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Frasier season 2's ending brings the reboot's sophomore outing to a close with some high emotions, high jinks, and high holiday cheer. The second season of the show, building on Frasier season 1's ending, has seen Kelsey Grammer's character connect more with his son, Freddy, as well as find a new romance with bartender Holly Quagliano (with Patricia Heaton joining the Frasier reboot's cast). Those two threads are both particularly important in the finale, "Father Christmas."
The episode is mostly centered around reuniting Alan Cornwall with his daughter, unbeknownst to both of them. It's very much a Frasier Crane well-meaning, hair-brained scheme that descends into farce, with both sides discovering the plan to get them together and each being angry about it. But, this being Christmas, things work out well in the end: Alan and his daughter finally talk, Holly joins the Christmas party, and there's merriment all round. It's a happy ending, befitting the season, and sets the stage for Frasier season 3 too.
The Importance Of Alan's Reunion With His Daughter In Frasier's Season 2 Finale
It's Not Just About Alan & Nora
Alan and Nora reunite at the end of Frasier's season 2 finale, providing the reboot with one of its sweetest, most poignant moments to date as he gets his daughter back and meets his grandchild. It's a powerful scene, and pays off a season-long arc for Alan, whose estranged daughter had been referenced multiple times before now. Whereas Alan could have just been a comic relief sidekick for Frasier, it's provided him with a lot more depth - wonderfully played by Lyndhurst - and this cements him as the heart of the show.
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Their reunion is about redemption and forgiveness, of being able to give people a second chance, and holding on to those closest to you, because you never know when it might be too late. It's a message that runs across Frasier's reboot - a show itself that is Grammer holding on to his most beloved character, getting a second chance to play him - thanks to Frasier and Freddy. Ultimately, Alan and Nora's reunion is as much about Frasier and his son as anything else, and how they were able to put aside their past and overcome their differences, and now have a stronger relationship than ever.
Frasier Season 2's Ending Makes Holly A Bigger Part Of The Show
Patricia Heaton's Role Is Now Very Important
Image via Paramount+ The addition of Heaton to the Frasier reboot's cast has been one of the triumphs of season 2, even in just a few episodes. Grammer and Heaton's work goes back to the canceled Fox sitcom Back To You (2007), and they have a great, natural chemistry together and makes Frasier and Holly a delightful pairing. The final two episodes, which feature their developing romance, really highlight how well they play off one another, and how her being so down to Earth not only contrasts, but grounds him as well.
Actor | Character |
Kelsey Grammer | Fraser Crane |
Jack Cutmore-Scott | Freddy Crane |
Nicholas Lyndhurst | Alan Cornwall |
Toks Olagundoye | Olivia Finch |
Jess Salgueiro | Eve |
Anders Keith | David Crane |
Peri Gilpin | Roz Doyle |
Patricia Heaton | Holly Quagliano |
Greer Grammer | Alice Doyle |
Rayne Bidder | Nora Cornwall |
In the season 2 finale, Holly makes the choice to join Frasier's Christmas party, despite having previously lied about working and being unable to attend. This itself comes after Alan tells her that Frasier has a huge heart and he loves with all of it, and so it is an important choice. This is Holly truly embracing her relationship with Frasier, and being ready to become more serious as an item. That should mean she's sticking around for season 3, and could be the first long-term love interest for the rebooted show.
Frasier and Charlotte's breakup may, in part, have been due to him not proposing to her (as was revealed in season 1, episode 6), but could things be different with Holly?
Frasier hasn't always been lucky in love, though he has had some serious, long-term relationships before. He's been married twice (to Nanette and Lilith), left at the altar once (by Diane), and then in a relationship with Charlotte for, seemingly, around 20 years. Frasier and Charlotte's breakup may, in part, have been due to him not proposing to her (as was revealed in season 1, episode 6), but could things be different with Holly? It's early days, but the suggestion is that he's ready to settle down once again.
Frasier Sets Up A New Romance For Season 3 - But Is It A Love Triangle?
The Reboot May Have Its Own Niles & Daphne
Frasier isn't the only member of the Crane family who is looking at a bigger romance story in season 3 of the reboot, as that also appears to be on the cards for his son, Freddy. For most of the reboot, there's been something of a will they/won't they story developing with Freddy and Eve, who are incredibly close friends bonded by a shared loss, but the season 2 finale sets things up for a different direction: Freddy and Alice Doyle (played by none other than Kelsey Grammer's daughter, Greer Grammer).
Alice was born in season 5 of the original Frasier , and previously played by Ashley Thomas. The character is around 26-years-old in the reboot.
Season 2, episode 6, "Cape Cod," first started to tease a potential spark between the pair, and it very much continues in the finale when Alice joins them for Christmas. Freddy spends a lot of time talking with her, expressing he's glad she came, and the attraction between them seems pretty clear. With the two shows having teased, but ultimately mostly avoided, a Frasier and Roz romance over the years, there may finally be a Crane/Doyle couple on the cards in season 3, as that appears to be where things are headed for them.
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What will be interesting to see is not only how this develops, but what it means for Eve. The show hasn't fully committed to their possible romantic relationship, but there have been hints of it. And, when Freddy is talking to Alice in the finale, there's a very brief flicker of sadness or jealousy in Eve's face. This could, of course, be her own loneliness and thinking about her loss at the holidays; it could be concern about Freddy finding someone, and her losing her most dependable, trusted friend. But it's also plausible it's because she has feelings for him. The executive producers have discussed a Freddy and Eve romance, with Chris Harris saying:
" It’s definitely always been a thought of ours , but we want to make sure that we do what feels right for the characters. We decided there was no way we were going to match that idea of this one person chasing this other person. So let’s slow play it. Let’s not put it front and center. Let’s sort of mimic life in a way and see what feels natural as we slowly unpack it. But it’s definitely something that we’re thinking about.”
Those signs are definitely still there, so it'll be interesting to see how it plays out in Frasier season 3.
The Real Meaning Of Frasier Season 2's Ending
The Show Carries An Underlying Message
Image via Paramount+ Frasier has, at its core, always been a show about the importance and value of family, and that's something that continues in the reboot. In particular, it shines through in the season 2 finale, which is entirely built around this idea. Whether it's Alan and Nora, Frasier and Freddy, or even David, it's about being there for one another, that sense of camaraderie, of love, and of finding common ground even when that seems difficult, because they're family.
It's understandable this is the messaging the reboot wants to stress above all, following the death of Martin Crane (and, in real life, John Mahoney's passing).
This speaks not only to blood relatives, but the importance of found-family within Frasier's circle: Roz, of course, may as well be a sister to him, and Alan, Olivia, and Eve have all become like family to him too, which the season 2 finale only enhances. It's understandable this is the messaging the reboot wants to stress above all, following the death of Martin Crane (and, in real life, John Mahoney's passing). Holding on and cherishing the time you have left with loved ones may be a simple message, but it's an everlasting one, and certainly fits with the holiday theme of the episode.
Is Frasier Season 3 Confirmed?
Kelsey Grammer Has Spoken About The Sitcom's Future
At the time of writing, Frasier season 3 has not been confirmed by Paramount+, but it wouldn't be surprising. There's been no talk of the show ending, and the season 2 finale does not really feel like a conclusion of the reboot, since there's clear setup for more stories to follow. Kelsey Grammer has discussed the Frasier reboot's future before, saying he'd like to have "100 episodes." That may not be possible - since it would mean going to 10 seasons - but, nonetheless, it'd be a huge shock if season 3 didn't happen with the actor himself so keen on it.
All episodes of the Frasier reboot are now streaming on Paramount+.
Follow Frasier Crane in the next chapter of his life as he returns to Boston, Mass., with new challenges to face, new relationships to forge and an old dream or two to finally fulfill.
Character(s) Frasier Crane , Freddy Crane , Alan Cornwall , Olivia , Eve , David Crane , Waitress , Moose , Tiny , Smokey , Brian , Sarah , Roger , Saara , Provost Sharma , Roz Doyle , June , Eliot , Jeneé , Gilby , Lauren , Chef , Arguing Mother , Arguing Daughter , Walt , Annie , Bar Patron #1 , Bar Patron #2 , Bar Patron #3 , TV Newscaster V / O , Kevin , Dean Melvin , Dr. Bowen , Siobhan , Ida , Kiki , Dr. Lilith Sternin , Vince Wilfork , Chip , Bowler , Kara , Violinist #1 , Holly
Release Date October 11, 2023
Seasons 2
Creator(s) Joe Cristalli , Chris Harris , Glen Charles , Les Charles
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English (US) ·