Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 7 -> Episode 7.02

Father Of The Bride

Daphne's mother is interfering in all her wedding plans because she is paying for it, which is driving Daphne nuts. Frasier is trying to come up with a suitable wedding gift and hits upon the idea of paying for the wedding flowers to alleviate some of Daphne's anguish, and sharing the cost with Martin. However, he has just eaten some of Martin's new rather spicy jerky, which has the unfortunate side effect of making him hiccup, so that when he tells Daphne the good news about his wedding gift, it comes out as: "I am going to pay for your wedding (hiccup)". Daphne can't believe her ears, and before Frasier has a chance to put her straight, she is off telling everyone her news. Martin is understandably annoyed, and both try to wriggle out of the situation, but Daphne is so happy to be able to have the wedding she wants, Frasier just can't bring himself to tell her the truth.

Meanwhile, Niles has joined 'Executive Match', which he believes is an executive dating agency and is very happy with the lady the agency have selected for him. Frasier has learned from Donny, however, that 'Executive Match' is a high-class escort agency which makes Niles's new lady friend a prostitute. Frasier tries to tell him but Niles just sweeps any negative comment from Frasier under the carpet. Frasier himself is also getting very worried by Daphne's choices for her wedding, and decides to give Daphne 'The Gift Of Frasier', because he believes he has much better taste than Daphne. So Frasier goes into overdrive - auditioning harpists, chefs and priests, and arranging for doves to be released at the wedding, while Niles learns the truth about his new girlfriend, and understandably wants to get rid of her as quickly as possible. Daphne, by this time, is finding Frasier's interference worse than her mother's and finally tells him she's had enough - and wants her mother to pay for the wedding, much to Frasier's relief.

- Roz complains that bridesmaid's dresses are always terrible:
Roz: When was the last time you found yourself staring at the bridesmaid instead the bride?
Frasier: Actually, that would have been at my wedding to Lilith!

- Frasier can't believe Niles has joined an introduction agency:
Frasier: You sign up with visions of a PhD graduate, and what do they deliver? A buck-toothed librarian who needs help washing her mother!

- Frasier has just tried Martin's new jerky:
Frasier: Trust me, Dad - I'm never going to taste that vile stuff again. [Hiccup] Spoke too soon.

- After Martin's jerky caused him to inadvertently offer to pay for Daphne's wedding, Donny sees it was made from filet mignon:
Donny: How much did this set you back?
Frasier: You have no idea (!).

- Frasier meets Niles's new 'girlfriend' for the first time:
Sabrina: [referring to Niles] He's intelligent, witty, charming & handsome.
Niles: I paid her to say that!
Frasier: Of course you did (!)

- The minister remembers he used to teach Niles at Sunday School:
Martin: I remember dropping him off for his first class. It seems like only yesterday.
- The harpist plays 'flashback' chords.

- Daphne is angry Frasier is taking over her wedding:
Daphne: What kind of git walks down the aisle with something called pygmy orchids.
- Daphne throws her bouquet which is caught by Sabrina as she and Niles stand in front of the minister, as the harpist plays "Here Comes The Bride".

A brilliant episode - it was the first that kept me laughing all the way through for ages. Thanks largely to a brilliant script making the most of a great idea, there are misunderstandings and disasters galore as Daphne regains control of her wedding - only to lose it again to Frasier as he thinks the wedding could benefit from his taste and expertise. This combined with the sub-plot of Niles unwittingly dating a prostitute makes for some great comedy such as the auditioning harpist chiming in at unexpected times and Frasier's jokes at Niles's expense before he tells Niles who Sabrina really is. This is an episode that reaffirms just how good 'Frasier' can be with the right script and director, and bodes very well for the rest of this season. Perhaps not the best ever episode, but definitely up there with the best of them.

Rating

88 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 84.8%
Total Number of Reviews: 4