sent by Eve to find Frasier. Horrified, Frasier asks Freddy to join him in the hall and insists there is a mistake. After some good-natured teasing, Frasier follows Freddy back inside and asks Ida to join him in the kitchen. Once there, he learns that she’s Eve’s babysitter and is there for milk. Once he rushes her out and reveals her identity, Freddy admits to meeting Ida a month ago. June asks about the powder room and Freddy and Frasier retire to the kitchen again where Freddy proposes a truce. Frasier agrees but while he’s in the fridge, Freddy cranks up the heat on the stove burner, causing Frasier’s osso buco to boil over.
Racing back to the living room, he overhears the end of June’s phone conversation with a friend. She tells her friend about being set up on a blind date but feels she has more in common with his dad. A defeated Freddie sneaks back into the kitchen and shares the news with Frasier. Although he quietly celebrates, Frasier tries to assure Freddy that his commitment issues aren’t the problem. The evening is interrupted yet again with the arrival of a beautiful opera singer from Milan, Siobhan (Jacqueline Obradors) who shows up with a bottle of wine.
Oh, Sherry – Racing back to the kitchen, Frasier shares the news of Siobhan’s arrival with Freddy. He claims that Siobhan is perfect for him, but apparently, he doesn’t want to ruin his chances with June either. As Freddie accuses him of sabotaging his relationships, June and Siobhan arrive in the kitchen to overhear him offering to buy Freddie a big-screen TV if he’ll take June to dinner. The evening ends with Siobhan and June leaving together in search of a drink.
Frasier Review
It’s hard not to appreciate the simplistic, yet intricate nature of the comedy, especially in a world filled with fart and sex jokes. Everything about this episode seemed to hit and for that, I’d give it a 6.3 out of 10. June not only did a commendable job, but the creative did a good job with choosing an actress who could have believably been interested in either Crane man. I also enjoy Alan’s somewhat stiff comic stylings and wouldn’t mind seeing him take on a bigger role in the series. All around, a good episode.
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