Any fellow Frasier fans out there that cannot stand the character of Mel, Niles' wife from late Season 7 and early Season 8? I just finished watching S8E5 (Taking Liberties), and I was so happy that Niles finally showed his true feelings about the charade Mel was dragging him through! :clap:

From when Daphne's wedding was called off until then, the episodes were still good, but Mel was such a D-R-A-G! At least the writers had more sense then to drag Niles and Mel's charade over a whole season.

Viva Niles and Daphne!!!!!!! <3

I think you'll find that most of us here are die-hard N/D fans, so Mel doesn't get a whole lot of love on this board! "Taking Liberties" is one of my favorite episodes of the series, just b/c of Niles telling Mel off! BTW, I have a fanfic which takes place immediately following that episode. It's called "Newfound Freedom." Just saying! ;) Mel was definitely evil, moreso even than Maris, IMO. But the way Niles defends Daphne and tells Mel off in the end is SO worth it!

- Kristen

OMG, I hate Mel with a purple passion and I am SO glad that she wasn't a series regular for very long. But I can see why Niles fell in love with her b/c she was so much like Maris. "Taking Liberties" is a great episode and Niles (Or DHP rather) is just amazing in it. I don't think I could have taken Mel much longer than the length of time that she was on the show. However, Jane Adams is a great actress (as has been discussed in another thread about Daphne and Donny), and she did an amazing job at playing such a horrible character. But as for Mel Karnofsky, she makes me sick!

Ah, my favorite episode. I love this one. I didn't hate Mel as much, but I didn't like how she would get Niles to do things like run for cork master when Frasier wanted that title for years.

I love this ep because Niles and Daphne are finally together without limitations.

"I'll handle the divorce papers personally. I'll have this jacka$$ out of your life by the end of the week."
Niles looks at him with hope in his eyes. "You mean it?":lol:

Ok, I'll admit that Mel wasn't too bad at the beginning, but she just got more and more unlikable & demanding, and I definitely didn't want her with Niles! Mel was probably worse than Maris, since she made Niles keep up the appearance of being married just to please her friends...When all the time, he could've been spending time with Daphne. I think everybody cheered when he finally tells Mel off in "Taking Liberties." Such a turning point for N/D's relationship! They can now go out freely with each other, yay!! :) I'm so glad Niles didn't end up with Mel.

Nope, I didn't like her either. Nope.
I differ though, in that while I did not want her with Niles, I do think she was a step up, albeit a teeny tiny step up, from Maris. She was still nasty and conniving to other people, but she did treat Niles decently up until he hurt her (and let's be honest, he did hurt her). And while that's no excuse for her behavior, it is only once she was hurt that her ugly side came out toward him. Maris, on the other hand, never treated Niles very well the entire time they were together, while he treated her like a queen. I think it just doesn't seem as bad because we never saw it, only heard about it. But for Mel, not only did we see firsthand her ugly side, but we saw her doing things that were meant to come between Niles and Daphne, and you know that's going to rub us even more wrong. :lol:

Ah, my favorite episode. I love this one. I didn't hate Mel as much, but I didn't like how she would get Niles to do things like run for cork master when Frasier wanted that title for years.

I love this ep because Niles and Daphne are finally together without limitations.

"I'll handle the divorce papers personally. I'll have this jacka$$ out of your life by the end of the week."
Niles looks at him with hope in his eyes. "You mean it?":lol:

Very well said! While initially, Martin was by-and-large my favourite character, as the seasons have gone on (just watched S8E18), my fondness for Niles and Daphne has grown considerably, looking forward to how things unfold in the past 3 and a 1/4 seasons!

Very well said! While initially, Martin was by-and-large my favourite character, as the seasons have gone on (just watched S8E18), my fondness for Niles and Daphne has grown considerably, looking forward to how things unfold in the past 3 and a 1/4 seasons!

It's not hard to fall in love with Niles and Daphne when you watch the show. From the first initial meeting between the two, Niles' flirtations and Daphne's cluelessness, the cute banter, the reveal and then finally their relationship. It's sweet, beautiful and real. It wasn't rushed and was given time to develop and grow. That is why I like them so much. Once they were together, they were such a believable couple and an even more believable married couple. And when they became parents it was so sweet and real. Nobody can compare to them. :)

I didn't mind her in the beginning, it was funny as both her and Niles were so nitpicky and OCD like but as time went on she started to get worse. I enjoyed the dig Frasier took at her when giving the speech for Niles finally being with the love of his life.

It's not hard to fall in love with Niles and Daphne when you watch the show. From the first initial meeting between the two, Niles' flirtations and Daphne's cluelessness, the cute banter, the reveal and then finally their relationship. It's sweet, beautiful and real. It wasn't rushed and was given time to develop and grow. That is why I like them so much. Once they were together, they were such a believable couple and an even more believable married couple. And when they became parents it was so sweet and real. Nobody can compare to them. :)
Nicely worded. And so true. :)
I enjoyed the dig Frasier took at her when giving the speech for Niles finally being with the love of his life.
I enjoyed that moment too. If you watch Niles in that scene, that little speech just about brought him to tears. Another great moment for DHP, and another instance that shows just exactly how connected to that character he was.