I was talking over Lilith and Maris with my Mum the other day, and she said basically what they'd done for Niles was to create another Lilith (albeit one you never saw) They are very similar in some ways; i.e. both are described as being somewhat "inhuman", both are very slim and pale, and both dominate their husbands to some degree.

Do you think these women would be friends if they saw each other a lot? In a first season episode where Lilith comes to Seattle, I remember Niles being angry at Lilith for laughing at Maris at some occasion...I can't remember what it was...but it shows that they at least met once, and I presume they must have met several times over the course of the years.

Personally, I don't think they'd be great friends. Although they are similar in some ways, I think Maris was just very mean. Lilith, in my opinion, was less extreme, and although she did exercise some control over Frasier, she wasn't nearly as dominating as Maris. I think there are elements of Maris in Lilith, but they're very watered down. For example, I think I'd enjoy being friends with Lilith, but, while it's hilarious to hear such things about Maris, I think I'd find her absolutely repulsive in real life.