Martin Crane
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 5:37 pm
Hello there,
I've started to watch Frasier again after a few years and I remember the problem I had with it before - Martin Crane. I acknowledge that I have only watched the first three episodes today but I did manage to watch the first three seasons the first time around and I did not particularly like Martin's character. It is excellent for comedic situations - and I do thoroughly enjoy the programme - but I get the sense that the writers want us to side with Martin because he's "down-to-earth" - an assessment I've heard other people make of his character - while chiding Frasier and Niles' rarefied "pretensions". But there's nothing particularly sympathetic about him at all, even when Frasier and Niles were being snobbish about the restaurant - although I too would have reservations about a restaurant that cut my tie without asking. Although I would say that the way Martin dismisses Frasier and Niles' interests comes across as snobbery too. The father and the children are more alike than they imagine.
John Mahoney is an excellent actor and portrays him very well but I do not think the character is "down-to-earth" or "relaxed" in any way, unlike Daphne. Martin's character comes across as childish and self-important, particularly in the first three episodes (such as the scene where Frasier tries to have a conversation with him, he says "You said cold TWICE!" like an infant schoolgirl and another where Martin says "I said thank you!" in a similarly petulant way, as if Frasier was being unreasonable in making the request in the first place). Frasier is certainly more likeable, so far.
As I go through the episodes again, I will see if my memory of his character was a little shaky. I hope that someone more knowledgable of the writers' intentions could shed some light on aspects of Martin's character that I may have missed.
I've started to watch Frasier again after a few years and I remember the problem I had with it before - Martin Crane. I acknowledge that I have only watched the first three episodes today but I did manage to watch the first three seasons the first time around and I did not particularly like Martin's character. It is excellent for comedic situations - and I do thoroughly enjoy the programme - but I get the sense that the writers want us to side with Martin because he's "down-to-earth" - an assessment I've heard other people make of his character - while chiding Frasier and Niles' rarefied "pretensions". But there's nothing particularly sympathetic about him at all, even when Frasier and Niles were being snobbish about the restaurant - although I too would have reservations about a restaurant that cut my tie without asking. Although I would say that the way Martin dismisses Frasier and Niles' interests comes across as snobbery too. The father and the children are more alike than they imagine.
John Mahoney is an excellent actor and portrays him very well but I do not think the character is "down-to-earth" or "relaxed" in any way, unlike Daphne. Martin's character comes across as childish and self-important, particularly in the first three episodes (such as the scene where Frasier tries to have a conversation with him, he says "You said cold TWICE!" like an infant schoolgirl and another where Martin says "I said thank you!" in a similarly petulant way, as if Frasier was being unreasonable in making the request in the first place). Frasier is certainly more likeable, so far.
As I go through the episodes again, I will see if my memory of his character was a little shaky. I hope that someone more knowledgable of the writers' intentions could shed some light on aspects of Martin's character that I may have missed.