Rushed final season?

[Bomo]

Given that they knew the end would becoming sooner or later probably from about season 8 or 9 onwards is anyone else disappointed the way the series finished?

I remember for at least a couple of years before it ended there was talk about Frasier coming to an end at some point. Yet nothing in the final season seemed to have much relevance with what happened before. Niles and Daphne were already together and Martin married someone who was only introduced in the final season and Frasier (hopefully) found love with someone who only appeared towards the very end of the very last season.

But it was as if rather than the end of the series being a culmination of any long term plan for the characters it instead just saw a hastily thought-up conclusion. We'll introduce someone for Martin to fall in love with over a few episodes and give Frasier a love interest about 6 episodes towards the end. Even Roz only got he job in the very last episode. One of the central characters of the series just given a job in the last five minutes as if all the thought that went into it was someone hastily shouting out the suggesting of "Why not make Roz station manager?" as the final writers meeting concluded over the sound of squeaking chairs as the others got up to leave.

I would have liked it if we had met Ronee and Charlotte sooner than we did so their uniting with the main characters would have meant something rather than it just be something that happened as a way to end the series. The seeds for the finale should have been planted a season or two prior to the ending of the show.

As I say I love the series in terms of the quality of episodes but I can't help but feel disappointed that conclusive storyline of three of the main characters (Frasier, Martin and Roz) almost seemed to be an after thought. It just felt wrong that Frasier's 'closure' was to be with a woman we only met 6 weeks before the end of the series.

[bingbangbaby]

I see what you're saying, and I agree with a lot of it but my biggest disappointment with that season was the quality of the episodes. For the first 8 or 9 years it was such a smart, fresh, funny show. But there was a slow decline for a bit then around season 10 things just really went downhill in that it just wasn't that funny anymore. And by season 11 it was all very cliche. I know they lost a lot of their writers in those end seasons, and honestly, I wouldn't want to have to come in behind those original writers-- those were some big shoes to fill, and as far as I'm concerned, they weren't filled.

[andress_jade]

I loved all 11 seasons. Yeah season 11 wasn't as good as the rest but it was still funny. The finale was spectacular. To each their own I guess.

[Pat]

Now that it's been said, I can see it your way. Like most long running series, they seem to loose steam. I kind of liked how Frasier came full circle in the final episode: moving his life to another state like he did at the beginning of the show. I think that was what Kelsey was talking about when he said that he had an idea how the show would end. Like any good show, it was so sad to see it come to an end and that final season made me want to see more... almost anything... give me more out-takes, bloopers and gags... WHAT A FUN and WITTY SHOW! Some of it, I just laugh thinking about it. Now that's (((AWESOME))) when a show can be that good.

[Bomo]

I didn't like his moving to Chicago as I kinda felt it suggested that his life hadn't really moved on. It was like he was still in the same position as 11 years earlier - moving across the country to start a new life.

It was even more unsatisfying that it was a woman we'd only really seen a couple of times with him in an intimate setting as a couple. If it was someone who had a long-standing relationship, love affair with Frasier who had to move to Chicago for a 'once in a lifetime' job and then the dilemma throughout the whole series was Frasier balancing his life he had build in Seattle and having a long-distance relationship vs giving it up to move to Chicago for the sake of the woman he loved - then i think it would have made an interesting arc for the series.

Instead Charlotte wasn't really the 'love interest' (exclusively) until the penultimate episode she appeared in.

[bingbangbaby]

Originally Posted by andress_jade

I loved all 11 seasons. Yeah season 11 wasn't as good as the rest but it was still funny. The finale was spectacular. To each their own I guess.

I loved Niles and Daphne in all 11 seasons. I think with most people, if they love a show they tend to love all seasons, even if some of them slip a bit.

[Schmoopie]

When I first saw the finale, I have to admit that I was really disappointed in it, but the part that really stood out is when they were in Frasier's living room saying goodbye to each other. Watching Niles and Frasier hug still gets me emotional. Now Ive seen "Goodnight Seattle" probably ten times since I originally saw it so I do like it better than before. I'm not sure what I was expecting. I guess it's just such a huge thing.. the finale to such a long show that it didn't seem to live up to my 'unknown expectations' at the time.

[Ant-Lox]

I loved all the seasons. Season 10 had a few cheesy episodes where Frasier and Niles were doing buddy comedy skits.

The final season was strong to me, mostly because I watched a lot of the original airings.

The final episode was very fulfilling, Frasier never ending his quest for true love.

[Latka Gravas]

Disagree that the final season (S11) of Frasier was anything other than brilliant. I've written up a review of the season on another thread, but I will say that this may be my favorite of all 11 - extremely funny/clever/witty & poignant. Well-done.

[Chocolate Moose]

I would have gone a different way with most of the characters.