06.09.09
Posted in Reviews at 11:46 pm by Administrator
The first season of “Pushing Daisies” was a critical darling with a strong cult following. While the ratings did appear to be softening by the time the writers’ strike was all but a certainty, back in the fall of 2007, the show was still outperforming everyone’s expectations. Then the strike actually happened, and someone made the brilliant decision to take the show off the air until the fall of 2008.
The inevitable happened. The show returned to much lower ratings and much less buzz. Instead of being a fresh of fresh air in the middle of a strike-ridden spring, the show was buried in the noise of new shows and a heavy volume of returning favorites. And for a lot of viewers, the show had seen its short but sweet day.
Perhaps the producers felt that a deeper set of story arcs would be the way to draw in viewers and keep them interested. Whatever the reason, the beginning of the second season seemed to be too mired in setting up longer stories to be paid off later in the season (or perhaps beyond). Considering that it was easy to predict that “Pushing Daisies” would struggle to regain its momentum, an opinion shared by much of its own fandom, planning on the time and audience for long-term story arcs was probably not the best move.
The ardent fans are suffering from the consequences now. The season was cut short after 10 episodes, and it was only by luck of the draw and contractual obligation that the remaining 3 episodes have been aired (currently in June 2009). Bryan Fuller, the showrunner and main executive producer for the show, has already admitted that one of the main plot threads will remain unresolved, thanks to the cancellation.
That is unfortunate, because the series still had legs. Despite a rough start to the second season, owing to the long gap between seasons, the show was still going strong creatively. The concept hadn’t played itself out, and it was still like nothing else on television. And just like its forebears (”Wonderfalls” and “Dead Like Me”), the series will likely grow an ever larger devoted following in the years to come, on DVD or digital distribution.
If there is one problem with this season, it’s the fact that it is incomplete. Story elements that would have been paid off over time will, in retrospect, feel out of place. Experience shows that even currently devoted fans will begin to lose perspective over time, and these loose ends will become more and more grating. Fans who come to the series years from now will bemoan how the writers screwed up by not ending the show with proper resolution. (It is, sadly, a familiar situation.)
It will come to no surprise to fans of the show that the second season of “Pushing Daisies” earned a Critical Myth Rating of 7.7. This is well above average and only slightly lower than the rating for the first season (which had the benefit of including the near-perfect pilot episode). As a result, the series itself earns a similar total rating, which is well-deserved. “Pushing Daisies” was one of the most unique shows in recent memory, and it deserved better from its studio and its network. The show will always be remembered as one of the many unfortunate victims of the writers’ strike of 2008.
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12.19.08
Posted in Reviews at 3:04 am by Administrator
Written by Scott Nimerfro
Directed by Tricia Brock
My enjoyment of “Pushing Daisies” has largely been dependent on an episode’s concentration of amusement. In other words, if an episode delivers great material at a brisk pace, keeping me laughing and smiling the entire time, then it’s likely to earn high marks. If those moments are a little less frequent, then the marks aren’t so high.
I can happily say that this was one of my favorite episodes of the season. Nearly every scene was a laugh riot, with nearly every line of dialogue contributing to the beautiful madness. It reminded me very much of the pilot episode in that respect. Unlike some episodes this season, where the plot elements seemed to overpower the comedic and absurd underpinnings of the show, this was a near-perfect balance.
My only caveat would be the examples of overbearing exposition and recapping at the beginning of the episode. Granted, there are some viewers who might have missed an episode here and there, and the plot has been accelerated lately, but given the ratings, I would think most of the current viewers are devoted fans who have been there since day one. So is it really necessary to recap the same information, over and over again? (I had similar quibbles with the season premiere, as some might recall.)
Kudos to the entire cast, including Orlando Jones and the rest of the Norwegians, for pulling off some very impressive comedy. I’d love to see some of the outtakes from this episode, because I’m sure there were tons of moments where the cast lost their composure! It all seemed to come together more seamlessly than some of the other episodes this season, and for that reason alone, I found it notable.
As of the writing of this review, ABC has yet to announce its intentions for the final three episodes of the series. It would be a shame if those episodes never saw broadcast and the fans were forced to wait for the DVD. For a show that gained so many accolades after the first season, it deserves at least that much consideration.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 3/4
Final Rating: 9/10
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12.13.08
Posted in Reviews at 12:18 am by Administrator
Written by Dara Resnik Creasey and Chad Gomez Creasey
Directed by Lawrence Trilling
Fans of “Pushing Daisies” received a small slice of good news this week. While the series is still cancelled (extremely minor details aside), Bryan Fuller has made an effort to give the final episode more closure. It’s probably going to be as fleeting a sense of completion as the “ending” of “Journeyman” was last season, but it’s something. (Now the question is: will ABC even bother to air the final three episodes, or just dump them onto the inevitable DVD package?)
With another episode heavy on the ongoing plot elements, this is good news indeed. Because as I’ve said before, that’s the side of the series that I enjoy the most, and the part that had the least chance of receiving the aforementioned closure. Now, if nothing else, I can hold out hope that Chuck’s father and his decision to be Dead Man Driving will amount to something when the final curtain falls.
I loved the emphasis on the nature of the relationship between Chuck and Ned, and how Charles Charles continually challenged Ned’s assumption that it was a good thing. This is a modern fairy tale, of course, so the love between the piemaker and his undead paramour cannot be in true jeopardy. But that doesn’t mean that Charles Charles can’t make things hilarious in the attempt!
I’m also warming up to the Emerson/Olive private eye connection that has emerged. It gives Olive a lot more to do, and in terms of her revived lust for Ned, it gives her an ally. After all, Emerson barely tolerates Chuck on the best of days (not unlike his reaction to most of humanity), so why wouldn’t he want to help Olive in her little quest?
In short, this was another episode that reinforces why the series will be so missed by fans and critics alike.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
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12.06.08
Posted in Reviews at 1:08 am by Administrator
Written by Douglas Petrie
Directed by Peter Lauer
Bryan Fuller is best known for creating properties that develop a devoted cult following and critical acclaim, but somehow fail to reach a broader audience despite the accolades. Before “Pushing Daisies”, Fuller attempted to launch “Wonderfalls” on the FOX network. Perhaps because it was the FOX network, the series aired a handful of episodes before shuffling off into the ether.
Fuller manages to overlap the world of “Wonderfalls” and “Pushing Daisies” in this episode, and while none of the main cast of that gem crossed over into Ned’s world, the connection is appreciated. In a perfect world, everything that Fuller has created would be part of the same universe, and they would eventually all play in the same sandbox.
It might seem odd to bring all of this up when the crossover element was a minor facet of an episode overflowing with great moments. Who didn’t want to see Chuck and Ned in the same bed, for example, just before she sneaks away her dead father, betraying Ned’s trust? And resolving the Dixon threat in the process? Chuck and Emerson’s antics were a lot of fun, particularly given that Emerson doesn’t like Chuck all that much (or anyone else, for that matter).
Ned and Olive’s partnership at the baking competition was a bit more generic, but it did provide the basis for the Muffin Buffalo crossover and also gave the writers the excuse to revisit Olive’s desire for Ned. Any episode that provides Olive with a musical number is a winner in my book!
This season has been very uneven for me, but this episode hit all the right notes and gave me a nostalgic slice of “Wonderfalls” in the process. Hopefully, the rest of this final run will be equally enjoyable.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
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11.21.08
Posted in Reviews at 12:59 am by Administrator
Written by Katherine Lingenfelter
Directed by Adam Kane
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to review “Pushing Daisies”, thanks to some scheduling conflicts, but this was a good time to resume. Ned’s encounter with his younger brothers’ father figure, the Great Hermann, was a delight, between the inspired performance of Fred Willard and the endless array of sarcastic comments from Ned and Emerson.
The writers have managed to introduce more of Ned’s unexpected extended family without missing much of a beat, and one would expect their collective father to show up sooner rather than later. Parental issues are all the rage this season, what with Chuck’s attempts to get validation from her mother, Ned’s ongoing struggle to come to grips with his father’s choices, and Emerson’s yearning to find his daughter. With so many layers to the dysfunctional family cake, I’m a bit concerned that there will be little time or chance for resolution before the end of the season.
Sadly, the series is not doing as well as it did in the first season, and most blessed with the skill of television divination predict the series will be lucky to get a 13-episode second season, never mind the back nine or a third season renewal. There’s talk of continuing and finishing the story in comic book form, but I think I speak for all the fans of “Pushing Daisies” when I say it would be a pale reflection of the television series, and poor consolation. Much of the charm of the show is the near-perfect comic timing of the narration and dialogue, after all, and I just don’t see how that would translate very well.
For now, though, this episode was a magical episode that was less about magic and more about personal emotional issues. Leave it to Bryan Fuller and his minions to make it work as well as it did.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
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11.17.08
Posted in Reviews at 12:20 am by Administrator
Due to extenuating circumstances, I was unable to post reviews for the past two episodes of “Pushing Daisies”. As a result, I am just posting my final episode ratings:
2.4: Frescorts: Final Rating of 7/10
2.5: Dim Sum Lose Some: Final Rating of 7/10
Reviews should resume with the next episode this week, barring any additional unforeseen circumstances.
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10.18.08
Posted in Reviews at 8:20 pm by Administrator
Written by Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts
Directed by Peter O’Fallon
It’s been hard for me to get into this season, much like has apparently been the case for many of those who enjoyed the first season, but I think the cobwebs are falling away and the show has regained its stride. Very little of this episode was repetition, they didn’t bother explaining Ned’s ability again, and the overall story arc showed some progress. All in all, not bad for the third episode of the season.
The writers wisely realized that keeping Olive away from the rest of the cast, and dragging out the subplot regarding Olive keeping the secret from Chuck, would be a bad idea. It’s the kind of plot element that gets old very quickly. Instead of letting the secret remain with Olive, the writers gave it to Chuck. In essence, it seems like a small change, but it changes the dynamic in an important way.
For one thing, it makes Chuck’s decision to keep her revival away from Lily and Vivian a lot more difficult. Even without knowing that Chuck is alive and well, Lily will not be happy with the notion that Olive might have told someone (otherwise, why would she leave the convent)? Ned has been given a reason to go looking for his father and gain some measure of closure. Oh, and the episode was full of sarcastic wit from Emerson, so that’s always a good touch.
Regrettably, the ratings are still not reaching the bar set by the first season. One would think that an intelligent and unusual offering like “Pushing Daisies” would be perfect during such difficult times, but maybe it’s still too morbid for the liking of the masses. Unfortunately, it’s forebears “Dead Like Me” and “Wonderfalls” also struggled and died young.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
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10.11.08
Posted in Reviews at 8:16 pm by Administrator
Written by Peter Ocko
Directed by Lawrence Trilling
There were a few theories in various comments to the previous review on the season premiere as to why that episode didn’t quite help the season hit the ground running. One very good theory was the massive amount of exposition, designed to bring new viewers up to speed in a minimum amount of time. Good in concept, rough in execution. (And sadly, the premiere doesn’t look like it managed to bring back all the old viewers, never mind new ones.)
This is unfortunate, because this episode managed to explain some of the same material in a more elegant manner. In fact, with so many of the new plot threads established in the premiere, the story was allowed to evolve more organically. The result was a better episode overall, especially in terms of the quirky humor and syrupy relationship drama. In other words, it was a great example of what makes “Pushing Daisies” unique.
I’m still not sold on all the subplots, at least not so much that I’m compelling to comment on them at length. This might be a problem if I found them all dreary, but they’re all worth the time given to them. Perhaps that’s because of the humor that is evenly distributed, giving every situation a satirical edge. It’s a very nice touch.
That said, it looks like the show is struggling in the ratings, along with most of the shows that were forced to close out last season in the fall, thank to the writers’ strike (or, I should say, thanks to the production companies who forced the strike). “Pushing Daisies” is a hard enough sell as it is; it doesn’t need to be fighting an uphill battle as well. There’s enough material in the can to justify keeping the show around for a little while longer, but if the ratings continue to fall, how long can the network remain patient?
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
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10.04.08
Posted in Reviews at 1:10 am by Administrator
Written by Bryan Fuller
Directed by Adam Kane
The pilot for “Pushing Daisies” was one of the best episodes of the entire strike-ridden 2007-2008 season, and the short but sweet first season did its best to maintain that initial quality. That struggle was mostly won, but the rough patches were frequent enough to make me wonder if the series would always be a matter of diminishing returns.
I’m not sure the second season premiere does much to mitigate those fears. For one thing, this is the first episode I’ve watched in true HD, and while the color palette is wonderful, the budget concessions are glaring. To be fair, the production is so fairy-tale in nature that the rough edges are just as often a clever way to turn relative thrift into intentional style. But this wasn’t the tour de force that the pilot represented by any means.
Perhaps it was the need to stuff the episode with enough background information to bring the audience back up to speed, or how long it took the series to return relative to the rest of the shows on the schedule. Whatever it is, I felt like it took a little too long to get back into the Pie Hole groove. And that’s even with the opening with Chuck in a cute bustier, and the fact that this country could use a weekly dose of the whimsical these days.
There were plenty of funny moments, and the show hasn’t lost its charm. There’s the usual Bryan Fuller injection of loose subplots afoot and plenty of character moments to enjoy. But it just may be that the magical qualities of the first season will be harder to rekindle than I had suspected.
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4
Final Rating: 7/10
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06.07.08
Posted in Reviews at 1:12 am by Administrator
This season, I’ll be summing up this unusual 2007-2008 season with a post-mortem on the majority of the shows I’ve reviewed during the year, ranking from the very worst to the very best. In some cases, the term “post-mortem” is all too applicable. This is Part 8 of this 11-step journey, focusing on the first season of “Pushing Daisies”.
A number of new genre shows struggled out of the gate and eventually paid the price with cancellation. The writers’ strike only seemed to exacerbate the effects of an initial critical blow: “Bionic Woman”, “Moonlight”, and “Journeyman” were all immediately fighting a negative impression and subsequent internal challenges to fix them. Two other new shows (“Pushing Daisies” and “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) began with highly praised pilots and managed to maintain a similar level of excellence, letting the promise of the strong start to gloss over first season jitters.
“Pushing Daisies” topped the charts with its pilot, beating out every other season premiere. The visual style was completely different than anything else on the air, the comic timing was perfection, and it introduced a whimsically dark world that couldn’t be found anywhere else on television. It was, quite simply, something original, especially considering that it was airing on a traditional network.
It doesn’t hurt that Barry Sonnenfeld graced the direction of the first couple episodes, or that “Dead Like Me” and “Wonderfalls” veteran Bryan Fuller ran the writing room. The cast was equally capable, with solid chemistry, and the scoring matched the visual palette. As I said in the review for the pilot, “It’s as if Tim Burton and Joss Whedon had a love child.” And I meant that in the most complementary sense.
Unfortunately, while the writers did give the first season a nice enough arc, the writers’ strike cut it down to a mere nine episodes. It was basically making the case for a second season at that point, and thankfully, the network agreed with the notion. It should be interesting to see what kind of absurdity might emerge with a full season’s worth of brainstorming.
There is some cause for concern, however. While the series began on an incredibly high note, the pressures of producing a new opus each and every week were already taking their toll during the first season. The comedy wasn’t quite so sharp, the plots sometimes failed to measure up, and some of the more experimental elements fell short. The ratings were also slowly but surely wavering by the end of the short first season run, as the freshness wore off and some viewers fled to less challenging fare.
So the question on many minds regarding “Pushing Daisies” is simply this: will the second season be able to live up to the potential of the first season? After all, despite some minor shortcomings, the Critical Myth average rating for the first season was an impressive 7.8, ranking it among the best of recent years. It will certainly be a hard act to follow, especially when absurdist comedy is so very subjective. If any show has the pedigree to pull it off, however, it must be “Pushing Daisies”.
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