Pushing Daisies 1x01-1x02

[oyceter]

I blame coffeeandink for this. I do not actually remember her original spiel, because then she told me, "The main characters are white but there is a great COC called Emerson. He is a detective! He is awesome! He KNITS GUN COZIES!" And: "Kristen Chenoweth SINGS!"

Apparently these are the things that will make me pick up a show.

Ned (the piemaker) discovered as a child that his touch could bring the dead back to life. The problem was, if the dead remained animated for over a minute, another person or animal (not sure about plants yet) would drop dead. Also, if he touched the reanimated dead, they would be permanently dead. Oh, and then there's the thing with his childhood crush who later turns up dead and is of course re-alived and how they now can't touch. And that whole thing where he helps a PI (Emerson) solve crime. And the pie place with Olive the waitress (played by Kristen Chenoweth!) who has a crush on him.

The premise is somewhat confusing. I do not care. I love this show already. It is quirky and odd and a little wry but mostly very sweet and very cute. And the writing is amazing -- possibly the themes and the characterization and the arcs, I haven't watched enough to know, but I would watch this for the dialogue alone. The visual style is also great, this blend of sixties kitsch and candy colors and everything just a little too stylized to be real, but in a way that perfectly fits the tone of the show.

I don't have good commentary on any race or gender issues yet. I think there are more than the usual number of POC extras (at least for a non-police-procedural?), and Emerson so far is awesome. I like the women, and Chuck (aforementioned childhood crush) doesn't feel like The Girl. Though Olive has the potential to create a love triangle, I suspect it will be completely unrequited, and I seriously doubt they will waste Kristen Chenoweth. Also, I cannot think critically because the pure cuteness of Ned and Chuck has demolished my brain! They are so cute! And sweet! And manage to do so in a non-sugar-shock way!

And Emerson knits! I yarn geekily note that he probably isn't knitting ribbed hats on straight needles unless he likes seaming, short rows, or more complicated hat constructions, but somehow I suspect this is an issue that only concerns me. I have already handwaved it as a short-row hat for anyone who cares to know.

In conclusion: definitely adding to my season pass. Really happy. Very anticipating watching more.

Comments

[fresne.livejournal.com]

Don't forget the money cozies! Money needs warmth too. Conversely, if there's vodka in Emerson's freezer, that doesn't mean he has to drink it. Wait... no... it does. And, and... Emerson is greatly rocking.

Also, Olive and Chuck are win. There are capers. In costumes!

[oyceter]

Money cozies! That's what those things in the drawers were! Awesome!

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

...I think "KNITS GUN COZIES" may be the most wondrous phrase I have seen since "RAISED BY PIGEONS".

[oyceter]

Unless possibly topped by "KNITS MONEY COZIES"!

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Hee, see, "money cozies" are just sort of cutesy but not in such a brain-resetting sort of way -- I grew up around folks who would do all sorts of elaborate origami crafty things with money for gift presentation, money flowers and money lei (http://www.booklineshawaii.com/book/bac/477751.html) and such, so money cozies don't seem all that off-beat. But gun cozies, you've got the warm soft, well, coziness of knits and crafting smacked up against the hard deadly industrial gun, and it winds up in my head feeling something like Charles Kraftt's delftware weapons (http://www.booklineshawaii.com/book/bac/477751.html). :)

[oyceter]

Hee! (psst, the second link goes to money lei as well) I just love the shot of him opening a desk drawer to stacks and stacks of rectangular objects wrapped in knitted cozies -- I was totally boggled by what they were until fresne explained above!

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

D'oh, that's what I get for typing on no sleep! You can see some of Krafft's artwork here (http://www.antiquesatoz.com/artatoz/krafft/war.htm). I yearn tragically for a blue-and-white porcelain hand grenade painted with dainty little flowers...

[oyceter]

So awesome!

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

I *heart* this show with a mighty love. And unlike most shows which would pit the two lead women against each other in a series of not-really-funny catfights, they let them have a cool friendship! And adventures!

And yes, Emerson is made of win.

[oyceter]

Oh! I am so happy Olive and Chuck do not end up fighting! Excellent!

[ladyjax.livejournal.com]

I'm not a big fan of Chuck. I'm not entirely sure why but I live with her being on screen. Emerson, however, is made of so much win. I about squeed the house down when i saw that he was a knitter.

[oyceter]

I know! I knew about the knitting and I still squeed the house down! So much love!

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

One thing among many that I love about Emerson is that he is the personification of the Un-Magical Negro -- he is the grumpy voice of reason and practicality, grounding the whole whimsical confection of the show. But also, he is a very real character with agency and his own agenda.

Also, he knits. :-)

[oyceter]

Oh, good point about the Un-Magical-Negro! I haven't seen quite enough to get a grasp of his whole personality, but I love his eye-rolling at Ned and Chuck and his whole "Ok, stop doing the 'any last words' thing and just ask them about the crime!"

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

Yay for geeky obsession over details. I like the handwave. ^_^

[oyceter]

Bwahaha, yes! They said hats and he pulled out the straights and I immediately started to protest.

[capsicumanuum.livejournal.com]

Well, if you've ever watched any knitting communities, there is an inexplicable and wholly unreasonable fear of circs and DPNs going around. I would totally buy fanwank that he would just rather deal with seams than learning a new skill.

[oyceter]

I boggle! I fear seams so much that I learned three-needle bindoff and kitchener stitch just to avoid them. Heh.

I am now totally amused by the fanwank of Emerson being scared of circs and DPNs now, though. I think that will be part of my personal canon.

[thomasyan.livejournal.com]

great COC called Emerson

You know how I can tell I've been watching too much TV? The same actor for Emerson showed up as an asshole administrator-type in House. I like Emerson ever so much more.

[oyceter]

Oh, awesome!