Frasier Reboot’s Finale Has No Excuse For Niles & Daphne’s Absence, And It Hurts The Ending

Warning! Spoilers ahead for the Frasier reboot season 1 finale.

The Frasier reboot is running out of ways to justify Niles and Daphne’s absence, resulting in a glaring issue in the finale. Capping the revival’s freshman year is a holiday-themed episode as Frasier spends his first Christmas in decades. Festive as it should be, however, Frasier feels wistful as he celebrates his first yuletide without Martin, who had always shepherded the season. While he is able to get over his sadness thanks to the help of Freddy and the unexpected visit from Roz, the gathering highlights just how much his life has changed since his years in Seattle.

One of the biggest differences between the revival and the original series is the absence of Niles and Daphne. As Frasier moves back to Boston to prioritize fixing his relationship with his grown-up son, the snooty psychiatrist has to navigate his final act in life away from his brother and sister-in-law. Behind-the-scenes, the reason for the fan-favorite couple’s non-appearance is David Hyde Pierce and Jane Leeves’ decision to sit out the show despite Kelsey Grammer’s invitation. The show has featured several references to them, but it isn’t until the Frasier reboot episode 10, “Reindeer Games” that it crystallizes how ridiculous it is that they aren’t in it.

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Niles & Daphne Don’t Have Any Reason To Spend Christmas in Seattle

David is also based out of Boston as a Harvard undergrad.

David represents the Crane-Moon bloodline in the Frasier reboot. His existence allows the show to lean into other familial relationships aside from Frasier and Freddy’s. David is also based out of Boston as a Harvard undergrad, separating him from his parents, who are still living in Seattle. For Christmas, however, he is supposed to fly back home to spend it with his parents, but his flight gets delayed until the next morning, allowing him to join the Crane Soirée at Frasier’s house. Narratively, he is one of the best parts of the Frasier reboot finale after he gets paired with Alan Cornwall.

Having some kind of transportation problem is a convenient way of keeping David in Boston, but the bigger question is: why can’t Daphne and Niles be the ones to fly to Beantown? Since Martin is gone, and the Moons are still based in Manchester, UK, they don’t have any other family members left to spend Christmas with in Seattle. The couple’s son, Frasier, and Freddy are all on the East Coast, and it would have been better if they were the ones to make the trip. It’s safe to say that money is not an issue, and they could have easily scheduled the trip to prevent any timing issues.

Roz’s Frasier Reboot Finale Makes Niles’ Absence Worse

Roz’s came in the Frasier reboot is brief but worth it.

David’s flight out of Boston to Seattle may have been delayed, but Roz’s appearance proves that flying out of the Pacific Northwest is entirely possible. Roz’s visit to Boston is arranged by Freddy, who thinks that having a familiar face visit his dad would be good for him. The reunion comes at a time when Frasier is feeling sad having to spend his first Christmas without Martin. Roz’s involvement in the Frasier reboot is very brief, but the show makes the most out of it. Roz and Frasier’s reunion and their subsequent conversation is earnest and touching. However, it also makes Niles and Daphne’s absence so much more obvious.

The original show was pitched primarily as a family show, which it very much was. However, although Roz wasn’t a Crane family member, she was a vital part of the classic show, being Frasier’s KACL producer, a very good friend, and one-time lover. If she could take the time out of her schedule to fly out to Boston and comfort her old friend, there’s no excuse for Niles and Daphne to not do the same. Their visit is particularly important because of Martin’s recent death. There’s something sorrowful about seeing the Crane brothers not spending their first Christmas without their father separately.

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The Frasier Reboot Is Running Of Excuses For Niles’ Absence

It’s unrealistic that they don’t even visit.

The revival has done a decent job moving forward without one of its beloved classic characters. Throughout its run, it has made sure to keep Niles and Daphne relevant by making sure to reference them, either directly or indirectly. Admittedly, it’s unfair to make Pierce and Leeves guilty of not participating. They have all the right to turn down the show, especially since Daphne and Niles had a great ending in the original Frasier finale. That being said, the new show is unfortunately running out of justified reasons to explain their absence. While moving to Boston may be a stretch, it’s unrealistic that they don’t even visit.

Niles and Frasier living separately is nothing new, and they have been for quite a while now. Considering this, they have long retired their daily coffee conversations at Cafe Nervosa. That being said, there should be a renewed sense of wanting to be close in light of the loss of Martin as they navigate their shared grief. Knowing that Frasier is also fresh from a devastating break-up following a long-term relationship with Charlotte should motivate both Niles and Daphne to be extra supportive of him. Family should come first at this point, but the couple’s continued absence makes it seem like they don’t care enough.

Why The Frasier Reboot Season 2 Needs To Finally Show Niles And Daphne

Grammer maintains that the door is always open for Pierce and Leeves.

In terms of narrative, it’s imperative that the Frasier reboot season 2 is finally able to bring back Niles and Daphne. Unless the revival finds a way to justify their insistence on living in Seattle when all of their remaining family members are in Boston, it will be difficult to continue the show without any criticism regarding their absence. There have already been several plots that could have been done much better had they been involved in the new project. Even outside of Frasier’s arc, it will be great to see the couple reunite with their son, especially since David has his issues about the pressures of being a Crane.

At this point, it’s difficult to tell if the Frasier reboot will ever be able to feature Niles and Daphne. Grammer maintains that the door is always open for them, and the new show’s creatives will be unwise to turn down any opportunity to bring both characters back. However, the decision really lies with Pierce and Leeves. Perhaps if they see a favorable reception to the reboot, they may be open to at least making a cameo, similar to Peri Gilpin’s Roz in the Frasier reboot season 1 finale.

All episodes of the Frasier reboot season 1 now stream on Paramount+.