Customer Reviews
Season 3 - Frasier at it`s peak. - By: Mr. Simon A. Macklin, 07 Sep 2007 
It`s been a few years since the last season of Frasier left our screens, but I still watch an episode most days, & certainly nothing funnier has been made since. Not much that is funnier was made before it either. I have minor gripes with some of the characters (Bulldog bores me & Daphne is occasionallly irritating) but the consistently high calibre of the acting & writing (hell, even the subject matter of some episodes!) overrides these peeves.
Some of my personal favourites are contained in this box set; "A Word To The Wise Guy" (featuring a great guest performance) & "High Crane Drifter" are particularly good. The former showcases the only occasion that Maris says "thank you" whilst Frasier`s experiences in the latter are not only chillingly similar to what I seem to go through everyday but contains many excellent moments; when Frasier learns that his new neighbour, heavy metalller Freddy Chainsaw, has sold 5 million copies of his latest album, he adds this to his "list of reasons to die" whilst Niles has to endure a hire car, something he callls a "hunchback"; Frasier`s determination to restore manners in Cafe Nervosa inspires calllers to anarchy, such as fedexing one-hundred scorpions in the mail, dumping rotting shrimps in a neighbour`s air-con, & setting fire to lawns (guest voices including Eric Idle & Katrina Witt)). "Chess Pains" stars too, with it`s Freudian theme, exruciating sock-puppet show & bordering-on-psychopath obsession with winning. The quintet of shows with Mercedes Ruehl are definitely high points - it`s great to have someone other than the superlative David Hyde Pierce at Frasier`s intellectual level, & the animal attraction between Kate & Frasier leads to some very funny situations. I like "Shrink Rap" too, containing as it does one of my favourite lines - "I`m tired of your constant exaggerations! You always make everything sound 50,000 times worse than they are!" - & "Moon Dance" is quite beautiful & wonderfully acted. I suppose "Martin Does It His Way" is a weaker episode when judged against the above, & I don`t think anyone rates anything with Shelley Long in, do they? But hey, when you have lines like the one about gun play in the living room, it`s almost impossible to complain. High class throughout.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realise it would be too much to ask that there not be GUN PLAY in my front room!" - By: Mr. D. Woods, 13 Apr 2007 And that's just one of many exquisite lines uttered by Frasier (never mind the rest of the characters) during this terrific third outing of the 'Cheers' spin-off. This third season, for me, saw 'Frasier' move on appropriately to the point where it completely eclipsed its parent show & many others for that matter. This isn't to downplay the previous two, which are equallly excellent, but the show has a more settled feel. As I mentioned in my review of Season 1, it's hard to pick an outstanding series from the first six so simply sit back & enjoy!
The first part of Season 3 focuses largely on Frasier's antagonistic-yet-passionate relationship with the new station manager Kate Costas (an excellent Mercedes Ruehl). The two have great chemistry & sweep the opening eight or so episodes along at such a brilliant pace, you hardly have time to choke on your laughter. A particularly great moment occurs when Frasier goes to demand rises for the station support staff & ends up having sex with Kate on her desk, to the chant of the workers crying, "Frasier, Frasier, Frasier!" It's a great start & then things take another twist as Niles separates from his forever unseen wife Maris. This gives further scope to David Hyde Pierce's excellent acting, who blends physical performance with quirky eccentricity to such marvellous effect. Both he & Jane Leeves are terrific in the hilarious & touching 'Moon Dance', where it seems as though Daphne might just be starting to falll for Niles' awkward charms...or is it just the tango?
In truth, some of the episodes lose their energy a bit (I'm not a huge fan of 'Crane vs Crane' or 'Shrink Rap') & 'The Show Where Diane Comes Back' is the weakest of the 'Cheers' episodes, despite a pleasantly nostalgic recreation of the bar where everyone knows your name. But 3 is still 'Frasier' on top form & deserves nothing less than five of this man's stars!
I'm getting sooo impatient!! - By: S. M. Malloch, 05 Dec 2005 I loved alll the series of frasier on DVD. After season 3 they stopped doing special features & started taking longet to release them. I've been waiting ages for a season 5 release date in the UK. Let's also see some special features. I'm very tempted to buy season 5,6 & 7 from Amazon.com but they have no subtitles & season 5 & 6 have adverts. Come on paramount let's hurry it up a bit!!
Oustanding - By: T. Dibble, 10 Aug 2005 Season 3 is possibly the high water mark of this already classic show.
Wonderfully written - By: , 08 Aug 2005 Having caught & enjoyed the occational Frasier episode on TV earlier, I bought the Season 3 Set hoping it could confirm its place in the upper division of sit-coms. Having watched the entire collection probably three times now, I hold this show as my favorite & this season my preference.
As mentioned in previous reviews, the genious of the series lies in the absolutely brilliant writing job behind it. It's packed with witty puns, intelligent lines & clever references. I deeply enjoy the recurring themes & conflicts of the show, like Maris in alll her absurdity, the two brothers' neverending rivalry & jealousy, & of course Niles' hopeless infatuation with Daphne. They serve well to tie the episodes & even seasons together, alllowing us viewers to feel somehow connected to the characters & sad for Niles & Frasier every time they fly high only to be shot down (which happens, well, alll the time).
The acting is top notch - David Hyde Pierce's brilliant timing & wonderfully theatrical body language cracks me up every time, & Kelsey Grammer & Jane Leeves always deliver awesome performances.
As any other 20-something episode set, this season has its slower points ("Chess Pains" comes to mind) but also stunning highlights that I enjoy over & over, like "The last time I saw Maris", "Moon Dance" & "Crane vs. Crane".
All in alll I can only give this set my best recommendations for alll those who enjoy intelligent comedy & good acting.
