(S02E02) I love the romanticism of Pushing Daisies, especially the way this episode presented it. Instead of all the usual sunshine and sweetness, Ned was actually acting petulant and sullen. Chuck was asserting her independence and feeling the need for seizing the opportunity of a new beginning. For a change, these two that are normally so in sync had to deal with an internal challenge, as opposed to the physical constraints that are inherent because Ned cannot touch Chuck lest he lose her forever. Ned had to accept that Chuck was living next door -- in Olive's apartment -- and happy about it.
New beginnings was a theme throughout the episode, including Olive in the nunnery and Lily keeping tabs on her. Olive was desperate to have an epiphany so she could leave the convent, but the enlightenment she received was for Lily.
Olive sent Lily back to Vivian, which was where she was really needed. The scene in which Vivian went to The Pie Hole for a triple-berry pie and nearly saw Chuck was exceptionally poignant. Kudos to Ellen Greene.
The case was on par with the other bizarro plots on Pushing Daisies, although did it seem that this story was unfolding more slowly than last week's premiere? I actually appreciated the pacing. Last week's script by creator Bryan Fuller was great, but played at breakneck speed.
Sweet Nickie Heaps running off with a mime in a tricked out van lead to the circus and a bunch of clowns trying to form a union. The visual gag of 15 dead clowns being pulled out of a car after it was run off the road into a pond was hilariously grim. I couldn't stop thinking about Stephen Sondheim's song, "Send in the Clowns." (If Olive had been on the case, Kristin Chenoweth could have sang it!)
When Nickie is finally found and Emerson returns her to Mrs. Heaps, an sphinx-like lady who only thinks she's showing emotions, the woman is frustrated that her child has changed. Emerson's response summed up the episode nicely, "Love what's there."
I know it might just be me, but even though Ned has this great love for Chuck, I'm rooting for Olive. I want Ned to miss her, but instead it's Chuck and Vivian that express sadness about Olive being gone. Emerson misses her as well. Ned, seeming like a dim bulb, can only position his desire in having Olive back in terms of getting Chuck to move back into his apartment.
Previews indicate that next week may resolve the Olive situation. Let's hope so, cause I want her back in The Pie Hole -- no offense to the sisters.
Other points of interest
-- Emerson is definitely in pain over his lost daughter, Lil' Gumshoe. He reveals to Ned that his wife ran off seven years ago taking his daughter with her. That's a story still to be resolved.
-- Ned's line about new beginnings: "Starting fresh means ending something stale."
-- Funniest line at the circus: "I think that human cannonball was meant for us."
-- When they found Nickie hiding in the stuffed animals storage room, it was like the scene from E.T.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-09-2008 @ 3:55AM
marali said...
Oops, no comments so far. Darn you TV Squad for judging shows entirely on this basis now.
Pushing Daisies Rules.
What a great show.
So sorry that the new format doesn't allow for opinions and ongoing dialogue.
I hope that my 'contribution' counts towards your need to add up hits for your blog.
Sucks to be a fan of your sight lately.
Hating the changes....
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10-09-2008 @ 7:07AM
KateGee said...
The many many clowns being taken out of the car had me laughing for about five minutes.
This is my favorite show on TV right now.
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10-09-2008 @ 8:11AM
Alaina said...
I'm glad you said hillariously grim for the clown scene. I couldn't quite put it into words, since I wanted to laugh but somehow felt bad about that (yes, I know this show features deaths, but I think the parade of it is what struck me as the most sad).
But I did crack up without constraint at the clown with stilts!
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10-09-2008 @ 9:05AM
Dan Chichian said...
You missed the limerick! When I was a kid I thought there was no ending to the Nantucket limerick because no one ever finished it (at least not in my presence).
Do you think Olive will bring Pigby home with her?
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10-09-2008 @ 10:05AM
Dave said...
I paused the DVR right before they pulled the car out of the water and told my wife that I saw the gag coming about the small car with all of the dead clowns in it. When I resumed, we found that they exceeded my expectations with the joke and I literally fell out of my chair when they carted the clown on stilts past Ned and Emerson.
When they revisited the dead clowns in the morgue and the stilt clown's legs were hanging out of the drawer I lost it again. I applaud this show for not being afraid to go after jokes like this.
Can't wait until next week.
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10-09-2008 @ 10:30AM
Leah said...
I liked the part when Lily and Olive were eating breakfast and Lily said something like, I forgot how much I hated this morning porridge when I was here and then Olive with her mouth full of the porridge said, I could throw up in my mouth a little and not even know the difference.
I love Olive. Can't wait to get her back with the rest of the gang.
And as for the recap, recaps are much more interesting to read with some quotes thrown in.
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10-09-2008 @ 11:35AM
Si said...
It was also nice to see more of the coroner when they were taking out the clowns. He seems to be doing more than just sitting at the desk and saying "mmm hmm."
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10-09-2008 @ 11:40AM
Ryan said...
Seriously I was literally on the floor laughing doing the dead clown scene. The faces of Emerson and Ned coupled with the one clown with the ridiculously long legs did me in.
I wasn't feeling the first 10 minutes of the episode or so, but then the show sorta settled down and it was as sweet as ever.
And next week a Wonderfalls reunion! Whee!
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10-09-2008 @ 1:10PM
Happy Steve said...
Reno 911 did a similar joke with the dead clowns in the car, although I don't think they had the stilts gag. That was pretty damn funny.
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10-09-2008 @ 1:59PM
tv junkie said...
i'm totally diggin this season, much more than the last. it's funnier and the pacing seems to flow better. it's tragic the rating is so low though, hope abc do something soon to get more people watching.
is the Wonderfalls reunion next week? i thought it's later. hum. they should have Diana Scarwid playing both Mother Superior and the mom.
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10-09-2008 @ 2:59PM
Mike said...
I personally thought the funniest joke was when:
Ned threw the softball at the acrobat
Nickie fell onto the net, still in her bright pink monkey suit
and Chuck said, "Oooh look. You won me a prize."
That was hilarity.
I LOVE this show. It never fails to put a big stupid goofy grin on my face.
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10-09-2008 @ 6:23PM
Brent said...
I agree: Dead clown scene was the funniest bit tonight, but the whole episode was fantastic. I can't believe ratings went down further. Makes me sick to know shows like The Hills are thriving while true art is in danger.
I love that they're injecting some new challenges into these characters journeys and forcing them all to go outside their comfort zones. All while managing to pull off a very interesting stand alone caper (much more interesting I think than last weeks)
I reviewed the episode if anyone wants to read more of my thoughts and start a discussion. http://tinyurl.com/5xvrnf
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10-09-2008 @ 8:15PM
Scott H said...
I agree that last week's show moved WAY too fast. My theory is that the script was written before it was decided to shoehorn an "Intro to Pushing Daisies" scene into the beginning, and rather than cut material, they all just speeded it up. I was disappointed in the bee show--too gruesome.
But THIS episode was fantastic! It reminded me of everything I love about it. I'll add one line--the best one of the show for me:
"Pigby enjoyed the warbling sounds the nice-smelling thing that fed him, made." Only Jim Dale could do justice to that line!
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10-09-2008 @ 11:12PM
too much tv said...
so i know this will make me sound like a tv junkie...but...the fourth clown pulled out of the car is wearing the same outfit as one of the party goers in friends season 8 episode 6...please don't judge me hehe
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10-10-2008 @ 11:58PM
steve said...
Another fan here!! Seen all the shows, some twice.
I really like that the show is written for people with some IQ! The visual and literary references alone keep my brain spinning during the commercials.
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10-10-2008 @ 10:05AM
Jessica said...
"A car full of mimes just pulled up and they're not talkin'."
Beautiful.
I may never forget that line as long as I live.
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