Our take
Two snobbish brothers compete to host the perfect family Christmas and nearly lose their father's company altogether. It is a sweet, very festive episode about what the holiday is really for. The sibling rivalry is beautifully played, and the final image of the family locked outside, looking in at their own presents, is both funny and touching. Dean Cain's mall Santa gives Roz a fun subplot. Warm, silly and entirely Christmassy.
What happens
Christmas is approaching and everyone is in a festive mood. Roz is working at the mall as Snowflake, one of Santa's elves, and has her eye on Santa himself, even though she has never seen him out of costume. Having sent Mrs Moon off on a cruise, Niles and Daphne invite Frasier and Martin to their place for Christmas, but Frasier has already made elaborate plans for a family celebration at his apartment, and the brothers fall out over who will host. Martin eventually loses patience and decides to work over Christmas instead. Hating the idea of Christmas without their father, Frasier and Niles apologise and plan a surprise for him at the building where he works, but a mix-up over the presents and a last-minute change to Martin's schedule leave the whole family locked out, staring in at the gifts the brothers have put round the building's Christmas tree.
Can the kids watch it?
Rated PG by the BBFC for mild sex references; fine for families.