I have long believed Anders Keith is the weakest link in the cast of Frasier 2023. His performance as David Crane has mostly felt like an impression of David Hyde Pierce as Niles, albeit a fairly good one. They've grown in a bit of Daphne too and that has been more effective due to it being more subtle. A few episodes have attempted to give him a little more development with mixed results. This episode finally developed David in a significant way, but in a way that makes me a bit uncomfortable.
Frasier gives David the first B of his life and it leads David to have a serious breakdown. David becomes desperate to get an A and it leads him to do somethings that may end up causing significant harm to his uncle.
David's actions are explained by the fact that his whole identity has been based on being the good student. When he receives a less than perfect grade, the unreasonable expectations he placed on himself, led him to his actions to try to get the grade changed. This is a relatable experience for people who view their grades as part of their identity, but most won't go to David's extremes!
Having said this, Anders Keith's portrayal of this version of the character was mostly enjoyable. Keith seems more comfortable than before, so maybe he will continue to improve.
The rest of the cast does well. Frasier's plot involves him wanting to become a full professor and the antics he goes through to impress the provost. Some may find this plot line a little too similar to the season 1 episode "Frasier Crane's Day Off," but I still found it very enjoyable. Freddy Crane's intellectual side coming out when he drinks was a unique idea, albeit one I found a bit meh. Still, David Crane's possible sociopathy aside, this episode has a very Frasier feel. I'm glad the series has developed in this way and I hope it continues like this.
