I approve of the Frasier reboot incorporating more characters from the original show, but making that nostalgia the basis for all of Season 2’s marketing feels like a trap. The marketing has worked on me, I’ll be tuning in to the new episodes largely to see beloved characters again, and even to see the return to Seattle. However, I also think that it’s likely I’ll once again be disappointed by the show.
This illustrates the problem with nostalgia-based properties like the Frasier reboot Season 2; they don’t have to try very hard. With a built-in audience, these properties can ignore deep flaws as long as they appeal to the nostalgic fanbase with cameos and references. It’s not inherently a problem to appeal to the original, but when it’s used as a crutch to prop up an otherwise unremarkable show, it becomes a problem, and that’s what Season 2 of the show seems to be doing.