Like all brothers, Frasier and his pernickety younger brother, Niles, have their share of rivalry - which is one of the reasons fans of 90s sitcom Frasier love the show. Played to perfection by Kelsey Grammar and David Hyde Pierce, the Crane lads are the kings of brotherly one-upmanship.
Niles and Frasier battle it out to be the better brother across all 11 seasons of this classic sitcom. The fraternal chemistry between them is relatable and hysterical, so it’s easy to see why their relationship is a mainstay of the show. From their petty sibling squabbles to their tumultuous love lives, these episodes encapsulate the rivalry between Frasier and Niles.
“Frasier Crane’s Day Off” (Niles)
Despite Niles’ general disdain for Frasier’s call-in radio show, he agrees to fill in for him when Frasier gets the flu in ‘Frasier Crane’s Day Off.’ At first, Frasier is desperate for Niles to take on the show - but when Niles proves to be a hit, Frasier begins an irrational campaign to prevent his brother from accessing the airwaves again.
Frasier ends up locking both Niles and Roz out of the studio, cutting off callers and delivering a show he would rather forget.
“Whine Club” (Frasier)
Niles’ second wife, Mel, seeks to push Niles out of his brother’s shadow and into the limelight. At her behest, Niles jumps in to contend for the role of the wine club’s Corkmaster at the very last minute. Honorably (but reluctantly), Frasier nominates and votes for Niles, and ultimately ends up losing out to his brother in a sudden death tiebreaker.
There’s no real honor in losing, but winning without dignity is a dealbreaker - and Niles’ flagrant snub of Frasier’s congratulatory message loses him points for this one.
“The Bad Son” (Niles)
In one of Niles’ early dates with Daphne, he arranges for the two of them to watch a meteor shower at Frasier’s apartment. Frasier, who has been scheming to get a date with a beautiful woman he saw on the bus, manages to arrange a date with her - on the same night, at the same place.
Niles gallantly agrees to go up to the roof to watch the shower instead, despite his reservations. Unfortunately, he gets trapped in a stairwell, which makes him miss the meteor shower. But being there with Daphne is eventually enough for Niles, who grins with adoration from behind the stuck door.
“Author Author” (Frasier)
The professional rivalry between Niles and Frasier runs throughout the show, with Niles poking fun at Frasier’s brand of pop psychiatry, believing his own career to be more important and respectable.
Things come to a head when Niles reveals a little jealousy over Frasier’s apparent celebrity status, resorting to insults to win the slanging match. Even though Niles starts the argument, Frasier ends it with an apology, making him the better brother.
“Good Grief” (Niles)
When Frasier loses his job, he stumbles into the natural stages of mourning that almost everyone experiences following a great loss. Fortunately for him, Niles is there to recognize that he’s grief-stricken and to stage an intervention when he needs one.
After some much-needed help, Frasier's mental health soon improves and he tells Niles he couldn’t have done it without him.
“How To Bury A Millionaire” (Frasier)
When Niles’ divorce leaves him a little short on cash and he can no longer afford his apartment, Frasier invites him to move into his apartment until he finds a new place to stay. But Niles isn’t the best houseguest - whether he’s soundtracking his sleep with the squawking sounds of a Brazilian rainforest, or completing his 20-minute-long skincare routine.
Frasier has some serious patience to put up with Niles’ obsessive bedtime routine, and even when it becomes too much, he helps his brother find a new place to live that’s within his heavily reduced budget.
“The Gift Horse” (Niles)
Both Frasier and Niles love their father - so they try to prove their love by buying him increasingly outlandish birthday gifts. In this episode, Niles outbids Frasier by buying Martin his beloved police horse, Agides.
It’s not buying the horse that makes Niles the better brother here. Frasier also buys a ridiculously expensive TV set that Martin adores - but, in a chivalrous way, tells his dad that the gift is from both of them. It makes the competition null and void - he knows and admits they both appreciate Martin equally.
“Murder Most Maris” (Frasier)
When Niles’ ex-wife is arrested on suspicion of murder, Niles holds up surprisingly well. But it’s Frasier who realizes what seems like holding up is actually repression - Niles is suppressing his real feelings in an unhealthy attempt to reduce his own anxieties and protect his family.
While Frasier’s accidental slip of the tongue - saying Niles should be “executed” rather than “exonerated” for what he’s done - doesn’t exactly help matters, he does everything he can to help his brother. He tries first to get Niles to realize the extent of his repression. When Niles’ anxiety finally manifests in him turning up at Cafe Nervosa naked, Frasier helps him out of the compromising situation.
“High Crane Drifter” (Niles)
When Frasier is threatened with a lawsuit for teaching an ‘etiquette lesson’ to a rude Cafe Nervosa customer, Niles sticks up for his brother by staging an impromptu countersuit. Since Niles often avoids confrontation - particularly physical disputes - it’s a pretty bold move for him.
From his smug grin after he lands insult after insult, to his theatrical tumble to the ground when the man puts a finger on his chest, Niles steals this scene - and saves Frasier a whole lot in legal fees, too.
“The Good Son” (Frasier)
The Frasier pilot sets out why Frasier is such a good character and a great brother. Despite the initially frosty relationship he has with Martin, he agrees to Niles’ proposal for their father to move into his apartment in Seattle.
It’s implied that neither Niles or Frasier are particularly close with their father at this point, so it’s a selfless move on Frasier’s part to invite Martin to live with him. Martin brings Daphne, Eddie, and the notorious armchair - making Frasier truly the more selfless brother.