[PDS] Dim Sum Lose Some

TV Programme: Pushing Daisies
Season: 2
Episode: 5
Date I watched this episode: 23/12/2009
Time since I last watched this programme: 2 months, 13 days.

This is the first episode of anything that I've watched for almost 2 months since Finale Day 7. As I've said previously on here, my aim would be to watch at least one episode of each of my outstanding programmes over the next couple of weeks. I wanted to start with Pushing Daisies, because frankly I knew it would be the least enjoyable one.

Strangely, this episode featured a new title sequence for the programme. Rather an odd move when there are only 9 episodes left in the entire programme!! But the episode itself was not that much different from normal. It followed the very repetitive pattern: a flashback, a meeting with the client, a visit to the morgue, a bit of investigation and all intertwined with some side story.

Usually I can forgive it to some extent because there are some quirky surroundings that are fun to look at, like a frescort agency or a honey factory. However this episode was set in the small and rather gloomily lit "dim sum" restaurant; hardly the most exciting of settings. Even the gambling perspective did not add all that much.

This "formula" is fleshed out with very minor "plot twists" like the fact that the daughter was the client, and the random and pointless return of Simone from last season's episode "Bitches". And while the stories do keep you guessing as to who has done the murder, this often doesn't seem all that important. Most of the shows I watch have some element of surprise, but it has to be backed up by other things, and this isn't really.

Now that the nunnery story is behind us, the side-story of this episode focussed mainly on Ned's father. The character of Dwight Dixon was introduced, though it's not clear what his motives are. The twins were introduced but their entire existence was spun out until I was bored to tears. I just feel as if I don't care. It's one thing after another with this saga, with not much of a hint of suspense, class or innovation.

The only thing I did quite enjoy were the disguises during the operation on the poker table. Emerson and Ned actually looked like they were having fun and got into their characters. I suppose it's the only part of the episode which felt like it had some freedom and could go anywhere.

All in all, these episodes are fun to watch sometimes, don't require much brainpower but altogether are just not that great. Actually if it wasn't for the fact that I'm over halfway through Pushing Daisies, I'd probably be talking about giving up with this whole thing.

NOTIFICATION: Programme Catch-Up

Well it has been a bit of a dry spell of late as far as TV is concerned. Today I finished the last of the special features as part of the finale day 7 aftermath; this holiday break has given me the time I've needed to get things squared up with that. Over the next few days and possibly weeks, I'll be watching episodes of programmes which weren't part of finale day 7 or this new set of premieres, so as to catch up with them. Hopefully I should be watching and posting the first of my reviews for that in the very near future.