Niles And Daphne: A Labour of Love

Ross & Rachel, Carrie & Big, Pat & Frank Butcher…they all share one thing in common – saga. But we don’t think there was a couple in sitcom history that was more rooted for than Frasier’s Niles & Daphne.

Out of thirteen seasons of Frasier, it took them seven years (seven!) to even begin to get their act together.  So what exactly happened?

Join us as we take a look back at one of the most celebrated sitcom relationships in television history.

Unrequited Love at First Sight
Niles and Daphne first met in episode three.  Niles was Frasier’s bumbling, fastidious little brother and Daphne the Mancunian, physical therapist and ‘psychic’ housekeeper to Martin Crane.

The pair met over folded underwear and Niles was struck by Cupid’s bow and embarked on the infatuation of his life. 

Besotted with her bum and often smelling her hair, the problem was that Niles was trapped in a loveless marriage to the paranoid, slightly unhinged and never-seen Maris. 

The series progressed with David Hyde Pierce’s superb slapstick performance as the stifled, lovesick puppy forced to watch his true love date man after man, always there to console her when things took a turn for the worse.

The Joy of Divorce
Niles finally broke free from the clutches of the evil Maris after a bitter and dirty divorce.  Maris was all set to take Niles for everything he owned until hotshot divorce lawyer Donny discovered her family fortune was in fact made through urinal cakes and not timber lands.

Enter Donny.  You’d think this was the perfect opportunity for Niles to whisk Daphne off her feet without fear of sin or retribution, but what happens?...Daphne falls for Donny.

Another kick in the crotch for our boy Nilesy. 

To make matters worse, Donny proposed to Daphne and she accepted!  So with true Niles Crane logic, he starts to date his ex-wife’s plastic surgeon (of all people) Mel.

Loose Lips
It was about time though when, in season seven, Frasier accidentally let slip to Daphne about Niles’ feelings towards her in an over-medicated haze.

Daphne soon found being around Niles an uncomfortable affair, but realised herself to be falling in love with him in return, placing Niles in the exact same position Daphne had herself spent years – oblivious to the other’s feelings.  Oh the irony!

So now we have Daphne engaged to Donny, falling in love with Niles, whilst Niles is moving on with his life with Mel unaware that Daphne now loves him! Phew! So what happens next?

Niles, on a whim, elopes with Mel.  Good one.

Read on for more of the ongoing saga that is Niles and Daphne

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