Frasier Season 2 Review — A Massive Dissapointment

Let me clarify: I am a massive fan of the original Frasier and the character that originated on Cheers. The first season is a classic, generally regarded as one of the funniest sitcoms of all. The writing was an embarrassment of riches. Intelligent, witty, clever, and full of heart.

The revival was announced, and my fear of a money grab was initially evident. The series spent too much time trying to recreate the magic by constantly throwing a haymaker joke at the wall. Then, the obnoxious laugh track did not help matters.

Everything becomes contrived, trying to recreate the magic from years past and refusing to view the legendary character through a new lens. However, the series slowly regained its form after a handful of episodes. There were fitfully funny and thoughtful moments, just like we remembered.

Paramount+’s Frasier Season 2 Review and Synopsis

Yet, the new season of Frasier is a massive disappointment. It pains me to make this point. The series even brings back some beloved stars from the original run, but the scenes feel stagnant. Characters are still recycled from the NBC version. This trait is typical; you’ll see similar characters in different roles.

For example, Jim and Mark are essentially the same people in The Office and Parks and Recreation, and Manny in Modern Family is essentially the original Frasier. However, even if these characters are carbon copies, they evolve. No one in the series has matured or grown in year two.

Lyndhurst’s Alan serves as Grammar’s mirror, similar to how David Hyde Pierce’s Niles mirrored Frasier, another pompous intellectual. Toks Olagundoye’s Olivia continues her pursuit of dating blue-collar men, thirsting over Freddy’s coworkers, similar to Frasier’s former producer, Roz. Olagundoye is a gifted actress, but her character has no depth, is almost cartoonish, and lacks realistic behavior.

Frasier’s Sophomore Season Has Nothing New To Say

Then you have Jack Cutmore-Scott’s Freddy, whose character is supposed to be a challenging and fierce firefighter, similar to Martin Crane’s role as a police officer. This is meant to create comedic friction between the leads. There should be tension between these characters to develop both comedy and drama. Frankly, Grammar and Cutmore-Scott have little to no chemistry.

However, the series can be an easy fix, with the first move needing to place Lyndhurst’s Alan front and center as Grammar’s main foil. Additionally, the series always works better when Kelsey Grammar’s titular character continues to self-destruct during romantic relationships. Not to mention, some verve in the storylines would bring back Grammar’s famous sharp, deadpan delivery.

The series also needs proper structure. For instance, heart and empathy have always been the show’s backbone. Having Frasier take an interest in his students, such as starting a show in his Harvard class or beginning the show in the radio booth, would maintain the essence of the character in a new role while still helping people.

Is Paramount+’s Frasier Season 2 Worth Watching?

Only five episodes of Frasier were screened for the revival’s second season. At this point, the series is not worth watching. Perhaps, like myself, hardcore fans will enjoy walking down memory lane, especially with a handful of guest spots from the original version, which I will not spoil here.

The first four episodes are challenging, relying heavily on Grammar’s likability. Disappointingly, there is little chemistry between the cast. However, the fifth episode is a winner, featuring Rachel Bloom. The episode, which includes Frasier’s former agent, Bebe Glazer (Memento’s Harriet Sansom Harris), is an inspired story that gives me hope the series season can be saved.

Until then, unfortunately, like encountering T.J. Houghton’s unpublished manuscript in Season 4, Episode 4, “A Crane’s Critique,” the revival of Frasier appears to have nothing new to say.

You can stream the second season of Frasier on Paramount + on September 19th.