Frasier (TV Series) The Founders' Society (2023) User Reviews

Half and Half

[jameswyattranks · 7/10 · 3 November 2023]

I had two laugh out loud moments along with several amusing ones all from the "Founders Society" storyline. Toks just fits so well into the cast and the bickering between Olivia and Alan is a delight. I was split between enjoying that and feeling rather frustrated at the David storyline that made me cringe. It just felt so unnecessary and a distraction from something rather enjoyable. I just hope that we can get some Freddy stories that work without Frasier having to be present because both his character and Eve's can be rather interesting.

Frasier's over the top reactions are comedy gold and Nicholas Lyndhurst's Alan is an excellent nonchalant accompaniment.

Episode 5: Founder's Society

[doctordoctory · 6/10 · 5 November 2023]

I thought that the previous handful of episodes were generally better than this one. I think one of the main issues for me was that this episode wants us to feel as if we have known the characters for quite some time, when in reality, we have only known them for some five episodes.

We are also evidently a bit dependent on old scenarios - this episode reminded me of an original series episode where Frasier and Niles are competing for a single open spot at the "club". This idea was basically taken and reshaped to fit a threesome, which only kind of worked. I am eager to see novel scenarios.

The character of Frasier is still great. Alan is quite good. Again, it is hard to grasp the reality of their "friendship" after only so many episodes. I mean, we barely know this guy. The younger characters seem to always be turned up to level 10, in terms of volume and speed. There is a certain lack of subtlety with these guys. Then again if you watch Niles in season 1 of the original series, it is like he was an entirely different character. To this extent perhaps the new characters need some time to develop. But the scenes with just them were a bit lost. I think the Eve character has a great capacity for comedy that is underutilized or misplaced. The Tonks character, I think we want her sister to be this invisible Maris/Vera, which could have potential.

Does the storyline of Freddy's deceased colleague being Eve's former partner not seem a bit...strange and overdramatic? Also, I know we need to have Alan and Frasier in the same room...but to share a desk? To share an office, yes. To share a desk? That just doesn't happen.

Lastly I think that it many senses, Freddy is a bit of a failure, in the same way that Frasier was a bit of a failure as well in the original series. I am under the impression that over time, Freddy's character will be one that is less arrogant and "on" and a little more self-deprecating and ironic. I believe this episode and the one before have started to explore that region. I think it is there where we will find the humor of his character.

The Founders' Society

[studioAT · 8/10 · 21 January 2024]

Now this was good.

This and the Pilot episode are probably the best examples of this new 'Frasier' so far.

This felt much like an 'old-fashioned' episode of the show, with an emphasis on class and Frasier being pompous. I really enjoyed that Nicholas Lyndhurst was right there alongside Kelsey Grammer as his sidekick, and that the show had some moments of heart along the way too.

Even the B storyline involving Eve/Freddy and the main character needing development (David) worked well too.

People will always moan about this show. They'll harp on about the missing characters, but if it can keep producing episodes like this then maybe Grammer's prediction it can run for years might not be so out of the question.

Another Fun Episode with a Classic Frasier Feel

[jwmaglio · 9/10 · 3 November 2023]

The Frasier revival seems to fall more into place each episode. This episode manages to recreate the hijinks Frasier and Niles used to get into in a high society setting and does so by finally using Nicholas Lyndhurst in an effective way. Frasier, Alan, and Olivia compete for limited spots in an exclusive Harvard club. Events unfold hilariously as alliances and backstabbing ensue. Grammer and Lyndhurst are finally beginning to develop a chemistry as we learn more about Frasier's and Alan's backstory as college students together.

The B-story featuring Freddy and Eve trying to teach David to be more confident when speaking to women is much more generic, but it is still enjoyable. Anders Keith's performance as David Crane has mostly felt like an impression of David Hyde Pierce as Niles, but they appear to be giving him a bit more of an identity of his own.

I thought the first three episodes of Frasier (2023) felt a little uncomfortable, but things seem to be getting back on track. I hope the series continues in this vein!

Just watch the season 2 episode 18 of original series

[mglebrasseur · 4/10 · 7 November 2023]

I am giving this show a chance as I really love the original and want to love this one. But it's the same plot/premise as season 2 episode 18 of the original show. With Frasier and Niles vying for a spot in the same exclusive club. It differs some based on the characters but not enough. I'm disappointed to see them going back to the well already.

The plot with Frederick and everyone else was good, though I really wish we would get some backstory from how Frederick changed from the spitting image of his father and mother we got as he was a kid. I know kids change as they grow but he seems a bit too different.

Episode 5

[bobcobb301 · 5 November 2023]

I think this episode is proof that they need to go to a traditional 22 minute sitcom runtime. There was some good material in both the A and the B storyline here, but it still felt like it ran for far too long.

I also like Frasier accepting the role in the end. Too often on TV shows we would have the friend turn the spot down out of solidarity, but in real life people are selfish, especially if your last name is Crane, so that is not how it goes.

The scenes with the younger generation were hit and miss, but that's been the show as a whole.

A decent episode, but still not as great as I keep hoping the reboot to be.

Basic grammatical mistakes

[nightwish-46178 · 4/10 · 29 January 2024]

Terrible job hiring these fluff writers. Sadly all they seem to think it takes to write for this show is to make Frasier as pretentious as possible, throw in some French, Latin (why not) and some exclusive brand names that they probably looked up, googling 'fancy brands'. Worst of all, at one point in this episode, Frasier says, 'It gives Alan and I the opportunity...' like a semi-literate half-wit. It should be 'it gives Alan and ME'. Ironically it was Frasier who corrected Martin in the original series when he made that same mistake. This is not Frasier. This is a low-rate writer's basic vision of what Frasier could be. At least hire people who understand English grammar.