For the most part, the story of Dr. Frasier Crane has been a triumphant one. When the character was first introduced in the third season of Cheers, he was only meant to appear in a handful of episodes. However, due to Kelsey Grammer’s performance in the beloved series, the prominent psychiatrist became a staple of that little bar in Boston where everybody knows your name. When the long-running sitcom came to an end, viewers were happy to follow the good doctor as he returned to his hometown of Seattle to reconnect with his family in the acclaimed spin-off Frasier. 

While both Cheers and Frasier earned spots among the greatest television programs ever, the latest chapter of Dr. Crane’s journey hasn’t exactly hit that high bar just yet. However, with a new season on the horizon for the Paramount+ revival, the sequel series has another chance to give it the old college try. And frankly, it does its best. The new Frasier is one of the best sitcoms on the air right now and the second season is on track to be just as good if not better. 

But there isn’t exactly as much competition in the genre as there was back in Frasier’s heyday. A heyday, in fact, that is still accessible thanks to the various streaming libraries at our fingertips. So is Frasier worth watching instead of binging old sitcoms of seasons past? I would say yes.    

Frasier Season 2: Not Mid, But Mid-Season

When Frasier returns to the Paramount Global streamer for the second season premiere, fans will get to tune in to two episodes, “Ham” and “Cyrano, Cyrano.” Both have signature elements of a top-tier Frasier Crane tale such as pithy quips, farcical comedy, and a sweet message at the core to take with you after the credits roll. Although rather than season premiere quality stories, these episodes feel more like they would be released as a mid-season premiere instead.

Of course, back when the original series was dominating the airwaves on NBC during the late 90s and early 2000s, they were working with 24-episode runs that would actually sync up to the holidays that the characters were celebrating. While there are certainly exceptions, many shows are lucky to get 10 consecutively released episodes per season in the age of streaming. With that in mind, productions unfortunately have to trim the fat off of their seasons and that can sometimes come at the expense of more intimate or adventurous offerings in between the bigger ensemble-focused stories. Basically, every single episode needs to be a hit single and there’s barely any room for b-sides, which can put a ton of pressure on those in the creative driver’s seat. 

That’s not to say that there aren’t glimmers of potential in the new season of Frasier. Professor Alan Cornwall (Nicholas Lyndhurst) is more emotional than his mischievous, snarky exterior would let anyone believe. Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott) is finally starting to let his guard down and let Frasier into his life more. And though classic characters such as Daphne and Niles are greatly missed, David (Anders Keith) manages to bring some of his parents’ trademark characteristics (and in his father’s case, physical comedy) into the mix. Luckily, season two (or at least the first five episodes shared with the press) does lean into filling those voids a little better, but more on that later.  

True Lovers Run Into Strange Capers

Dr. Frasier Crane famously loves three things: His family (including his found family), romancing eligible bachelorettes, and the finer things in life. Depending on the day, the order may vary, but despite varying degrees of success in each arena, they are always relatively consistent in his life. But one of the best ways these elements come together are in a holiday episode. From Christmas to Halloween to Thanksgiving and even a leap year, these special days will often spawn a seminal Frasier episode. The revival is no different as the season one finale “Reindeer Games” showed Frasier’s first Christmas back in Boston and under the same roof as Freddy. 

Now, the new season kicks off with a Valentine’s Day story as the second half of the two-part premiere. While Cupid’s arrow may not be as steadfast as it was for classic episodes like “Out With Dad” or “Three Valentines” (the latter of which might arguably be one of Niles’ best episodes and potentially one of the best episodes of Frasier overall), it is nice to see more holidays represented in the sequel. Not only is it fun to see these characters play on the tried and true traditions and tropes that come with these special occasions, but they’re often the times when a dysfunctional sitcom family can be the most endearing and relatable. 

The Blessings of Old Friends

Speaking of family, Frasier is welcoming a number of guest stars to season 2. Amy Sedaris, Yvette Nicole Brown, Rachel Bloom, and Patricia Heaton are among the incredible talent joining the Cheers-verse. However, a number of familiar characters will be making comebacks too. Peri Gilpin is back as the fun-loving Roz Doyle. Her daughter Alice, who is now all grown up, will be making an appearance as well courtesy of Kelsey Grammer’s real-life daughter Greer Grammer. Plus, Dan Butler, Edward Hibbert, and Harriet Sansom-Harris reprise their beloved roles from the original series.

Some might call this stunt casting or desperation to keep their audience around. But as a long-time fan of the franchise, all of these returning cast members sounds fun. Whether they’re interacting with the new cast or simply catching up with Frasier himself, it will be exciting to see what these characters have been up to after all this time. I mean, part of the reason why you revive a show is to appeal to nostalgia, right? Characters like Bulldog Briscoe and Gil Chesterton were among the most colorful and enthralling threads used in the tapestry that was Frasier’s life all those years ago. It will be fun to see how these classic threads will be woven into this new fabric. And sure, would it be great to see Niles, Daphne, or someone from the Cheers gang pop in? Absolutely, but until all parties are ready to make it happen, this isn’t a bad way to reincorporate legacy characters back into Frasier’s life. 

However, the question at the end of the day has to be, “Is it enough?” There are people out there who may compare this third chapter in Dr. Frasier Crane’s life to a different franchise from Kelsey Grammer’s illustrious career: If Cheers was X-Men from 2000 and Frasier was X2, then this revival is the much-maligned X-Men: The Last Stand. But in my opinion, that’s an unfair an inaccurate comparison. Instead, think about how teachers in school often remind creative writing students that they need to know the rules in order to break them. The new Frasier certainly knows the rules of the sitcom genre. The creative forces behind the show prove that with every episode. They’re not exactly reinventing the wheel, yet they still entertain like it’s the latter half of the original series. Again, Frasier is one of the best sitcoms on the air right now. If you’re a fan of the character, the franchise, or the genre, it’s worth giving a shot.  

The two-episode second season premiere of Frasier debuts on Thursday, September 19, 2024 exclusively on Paramount+.