TV Review | Frasier Season 2 (The Premiere Episodes)

Is Frasier’s reboot living up to the hype on Paramount Plus? Dive into the second season filled with comedy, friendship, and unexpected mishaps with Jamon Iberico.

Frasier has re-entered the building for a second season of the classic sitcom’s reboot. But does it live up to the hype? Picking up in January after the Christmas finale, Alan and Frasier decide to celebrate their years of friendship with a specially imported jamon Iberico. In classic Frasier shenanigan fashion, this doesn’t go as planned. Intercepted by David and Eve, a hilarious scene ensues of the two trying the jamon and then trying to hide how much they’ve eaten.

I can see this being Martin and Daphne in the old set, and it’s remarkable how close the two sets are. David’s awkwardness can sometimes be played too much, but it was used perfectly this time.

Frasier Season 2 on Paramount Plus (TV Review) — *Kelsey Grammer as Frasier in Frasier, episode 1, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+*

VALENTINE’S DAY

In the second episode, “Cyrano, Cyrano,” it’s Valentine’s Day, and the forever love lorn Frasier can’t help himself when it comes to helping his friends find their happily ever after. A firm believer in love, he can’t bear that his friends and family have such a bleak outlook on dating. When Freddy’s coworker Moose laments that his relationship with a woman he’s barely started dating might end, Frasier becomes his Cyrano de Bergerac, sending the lady Shakespeare quotes.

The problem? Unbeknownst to him, the lady in question is his boss, Olivia, and she asks for his help, too! Of course, he says yes. While not a straight Cyrano retelling, the fact that he can help Moose woo Olivia but has no idea how to help Olivia impress Moose with her knowledge of sports makes for a funny back-and-forth. This episode also has a cameo by the great Patricia Heaton, the restaurant bartender who tries to help Frasier with sports facts.

THIRD TIME’S A CHARM

In the third episode, while in town to help her daughter Alice get set up at Graduate school, Roz meets up with Frasier. But on hearing Eve desperately needs a night out, she insists on a girl’s night instead and that the men watch little John. Roz, Eve, and Olivia head to the town with Roz determined to find the younger Eve a date. Meanwhile, the men find that having a baby with them gets them a LOT of attention from women.

They drag the baby with them, passing him back and forth. Of course, this does not go well for them. After giving an enlightened critique of Roz pushing her feelings off on her, proving that maybe she’s been spending too much time around Frasier, the ladies show up only to find Alan carrying a “baby John” made of wine bottles.

THINGS TO COME

Roz is back, and I’m happy to see her in a more recurring role this season. The perfect choice was to save her appearance for the finale last season and have her be a Christmas present for Frasier, arranged by Freddy. However, having her pop up in the third episode already was a surprise treat, as I didn’t think she’d be in more than one episode again. Alice is previously stated to be in a long-term relationship, prompting Frasier to think the apple fell far from the tree.

But here, Alice has recently broken up with him, and instead of meeting up with her mom, she goes out with a new man. Maybe the apple didn’t fall that far from the tree. Alice herself is listed as making an appearance, being played by Kelsey Grammer’s daughter, and I can’t wait to see mother and daughter on screen interacting to see just how much alike they are.

KACL

The KACL crew is also seen in the trailer, with Frasier and Roz back in their old recording booths. Most notably, Bulldog and Gil Chesterton are seen with them. I’m trying to guess when this episode will fall based on episode titles. I’m thinking of episode eight, “Thank you, Dr. Crane,” but I’ll have to wait to see if I’m correct. Bulldog probably appeared the most out of the KACL crew, with his sports show immediately after Frasier’s. Still, his show was “canceled” at the end of season six of the original, and he didn’t appear as often after that. I’m curious if he will be on air talent again or just a station employee. It will doubtless be funny either way, based on the brief appearance in the trailer.

Frasier’s agent, Bebe, is also set to appear. Bebe was a force to be reckoned with in the original. Manipulative and dramatic, she would do anything to get what she wanted for her clients to the extent that it was repeatedly joked that she was a Lady Macbeth or a Princess of Darkness. Bebe’s appearances were always over the top and hilarious, and I’m sure it won’t be any different this time. Dare I speculate that she tries to get Frasier back on the air?

VERDICT

Despite a few missteps last season, I thoroughly enjoyed the first season of this reboot and was just as excited for season two. Does it have its flaws? Yes. Last season’s weakest episode was the third episode when Olivia tried to turn Frasier’s class into his television show. David can be a bit much in a few scenes, and Freddy’s fellow firefighters are a poor, one-dimensional substitute for the more lively and personality-diverse KACL crew.

However, there were some great, heartfelt moments between father and son. Most notably, Frasier admits that the real reason he doesn’t like Freddy’s job isn’t out of disrespect for it like Freddy thinks, but because of his worry over Freddy’s safety and that he used to worry about his father as a boy in the same way. There’s also a great scene between Freddy and David bonding as cousins when Freddy gives David advice about school, life, and living up to their father’s expectations.

Season two can do well if it continues to balance the heartfelt moments between the Crane family members, the classic antics, and the great cameos. Will it ever be the original? No. But it can be almost as good. Based on these three episodes, season two starts strong, and exciting things will come in the next seven. I’ll be tuning in weekly.