Frasier's Niles Crane: Weird, Hilarious, And... Surprisingly Relatable

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Frasier might have been the titular character of the hit sitcom, but Niles was clearly the star of the show. Let’s take a look at what made him so hilarious (and lowkey relatable) and unpack why he provided such an important balance to the show!
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Frasier's funniest character is...
00:29 What made Niles so funny
05:32 Factor
06:34 Nile's arc & growth
12:31 Why Niles exited the story
CREDITS
Executive Producers: Debra Minoff & Susannah McCullough
Chief Creative Director: Susannah McCullough
Associate Producer: Tyler Allen
Writer: Jessica Babineaux
Narrator: Jessica Babineaux
Video Editor: Tyler Allen
#frasier #tvshow #tvanalysis

[@thetake]

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[@LilyHandmaiden]

It always seemed to me that, while Frasier used his snobbishness as a way to set himself apart and keep people at a distance, to avoid vulnerability, for Niles it was a way to try to connect-- to form a community he could trust based on things like status and taste. This is why Niles ultimately ends up happily settled with his family, while Frasier is eternally wandering from place to place, searching. I would disagree that the show establishes the marriage with Maris as something Niles is just in for the money and the stuff (although I doubt he would have married her without the money and the stuff). It seems pretty clear that Niles initially saw in Maris someone who, because of her manifold neuroses, was someone he could relate to and also, as a psychiatrist, understand and protect. She made him feel needed. But she ended up using that devotion to manipulate and take advantage of him. What Niles finds in Daphne is someone who also values community and loyalty and family, but apart from taste and status. Embracing that real bond with people like Daphne, Martin, and Roz is the root of Niles's character growth.

[@RodneyAndMeVideos]

+

[@gingerg85]

Really great insights ❤

[@JemLeavitt]

Wow, really great analysis. I totally agree. Well put.

[@distortedfuzz]

Niles himself would be proud of such a thorough, thoughtful analysis 🙌

[@mariefraher8725]

A very insightful analysis. Niles is attracted to Maris' wealth and social status and he admits he likes those fringe benefits. However, his need to nurture and protect her is evident in his description of initially seeing her locked out of her mansion, symbolic of Niles' own feelings regarding his pecking order in his family as well as society, banging her tiny fists against the gate. His extended pining for Daphne and fear of her rejection is only overcome when status seeking Frasier allows Niles the knowledge of Daphne's feelings. It is the reciprocation of Niles' love by the practical, though visionary, earth treading goddess Daphne that validates Niles' desire for a life of substance. Thank you for your comment. I totally enjoyed reading it.

[@alexbramley195]

Niles Crane was so fun. Somehow the actor was able to both play a rich snob but also such an interesting character you can’t help but love.

[@robchuk4136]

Niles pining for Daphne was one of sitcom's great crushes. But I did like his back and forth jabs with Roz even more. They aren't siblings, yet they felt like it.

[@fawnebrown4619]

Niles Crane (as portrayed by David Hyde Pierce) is one of the best sitcom characters ever. Maybe one of the best tv characters....period.

[@katarinakrnjevic8183]

Niles is of rare sitcoms characters that every season gets more own storylines and best jokes . David is such underrated actor he deserves his own show

[@kellie-nd1yp]

Without Niles I have zero interest in the new one.

[@NujwOayk]

I would if it was good but it is not.

[@perplex777]

It’s cosy rather than comedy gold. Like a Hallmark Christmas Movie - sometimes that’s enough but I wouldn’t expect it to win any awards

[@kelleygreengrass]

I think that they tried with David but then he came into his own and I like the later half of the episodes much more than the first half. It's cute and nostalgic and that's enough for me to enjoy it. It is weird David's characterization is so close to Niles when the last episode of Frasier implied he was a Moon boy. He could at least have a little more of Daphne in him.

[@queenc_x]

Understandable. I've been enjoying it but it doesn't have the same magic without David. BUT the actor playing Niles' son is EXCELLENT, his mannerism is perfect.

[@xtraspecialj]

I loved Niles but was still hoping the new one would be good, but they missed on nearly everything that made the original so good. The sets are boring, the actors (besides Kelsey of course) are mediocre at best and very predictable and boring, and the overall feel of the show just feels like a bad sitcom, whereas the original felt like an incredibly well acted play.

[@rachels.8051]

Frasier has been my emotional support tv show since I was 9 or 10. I often watch it when I’m trying to fall asleep and over the years have seen each episode dozens if not over a hundred times. I won’t watch the revival. You can’t revive perfection. People need to understand that good things end and learn to accept that. This insane desire to do a reboot of everything that was once good detracts from the original in almost all cases.

[@ellicel]

While there's a number of spinoffs that have been at least as wonderful as the source, I can't think of a single reboot that came anywhere near the quality of the original. These older shows are beloved because even after decades they still speak to us and even though we know the jokes, they still make us laugh.

[@reneroo277]

I do the same. Frasier is my comfort blanket. I still find new things in the episodes even though I've watched them a million times 🥰

[@michalpitowsky]

I had such a huge crush on Niles, and always felt so weird about it 😅😅😅

[@dablondeambition]

Me too!!!!

[@VinesBee]

You're not alone LOL!!

[@kid-ava]

same lowkeyy

[@Phobos_Nyx]

You are certainly not alone. I had a crush on Niles since I started watching when I was maybe 11. 25 years later and I still have a huge crush on him 🙈

[@rochelle2758]

Excellent video! David Hyde Pierce is a national treasure. Also, you can’t talk about Maris without tipping your hat to Norm’s wife Vera, the OG.

[@mundaneamazing]

Frasier is my comfort show! It is so funny and so cozy ❤

[@thenextrung]

This⬆️

[@jamigoddess]

Same!

[@sarahn.h355]

My husband asked me why I was rewatching Frasier, but first assumed that it was because of Frasier. Nope. Niles all the way. He was always my favorite and I also loved Roz and her character growth into motherhood.

[@spod9135]

Niles Crane is hands down one of the best sitcom characters of all time. 'Frasier' is a perfect show. You can keep Seinfeld and Friends, Frasier is the best.

[@alyzu4755]

"She's in Antwerp getting her elbows done!" 🤣🤣🤣

[@aw9680]

The success is the three male leads. They all need each other and don’t at the same time. It causes struggle and conflict and so much humor. Frasier is my absolute favorite sitcom. It’s warm and funny and makes you feel a part of the relationship.

[@samf.s.7731]

I would just like to add that Daphne knew on a subconscious level and actually kinda reciprocated. When she picks out a guy after Joe, it's Niles 2.0, and when Martin's partner Sherry tells her she needs to get laid... She literally goes to Niles's apartment. Just saying 😂 She

[@davidfoley9642]

You know, just make Niles like Maris in the reboot. Have Frasier talking with Niles over the phone, or have David speak of his father the way Niles would speak of Maris.

[@Evamarie41]

Good video, but I have one quibble: You say early on "even in his most annoying moments" - uh Niles is NEVER annoying. I love him all the time.

[@ApoloniaJones1976]

100% - when I watch reruns, I sometimes skip Frasier-only scenes, but I never want to miss a single moment of Niles. He is a feat of characterization, written meticulously and rendered exquisitely.

[@WittyUsernamehere]

"Don't you dare call me irrational! You know that makes me crazy!" 🤣😂

[@scottyasparro6154]

Niles was great. David Hyde Pierce was amazing at the role. He is missed on the current show but the actor who portrays his son does a good job at bringing some of the characteristics of Niles to the new show. No one can replace Niles especially because of the acting but will just have to hope he makes a return even knowing David Hyde Pierce said he will not reprise his role

[@barbarina012]

I think the new show needs its older more experienced writers

[@Sageoftheforest7]

My favorite sitcom!! ❤ Glad you finally made a video on it

[@mundaneamazing]

People in the comments, complaining that this video essay has too much talking, is stealing my last bit of hope for society.. This isn't just a clip video. You can find those all over this very same site.

[@TheLowDee]

Niles wasn't affraid of going aster Daphne. He was in love with Maris and not a cheat. He was a good guy and simply a geek.

[@samf.s.7731]

This is interesting... I am going to attempt a clinical psychology informed explanation to this. I don't think he was in love with Maris, I think she's narcissistic and it's easy for a victim of narcissistic abuse to think they're in love with their abuser, afterall it's what the abuser is after. He always spoke highly and fondly of her, almost in a "the lady doth protest too much" kind of way. Of course, the writers saw this as an opportunity to establish who she was even though she's always off screen, and it was always a good place to make a joke and get the audience to laugh. I think Frasier's description of Niles's love for Daphne is spot on though, that he was in love at her, not with her. I suppose that means he wasn't truly in love with anyone till he started his relationship with Daphne. As for Melinda, she's the perfect match on paper, and tbh IRL this would be the kind of woman a gentleman like that would end up with. They simply have too much in common, provided that she's not manipulative, narcissistic, and abusive.. like Maris.

[@mariefraher8725]

Love the scene with Frasier where he asks if he can have both. Frasier replies, "No." Niles says he didn't think he could but thought it possible for just a moment..

[@heidivert830]

Niles was the absolute best😅

[@barbarina012]

Next to Analyze Roz the feminist icon of fraiser

[@vanzc7920]

Excellent! I have been waiting for this!!!! I love Niles. I really hope DHP will make an appearance in Frasier 2.0. I would love to see Niles and David together. Thank you so much for this video.

[@darkcloudXIV]

I can see an episode where Niles and Daphne come by as guests for an episode, and the circumstances surrounding: -Daphne reunites with Freddy and the initial attraction that was first featured (little Freddy having a crush on Daphne) is flipped, with Daphne noticing how masculine Freddy has become and commenting how she hasn’t seen him in years. Not enough of a notice where she would pine over him, but just a touch where Niles notices and makes a note of it. -Niles, noticing how Daphne notices, follows up with parallels of his life; maybe noting that he and Maris were together X years before things fell apart before realizing that’s how long he’s been with Daphne, and in his own neurosis starts finding other things. Finally, over the edge, he tries to “save his marriage” by being proactive: first by bodybuilding (gone horribly wrong) to challenging Freddy to a duel (for his wife’s honor also going horribly wrong). -David begins to receive word that his scholarships, titles, etc are being revoked due to false allegations about him. When investigated it turns out that it’s the son of Maris and Nyles (who also is never seen on camera); his origins could be that he was conceived from the donation that Nyles made to a sperm bank. Maris, unhinged even back then, paid to have the sample hidden while deemed unusable, finding a surrogate to carry the child, etc. Something that might make it interesting

[@SocialMistica]

I love Niles till today! Can’t get enough of this series ❤

[@jenni4claire]

I've often thought that virtually no other actor could possibly have carried off this character. He could so easily have been insufferable. Instead he made him likable and realistic

[@sneakymia1]

Frailer reboot should have done what fuller house, have the original cast back in the first episode and have cameos from the original

[@mariefraher8725]

Niles' unwavering passion for Daphne trumps Frasier's flavor of the month every time.

[@KittenGuardian]

No body watched Frasier b/c of Frasier. He was the equivalent of the coffee shop in friends. He was the gathering place devise. His ego was was the antagonist rather than the actual character.

[@SpectrumPOV]

I thought when Niles had that drunken rant in the Halloween episode, it would carry over into the next episode since Niles was going to apologize to Martin and it happen at the very end of the episode, but I was surprised when it was never mentioned again.

[@complex2live]

I think (as you said) what makes Niles' character work is that not only does it drop Frasier down a peg, but most of his roles in the episodes are either relateable or believable. Such as overpreparing for the pot brownie experience and also playing into the many times where he tries to hit on Daphne but something goes ariy. The best example of this is in the episode where Niles and Frasier make a hole in the floor and need to get it fixed, and Daphne gets attracted to the contractor that comes by. He outright lies to Daphne about the guy and his plan to split them up almost completely works. This would make Niles an unlikeable person, but once Frasier gets involved he convinces Niles to apologize. This prompts us to see his karma in front of Daphne to tell her the truth. He luckily gets out of the situation but we see in certain cases he is a relateable person. Even then, regarding Frasier himself, if it wasn't for Niles and his father and Roz, Frasier would be a very hateable person.

[@sivawright]

Finally! I've been waiting for your video on Frasier for years. Hopefully this will lead on to videos on other characters.

[@ElvisRose_]

I don't think I've ever heard anyone say that the reason they love Frasier is because of Frasier, it's usually Niles and for all of the reasons you just listed. In addition to the brotherly bickering banter, David Hyde Pierce's physical comedy was superb which was something they discovered after the start of the first season. I tried to watch the new Frasier but it's just as I feared, without Niles as well as Martin, Daphne, and Roz to counterbalance him, Frasier's worst qualities hit the viewer square in the face. In the episode where Lilith comes back, Frasier smugly lords over her that Freddie didn't tell her about the two living together and you're like, "Man, Frasier is such an asshole." I could put up with that as long as Niles and the others were around but without them, Frasier is wholly unlikable. I will be going back to the OG Frasier where the real star is, as you said, Niles.

[@user-cw4gi2tq7w]

He's such a good actor, I would have never guessed he was gay in real life

[@janette9872]

Niles is life!

[@avres13]

I loved Nile’s and Roz😂😂

[@EdnaK728]

He's my favorite, he's cute and hilarious

[@helenagackowska8398]

Yeahh Niles is my fave!! :D

[@chheinrich8486]

Another sitcom from the 90s were a guy named niles was the secret star😂

[@JemLeavitt]

I absolutely adore Niles. Hah! When I was little, I wanted to marry him. ❤

[@jaylouis8227]

Niles is my favorite character on Frasier!

[@heidifedor]

They were originally going to cast an actress to play Maris, but the description of the character became so crazy that a real person could not play her.

[@Arcannabis]

The new one just doesn’t have the magic the old show did for me, it also seems dated with the r writing and sitcom like structure.

[@stevielove4778]

LITERALLY . Kelsey Grammar strikes me as a full sociopath; without DHP , there’d be no light .

[@rtothec1234]

I doubt any formerly successful sitcom can ever be successfully rebooted. Kinda tall order to capture lightning in a bottle twice. With Matthew Perry’s death I doubt they’ll ever try to revive Friends since it would be too painful and that’s probably for the better. Hopefully Seinfeld doesn’t truly attempt it either.

[@VinesBee]

THE best character on the show! I do love Frasier, but I get such satisfaction when Niles beats Frasier in anything. The IQ episode is one of my faves!

[@billrobbins5874]

Just a great comedy show full of like actors. ♥️👍

[@shabazzed]

no niles is the main reason i wont bother with the new fraiser season

[@heatherstephenson3559]

Yaas, love this, Niles was always the superior Crane brother and was definitely always my fave and not just because David Hyde Pierce is wonderful and so perfectly cast and Kelsey Grammar is well, Kelsey Grammar...

[@user-ut2rl4zy9y]

I also had a crush on Niles ❤

[@amandapoe5735]

Not going to try watching the new one, unfortunately.

[@anupaghose5447]

THIS VIDEO WAS LONG OVERDUE AND I HAVEN’T EVEN WATCHED IT YET

[@arkoudanthrope]

Excellent video content wise, but I found that background music a bit annoying.

[@xtraspecialmango]

Waltzes with Snobs.

[@LeahWalentosky]

They never casted Maris because the producers could never find an actress to fit her very unhealthy description

[@evildoesnotsleep-x2b]

what Frasier needs is less sexism and more dogs

[@everythingdivine]

No. It's perfect

[@TheLowDee]

Show is sexy enought.

[@mistojen]

And THIS is why the new show isn't funny. 😢 bring back Niles!

[@JohnReviews]

Nice video. But I don’t watch this show so I need some context to why Niles is NAKED.

[@morganator1]

He was having a nervous breakdown due to stress

[@JohnReviews]

@@morganator1 Oh boy that is relatable

[@Scarlett59319]

@@JohnReviews😂

[@ellicel]

Also, give it a try some time. It has very good writing and amazing actors. Sometimes shows win Emmies due to empty hype, but there's a solid reason why this show got best comedy for, like, 7 or 8 years in a row.

[@annaearono]

Please. Kelsey Grammar was too insecure to have anyone back and wanted the new show to be all about him

[@mbanerjee5889]

People complaining the show was sexist is exactly why new sitcoms aren't funny. When everything is too politically correct and sanitized there is no room for humor.

[@annsanse2935]

the new show is dirgy without a niles/daphne pair for the pratfalls and sex. the new characters lack depth and seem like caricatures instead of real people, and frasier's son is a bit too churlish to be likeable. i'd like to suggest that maybe they could bring back diane and sam with frasier and sam vying for diane, and sam cheating on diane with lilith.

[@sophiac8824]

Okay, @TheTake How much did Paramount pay you to promote this? haha we see you AND that's a deep analysis. We will watch :)

[@alexp601]

Wow this channel really hates the new Frasier show

[@ababilashari9970]

thats what you got from this (they said the first season was improving and gaining their footing, ALL the 90s sitcoms had that first awkward year(

[@alexp601]

@@ababilashari9970 I think they changed the title of the video. Before it was something like 'Why the new Frasier needs Niles' or something a bit more aggressive to the new show. Now it reads like just a video about Niles.

[@lilacdreams5966]

You guys need to do a video on the diddy v cassie allegations/settlement and industry predators. its wild plus I know you make an effort toward diversity but im not feeling it lately

[@WifeMamaArtist]

The new series of Frasier is just awful!! It's no more than a rick box excercise of characters. Truely, truely terrible....

[@CarSVernon]

sort of but sometimes i found him ridiculous. unable to see blood and fainting? a tad much.

[@sallybird4]

Only his own blood

[@BillMurey-om3zw]

Thumbs down for paid promotion of animal abuse.

[@BlackJacked]

Unironically based

[@jackbutler1444]

Good grief, that nonstop narration makes this literally unwatchable!

[@helenagackowska8398]

Do you know what this channel is lol

[@animelvr99]

First time here or...?

[@Greidaon]

So, the dude who ogles, fantasizes, and lusts after his father's physical therapist...ALL THE WHILE BEING MARRIED... THAT'S the relatable one? REALLY? The one who neglected his wife from the moment he met Daphne? That's the one who resonates with you all?! Wow...

[@MsDoIIy]

Neglect his wife? Actually the opposite really. She neglected him I would say. Always traveling without him, always getting work done and leaving him alone. The poor guy met up with his brother all the time because he always was alone. His dreaming of being with Daphne was more his subconscious trying to tell him he wasn't happy with his wife Marris at first but he thought of it more as a silly crush. But the more you watch the show the more you as the audience and Niles realizes that Marris doesn't love Niles and would immediately cheat on him when it was convenient for her. Which she does a few times in the show. He stayed with Marris so long because of his status and money, it was something he had to realise wasn't making him happy. That's why when he divorces his second wife telling her he doesn't care about what she tells people about him, it was him finally letting himself be happy. (Sorry it's so long 😅)

[@Scarlett59319]

Have you even watched the show ?

[@Greidaon]

@@Scarlett59319 yes; and while I understand that he's one of the protagonists and thus is made t be seen as a hero, if you look at what is happening, either he should not have married Maris at all, or should have divorced her when he started lusting after Daphne. Rather obviously, I might add; Maris points it out as part of her divorce points. He's awful; we're just programmed to like him.

[@Greidaon]

@@MsDoIIy OR, maybe Maris was constantly neglected by Niles, physically given all the time he spent with Frasier, and emotionally given how much energy he poured into his infatuation with Daphne. Given that he's the protagonist (and we don't even hear anything from Maris) I understand that we're programmed to like him, especially as we've seen how everything works for them and all, but I contend that its creepy and messed up watching it the 1st time through.

[@Greidaon]

@@MsDoIIy and if he was staying with Maris just for the money, you telling me that doesn't also speak to his character as a villain?

[@NujwOayk]

Way to much talking.

[@helenagackowska8398]

......that is literally what this channel is