The Oh Oh Oh it’s Magic of PUSHING DAISIES

Last night’s magic themed episode of PUSHING DAISIES really was magic.  And a bit of magic is just what PUSHING DAISIES needs to stay on the air.

In case you missed it (and if so then I personally will blame YOU if the show is canceled..he he)…

Ned and Chuck’s half-brothers, Maurise & Ralston, are magicians and perform as “Two for the Show”.  Their mentor and psuedo-father, The Great Hermann (Fred Willard), fears that his recently dead assistants (doves, rabbits and monkeys) have been the victims of murder.  The Great Hermann wants the help of the magically skeptical Emerson Cod. But when The Great Hermann’s dies while performing his signature act, “Cementia”, Emerson, Ned, Chuck and Olive expect a differnt kind of voodoo at play.

In the end it was another illusionist, The Geek, that did the killing.  But as with most PUSHING DAISIES whodunits – the fun is the getting there – I never really care who did it.

Meanwhile, back in Couer d’Couers, the Darling Mermaid Darlings are paid a visit from Dwight Dixon (Stephen Root), an old friend of Chuck’s Dad.  Seems Mr. Dixon served in the army along side Chuck’s dad and Ned’s dad and knows quite a few secrets – including the one about Lily being Chuck’s mother. Mr. Dixon has quite the interest in finding the pocket watch that once belonged to Charles Charles.  Lily claims they don’t know where it is.  Later, mistaking Dwight’s compliments for genuine flirting, Vivian arranges a date for the two of them at The Pie Hole, during which she tells Dwight that the pocket watch was buried with Charlotte.  Dwight tells Vivian that Chuck is Lily’s daughter, but he covers it up as a mistake before Vivian catches on.

Meanwhile Chuck is desperate to hear Lily speak the words that confirms that Chuck is in fact her daughter.  After a number of schemes fail, Ned uses some of Emerson’s spy equipment to get Lily to open up to Olive about Chuck, all while Chuck listens in.

Although I was ready to end the episode with the sweet angelic image of Ned staring at Chuck, we were faced with dark twist of Dwight Dixon digging up Lonely Tourist Charlotte Charles’ grave only to find it (duh duh duh) empty.

Ok now that we have the recappish stuff out of the way, a few thoughts from me.

Ned – I adore every little bit of Lee Pace, but I must say that I was a bit down on Ned at the end of last season.  I thought the writers made him wimpy and sappy – always brooding over Chuck or whatever woe’d him at the time…which of course was Chuck.  But this season I think they have completely brought Ned back to life (no pun intended).  Ned has a light all around him.  He’s strong and funny without losing any of his trademark sensitivity.

And can we PLEASE talk about the Ned & Chuck scene at the end in the car?  OH my Lord.  Talk about Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and every classic film actor rolled into one and that’s the beauty that was Lee Pace in that scene.  He said nothing but spoke long winded speeches with his eyes.  I strategically pauses one particular look and may or may not have kept it up on my TV screen for hours.

I really like that the Scooby Gang now includes Olive on all its missions.  It’s only a matter of time until she discovers Ned’s gift.  I’m not sure we will ever see that moment, but one can pray.

Some really fantastic lines from last nigh (as always), but my favorite came from Mr. Emerson Cod:

Emerson: Where’s that rat’s ass I could give?

Honorable mentions include:

Vivian: I’m quite the conversation piece.

Ned: No, no, fools rush in! We’re not fools!

Ned: Which means you’re the killuh. Killuh

The early ratings have been released and they are not good.  I’m not giving up hope, but I the chances of ABC are grim at best.  I choose to spend time in my happy place and not worry about such.  I’m going to enjoy the episodes we have left and take in the happy while I still can.