Kaylee Brewster
“Pushing Daisies” was one of those shows that was canceled too soon for reasons unknown.
I watched a few episodes as it aired from 2007-09 and was available online, then it disappeared from the internet.
Until now.
The CW Seed has both seasons of “Pushing Daisies” — created by Clarkston native Bryan Fuller — and I feel as though my long-lost TV show has been given new life.
As the narrator says in the show, the facts were these: Ned (Lee Pace) is a pie maker with a special gift of bringing the dead back to life with a touch — terms and conditions do apply, which is explained in the show. Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) solves crimes using Ned’s gift. Ned’s childhood sweetheart, Charlotte “Chuck” Charles (Anna Friel), receives Ned’s gift of life after her untimely death. Ned’s gift is unknown to his coworker, Olive Snook (Kristin Chenoweth), but she still loves him (unknown to Ned).
“Pushing Daisies” is beautifully filmed — every frame is absolutely picturesque with bright colors and Wes Anderson-style sets perfectly framed. It makes the TV show feel more like a film than television. The writing crackles with engaging, clever dialogue and narration. Conversations are fun to follow with jokes and snappy back-and-forth.
Most importantly, the characters are delightful. Ned and Chuck have perfect chemistry and endear themselves to the audience with their charm. There are no unlikable characters, all have individual quirks to make them stand out.
The plot itself is a fresh take on murder-mysteries. It’s never fully explained how Ned receives his powers, and it doesn’t matter. What matters is that he uses them to further the story, often complicating things in humorous ways. While “Pushing Daisies” deals with death and murder, it’s never gruesome and always upbeat. What on Earth could have killed this wonderful television series? It’s a mystery only Ned and his team could solve. But at least “Pushing Daisies,” much like the character Chuck, has found new life on the internet for all to enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fliFS-BfGZ0
