I mentioned in my review of Season 1 of the Fraiser Revival, that I loved it and have been a long time fan. I have been keeping up with Dr. Crane since Cheers, and I must say this new series where Fraiser and Freddy bond has made me laugh more than the classic Fraiser series! Season Two has caught me by suprise with the antics and the moments. In the Murder Mystery episode, when Fraiser says in character of the party, "I am an expert in diseases, all of which I have contracted," the look on Kelsey Grammer's face, so deadpan and the tone he uses made me laugh so hard, I almost broke some ribs. The Season Finale did not disappoint and for us Christians had some epic stuff! In the Christmas Finale, Fraiser is going to host one of his infamous Xmas parties, perhaps you remember the one when Cam Winston outshines him by having his Christmas be 2000, that being his apartment number and millennium they were about to enter. Well I say this Xmas episode bests it and some of my favorites from Classic Fraiser, even the one with Jew mother they are trying to hide they are Christians from, and Niles Crane dresses as Jesus from Jesus Christ Superstar, that one made me bust a gut! Was it sacrilegious? Perhaps, but it was funny, and there were episodes that affirmed Christian faith, so I know it was just for laughs, not a personal attack. Heck I laughed at it, because of how well it was done.
In this Christmas episode, Alan has a case of Humbags because his daughter to whom he is estranged named Nora is in town and will not see him nor let him see his only living grand child. Fraiser the master of meddling decides to stage or stakeout her hotel with his new girl friend who runs the bar, played by yep the one and only Patricia Heaton who I loved in The Middle and many will recognize from Everyone Loves Raymond. Freddy is along for the fun, as is Olivia. What is funny is they break into teams, which Fraiser says, "Freddy, Me, and Oliva are Team gold, you are Team Frankincense, and David and you who are going to make Gingerbread house are Team Myrh, you know like the three gifts from The Wise Men." I died laughing and loved that homage was paid to three gifts given to our Lord Jesus by the Wisemen (Matthew 2:11). David Crane, that is Niles Son and nephew of Fraiser builds this elaborate period Ginger bread city, and in one scene he swears and says, "see what you did?! You made me swear in front of the Vicar." As he touches a Vicar Ginger Bread man. I died laughing again! He even makes a Cathedral with Gingerbread cross on the top (see photo) and I just felt so warm in my heart that so many homages to the Faith were in an Christmas episode. I even love how Freddy and Nora have conversation, Freddy says, "Merry Christmas!," she says "You know In England we say Happy Christmas," he responds, "I know.. soo weird!"
I know I am letting one episode monopolize my review, the point is that Fraiser has always done this kind of humor well. Any jokes do not feel like "The War on Christmas," but really funny stuff you probably experienced in your family. It is refreshing there is a series on Paramount+ and Prime that it truly a sitcom of old, only it does the now well. In the Murder Mystery episode, everyone asks for their smartphones and David said, "but I put them in a box in the ice sculpture, we cannot get to them till it thaws." I was like.. oh my galleon! That is too funny. What is perfect is they did not try to copy the classic Fraiser series, Niles' absence isn't felt because Freddy, David, and Alan all do a great job of bringing humor. I will say the ladies are not as good as Daphne Moon, but now that Patricia Heaton is on board as Fraiser's love interest, that has changed, and the return of Roz has been a nice familiar face that is not Fraiser. There was an episode where Fraiser and Roz return to KCL, and Bull Dog comes out as gay, which I always sensed about the actor, but narratively it was important they had Bull Dog say he just changed in his sexuality, that he liked women back then, so that does not mess continuity of the older series. As a Christian I remark that all this gender dysphoria and sexuality spectrum is not new, look back to time of the apostles, the Roman and Greeks were doing things that would frighten us, it is said that the Greeks had Serpent festival to honor a serpent god, where they all had orgies and ahem sexual relations with snakes, and even Romans said no, and when Romans say no, its pretty extreme. As Christians we have to be the light in this confused world. Do we speak up and say, "hey! your crazy! Give up this wickedness!" well if you are a John The Baptist wanting to call people to repent, then yes, but for others its about being sensitive, realizing people are confused and captive to the devil (Galatians 2:1-4) and we cannot expect them to see anything troubling about the trends. We must be a light, show the alternative, the Narrow Way in a world with so many ways now its dizzying.As for those trying to be a Christian and condone behavior that God declares is sin, and even trying to become ordained ministers and flaunting their lifestyle.. that is another matter that is splitting churches in half right now and all I can say is look to the Scriptures, they are clear in the black letters on white, there is no room for grayness in them.
I highly recommend Season 2 of Fraiser. It is full of wit and humor that we desperately need after an Election that was in news making people very stressed. Its time to unwind, and for those who are not prone to alcoholism, get a nice wine and enjoy a glass as you watch the Doctor do his work to make you laugh. Amen.
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