Frasier (TV Series) Daphne Returns (2001) User Reviews

Excellent writing

[zenmateisshite · 9/10 · 8 May 2022]

I must have seen this episode 20 times. However, like Niles, I never understood why was Daphne so apprehensive, and why was Frasier pleading with Niles to rethink his approach - until now.

Like Niles, I always thought he and Daphne were meant to be together. It was so obvious and clear to me that I never imagined that this is a normal relationship that needs both parties to be on the same level of thinking.

This was probably one of the best written drama/comedy of that late nineties early noughties era, and IMHO, very few shows has managed to create the same level of intellectual thoughtfulness since. Friends or Modern Family, for example, are nowhere near this.

And the acting: Superb. David HP was amazing form the first scene when he enters Nervosa till the last one when he's smirking with his patient.

Deadly Serious

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 25 October 2019]

Every once in a while, there is an episode that really capture the heart and soul of the characters. As Daphne returns from the spa where she lost a lot of weight, she and Niles don't seem to connect. He is all judgmental about the therapist she had and is very cruel to Daphne. Frasier steps in and there is some of the most poignant discussion they have every had. They are very human and Frasier fears that Niles has some real issues.

Great episode

[twanster-97655 · 9/10 · 20 August 2019]

It's a shame they dragged out the love story between them... If they had got them together sooner, the show would of been able to keep moving forward

Although not many jokes, still one of the best.

[wonkabar69 · 10/10 · 29 August 2009]

This season has stood out from the rest for the humor of watching Niles' clever gawking, however distant, has been replaced by mutual affection. This episode is the first so-called "clip-show", in that we see a few of the best scenes of Niles & Daphne's budding romance. The writers have left us wondering why Daphne was gaining weight, causing rumors of pregnancy to circulate, but as we learn in the beginning of this episode, they have yet to consummate the relationship! Niles is frustrated, not from the lack of sex, but rather from an outside Psychologist's reasoning for Daphne's weight gain that clashes with his own. After an awkward confrontation upon her return, Frasier checks on Niles to help him understand the other perspective. They look back together in a series of *Emmy-winning for best editing* scenes and realize that Niles has always considered Daphne to be "perfect", so much so that he failed to realize that she was gaining 60 lbs all year. Together they come to the conclusion that Niles is holding onto an illusion and was making Daphne nervous about being in a relationship. Likewise, Niles was also worried that he might not measure up, be worthy of these standards. In the end, Niles confronts Daphne, reassuring himself and her that their relationship is indeed, quite real.

The flashback scenes made this episode!

[MotownMan · 8/10 · 12 April 2023]

In many ways, this was a frustrating episode. I just wanted to tell Niles to shut-up when he kept criticizing Gloria (Daphne's therapist) and making Daphne feel like crap.

On the other hand, I LOVED the flashback scenes where Niles and Frasier revisit Niles' memories of Daphne, including their first meeting in Season 1, the "Moon Dance" episode of Season 3, and First Date of Season 5. I have to think all fans of the show loved watching Niles take Frasier down memory lane, with his commentary thrown in there. "This is one of my favorite memories of Daphne. I come here often." Or when Niles in the present joined the duet of Season 5 Niles and Daphne singing 'Heart and Soul.' This was BRILLIANT!

And of course, the final scene of the episode with Niles smirking at Cafe Nervosa, the day after his "first time" with Daphne, when he said, "You know the best part, Frasier? It wasn't at all like I had imagined." Sometimes, while watching the show, you really start to feel like these characters are real people. Such excellent writing and acting!

Daphne Returns

[studioAT · 4/10 · 2 November 2022]

Jane Leeves returns from maternity leave as Daphne here, in another episode from the eighth series of the show (aka the first post golden era period) that tries to flesh the characters out a little more, and give them a little more depth.

I'm not sure again that this totally works, but it is an episode that makes some good points along the way, with the splicing together of the old footage with the new working quite well.

It's a nice, if unspectacular episode of the show, and worth a watch once. I'm not sure it's one that I would revisit though, but I could say that about most, if not all, of the episodes from the eighth series.