Frasier Fans Are Conflicted Over Niles And Daphne's Romantic Timeline

While "Frasier" ended in 2004, the series maintains a significant following aided by its run in syndication. Just as Niles and Frasier engaged in spirited debates over wine vintages and the like, fans of the series continue to mull over the series' merits on Reddit.

Niles and Daphne's relationship is a significant point of contention among fans, some of whom wonder why the pair didn't get together until Season 8. "They could have done without the Mel storyline," wrote u/smokey_g, referring to the short-lived impulsive marriage between Niles and Melinda Karnofsky (Jane Adams) in Season 7. One fan retorted that Niles only got married to cushion the blow of Daphne's brief engagement to Donny (Saul Rubinek).

Indeed, other romantic interests often get in the way, such as Niles' aforementioned marriage to Maris. "Since Niles and Maris were only truly finished in S5, I don't think [Niles and Daphne] could have happened any sooner than that," suggests u/skdarkdragon. Other "Frasier" fans defended the slow build-up to Niles and Daphnes. "It's my thought that the extra level of tension created by the three-season span was the perfect way to make their eventual coupling even more sentimental," added u/allispank_.

The "Frasier" writers admit that they weren't all that calculated when it came to the unlikely romance. "There was no grand plan for ... the unrequited crush that he had on her," said David Isaacs (via FoundationINTERVIEWS). "It sort of had a life of its own for a good seven or eight seasons."