Pushing Daisies

Like last week, last night’s episode was once again packed and so very layered with characters, stories and plots. I’m not even sure I got the case of the week all figured out! But I’ll try…

With his reputation as a private investigator now very solid, Emerson could have picked any case he can work on. But instead, he takes on the case of a rather insistent woman who left him with no choice but to find her missing daughter, Nikki.

With no dead body as lead, the trio takes Nikki’s best friend in the Pie Hole for questioning. She wasn’t willing to talk but thanks to Chuck’s unorthodox ways of interrogation, they crack their first lead. Nikki apparently had dreams of becoming a star so she ran away from home to join her boyfriend, a mime.

This information led them to discover the mime who they found dead inside his van. Using Ned’s powers they learn from the him that Nikki ran off with a clown who was willing to take her as apprentice at the Circus of Fun.

Once there, Ned and Emerson talked to the Ringmaster who doesn’t supply them with any leads and Ned suspects the Ringmaster was hiding something. Further investigation led them to discover a clown car swallowed into the lake, with all its passengers in it. The parade of dead clowns was funny stuff! It was a gag that had me laughing in stitches.

Fortunately, Nikki wasn’t in that car with them. And it was starting to look like she was the prime suspect for all the murders, until Ned spoke to one of the (now dead) clowns and identified a customer they’ve asked Nikki to take care of.

Bryce Von Dreenis, upset that the clowns were picking at him from the audience, did threaten to kill them. But after Emerson lured him to the Pie Hole for questioning, they also learned he had an airtight alibi. Now they have to go back to the circus to talk to the Ringmaster again.

Days before the clowns died, the Ringmaster placed a notice for hiring of new clowns. He wasn’t planning on killing the old ones, but he was planning on replacing them when he learned that the clowns were organizing a union against him. Nikki served as his spy, his eyes and ears, with a promise that if she gives him the information, he will make her the star of the circus.

But none of these characters were responsible for the murders. It was in fact the acrobat Ned and Emerson casually met earlier, who turned out to be the killer. He had been spying on the clowns, Nikki and the ringmaster all along. The acrobat knew what was happening and knew of the conflict between workers and management. And because he didn’t want for things to change, he killed those that did.

Okay…now that that’s all figured out, I suddenly realize that this week’s case actually had quite a weak story, doesn’t it?

The eye-candy though, is still something else. I kinda miss setting foot on a traditional carnival now. Why don’t we have that anymore?

Anyway….

Chuck and Ned are struggling with their new arrangement, since Chuck is now living in Olive’s abandoned apartment. Actually, Ned is struggling more since he isn’t used to the fact that Chuck isn’t in the same room as him. He seems to be punishing Chuck for this by not allowing her to join them when they went off to the circus to investigate…much to Chuck’s protests.

With Olive is still at the nunnery praying non-stop and eating porridge (that taste like her own puke), Chuck is left to run the Pie Hole when Ned is out with Emerson. Which meant that she’s the only one left to deal with Aunt Vivian’s surprise visits.

Later realizing how badly he treated Chuck, Ned tells her that they can close the shop next time they have to do their investigations. But instead of dreading the fact that she may soon be discovered by one of her Aunts, Chuck tells Ned the Pie Hole must remain open because she knew people like Vivian depend on it.

I’m not sure how that’s going to work out next. Ned did say they were going to hire a new waitress. But the possibility of getting discovered by the Aunts increases every visit they make. Sooner or later, they will definitely know Chuck isn’t dead.

Anyway, the two of them (Ned and Chuck) are slowly working out their issues, by taking it one step at a time.

This week, we also learn a few things about Emerson’s wife and daughter. Some of the highlights to this episode come from Chi McBride’s awesome line delivery. The man is undoubtedly a brilliant comedian. But when the scene calls for a bit of heart and emotion, like what he just did when he was talking about his daughter, Chi McBride can also pull the same good stuff. This guy is gooooood!

And then finally, Olive and Lily at the nunnery…You know what, I can’t put Chuck’s family tree in the right perspective, I’m getting confused still. Perhaps it’s because I got so distracted by Olive and Lily’s verbal exchange. They are awesome together, the timing and the delivery — its wonderful watching them. If only I can focus on what they are talking about!

I have to watch this episode again!