Lilith and Frederick come for Thanksgiving dinner with the Cranes. Frederick maneuvers Frasier and Lilith into spending an evening together, and they begin to suspect that he is trying to get them back together.
Tropes:
- Amicable Exes: Frasier and Lilith agree to work together on writing a book about how divorced couples can still work together to successfully raise their child(ren). This episode is also the first time Niles and Lilith have interacted since their one night stand in "Room Service". Despite expectations they're perfectly cordial to each other and make polite small talk. Frasier decides this is too weird and demands they go back to the bitter sniping that defined their relationship before their tryst.
- Blatant Lies:
- Martin hides from Lilith, then peeks around the corner to ask if "the witch is gone yet". He tries covering by claiming he was asking about a twitch.
- Niles's reaction to learning Frasier and Lilith have gotten back together is one of total horror and panic. He insists, through clenched teeth while talking a mile a minute, that he's happy for them.
- Epic Fail: While playing a video game Niles dies on the tutorial level. Frederick says he didn't even think that was possible.
- Evil-Detecting Dog: Eddie is reluctant to enter the apartment because he can sense that Lilith is inside and Frasier has invited her to Thanksgiving.Daphne: Well, he was perfectly fine until a block from here. Then he started whining and trembling, like he senses an earthquake or a dark force or- hello, Lilith - a vortex of evil. (pauses as she realises what she just said)
- Meat-O-Vision: Referenced when Frasier arrives at work and sees Roz has dressed her daughter up for Thanksgiving.Frasier: Roz, is baby Alice dressed as a turkey or am I just very, very hungry?
- Out-Gambitted: Lilith manages to turn the tables on Frederick's manipulation.
- Screaming Plane Baby: Roz admits she dressed Alice up for their flight to Wisconsin in the hope that if she starts crying the other passengers will think she's too cute to get mad at. Frasier admits that when he and Lilith had to take baby Freddie on a plane he would promise to buy the entire cabin a round of drinks if the boy cried.Frasier: One time, I awoke from a short nap, and the fellow sitting behind us was flicking the back of Frederick's little ear. Of course that was cheating, the man did not get his drink.
- Screw This, I'm Out of Here!: Niles, after learning about the "joyous news", leaves Frasier's apartment without his coat or jacket and doesn't return.
- Shout-Out: The title and plot is one to The Parent Trap (1961).
- Troll: At episode's end, Frasier and Lilith realize Frederick has holed up in his room, knowing they know about his scheme, and is waiting for them to come and chew him out for it.Frasier: Must be sheer torment for him. Waiting for the axe to fall.Lilith: Absolute Hell.Frasier: Absolute nightmare. Wine?Lilith: Love some!
