‘Pushing Daisies’ blogging: “Kerplunk”
(previous: Episode 12: “Water and Power”)
Looks like that pie is just about gone...
[spoilers after the jump!]
I told myself that I was holding off on watching the last episode ever of Pushing Daisies like I would hold off on eating the last piece of Godiva in the box. Except I never hold off on eating chocolate -- I could get hit by a bus if I left a piece of chocolate for the next day, and then where would I be?
So then I told myself I was just too swamped to make the time to watch that last episode, which had been sitting on my DVR for more than a month -- too much else to do. But that’s not really true, either. The fact is, the knowledge that there was to be no more Pushing Daisies removed a lot of the urgency I felt to finish it up. (Kinda like how it was with Kings, too -- why get even more involved with these characters and their world if it’s gonna be gonna soon?)
Now, though, the complete second series of the show has been released on DVD. (It’s just out today; it’s been out for a while in Region 2, maybe because those last few episodes didn’t get aired in the U.K.?). So, like ripping off a Band-Aid quickly, to lessen the sting, I finally watched the bitter end of the show.
And yes, I did find it bitter. Bittersweet, at least.
I want to say, “At least the writers tried to wrap things up,” as if that were a good thing. But I don’t want to hear that wise and omniscient narrator tell me that this “should not be considered an ending, for endings are where we begin.” It’s ending. Nothing’s beginning, except how I have to begin to imagine how Ned and Chuck are gonna endure never touching each other. How the aunts are going to deal with discovering Chuck is alive. Will Ned and Chuck tell the aunts about Ned’s strange power? If not, how to explain Chuck’s not-deadness?
What’s with all this happiness threatening happiness? What’s with that superhero or supervillain in the sewers? That’s an ending that’s supposed to not tantalize me?
All that’s beginning is my despair at no longer being able to revel in lovely wordplay and intelligent banter and sweet snarky naughtiness (“Short Round” and her “what’s in his banana hammock”)
So I spent the whole episode -- or at least the first half, anyway -- trying to fool myself. Saying to myself, “Ah, Aquacade! Funny. ‘Night of 1000 bubbles’? Wonderful! Oh, yes, indeed, that shark is going to be bad news, yessiree... A patsy shark and pie lard in the hairgel? Someone’s been naughty! My goodness, the colors! Look at those Mermaid costumes! Look at those team tracksuits!”
But it was no good. Now I’m even more depressed than I was when I was trying to convince myself I wasn’t depressed.
(Watch full episodes at ABC’s official site for the show.)
(next: nuthin’)
[buy at Amazon (Region 1)] [buy at Amazon (Region 2)]viewed at home on a small screen
rated TVPG-DLV
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comments
posted by Joy (Tue Jul 21 09, 6:19PM)
Maryanne, I completely understand.
I couldn't make myself watch what I had DVR'ed I was so upset. I missed every episode after they decided to cancel..maybe 3 or 5? I can't recall. I had to quit cold-turkey, I couldn't make myself watch knowing time was short for them. When I read it had officially been cancelled, I was so upset I actually cried. CRIED about a show being cancelled. Quite possibly the most unique and touching thing I had ever seen on TV and I just kept hoping it would last.
My boyfriend of many years said--'this can't be popular...they can't touch. And if they can't touch, there is no sex..and if there is no sex, it probably will get cancelled.'
:sigh:
It was the closest thing to having Tim Burton and Danny Elfman on my TV every week with something new that I hadn't watched a million times.
All I have now is the hope that Glee makes it this fall and stays as genuinely entertaining as the pilot/teaser episode. Of, and of course, the Big Bang Theory
posted by the rook (Tue Jul 21 09, 6:40PM)
although not quite the same thing, bryan fuller is doing a 12 part comic book series to fill in as the series 'third season'. at least the loose ends in the story will be tied up.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pushing_daisies#Comics
posted by Nathan A. (Tue Jul 21 09, 8:00PM)
That mysterious figure in the sewers during the concluding CGI flyby was Oscar Vibenius from Season 1 -- the smell expert who sniffed out something different about Chuck. A nice little shout-out to a never-again-mentioned storyline.
Really miss the show, really can't wait for the comics. And I have to admit, as much as I was saddened by the earnest-but-hasty wrapup for the show, I thought "Endings, after all, are where we begin" was a lovely and poetic line.
Oh, and if you're not watching Kings, currently coming to an end on NBC next week, you might want to check out the impending DVD set. It's kind of startlingly good -- Deadwood meets The West Wing with just a touch of Battlestar Galactica.
posted by C David Dent (Tue Jul 21 09, 11:06PM)
My Pushing Daisies Season 2 arrived this afternoon like it was supposed to.
I also feel for Kings. I have a lot of the same feelings abut Kins that i did about Pushing Daisies "Why isn't this show at the top of the ratings? It is fantastic!"
And yet one of my best friends said of Pusing Daisies "That was the stupidest show I've ever seen, why did they even give it a second season? "
The is no, nor has there ever been, any accounting or taste.
posted by the rook (Wed Jul 22 09, 11:22AM)
if you like pushing daisies, try to find 'the middleman'. it got only 12 episodes on abc family, but it has much the same feel as pushing daisies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Middleman_(TV_series)
posted by Tonio Kruger (Thu Sep 17 09, 11:08AM)
Ay, Dios. I kept telling myself I didn't want to get hooked on yet another show that was not long for this world.
But I did.
And now it's over. It's finally over.
The one prime-time show on commercial TV that had the same love of wordplay that one usually finds only on certain British shows and old movies--and they had to end it.
And yet they find room for yet another reality show.
The sad part is that there just aren't that many comedies nowadays that are this life-affirming. The writers obviously loved their characters and it showed. But unfortunately, that wasn't enough.
Oh, well. I guess I'll just have to carry on through this big parade of tears. And try to get off this wretched streetcar named desire. Perhaps through the kindness of strangers...