Ep 21. Daphne Hates Sherry

As the fourth season of Frasier nears its end, tensions between some of its main characters continue to rise. In episode 21, "Daphne Hates Sherry," we see the fallout from two previous episodes come to a head.

First, there's the ongoing tension between Frasier's father, Martin, and his girlfriend Sherry. They've been dating for a while now, but Martin's discerning tastes and traditional values frequently clash with Sherry's brash personality and crass sense of humor. In the previous episode, "Three Dates and a Breakup," Martin had finally had enough and decided to end things, which led to a tense confrontation between Sherry and Frasier as well.

The other major source of tension is Daphne, the Crane family's live-in housekeeper, and her unrequited crush on Frasier's brother Niles. In the previous episode, "Roz's Turn," Daphne had finally revealed her feelings to Niles, only to be gently rejected. This sent her into a bit of a funk, and she's been avoiding Niles ever since.

At the beginning of "Daphne Hates Sherry," the two plotlines intersect when Martin invites Sherry over for dinner. Daphne is already on edge because Niles is coming over too (although Martin has asked her to stay in the kitchen to avoid any awkwardness). When Sherry arrives, she greets Daphne with her usual overly-friendly demeanor, but Daphne is having none of it. Before the night is over, she'll make it clear that she hates Sherry and wishes Martin would never have met her.

Meanwhile, Frasier is trying to play peacemaker between Martin and Sherry. He's invited them both to his radio show the next day to talk through their differences on-air (a bad idea, even by Frasier's standards). This leads to some great scenes of Martin and Sherry bickering over the phone while Frasier and Roz watch in amusement.

When Niles arrives, Daphne is even more on edge. She greets him coolly, but he's oblivious to her discomfort as he regales them with tales of his recent trip to Russia. Eventually, all the tension comes to a head when Daphne accidentally spills a drink on Sherry and Martin rushes to her defense. Daphne storms off to her room, and Niles follows her to try to smooth things over.

What follows is a touching scene between the two of them, as Niles apologizes for hurting her feelings and confesses that he's always found her "utterly captivating." Daphne is touched by his words, but still heartbroken. It's a poignant moment that shows just how much chemistry the two actors have and how invested we are in their will-they-won't-they romance.

The episode ends with Martin and Sherry making up and Daphne apologizing to Martin for her outburst. It's a satisfying resolution, but also one that leaves a lot unresolved. We know Daphne's still unhappy about Niles, and we know Martin and Sherry's relationship is still rocky, despite their reconciliation. This sets up some interesting possibilities for the rest of the season and beyond.

Overall, "Daphne Hates Sherry" is a great example of Frasier's ability to balance humor and heart. It's funny to watch Martin and Sherry squabble and Frasier and Roz scheme, but it's also deeply affecting to see Daphne grapple with her feelings and Niles try to comfort her. It's an episode that perfectly encapsulates what makes Frasier such a beloved show, and it's well worth watching for fans and newcomers alike.