Perhaps I'm reading too much into this, but I find it amusing that a key point in this week's Pushing Daisies mystery is that the killer has hypoglycemia, i.e. low blood sugar. Because this show, whatever it may be, is never lacking in the sweetness.

So it was with Wednesday's Halloween-flavored episode, which was a little long on Ned-and-Chuck shmoopiness for me, and a little short on the Emerson acid that makes the more saccharine stuff easier to take. It was, however, kinda dirty, in a fun way, and featured lots and lots of Olive, which is increasingly fine with me.

(Spoilers coming, unless those meddling kids stop me.)

The mystery of the week, frankly, had a Scooby Doo-ish quality to it, as Emerson, Ned and Chuck investigate the "ghost" of a former top jockey, John Joseph Jacobs who's hunting down the conspirators in a crooked horse race -- that would be the 2000 Jock-Off (dirty!). Seems that another jockey, Pinky, cut John's girth before the race, and poor John was trampled by Pinky and three other riders -- including Olive, who ended up the winner.

Though only Pinky was actively involved in causing John's spill, the others agreed to keep the secret, and now John's ghost is out to exact his revenge. It wasn't John, of course -- though he was, in fact, still alive -- and it wasn't hard to see, moments after meeting her, that his mother was the real culprit, having never let go of her son's career and now out to get those who ended it.

So, yeah, not much of a case. What made the episode work, though -- and I didn't think it was quite up to the snap of the past couple of weeks -- were the little things, like the trophy that was nearly as big as Olive herself and the heartbreaking sight of young Digby standing next to young Ned in a matching cowboy ghost-sheet on that long-ago Halloween and the touching conversation between him and Aunt Vivian.

Other business of note from "Girth":

• The bits of Ned's backstory we get at the start of each episode are starting to grow on me. This week's prelude was particularly affecting, as young Ned discovers that his father was only too ready to begin a new life -- a notion supported by Chuck's aunts, who told him that, essentially, his father was a bastard. What I'd really like to know, though, is something about the years between his childhood and now. How'd he get to where he is?
• Some good bits of physical comedy tonight: Olive falling off the bed, Ned stopping short as he sees the Halloween decorations in the pie shop, the way Hamish Linklater (as John) walked as if he really did have horse bones fused into his legs.
• Emerson line of the night: "Let me ask the money. [Makes a phone with his hand] ... Can I still pay the bills and buy stuff even though you were Olive's money first? OK, thanks. [Hangs up] The money don't care. Touch him."
• The level of snark between Olive and Chuck ratcheted up tonight, and it's rather a lot of fun. Maybe it's because Kristin Chenoweth so often plays the good-hearted sweetie, but seeing her be competitive and kind of bitchy works really well.
• Aunt Vivian on Ned's pies: "I don't know how we lived without them. It's like a sex addiction ... or so I'd imagine." Dirty, and one of the reasons I enjoy the show so much. An episode is unfolding like a cartoon from my childhood, and then the writers go and throw a line like this in. Fantastic.
• Ned's assertion that the fact that he has some magical gift doesn't prove the existence of other magical things is an interesting idea, one I hope the show will expand upon in the future. What will happen to Ned's worldview if it turns out he's not the only one with this ability? And what does it mean for him having to live with it for so long?

What did you think of the Halloween Pushing Daisies? Were you waiting for the Mystery Machine to show up?

Comments

For me, the worst part of this episode was after it ended when I found out I had to wait TWO WEEKS for another episode. :'(

Shel | Oct 31, 2007 8:36:31 PM | #

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I liked the episode. One of the most enjoyable scenes was when Kristin Chenoweth thought Chi McBride wanted her to jack open the coffin by herself ... and he gave her that "what the hell were you thinking" look.

Tony | Oct 31, 2007 8:50:38 PM | #

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I can't get enough of this show. It is so utterly different from the usual TV dreck, it's wonderful. And the scripting and characters are terrific -- not to mention the acting. If Amazon.com had listed the series DVDs for sale, I would already have put my money down. This is one I want to have around forever.

Jane Beverly | Oct 31, 2007 9:32:32 PM | #

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I liked the episode. I liked how Chuck and Olive are starting to have an understanding about telling what Olive thinks is Chuck's secret. I felt so bad for Ned. I would also like to know what has happened over the last twenty years. The way that it wasn't the same people together in their scenes threw me for a second, but I think that since there are so many people in the show it could only get better for all of them to work together at points in the series.

Penny | Oct 31, 2007 9:34:06 PM | #

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I loved this episode! My favourite part was when Olive told Emerson not to laugh after she told him she was a former proffesional jockey, and he laughed his head off! AND when the mom was chasing them and emerson knocked her off the horse with the spade. " I love you spade." Or shovel. something like that. Gosh, emerson is so funny! I felt sorry for Ned though, his dad really was a jackass. I'm sensing competition between olive and chuck next episode?

Deborah | Oct 31, 2007 9:47:00 PM | #

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Can we just give Chi McBride an Emmy right now? His acid tone in contrast with the overall sweetness of the show is absolutely hilarious.

Dave Z | Nov 1, 2007 1:10:49 AM | #

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Each week I love this show more and more!!

Ray | Nov 1, 2007 6:14:40 AM | #

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i applauded at the end of the show. my dog thinks i'm nuts. she may be right. i love this show.

mri | Nov 1, 2007 7:08:05 AM | #

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This show is awesome... I even like the narrator now!

AC | Nov 1, 2007 7:15:35 AM | #

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I've noticed a recurring hand phone theme lately in my favorite shows. I mean, I know it's always been used, but I've definitely noticed it more in the past couple weeks. First, Jack on 30 Rock used it so he wouldn't have to talk to Liz anymore (I completely cracked up when he said he had to take the call so she would leave). Then on Scrubs, J.D. used it and the janitor hung it up for him. And then tonight when Emerson used it. Sorry - that was a random thought.

I love this show! Every single little bit of it.

Katya | Nov 1, 2007 7:42:07 AM | #

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This show keeps my sanity, I think, about television anyway. I usually go to the Food Network or TLC or the Design channel, Discovery, ya da ya da, but on Wednesdays at 8, I know that I have something fun and interesting to watch. I hope they have Ellen Greene sing again.
Kudos to Pushing Daisies

Terry H. | Nov 1, 2007 7:50:12 AM | #

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I agree with the poster who said they'd buy this on DVD if it was out. I was upset I wasn't taping it while watching it so I could rewatch it and look for stuff I missed.

I thought the best exchange was when Olive first went to higher Emerson. She made some comment and I laughed so hard I can't remember what she said. Then he took the money and put it under the table and said something like, "Just consider it an escrow payment between my legs".

The fairytale, cartoon aspect of this show so works, like how the money bag had a big $ sign on it and the scenes with the horse racing looked so fake. I knew Hamish Linklater is actually quite tall and was curious to see how they were going to make him into a jockey.

Also, when they were talking to the first dead jockey about who killed him and Emerson says, "His goat killed you?" cause he can't understand him.

sac | Nov 1, 2007 8:07:54 AM | #

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As everyone else who posted something..I LOE THIS SHOW!! it makes me feel a lot happier at the end.. like when Chuck went trick o treating at her aunt's house, and Aunt Vivian was happy, while the other got her gun! priceless..and then when she said "trick or treat" Aunt Lily put the gun down, and seemed to recognize the good hearted chuch, but not completely..thsu show is the best...and i love the fake scences..it really helps

Will | Nov 1, 2007 9:21:09 AM | #

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This so can always make me smile. I come away from it feeling good, which is so rare for any TV show.

Mandy | Nov 1, 2007 9:31:56 AM | #

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First time watching but I've been wanting to check it out since I heard about it. I really like this show! It's slightly different than other stuff, which makes it interesting. Yet, not too weird. I love the combo of funny, sweetness, and off-the-wall comments (supplied by the aunt & Emerson in this episode). Very cool. I'm gonna try to check out the all the other ep's that I missed.

Cherie | Nov 1, 2007 11:20:16 AM | #

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pushing daisies is the best show ever! it should be on twice a week!

hannah | Nov 1, 2007 11:32:45 AM | #

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i loved the scene with aunt vivianne and ned at the door.

? | Nov 1, 2007 11:47:32 AM | #

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What I've noticed more and more about this show is that it almost seems as if there are some homages (unintentional or otherwise) to various horror writers embedded into Pushing Daisies. I see a lot of Stephen King-style wit, Dean Koontz-like quasi-philosophical undertones, and Bentley Little-ish subtle horror. The balance between the sweet and the downright terrifying is what makes this show so palatable, and why I think it has continued to do well in the ratings. All the bright colors and cute looks and smarmy dialogue alone would be too much; with the underpinnings of death, fear and human emotion (such as depression, loneliness and enforced isolationism) pulling the episodes back from the brink of a Barney the Dinosaur show (and it's nearly gotten that saccharine sometimes), Pushing Daisies just plain works. There are things shown but not explained that keep me wondering (like one of the aunts bearing an eye-patch...how'd she get it?) what else might have been going on both in the present and the past. I'm glad the show has been well-received, because most of what else has been offered this season has either been dreadful (Bionic Woman) or good-but-flawed (Chuck, Journeyman, Moonlight). Pushing Daisies is almost perfect, and there are few shows that have been on over the past fifteen years or so about which one can say that. This episode was a prime example of why the show succeeds, and I won't repeat what others have already finely pointed out. My only problem with the horse-bones-in-the-jockey's-legs subplot was simply...where'd the extra skin and muscle come from? You can't take a person whose legs are only about two feet long and shove bones in there to give him an extra foot and a half without adding some extra skin and such. Other than that, marvelous episode, and I'm glad that Olive and Chuck are at least speaking to each other, because I think their conversations are going to be awesome to behold. Especially when they start dishing on Chuck's past.

Dark Disciple | Nov 1, 2007 12:08:42 PM | #

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The only thing wrong with this show is that the quips and banter between characters sometimes come so quick I have to rewind to make sure I didn't miss a remark.
I love this show.

wmeador | Nov 1, 2007 12:27:46 PM | #

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I am loving this show so very very much. This is the best working cast on television. They hit every note perfectly. Chi McBride, Lee Pace, Kristen Chenoweth, Anna Friel, Swoozie Kurtz, and Ellen Greene are the best comedy team on television. The casts of "My Name is Earl" and "The Office" have some serious competition now. Even mix Jim Dale in because the narration is excellent as well.

Only thing missing from this episode is the secret ingredient, Sy Richardson (the coroner)!

This show is like first season "Battlestar Galactica" good. Perfect hour long show week after week.

Brian | Nov 1, 2007 1:34:10 PM | #

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I agree with Rick (the reviewer); such a sweet show makes me feel a tad guilty for watching it with all the subtle implications and entendre. While the episode wasn't as strong as some of the previous ones, it was still very enjoyable and the actors really express themselves very well. I suppose it offset the fact that this was the season's most predictable episode (though after having a Chinese Confederate Soldier, most would be). I still have yet to watch the 2nd episode though.

Good questions; I almost found it funny to imagine Ned meeting another similarly gifted member somewhere down the season. Though I'd rather this show not turn into Heroes; we have Heroes for Heroes.

pakopako | Nov 1, 2007 1:34:22 PM | #

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I like this show but the narrator really annoys me.

lessgreen | Nov 1, 2007 3:07:45 PM | #

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I agree the narrator is incredibably annoying but that is part of what makes this show so quirky.

Dear Sac, this may have been an accidental error but Olive went to HIRE Emmerson not to HIGHER (raise him up) him. Sorry just a pet peeve.

| Nov 1, 2007 9:38:11 PM | #

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Someone here wondered how Aunt Lily got her eye patch - in the pilot, it was shown that she lost her eye cleaning the cat litter box. All that is shown is the back of her head and sand flying up into her face. Hilarious.

Robyn | Nov 3, 2007 3:59:06 AM | #

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I personally like the narrator - but then again - everytime I hear Jim Dale speak, I think of the Harry Potter books. He's narrated each of those and they are amazing. It's actually the reason why I think I like this show - because it's so different - like Edward Scissorhandsish or I'm not sure. I enjoy it - but always forget it's on. Luckily abc.com has it streaming and I can catch up on the weekends.

I so hope this show sticks around for awhile . . .

Wags | Nov 3, 2007 8:27:22 AM | #

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This is SO great! Awesome information.

Ann | Nov 9, 2007 7:28:58 AM | #

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