Recap / Frasier S 05 E 14 The Ski Lodge

Frasier, his family and Daphne and a friend of Daphne's go on vacation at a Ski Lodge where soon a bunch of miscommunication causes a lot of awkwardness between them.

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Tropes:

• Ambiguously Bi: Annie is into men, but when she thinks Daphne's trying to set up a threesome indignantly responds "I don't do those anymore!"
• "Fawlty Towers" Plot: The tangle of attractions and Martin's bad hearing lead to an extended door-slamming Farce.
• Love Dodecahedron: Niles wants to hook up with Daphne who's attracted to Guy, but he's gay and thinks Niles is too. Meanwhile Frasier is attracted to Annie but she's more interested in Niles, and Daphne's running interference on Annie, leading Guy to think she's into Annie. Throw in Martin's poor hearing and miscommunication abounds. After all the misunderstandings are sorted out the end credits show Annie trying to sneak into Frasier's room only to find he's not there and give up.
  Frasier: Let me see if I've got this straight. All the lust coursing through this lodge tonight... all the hormones virtually ricocheting off the walls, and no one... was chasing me? (everyone else looks guiltily away) ...See you at breakfast.
• Missed Him by That Much: During the end credits Annie knocks on Frasier's bedroom door with a bottle of champagne but gives up when there's no answer. She goes back to her room just as Frasier walks out of the kitchen with a snack and heads back to his room.
• Mistaken for Gay: Guy thinks that Niles is gay and that Daphne and Annie are a lesbian couple.
• Ms. Fanservice: Annie is a swimwear model who spends a large section of the episode running around in a skimpy nightgown.
• One Dialogue, Two Conversations: Oh, dear...
  • First this exchange between the French ski instructor and Martin:
    Guy: Your son Niles. Is it my imagination, or is he attracted to... [me]?
    Martin: (thinking Guy means Daphne) Hold on, it's not your imagination. He's got it bad.
    Guy: Really?
    Martin: Mmm.
    Guy: This is not a delicate subject for you?
    Martin: Oh, no, no. Niles has had those feelings for years. Of course, I didn't encourage it during his so-called "marriage", but now that he's free, whatever makes him happy, I say go for it!
    Guy: You are a wonderful father.
  • Then:
    Guy: You know, I think you did not like Annie's flirting either.
    Niles: Oh, was it that obvious?
    Guy: Annie is not your... cup of tea?
    Niles: Well... just between us, my interests lie elsewhere this weekend.
    Guy: Really?
• Opinion Flip Flop: Frasier is initially highly reluctant to bring Annie along until Daphne mentions she's a swimwear model. Then he's suddenly far more amenable.
• Ski-Resort Episode: The episode is set at one but the narrative doesn't actually leave the titular ski lodge.