Writers: Dara Resnik Creasey & Chad Gomez Creasey
Director: Allan KroekerCast: Kristin Chenoweth (Olive), Jim Dale (Narrator), Chi McBride (Emerson), Anna Friel (Chuck), Lee Pace (Ned), Field Cate (Young Ned), Sy Richardson (Coroner), Sammi Hanratty (Young Chuck), Ed Brigadier (Minister), Jenny Wade (Hallie Hundin), Joel McHale (Harold Hundin), Mark Harelik (Ramsfield Snuppy), Christine Adams (Simone Hundin), Lydia Look (Heather Hundin) & Jessica Lundy (Hilary Hundin)
Ned, Chuck, Emerson and Olive try to solve a murder mystery involving a man who was killed over a dog, and claims one of his four wives killed him..."Digby and I have been together for a very long time. We're
intimate, but it's the appropriate level of canine-human intimacy."
intimate, but it's the appropriate level of canine-human intimacy."
-- Ned (Lee Pace)
I'm a week behind with my Pushing Daisies reviews, so last
night's episode 7 should be up very soon...
night's episode 7 should be up very soon...
I have to wonder what will happen when Pushing Daisies begins running out of appropriately quirky and eccentric backgrounds for its murders. Maybe there's an inexhaustible supply of oddities out there, we'll have to see. This week we're thrown into the competitive world of dogs, with our Scooby Doo-like foursome investigating the death of dog breeder Harold Hundin (Joel McHale), that he tells Ned (Lee Pace) was the result of his wife poisoning his coffee. Trouble is; Harold was a polygamist with four wives...
The set-up allows the Pie Hole crime solvers to split up to each investigate one of the marital suspects: Emerson (Chi McBride) tackles sexy dog obedience teacher Simone (Christine Adams); Chuck (Anna Friel) takes guide dog breeder Hallie (Jenny Wade); Ned approaches short-tempered dog breeder Hillary (Jessica Lundy); and Olive (Kristin Chenoweth) talks to dog psychologist Heather (Lydia Look).
Eventually, it becomes clear that Harold was killed over his decision to allow Ramsfield Snuppy (Mark Harelik) to genetically clone his perfect pooch Bubblegum (a crossbreed of Border Collie, Labrador, Jack Russell Terrier and Poodle.) Unfortunately, one of his wives took exception to the idea of every family owning their own exact duplicate of their beloved Bubblegum, so killed Harold – not realizing he'd already signed Snuppy's contract. Indeed, Snuppy soon arrives to claim Bubblegum's ashes after the poor pooch was run over by Simone.
There's a definite Scooby Doo vibe developing, which I don't mind. Maybe it has something to do with all the canines in this week's episode. Anyway, similarities to Scooby Doo is only a problem if the quartet of private investigators have very little to do, but this episode's idea to make the deceased a polygamist got around that problem brilliantly. Every character had something to achieve, and a suspect to focus on. The bizarre world of dog breeding is perfect fodder for a show like Pushing Daisies, which exaggerates the doggie business with its usual day-glo vibe, and mixed in a number of amusing elements – such as Simone's dog obedience lessons rubbing off on a "brainwashed" Emerson, and the amusing way Harold's poisoning led him to stab himself multiple times in the chest...
For the main characters, Chuck gave Olive a decent reason for why she never touches Ned (she's allergic to him), and Olive herself backed off from pursuing Ned after their kiss last week – giving him the option to try to make things work with childhood sweetheart Chuck, but letting him know she'll still be around. But not forever.
The regular flashbacks to Young Ned (Field Cate) weren't very compelling or interesting this week, but there was a nice dream sequence for Ned when he "woke up" to find he could touch Chuck. The show's thwarted romance remains surprisingly potent and tugs at my heart-strings. It's something a bit syrupy and twee, but a balance is being made just recently. I also found it strangely amusing to see how Chuck and Ned sleep in separate beds, but in the same room, almost like brother and sister -- which is what their relationship resembles physically. Well, whenever they're not snogging through clingfilm!
I'm enjoying seeing Olive more actively involved in the team now, as I initially thought she'd be quite extraneous to weekly events. Maybe the writers quickly realized how Kristin Chenoweth fits into the screwy world far better than anyone else. Chi McBride also got some much-needed development, as Emerson actually got a love-interest in the shapely form of Simone. His character's the perfect antidote to the sugary nature of the show -- with his withering put-downs and sardonic quips -- but I'm glad to see he's finally being given something more substantial. Hopefully Emerson will get another chance to shine in a plot that isn't tied-up at the end of an episode.
Overall, I can understand why some people might think Pushing Daisies is a case of style over substance, but I find it a refreshing show for a number of reasons: the cast are all very good, the imagination of the stories has yet to fail, and it's unlike anything else on the box right now. Jim Dale's narration is still a bit intrusive at times, and I don't know how long they can keep up the Chuck/Ned dilemma before it becomes incredibly irritating (as there's surely no hope for a miracle cure), but I'm still enjoying the show's vibrancy and commitment to telling amusing, creative, family-friendly stories.
10 May 2008
ITV1, 9.00 pm
