By NICKIE WANG/ Manila Standard Today
Is there any benchmark for fantasy series in terms of originality, creativity, and appeal? If there really is, then Pushing Daisies fits to be one of the barometers in adjudging fantasy series on television.
Pushing Daisies had its second season premiere on 2nd Avenue on Feb. 17, almost one-and-a-half years after the first season’s cliffhanger ending. Pie-maker Ned (Lee Pace) is back with the rest of the gang to give viewers a vibrant definition of what forensic fairy tale is all about the dramady (drama plus comedy) style.
On the eve of Valentine’s Day, we were at the preview of Pushing Daisies’ pilot episode in the picturesque Fernwood Gardens in Quezon City.
Flashback
The first season introduced Ned, an ordinary pie-maker with extraordinary gift. With one touch he can bring the dead people, animal or anything back to life for one minute. Beyond that, he must use the same touch to send that person back, or someone else or something else must die.
With the help of local private investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride), Ned uses his special ability to solve murder cases and cash in on hefty rewards. The romance started when Ned came across his childhood sweetheart Chuck Charles (Anna Friel), who was murdered in a cruise ship.
Determined to be reunited with his one true love, he decided to let her live. Unfortunately, the pie-maker may never touch Chuck again or she’ll be gone forever.
The new touch
The second season’s pilot episode sees Chuck going undercover as a “Bee Girl” at a honey-based cosmetics company called the Betty’s Bees. Chuck agrees to be an accomplice with the help of Ned and Emerson to resolve the death of the company’s new spokesmodel who was stung to death by a swarm of bees.
The trio of Chuck, Ned. and Emerson stumble into remarkable discovery leading to the capture of Woolsy Nichols, owner of Betty’s Bees. They get him to confess about the whole truth that was clouded by mystery of the young model’s death.
Meanwhile, the bizarre love story of Ned and Chuck has to hurdle a trial as the latter starts to have a growing independence. Chuck moves out of Ned’s apartment. Although she just moved in to the next door, the pie-maker Ned does not find it romantic knocking at the door of his girlfriend whenever he wants to see her.
He would truly miss the ballet of avoidance that has become the daily move of the couple inside the apartment. They can’t touch each other so they orchestrated steps to avoid each other. Ned’s slippers are adorned with small bells so Chuck would know if he is near or approaching.
In other developments, the pie waitress Olive finds herself moving into a nunnery after discovering the secret of Aunt Lily’s (Swoosie Kurtz) relation to Chuck. She is off to the convent so she won’t spill Lily’s deep, dark secret.
The colors of daisies
Bryan Fuller, who also has 22-episode writing credits for Star Trek and first season of Heroes, was able to bring Pushing Daisies into its magical qualities again. The series remains quirky and flashy in a sense that the colors of the set add up to mood of the characters that became more interesting.
The singing pie waitress turned convent boarder Olive seems to be more interesting as she morphs into a vivacious character. Viewers will find her more charming as she adopts a pet pig named Pigby. Lovers Ned and Chuck, on the other hand, will kiss each other more using a plastic cover.
For people who will see the series for the very first time, it is recommended for them to check the previous episodes of Pushing Daisies online through video- sharing Web site and they would definitely get hooked up with its whimsical Tim Burton-inspired storyline.
The first season was nominated for 12 Primetime Emmy Awards and won three trophies. Now it’s back with another season of more whimsical and visually entertaining blend of romance, crime procedure, and high-concept fantasy.
Catch Pushing Daisies every Tuesday at 9 p.m. on cable TV 2nd Avenue. 2nd Avenue is available on RJTV UHF Channel 29, SkyCable Channel 19, and Global Destiny Channel 31.
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