Pushing Daisies:
"Kerplunk"
ABC finally got around to airing the last episode of Pushing Daisies, which was filmed months and months ago and then re-edited to make into more of a series finale-esque creature. Undeniably, "Kerplunk" was fantastic. It was super fun to get to spend some time in the high-stakes world of synchronized swimming and underwater circus acts. The Aquacade looked like one heck of a fun show--if it hadn't been for the mid-National Anthem shark attack anyway. Personally, I'm a little peeved that my half birthday came and went a few days ago without anyone presenting me with Aquacade tickets. (Not to mention that Ned gave Chuck two or three additional half birthday gifts throughout the course of the episode...I mean, geez, I got nothing.)
Anyway, the dialog was witty, the guest characters were vivid and entertaining, the emotions were genuine, and Ned (Lee Pace) looked damn cool in his sunglasses/green tie talent agent costume. What's there left to say? The episode was brilliant, the show was fantastic, and ABC sucks for taking it away from us.
While "Kerplunk" was a stellar episode, it just wasn't a satisfying series finale (why do I feel like I was just making this argument about something else?) After all, "Kerplunk" wasn't supposed to be a series finale and after-the-fact editing can only do so much. The show's trusty narrator tried to wrap up loose ends left and right in the final minutes, but I was left wanted to know more about what happens Ned and Chuck, Pushing Daisies' main protagonists (and also what the heck was up with Ned's dad, but that's another matter). I was left wondering: Are Ned and Chuck just going to spend the rest of their lives together without touching? What would that look like? And then I came up with how I would have ended the show:
In the closing montage, the narrator explains that Chuck and Ned decide to get married even though they haven't found a way around the no-touching thing. Some time later, they seek fertility treatments, and utilize in vitro insemination. (Here's where it gets complicated: would Chuck's egg die when touched by Ned's sperm? Let's say that through some television magic, it does not and we all agree not to think about it too hard.) Because no one really wants to find out if putting the fertilized eggs into Chuck would equate to Ned touching her and her re-death, they decide to use a surrogate (Olive, of course) to carry the babies. Yep, babies. In 30 weeks, 4 days, 17 hours, and 34 minutes, Olive gives birth to Chuck and Ned's healthy octuplets and the show becomes Chuck, Ned (and Olive) Plus 8. I'm pretty sure that higher order multiples would fit right into Pushing Daisies' fantastical world of pie shops and Darling Mermaid Darlings and frescorts and sunflower cars. I think it would be a perfect new beginning.
Good bye, Pushing Daisies. You were too good for the world of network TV.
(photo: ABC.com)
I just watched the last 3 episodes yesterday! It made me both happy, sad, nostalgic and angry at the same time. I'm glad they at least made some attempt to wrap everything up, the worse is when TV shows end abruptly and leave you hanging forever and ever. I like your idea about the octuplets though ;)
ReplyDeleteRIP Pushing Daisies :(
Just found your blog, literally by clicking Next Blog from mine. I'm glad to see someone else with a TV addiction. The DVR is a blessing and a curse.
ReplyDeleteI really loved this series, and I'm partly to blame for its cancellation. I meant to watch it when it first came on, but fell behind and never watched it until I got the DVDs through Netflix and the show had long been cancelled.
At least there was some kind of wrap up. I'm not sure there was every a bad moment about the show. The characters, acting, writing, even the narrator just all fit perfectly.