Daphne Returns
Daphne’s dramatic weight loss forces her and Niles to “get real” about their fairy tale romance.
Roz is excited by the prospect of writing a children’s book based on a story her mother used to tell her as a girl. While Roz heads out to meet with an editor, Niles heads off to pick up Daphne, who’s returning from an extended visit to a spa. Eager to finally consummate their relationship, Niles makes plans to whisk Daphne away for a romantic weekend.
En route to a homecoming party at Frasier’s place, Daphne tells Niles that Gloria, her therapist at the spa, has a theory about why Daphne gained 60 pounds after breaking off her engagement. Gloria feels Daphne subconsciously wanted to distance herself from Niles, fearing she could never live up to his “perfect” fantasy of her. Although Niles claims he loves Daphne, his belittling of Gloria’s assessment infuriates Daphne, who orders Niles to leave.
The next day, Frasier confronts Niles, who denies having an idealized image of Daphne. But soon, Niles realizes that he’s also afraid he won’t measure up to Daphne’s expectations. Meanwhile, Roz discovers to her dismay that her kids’ story is actually the well-known tale Heidi, which her mother neglected to mention. Eager to get off to a new, honest start with Daphne, Niles winds up insulting her cooking. The ensuing argument leads Daphne to list all of the things she hates about Niles, though their passionate fight quickly leads to some passionate lovemaking.


