Frantic to buy a Christmas gift for his son, Frasier ventures into a shopping mall for the first time in his life.
Tropes:
- Credit Card Destruction: Niles learns that Maris has cancelled all his credit cards when a waitress in Cafe Nervosa cuts his card in half for being declined.
- Dope Slap: Frasier nearly takes Niles' head off with one when Niles keeps screwing around with a novelty helmet at the mall.
- Encouraged Regifting: Martin correctly predicted that Freddie would want the "Outlaw Lazer Robo-Geek" and bought one for Frasier to give to Freddie.
- Gift-Giving Gaffe: Frasier is determined to get Freddie something "stimulating" or "educational" when the boy really just wants the cool new robot toy. Martin eventually calls Frasier out on his habit of buying gifts he thinks people should want instead of what they actually want, citing Frasier giving him things like a smoking jacket that he'd never wear.
- Irony: Apparently the Outlaw Lazer Robo-GEEK is supposed to be a cool toy. A number of educational toys in this episode are dismissed as "nerdy" while the children (such as Frederick) are excited for a toy that literally has "Geek" in it's title.
- Lies to Children: Niles tells Freddie that Maris isn't joining them for Christmas because she's in a coma. He decided that telling Freddie they'd separated would just upset him.
