User:Liberlogos/The Doctor is Out

"The Maris Counselor" is the thirteenth episode in the fifth series of the American television sitcom Frasier.

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
It is Sweeps Week at the radio station, which sends Roz into a flurry of panic. Frasier, meanwhile, is unconcerned; Roz's panic seems to be for nothing, as juicy and interesting callers always seem to emerge. The reason for this, however, becomes apparent during Frasier's (typically) long-winded introduction speech; whilst he's rambling on about Spinoza and rationalistic pantheism, Roz is frantically screening calls for interesting callers. With a bit of healthy competition and some creative editing with her callers, she opens the show with a bed-wetter persuaded to confess that he wet the bet whilst sleeping with his best friend's wife, and someone thinking of a career change who is persuaded that his problems might be linked to (non-existent) transvestite urges interfering with his (imaginary) run for Congress.

Later, Martin and Daphne are arguing over Martin's love life; it seems that Martin has become shyly enamoured of a lady in the building, Mrs. Crowley, and Daphne is attempting to persuade him to pursue a relationship. When Mrs. Crowley calls the apartment, asking Martin if he would like to go on a date with her, Martin is persuaded to say yes. Martin is not the only one who is having luck in the romance department; Niles, at the apartment to plan a couples group therapy session with Frasier, brings with him the good news that his couples counselling with Maris is going exceptionally well. In fact, at the advice of their therapist, Dr. Schankman, he is planning to surprise Maris that evening with a romantic evening, and leaves eager to catch Maris after her meditation session and the inevitable friskiness this results in.

At their home, Niles prepares his erotic surprise in the bedroom, complete with roses and classical music; he is unaware, however, of an unexpected guest, also planning his own romantic rendezvous with Maris in that very bedroom. Both men prepare their respective surprises, blissfully unaware of each other's presence and the even bigger surprise that awaits them both. Finally, in darkness, they manage to find their way to each other's arms - and needless to say, are horrified. And Niles is even more horrified to discover that his wife's illicit lover is none other than Dr. Schankman.

Niles is infuriated and devestated by his therapist's betrayal - not only did he feel that he and Maris were making progress in their relationship, but to make matters worse he genuinely respected Schankman and considered him a friend. Schankman has been seeing Maris for two weeks, claiming to have never met a warmer, kinder, more selfless soul (leading a confused Niles to suggest that a case of mistaken identity is at work).Schankman's soothing therapist manner is not helping, and his suggestion of three sessions a week rather than two soon prompts his own attempted throttling on Niles' part.

The next day, Niles (clearly shattered) is late for the group therapy session. Frasier attempts to lead the group in what progress they have been making, but Niles is clearly breaking apart, and an attempt at 'role-playing' sees him, clearly addressing his own wife, all but accuse a woman of cheating on her husband before collapsing into his chair, sobbing. Noting that it is not usually therapists who make the breakthroughs, Frasier cuts his losses and dismisses the group for their break before demanding to know what is wrong with Niles - and being shocked at the answer, both at Schankman's betrayal and Maris' infidelity. Frasier suggests that it is common for vulnerable patients to develop false feelings for attraction towards their therapists (but is surprised when Niles confirms that this has happened to him, as it has never happened to Frasier). Niles, clearly grasping at straws, takes this to be the case, and determines to talk to Maris despite Frasier's objections that sometimes marriages are simply doomed... which probably wasn't a wise thing to yell at him in front of the couples they are meant to be counseling.

Later that night, as Frasier is attempting to end a phone call from a very self-congratulatory Daphne over Martin's date, Niles enters, exhausted. Having been about to knock on the door to ask Maris to let him in, it suddenly struck him how many hours of his life he's spent begging his wife through closed doors and windows (and, on one unfortunate occasion, a dog flap). He's had enough; his marriage is over, and Maris and Schankman can have each other. Understandably saddened, but strangely liberated, he and Frasier hug as Martin enters after his 'date'. It turns out that a case of crossed wires had occurred, and rather than Mrs. Crowley, he was in fact asked to chaperone Mrs. Crowley's elderly mother.

As Martin comiserates with Niles over the ending of his marriage, Frasier gets the drinks in. Laughing, the three men swap the stories of their disastrous love-lives - Frasier, divorced twice and dumped at the altar once; Martin, his relationship with Sherry having collapsed and a date with 'Sleeping Beauty'; and Niles, married to Maris for fifteen years and ending up in bed with the therapist (a mistaken identity, he is quick to assure Martin, having been tipped off by 'the heat from her side of the bed!'). Desiring closure, Niles rushes to the balcony, removing his wedding ring and throwing it over the edge, declaring that Maris has hurt him for the last time (not counting on the ring leaving a dent in the roof of his car). Outside, the three men jokingly reflect on their woeful love lives, challenging the Seattle night to throw their best at 'the Crane boys - love's big losers', before settling together into quiet, thoughtful contemplation on their circumstances.

Trivia

 * This episode marks the ending of the Niles / Maris separation arc, and the beginning of the Niles / Maris divorce arc. Niles and Maris' marital issues will not be completely resolved until the season six episode 'To Tell The Truth'