This is one of several episodes in which the Niles and Frasier confront the same sort of ethical dilemma only to have one brother meet the challenge and the one on fail. In this case Niles succeeds and Frasier fails. I like these sort of episodes a lot. My favorite dynamic on the show is seeing the two brothers being put in the same or similar situations. Niles-on the page-can come across as a Frasier clone but DHP plays Niles so differently than Frasier that the two brothers end up so alike and so different.
I also think the reconciliation-while played for laughs-has just enough pathos to be touching. This isn't a sentimental episode but it is close to one.
I also think the reconciliation-while played for laughs-has just enough pathos to be touching. This isn't a sentimental episode but it is close to one.