Dark Victory (Frasier episode)

Infobox Television episode | Title = Dark Victory
Series = Frasier
Season = 2
Episode = 24


Caption = Martin, Niles, Daphne and Roz going downstairs for the party
Airdate = 23 May 1995
Production = 40571-048
Writer = Christopher Lloyd, Linda Morris & Vic Rauseo
Director = James Burrows
Guests = Shelley Duvall (Caroline)
Prev = The Innkeepers
Next = She's the Boss
Episode list = List of Frasier episodes (Season 2)

"Dark Victory" is the twenty-fourth and final episode of the second season of American sitcom "Frasier".

Cast and characters

Main cast and characters

*Kelsey Grammer – Dr. Frasier Crane
*David Hyde Pierce – Dr. Niles Crane
*John Mahoney – Martin Crane
*Jane Leeves – Daphne Moon
*Peri Gilpin – Roz Doyle

Plot outline

After dealing with his final caller for the week (a woman who feels that she's gone as far as she can with her rather stuffy therapist, thus prompting Frasier to advise her to move on and find someone else), Frasier triumphantly hangs up his headphones, looking forward to a relaxing weekend of fun with his family; it is his father's birthday and, in order to compensate for forgetting his birthday the previous year, Frasier is throwing him a party which he is eagerly anticipating. Roz receives a present of a brick of cheese that tearfully reminds her of the family reunion in Wisconsin which, for the first time ever, she is unable to attend. To comfort her, Frasier invites Roz to the party. Unfortunately, when Frasier and Roz arrive at Frasier's apartment they discover that Martin and Daphne are arguing bitterly over Martin's exercises, thus souring the atmosphere. Matters are not helped when Niles storms in, calling Frasier a 'charlatan' and accusing him of deliberately sabotaging Niles' career; it turns out the caller who decided to drop her therapist on Frasier's recommendation was a patient of Niles. Upset even more by the bitter and petty fighting, Roz leaves, and in order to get the birthday celebrations over and done with, Martin sarcastically blows out his candle, and at that exact moment, the apartment and Seattle beyond is plunged into a blackout, and after a momentary confusion (during which Niles takes the opportunity to allow Daphne to 'accidentally' bump into him several times, and Frasier trips over Eddie several times) the apartment is lit by candles.Roz manages to return to the apartment; fortunately, the elevator door was open to a floor when the power went out (although when faced with the choice of going back to the 'party' or facing the dangerous streets, she did briefly opt for the streets). Niles takes the opportunity to check up on Maris, who is remarkably calm about being on her own in the dark during a blackout, at least until she removes her sleep mask. That done, Frasier attempts to lift everyone's spirits with a party game, which everyone else unenthusiastically joins in. Everyone other than Frasier is sullen, sulky and uncooperative, however, and it isn't long before more petty bickering breaks out. Niles leaves to brave the streets and return to his wife, and Frasier takes the opportunity to try and find out why everyone's so miserable. It transpires that Roz is upset not only because she's missing her family reunion, but because she feels the burden of her family's high (and, she feels, unfulfilled) expectations of her life; Daphne is troubled by why she doesn't feel the need to find her own home and why she seems content to remain a personal healthcare assistant instead of reaching for greater things; Martin is insecure about his hip, and how it makes him feel that he will never fulfil his desire to travel in Europe; and Niles (who has returned, after a brief adventure with the locked garage doors, miscounted steps and the unpleasantly big dog of the neighbour upstairs) blames Frasier for his departed patient because he is upset that it wasn't him who was able to see that she no longer needed him. Talking to his family and friends one on one, Frasier manages to cheer them up and solve their emotional problems.

An impromptu blackout barbecue has broken out in the apartment directly below Frasier's, and as everyone is now in a more festive spirit, they decided to go downstairs – everyone except Frasier, who is disappointed that they are abandoning the party he had been looking forward to all day. Admonished by everyone for being a party-pooper, Frasier, who has been the only one present actually trying to create a party atmosphere, despite the negativity, finally snaps after a particularly sneery comment from Martin ("He's always been like this!") and angrily gives the assembled company an insight into 'this particular party-pooper'. Having spent the entire week and indeed his career administering to 'the troubled, the neurotic and the just plain goofy' despite what this costs him emotionally, he was looking forward to getting away from it all and having a weekend of fun with his family, only to find them bitterly sniping at each other, and even after he has once again taken time out of his life and given away himself to make them feel better, they're all quite willing to abandon him despite all that he's done for them. And as if that wasn't enough, not one of them has even said thank you. Admonished and apologetic, everyone tries to make Frasier feel better and get him to accompany them; but whilst accepting their apologies, Frasier by now is tired of people, and just wants to spend time by himself. Whilst his family and friends leave to go to the party, Frasier settles down to an evening of not having to help anyone but himself – but he hasn't counted on Eddie needing a belly scratch.

Episode title cards

*"What if he had taken a really big breath?"
*"There is nothing wrong with your television (it's a blackout)"

Memorable Quotations

Frasier: Oh, don't leave, Roz!
Roz: "(in tears)" Thank you, I had a wonderful time!

References to other works

*The episode's title is borrowed from the 1939 film "Dark Victory".

ee also

*List of Frasier episodes