10.25.07
Posted in Reviews at 11:46 pm by Administrator
Written by Rina Mimoun
Directed by Alan Kane
This was a good week for “Pushing Daisies” fans. The show was picked up for a full first season (pending the writer’s strike), and this is a good news for fans of original storytelling. That tempers somewhat the slight disappointment I felt in this particular episode.
I found the script to be a bit less hilarious this time around, focusing instead on elements of whimsy over black comedy. For me, much of the charm is the darkness within the brightly colored world of the Pie-maker, as seen in rapid effect in the first two episodes. This was more dramatic, focusing on the oddities of plot progression, and I found it more amusing than consistently funny.
Perhaps this was a conscious choice, given how the rest of the episode was constructed. This show has been the depiction of a modern fairy tale since the very beginning, but certain artistic choices were heightened in this installment. From the use of model-esque wide shots to the bald use of soundstages and matte paintings to the openly mechanical patchwork pigeon, the audience was directed to enjoy it for what it was and focus on the story being presented.
The aesthetic was charming enough to overcome most of my reservations with the dialogue, but not quite enough. It’s far too soon to tell if this is a slow shift on the part of the writing staff, representative of this particular writer, or just one of those episodes that didn’t click for me personally. I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for the writer’s name in future credits.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4
Final Rating: 7/10
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10.18.07
Posted in Reviews at 11:31 pm by Administrator
Written by Bryan Fuller
Directed by Paul Edwards
Two stray thoughts come to mind after viewing this episode. In truth, there were many, many more, but two of them rush to the top of the list. Two more reasons why this show is working so well for me and those with similar tastes (or so I would hope). Both thoughts are good thoughts, which is more than I can say for some other new shows on the schedule.
First there is a clear sign of continuity, which is always something to look forward to, especially when a series can stray from a center path without penalty. I wasn’t expecting them to return to the funeral home at all, so using that previous calamity as a means of complicating Ned and Chuck’s relationship is a nice touch. It also reinforces one of the ideas early in the episode: the metaphorical connection between butterflies and hurricanes.
Second, there is the under-appreciated narrator, who continues to inject the perfect amount of sarcastic wit to each and every story. Not nearly so smarmy as the voiceovers on “Desperate Housewives”, the narrator is a closer cousin to the style found in “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” (in book, audio, and video forms), fleshing out aspects of this strange little world that wouldn’t be nearly so fun without it.
Beyond that, I can only say that the first three episodes have been very consistent, and that it’s a joy to have one hour of pure positive absurdity each and every week. It can be a bit too sweet for its own good, but I suppose that’s how it always goes with pie. The last great show with an obsession with pie started off strong as well; I only hope that this show finds its niche, and a large enough audience, to keep it around for a while.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
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10.11.07
Posted in Reviews at 11:54 pm by Administrator
Written by Peter Ocko
Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld
There was one main question to be answered by this episode was rather familiar: how would the producers handle the transition from pilot to series? Whenever a pilot manages to overcome the usual pitfalls and achieves some level of success, and especially when a pilot breaks the mold and looks more like a short film than a presentation to a network, it can be daunting to consider how that would work in a weekly format. Some shows falter when the energy that went into the pilot fails to translate to the daily grind.
If this episode is any indication, the transition will go well for “Pushing Daisies”. The quirky sense of humor is intact, if not quite so infectious, and the style has barely changed at all. Part of the equation is the use of the same director for both hours; it allows for a more organic translation. It remains to be seen if other directors can manage the same level of whimsy (recalling similar difficulties with “Twin Peaks” and the absence of David Lynch’s vision), but if the writers can pull it off, the direction should follow.
Because this show doesn’t pretend to exist within the confines of our familiar world, things that would normally be annoying work rather well. Having characters break into song is practically expected. Everything is hyper-real, bigger than life, and that will be one of the defining aspects of the show. It should also contribute to its success. No matter how morbid it might get, it’s not a reminder of the day’s doom and gloom like some random procedural. It’s a chance to step into a fun and quirky fantasy world for an hour, one that happens to involve a lot of death.
Invoking “Twin Peaks” was not incidental. This series will have its grace period, but it should avoid being bizarre simply for the sake of being bizarre. It should also avoid any major long-term plot threads. I don’t often say that, but the somewhat random absurdity at play in the series would be better served by a lack of continuity concerns. A format similar to “Dead Like Me” would be the preference, with opportunities to delve into the past and present, but no driving arc.
Such elements can come later, after the show gains momentum and the trust of the audience. That’s why the ratings for this episode will be very important. They will serve as a referendum on the series premiere. If the ratings drop slightly, that’s a very good sign. If they drop significantly, the network could easily determine that the high concept of “Pushing Daisies” was too much of a risk. I, for one, would love to see this series succeed.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
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10.05.07
Posted in Reviews at 1:44 am by Administrator
Written by Bryan Fuller
Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld
Before I discuss this particular series premiere, I would like to give some background. I never saw “Dead Like Me” during its initial run. I was annoyed with Showtime as it was for many other reasons, and by the time I was tempted to overcome that annoyance, the show had come to its premature demise. Watching it in syndication was not an option. Thankfully, Netflix came through for me, and in the space of a month over the summer, I watched the series. And like most, I found myself loving and cherishing nearly every moment and damning the television gods for letting it be canceled.
Rumor has it that “Pushing Daisies” was originally conceived as something of a companion piece to “Dead Like Me”. Considering that Bryan Fuller was instrumental in both productions, that’s not hard to believe. And this does feel and sound like something that fell out of the same idea machine. It’s as if Tim Burton and Joss Whedon had a love child.
The main difference, of course, is the restraint required on a network television series as opposed to a cable production. “Dead Like Me” was wonderfully profane. “Pushing Daisies” replaces the profane with the magical. This is a darkly funny show; nearly every scene is bursting with absurdity and comic potential. This is the mixture of broad farce and fantasy that “Desperate Housewives” has always attempted and rarely achieved.
Usually I would highlight the character relationships and how well the premise is put together for future exploration, but this is not the kind of show that needs deep deconstruction. Any long-term plot elements are likely to be casual in their progression, and the focus will be on the episodic ebb and flow. For most genre shows, this would be annoying, but this is likely to be the rare exception to the rule. The entire cast is likeable and quirky enough to keep bringing me back for more.
Definitely the best premiere of the season!
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 3/4
Final Rating: 9/10
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