Very brief spoilers for Wednesday night's "Pushing Daisies" coming up just as soon as I find out if Chi McBride and Tom Bosley were separated at birth... I'm kind of glad I didn't have time to watch this episode when it was included in the review screener ABC sent out, because it was quite a bit weaker than the first two. (In particular, the circus one was one of my favorite "Pushing Daisies" to date, and I'm sorry that time constraints prevented me from giving it its due on the blog last week.)
Olive in a nun's habit was a funny sight gag that didn't really work over the course of three episodes. While I accept that the cheap-looking green screen is a part of the show's charm, this week there was so much of it that it got distracting. And I'm still not clear on how everyone figured out that Pigby was responsible for killing Sister LaRue.
But I did like the scene where Olive forced Ned to pry the truth out of her, as well as Chuck's reaction to the news and Ned's realization that he needs to let go of some of the hurt from his father. Even when the show doesn't bring the funny as much as usual, it's still sweet. Something to be said for that.
What did everybody else think?
I actually think this was one of the best episodes of the series. Lots of good character development, and still lots of funny moments. The mystery did take a back seat tho.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I thought Sister LaRue was knocked over the edge by the ringing bell. I guess Pigby jumped on her because she had all those truffles?
ReplyDeleteI liked the ep, but I'm glad Olive is done with her Sound of Music interlude. She's much better when she's at the Pie Hole. I'll miss Diana Scarwid, however.
Oh, and Father Dowling, Father Mulcahy, and Sister Christian rocked.
I actually think this was my favorite episode of the season so far. Some of the others get so frantic that it's hard to even keep up somtimes. This one gave the jokes a little room to breathe, which I liked.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this one, but it was mostly for the one liners, my favorite had to be when Father Dowling (Emerson) looks at Sister Christian(Chuck) and says were motoring....
ReplyDeleteI also thought it was one of the best to date. You and I don't seem to be syncing up lately, Alan.
ReplyDeleteI am in awe at how Pushing Daisies don't, like other shows, draw out gags and secrets FOREVER. Instead, in the first three episodes, while on another show Olive would be in the nunnry FORVER, she was already out. In addition, the secret which would have on anoher show been kept until the season finale, was revealed. I just sat there in astoinshment at how Pushing Daisies does this and completely revere the writers more.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree, this one was my favorite episodes so far and I loved the twist that this seemingly innocent group of nuns and their priest...were, in fact, innocent. Like the show as a whole, that conclusion was truly sweet without being saccharine. I didn't even notice the blue-screen effects and I'm willing to sacrifice a little of their usual glib humor (just a little) in favor of plot movement and more moments of emotional truth. They do all of it so well, and this episode seemed to balance those elements excellently. (And did I mention, "Sister Christian is nothing more than a heavy petting ballad"?)
ReplyDeleteMo Collins gave me yet another data point in my theory that "Mad TV" people are always evil.
ReplyDeleteI agree with those who rank this episode among the best of the series. I felt the show turned a corner in the character development and finally started to loosen up Ned a bit.
ReplyDeleteAside from "We're motoring," my favorite moment was Ned's shrug and continued devouring of the food after learning the chef and LaRue had sex on the table from which they were eating.
I'm with the ones who liked this better than the clowns.
ReplyDeleteNow, on Lily's secret now being out: is that because the writers are awesome, or because they decided that Olive having the secret wasn't as interesting as they had hoped?
Let's give them a little credit for FINALLY explaining Chuck's weird family tree: Lily and Vivian are Chuck's father's STEP-SISTERS, presumably a few years younger than Chuck's fathers, so they were minors at the time of the marriage and took his family name (a common practice at a time when it was rare for members of the same family to have different names). A little bit icky for step-sisters to be competing for the romantic affection of their step-brother, but not illegal or anything.
ReplyDeleteSo is Pigby moving into the apartment with Olive and Chuck? That would require a *very* accommodating landlord!
I'll speak up for my Catholic friend, who is usually offended at the idea of non-Catholics routinely baring their souls in a confessional. I didn't think Ned was Catholic; I thought he was Protestant (Chuck, for those who didn't catch it in the first episode, is Jewish).
But I actually found the episode rather amusing: a nun who isn't really a nun using the convent's truffle business as a place to conduct her genetic experiments to create the perfect artificial truffle; falling in love with a neighboring chef; the Mother Superior, thinking she's a real nun, trying to stop the relationship.
I too thought it was a good episode. They mystery was mysterious and the character development believable and nicely acted.
ReplyDeleteI wondered how many times they cracked up while trying to film the various introductions (Father Dedonde). And my favorite Olive line was "we're straight up sequestered."
I'll agree with Alan. I felt this was the weakest of this season, if for no other reason than the relative lack of visual variety. One Naomi Klein earthtone setpiece after another.
ReplyDeleteI missed Chuck's fabulously fun outfits but enjoyed everyone back together. So glad the Sound of Music interlude is over.
ReplyDeleteI had many laugh-out-loud moments. I really liked this one.
ReplyDeleteI quite liked this one as well. I don't know if it is my favorite so far but it is near the top.
ReplyDeleteAlso I thought the green screen was at least partially intentional. Especially in the bell tower where it seemed to be a reference to Vertigo.
I'm not about to say this was my favorite ever, but I definitely liked it more than the circus one.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I haven't been feeling "Pushing Daisies" this season. A few too many of the jokes have felt forced; a few too many of the lines have felt expository instead of natural (or this show's version of "natural.") And at the beginning of this episode I felt the same way, particularly during the Ned-walks-backwards-while-Chuck-reads-and-they-both-discover-a-hidden-wall scene.
ReplyDeleteBut... even if this episode didn't bring the funny to the extent others have, it made up for it in terms of character development and plot advancement. Lee Pace knocked it out of the park in his big scenes: the confessional, his two confrontations with Olive, the truffle-and-food-processor-induced joy in the Swiss chef's kitchen, and on the roof at the end where he reveals Lily's secret. And I continue to be impressed by Kristin Chenoweth, who, before this show, I couldn't stand. She and Chi McBride are stealing the show out from under the leads' noses, and kudos to them both.
I also agree with other posters that it's great that they didn't drag the Lily-is-Chuck's-mother mystery out too long. I can't wait until the aunts find out Chuck is alive. It seems to me that if any aunts would be able to cope with Ned's abilities, Lily and Vivian Charles are those two aunts.
I really, really hate to say this, but I'm not feeling the PD love so much this season. I still love Olive Snook, and the Aunts, and think those three actresses are brilliant. But...I'm kinda over Ned and Chuck, and the mysteries are SO complicated, and not usually worth the confusion. I recently got the first season on DVD for a rewatch, and enjoyed it as much as I did the first time, and I really want to like this season as much. But, I dunno. I'm kind of tired of hearing about Emerson's daughter, and, now that Chuck knows the secret, what will they do next? (Though I have to admit, I was glad she found out, because, seriously, how much longer could they stretch that story line?)
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping it gets its mojo back soon. I'm a fan of Brian Fuller, and of most of the cast, and I want to love this show like I did. But, right now, I'm not too excited about it.
Seems obvious to me they're going to incorporate Ned reuniting with his father fairly soon -- they mentioned already that his father had visited the Pie Hole but that Ned didn't know it was him, or didn't notice him, or something to that effect.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I still don't get Chuck's family tree. Lily's her mother, OK, I get that -- and her father was Viv's fiance at the time. Are you trying to tell me that Viv was engaged to her step-brother, when they had been more or less brought up together? No, no, no. That just wouldn't happen. It still doesn't make any sense! The only thing that DOES make sense is that Lily brought her brother in on her secret, and he agreed to raise Chuck as his own daughter, for his sister's sake. The person Chuck thought of as her father wasn't really her father, he was her uncle. Viv is so easily distracted I'm sure she'd believe whatever Lily and her brother told her. What am I missing?
I loved it. Especially the "nun on the run" scene. I have often wondered why the dead don't try to get away once they are brought back to life...so Ned chasing Mo Collins was hilarious!
ReplyDeleteI loved this one, too. The mystery wasn't too complicated. Pigby was adorable and the perfect new addition to the animal cast. Diana Scarwid was *divine* (pun intended).
I think my favorite thing that has gone unmentioned is when the stash of illegal worldly goods is found and Olive sneaks off with the feminine hygiene products. Ha!
Oh, and the turntable style secret door...the flashback to when the Mother Superior catches the couple inflagrante delicto and the spins around to the passageway cracked me up!
I hope they're dropping the "Olive loves the Pie Maker" plot. I just never believed it for a second - maybe because Kristin Chenoweth is old enough to be Lee Pace's mom (in TV land.)
ReplyDeleteI know this show has been doing lousy in the ratings so I tried to watch this episode again on abc.com - just doing my part to give it a wee boost - but I swear, ABC's online viewing is the worst of the big four. You have to get rid of toolbars and allow pop-ups and install plug-ins and even then I could only get audio. Has anyone else experienced this?
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say, I enjoyed the fact that we got to see young Olive. Can't wait for young Emerson.
You have to get rid of toolbars and allow pop-ups and install plug-ins and even then I could only get audio. Has anyone else experienced this?
ReplyDeleteI have trouble getting it to play smoothly. There's either glitches/"stutters," or it stops to rebuffer over and over. ABC's old player worked well; now it's no better than NBC's!
Young Olive was the most adorable thing ever! She looked so much like Kristin Chenoweth. I really hope we get to see more of her. All of the "young" cast are amazing!
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