Daphne believable as the object of such idealization?
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Hanz-Willhelm2 — 9 years ago(August 01, 2016 12:29 PM)
For the most part no but the episode in which Niles went dancing with her and she pretended to be his lady, I can see how that night would amp up the way one feels about someone.
Was ist der Sinn des Lebens? -
Insomniatic102 — 9 years ago(August 11, 2016 01:06 AM)
I have to say in several seasons she was an absolute knockout. Even if she wasn't though, people fall in love with less than models all the time, including strong sexual attractions.
Also consider how repressed and starved for attention Niles was. -
isbabo — 9 years ago(August 28, 2016 11:13 PM)
I think a combination of Niles situation and the fact that Jane Leeves IS quite attractive both played in to it.
Watching her now, esp in the early seasons (my favourite ones) she just has such a dated look to her that it takes away from her beauty, but in 1993 that big hair look was still in. She was a bombshell when the show debuted. -
zuzupetal_99 — 9 years ago(October 09, 2016 12:57 AM)
I think the main reason why Niles was infatuated, was because he got to know Daphne, and interact with her almost daily. She may not have been the most gorgeous thing on the planet, but she became that to him, because he got to smell her hair, or she'd touch his hand, or be kind to him, all the time. Most women probably didn't pay much attention to him, even his own wife, so to him, this was exciting to fantasize about a woman that was real and in his life all the time, and she was very pretty. But she was Venus to him, because she interacted with him all the time and was always there at Frasier's house and for all the occasions - big & small.
Are you going to your grave with unlived lives in your veins? ~ The Good Girl -
paul_tachian — 9 years ago(December 27, 2016 07:35 PM)
All true, but one more thing: expectation. Daphne exceeded them.
Watch that first season episode (#2?) where Niles does the double-take after being introduced to Daphne. Beautifully acted by both.
First impressions, love at first sight etc. -
Hanz-Willhelm2 — 9 years ago(October 10, 2016 10:05 AM)
The heart wants what the heart wants. She was young, pretty, had a cute figure and was exotic (being from another country and having an accent).
I'm sure lots of men would find her stunning.
Really, the way Niles freaked out and worshipped her as perfect was really too much to believe about any woman. Any man who idolizes someone that much has some problems of his own to work out. To see any other human of either gender as worthy of such worship and idolization is unhealthy.
Was ist der Sinn des Lebens? -
ClayGorgon — 9 years ago(October 10, 2016 10:39 AM)
To get stuck in a loveless marriage for someone of Niles' character while being in the presence of a woman who was always friendly and supportive, and whom he also found attractive was enough to make such idealization possible.
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Clothes-Off — 9 years ago(October 15, 2016 10:47 PM)
No offense but this whole topic seems ridiculous to meespecially since the show from which Frasier was spun, Cheers, had a very sweet first season episode in which Coach tells his daughter (Allyce Beasley) that she's as beautiful as her late mother was, while the daughter had been very insecure about looking like her mother. To the coach she was a goddess.
See also the BBC situation comedy, The Vicar of Dibley in which a ditzy girl with an odd fashion sense captures the affection of the head of the parish council's son. The episose in which the father threatens to cut him off if he marries her is to die for.
"Well, for once the rich white man is in control!"
C. M. Burns -
BelleStar82 — 9 years ago(October 17, 2016 09:10 PM)
Why is it hard to believe? I see the point if it was an average Joe, but we are talking about Niles here. Niles' type wasn't flashy "bombshells." When he first met Daphne she was tall, thin with long flowing hair and wearing flower-print dresses. She had a classic/English rose look that I think fits in with Niles' character and refined taste.
He obviously was physically attracted to Daphne, but he wasn't into vulgarity; he was grossed out by Roz even though Roz is pretty. -
Vic_Hitler — 9 years ago(January 17, 2017 11:35 AM)
Hated her.
She hams up that way over the top British accent the same way Sofia makes a clown show out of her Spanish accent.
It's like somebody doing a really bad impression of a British accent.
Plus, Jane Leeves is a fugly mutt, flat chested, flat assed, bean pole legs - nothing attractive about her. And that silly hair hanging in her eyes all the time! Good grief
They dragged out the Niles infatuation trope for what8 seasons?
Yes, wealthy big city psychiatrists always go for the laundry lady. -
Blueghost — 9 years ago(January 20, 2017 01:10 AM)
Well, maybe they thought that if they cast someone really attractive (as opposed to just cute and pretty like miss Leeves) that perhaps it would draw attention away from Frasier's stories or something.
I think the setup rings true though, because you don't really know what attracts people to one another. And Daphne being the eccentric Brit who is borderline crazy (ESP or claims thereof) and who is not rich and physically fit, is the antithesis of Maris. Daphne is everything that Maris isn't, and it took what, five or seven years (I can't remember) for Niles to realize that.
That as opposed to Honey, or miss "Candy Cane", or any of the other hotties that got cast as sexual / romantic interests for Frasier who are there to carry the episode forward.
That, and everyone has their standard of beauty or desire. Your example of Sofia Vergara works for her series and audience, but she strikes me as being too much woman for Niles (were their ages more compatible). But hey, who knows? Maybe that would have worked.
I think Leeves was the right choice for the series. -
kds-lcos — 9 years ago(January 23, 2017 01:39 AM)
Well.. it wasn't as if it was Seattle that thought/regarded her as a Goddess, it was spindly, meek, henpecked Niles.
The women he had been with Maris, Mel etc. were far from attractive.
I have known people with average looking spouses that worshipped them as if they were super models.
