ABC
(Season 2, Episode 3)
The episode opened and gave us the first ever Olive flashback, as far as I can recall. Olive in the convent is still an unusual ongoing plotline, as it’s a strange setting for a show like this, but I’m glad to see her still getting screen-time. Kristin Chenoweth is such a delight in this role, she lights up the screen any time she’s on. For tonight’s review of Pushing Daisies I’m going to examine five things that really worked in this episode.
1) Olive Snook – I love how she switches tones from somber to happy to frantic and crazy with the bat of an eye. She’s always so animated. Her interactions with Emerson, who positively towers over her, are always fun. He’s such a dour, straight-faced presence and she’s such a bubbling pot of energy. Another cute scene: when she grabbed the pads and said she was too busy to go with them (who forbids feminine hygiene products?). She even took down the bad guy single-handedly.
2) Disguises – Father Dowling, Father Mulcahey and Sister Christian. Loved the use of disguises as Emerson, Ned and Chuck infiltrated the convent. There were so many plays on the religious angle of their disguises throughout the episode. Particularly when Ned had to use his powers to reanimate the dead in a church. Luckily, Emerson was there to set him straight. Remember Lazarus!
3) The Secret – We knew Olive wouldn’t be able to keep Lily’s secret all season, but it was so fun watching her “not tell” Ned. Now that we’ve got that behind us, we can move on to the part where Chuck and Lily face off about her true lineage. And while I hate to admit to emotional moments, I was incredibly touched by the scene at the end when Ned gave Chuck her unfinished family tree.
4) Chuck Looks Hot in a Habit – I don’t have anything more on this particular one. Just saying.
5) “The Facts Were These…” – I love the minutely specific times established, the narration, and the whole presentation of these flashback sequences. In fact, Jim Dale‘s delivery on the narration brilliantly sets the whole tone for the show.
Oh, and there was a mystery, too, which was pretty good, but I love everything else about this show more than I do the mysteries. What do you love about Daisies?
Clacked by Jason Hughes 
on Oct 16, 2008 @ 00:51 EST5EDT
I love anything and everything about this show. I’m going to be devastated when it’s cancelled, which if the ratings don’t improve, will be sooner than later.
I always enjoy reading your review, Jason. They are always witty and full of details I may not have noticed or forgotten. Keep up the good work.
I’m right there with you, Kim. This is one of my favorite shows on the air right now, mostly because it’s different from other TV shows. It’s also something my entire family enjoys together which makes watching even more fun.
I watch Pushing Daisies with an almost constant smile on my face. I don’t often laugh out loud while watching, but I smile a whole lot. If I do laugh, it’s usually because of something Emerson has said. Chi McBride is a comic gem.