Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 6 -> Episode 6.03

Dial M For Martin

Frasier and Martin are really getting under each other's skin, so when Roz meets Martin in Cafe Nervosa, she suggests he should move in with Niles for a while. Niles at first hides his real feelings under the excuse of not being able to have dogs in the building, but when Martin subtly mentions that he'll have to find his own place big enough for him, Eddie and Daphne, Niles suddenly changes his mind - finally, living under the same roof as Daphne. However, when they inform Daphne of this, she says that Martin's hip has healed enough in the 5 years she has been helping him, and that perhaps she should look for another job. Martin, Eddie and Daphne (for the time being) move into Niles' place but things take a dramatic turn when Martin falls down the stairs after it appears that Niles just kicked his cane out in front of him. This starts Frasier thinking - is Niles so desperate for Daphne to stay, that his subconscious is making him do things that end up hurting his father without Niles realising it?.

After a series of events that could have hurt Martin, Daphne gets a job somewhere else, making Niles all the more desperate. Martin ups and leaves, rushing over to Frasier's, about to start a date with a lingerie model. He is followed by Daphne and then Niles who learns what Frasier had thought. He, of course, dismisses it. Just then, Martin has another accident outside Frasier's door and so has to stay once again at Frasier's. Luckily for Niles, Daphne cancels her job to look after Martin again.

- After Frasier gets a phone message from an hour ago:
Frasier: I was here an hour ago.
Martin: You were in the tub.
Frasier: That didn't stop you yesterday when you came in to ask me if a peach smelled funny.

- Seeing Roz and Martin together at Cafe Nervosa:
Niles: I'm not interrupting anything, am I?
Roz: Yes, we've just eloped (!) I'm your new mum!
Niles: Well, I'll be a son of a bitch (!)

- After Niles says he is taking in Martin because he is a bit jealous Frasier:
Frasier: I guess I hadn't been seeing it from your angle.
[Daphne walks in]
Niles: Hello Daphne!
Frasier: Quite a little angle it is too.

- Eddie running around the bowl of fruit on Niles' table.

- Frasier comes to visit everyone at Niles':
Frasier: Sorry to drop by unannounced - I know how annoying it is to drop by without calling first.
Niles: Don't worry - I used to do it all the time.
Frasier: That's how I know.

- After Niles learns Daphne's got a new job:
Niles: What a lovely sunset. Dad - come join me on the balcony.

- Seeing Martin injured outside Frasier's apartment:
Frasier: Oh my God!
Niles: Oh thank God .... we're here to help.

My original review of this episode was rather harsh to be honest - I think the first two episodes had affected how I reviewed this episode, but watching it again on DVD, I found it to be a delightful one. Quite dark in places, yet highly amusing, Rob Greenberg has crafted an episode that makes the most of a great premise - what if Martin moved in with Niles, giving Frasier his apartment back. The scene where Martin moves in with Niles is hilarious, and the scenes where Martin believes his son is deliberately trying to hurt him were great too - David Hyde Pierce's delivery of "Dad, come join me on the balcony" was terrific. I found the scenes back in Frasier's apartment where he enjoys his apartment alone a bit flat in comparison, but it's nicely resolved when Frasier has to give it all up again so quickly and let Martin and Daphne move back in.

Rating

82 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 93.4%
Total Number of Reviews: 13