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Episode Recap: “Bitter Sweets”
Some things we know:
• Ned is Chuck’s boyfriend
• Emerson’s ok with lying by omission (well, and outright lying)
• Ned cleans when he’s upset
• Dilly really does stutter when she’s upset
There was a lot going on in tonight’s episode. We had the arrival of rival small business Balsam’s Bittersweets Taffy & Sweet Emporium and not one but two murder cases. And, of course, Ned’s confession to Chuck at the end of the episode. Let’s start with the highly anticipated (at least by me) arrival of Molly Shannon’s Dilly Balsam. Well, I guess I should really start with the arrival of Mike White’s Some Guy. I loved how he came into what would shortly be known as The Pie Ho to talk about the arrival of the new candy shop. Ned, Olive, and Chuck do the neighborly thing and offer a welcome gift in the form of one of Ned’s delicious and pungent pies. The only problem is that all the customers love the smell of the pie so much that they leave Dilly’s store and head over to The Pie Hole. Dilly sees what they’re doing and declares war, much to Ned’s horror. He’s happy to coexist peacefully and without confrontation but Dilly has other plans.
After health inspector Andrew Brown (Steve Hytner) pays The Pie Ho a surprise visit and shuts the place down, Emerson, Olive, and Chuck want Ned to retaliate. Ned’s against it but Chuck and Olive break into Dilly’s place and liberate some rats in the shop. When Ned hears about it he goes to collect the rats and accidentally touches Billy, who met his untimely demise in the taffy vat. He doesn’t have a chance to ask him about his murderer before Dilly shows up with the police and has Ned thrown in jail. Is it just me or does Ned look kind of cute in his orange jumpsuit? Things don’t seem to be going too badly for him in the big house until he meets his new cellmate Burly Bruce (Michael Cornacchia). Considering Ned’s the one who got Bruce locked up he’s not too pleased to see him at first.
Burly Bruce believes his girlfriend Sheila murdered his friend Tony DiNapoli. The only problem with that is Sheila’s a doll. No, not that kind of doll. She’s a Lars and the Real Girl kind of doll. When Burly Bruce invites his friend Tony and his girlfriend Tina (Abbe Meryl) over for a double date and Tony has the audacity to insinuate Sheila’s not real things get violent. Bruce believes Sheila’s guilty of Tony’s murder but it’s really Bruce who’s the culprit. But after Ned gets to know a little more about Bruce’s relationship with Sheila he doesn’t think it’s that horrible to be living in such a detailed dream world. Bruce is happy and he’s created a pretty wonderful imaginary world. Ned can’t fault Bruce for finding happiness with a fake woman. At least Chuck’s real. A real pain.
Chuck cleverly goads Emerson into using his rusty detective skills to solve Billy Balsam’s murder the old fashioned way. The coroner helps by telling them Billy bit off the finger of his killer. They can’t get a print from it however, since it’s been percolating in Billy’s acid-filled stomach. Instead they get Olive to distract Dilly so they can go into the store and inspect the crime scene. They deduce that there was a struggle and get the handprints (instead of fingerprints) of the killer. Health inspector Andrew Brown did it. He’d been blackmailing the Balsams for the surprise inspection to The Pie Ho. When things got heated between Andrew and Billy, Andrew ended up with nine digits and Billy ended up in the vat. Ned is released from jail but Andrew remains at large. Dilly makes sure he’ll never be found.
And what about the romantic relationships, you ask? How are those resolved? Ned, who had been acting strange and distant, blurts out that he killed Chuck’s father. I understand that he was overcome with emotion but it probably wasn’t the best time to confess to that particular crime. And Olive finally realizes Alfredo’s in love with her. But it’s too late. She was too distracted to hear him tell her earlier about going back out on the road to sale his wares. Who knows when he’ll be back?
Fun visuals:
• The picture of the founder of Ned’s school and his barking dog
• Young Ned jumping into the pile of dead leaves and turning them green again
• Tina’s photo coming to life to ask for Emerson’s help
• Burly Bruce using Sheila to kill Tony
• The scene right out of The Birds with Dilly
Usually I quote a number of lines but tonight I thought I’d keep it short:
Narrator: “Happiness born out of passion is short lived.”
Emerson: “Well that was a crime of passion.”
Ned: “What? It was a minute. I’m having a bad day.”
Dilly: “What I see I want. What I want I take.”
Chuck: “Footloose and finger free.”
Narrator: “The truth could knock all it wanted but Burly Bruce would never open the door.”
Ned: “Yay to not telling the truth.”
What did you think about tonight’s developments? I’m glad Olive seems to be ready to move on. I do enjoy all the crazy things she does and says to get Ned’s attention but I’d like her to have a requited relationship. To that end I hope we see more of Alfredo (Raul Esparza) very soon. I’m also very pleased Ned and Chuck are officially dating. I’m even glad Ned confessed to killing Chuck’s father. I think some build up to spilling the truth would have been better, but it’s good that Chuck knows. I think they can recover from this. Now we’ve got to find someone for Emerson. She needs to have a frightening love of money and not be afraid of a man who knits. Do you have any suggestions as to which actress might make a good match? And on an entirely separate note I’d like see the Darling Mermaid Darlings next week.
Pushing Daisies returns in two weeks. In the meantime, check out our Online Video Guide for more.
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Nov 29, 2007 2:39 AM
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If I didn't already know that Molly Shannon was going to be on Pushing Daisy's this week, I would of never recognize her. The blond hair totally threw me off. But anyway it was great to have her on the show.
It also great to see Steve Hytner(aka Kenny Bania from Seineld)as the health inspector. Too bad we won't get to see more of him. But I did like how they played it off that the sister could of been the one who killed the brother.
I think the perfect woman for Emerson is the British dog lady from a couple of episodes ago.
I just love this show. It has me cracking up all the time.
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Nov 29, 2007 5:12 AM
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What I really like about this show is the characters. For example, take Olive Snook. On another show I would hate her because she would be forever scheming to take Ned away from Chuck, like an Edie Britt ala Desperate Housewives, but she is so sweet, that even though she is in love with Ned, all she wants is for Ned to be happy.
Loved Molly Shannon as a guest star. Loved that she killed the health inspector.
Excited to see Paul Reubens back in the previews.
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Nov 29, 2007 8:02 AM
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Kara -
Another great write-up. And you can quote all you want. I love re-reading them and cracking up all over again.
I love the guest stars on this show as much as I adore the regulars. The casting director does a great job of getting people who fit the mood and theme of Pushing Daisies.
Molly Shannon as Tippi Hedren in Hitchcock's The Birds was hysterical. I wonder if Pushing Daisies is going to find a way to parody other films besides Hitchcock. They do such a great job of working it into the story.
Olive almost had her man and let him go. I hope the salesman becomes a recurring character because he would be great for Olive.
Emerson saying in a round about way he missed sleuthing with Ned was sweet.
Olive crying in the big house over Ned was priceless.
The look on Chuck's face when he confessed he killed her father was horrifying.
And yes, I miss the aunts. I would love to see the DMDs perform again.
It is going to be a long two weeks before we see Paul Reuben again. I am so looking forward to that episode.
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Nov 29, 2007 8:43 AM
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When Dilly referred to Olive Snook as a "trunk monkey," well I just cracked up and I'm still giggling as I write this. I love that the Narrator always calls her by her full name - it's always "Olive Snook" and very rarely just "Olive." Also love the outfits she always wears...I didn't realize that her fantasy about Alfredo at the end was just that - she was only imagining that he returned to sweep her off her feet. I am someone else who hopes that he doesn't stay on the road for too long - Olive Snook deserves someone like him. But way before she came to the realization that Alfredo was into her, I really liked the scene when Ned came back to the Pie Hole and there were Chuck and Olive Snook just staring rapturously at him - lucky guy to have two such devoted women...Chuck and Olive Snook breaking into Bittersweets, and the homage to "The Birds" were among my other favorite scenes.
And finally - I love the actor who plays Young Ned. He has some of the most heartbreaking expressions on his little face, and he also looks SO much like grown-up Ned! Great casting!!
I don't want to have to wait 2 weeks to see everyone again.....sigh....
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Nov 29, 2007 8:49 AM
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I really do love everything about this show. There is such a dichotomy between the whimsical, bright colors and the sadness or longings that each character possess. The show is funny and witty yet kind of sad all at the same time. Each character (even the guest stars) are longing for or missing someone but because the writing is just so fantastic that does not overwhelm the show.
Molly Shannon was great last night. I thought the "some guy" scene was hilarious and the Birds homage was classic. Ned looked adorable in his orange jumpsuit, Emerson was as funny and cranky as ever and Olive Snook's realization that the saleman cared for her but she may have missed her chance was so well written.
What's not to love about this show?
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Nov 29, 2007 9:36 AM
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Emerson is a riot. I loved his response to Ned when Ned said he was going to fess up to Chuck about accidentally killing her father: "Well, that idea may make a stupid idea feel better about itself." He may be my favorite character on TV right now...well, in my top 3 for sure. As for who he should date, I would have to think on that. Possibly the dog lady as lizzybelle mentioned.
I totally agree with Kara. I was looking forward to Molly Shannon's appearance and she was indeed an excellent guest star.
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Nov 29, 2007 9:57 AM
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My favoriter line was "Don't mess with the Pie Ho's" or something like that. That had my daughter and I laughing most of the night. I also like the fact that they have Chuck and Olive as friends/partners in crime. They are great together. You know, I wasn't thrilled with the pilot episode but now I wouldn't miss the show for anything. Pushing Daisies, along with Chuck and Moonlight are my favorite new shows.
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Nov 29, 2007 9:58 AM
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Loved everything about the episode, even digby was back (missed him last week). Small details that I found interesting. I noticed that most of the cars on the street seemed to be antiques (but the Continental counts as a classic, can't call a car that I am older than as an antique).
Being a big Food Network watcher at first I thought Andrew Brown was being played by Alton Brown (from said channel). The actor Steve Hytner did a spot on immitation, right down to showing the view from the back of the oven shot (see various episodes of Good Eats).
Also loved the 'trunk monkey' comment. This show has become my favorite new show of the season (ok, that happened with the first episode) and if I could only watch 1 episode of any show, it would be neck and neck with only 1 or 2 other shows. Only 1 more episode to go. I do hope this strike ends soon, so maybe we can get some new ones in in the spring.
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Nov 29, 2007 10:21 AM
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The writers have such fun with character names on this show. In the first crime, the two couples were Tony and Tina, Bruce and Sheila. I immediately thought of the interactive play "Tony and Tina's Wedding" and the cliche Australian names from Monty Python (they did an entire sketch with everyone named Bruce). Or maybe it's just me?
Also liked the name of the newspaper, "The Day".
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Nov 29, 2007 10:48 AM
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I must have been distracted last night because until I read the recap and everyone's comments I was sure this was a weaker episode, but not anymore. It was great. My favorite scenes were The Birds scene and Alfredos speech about how he would handle life with Olive IF he loved her but couldn't touch her. That was fabulous as was her complete blow off of it LOL. Too bad he's hit the road, she blew a good thing.
"Lord of the Pies" was great too as lomlnosyku@mailinator.com mentioned. And Jayhawk, you too are right, Emerson indeed had a great line with "Well, that idea may make a stupid idea feel better about itself."
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Nov 29, 2007 11:08 AM
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Its official. Lee Pace is hot.
The best line of this ep for me was Ned's subtly baby-voiced "Lets go make some pies" to Digby near the beginning. Adorable.
I'm glad Ned told Chuck about her father. Loved Molly Shannon but I wish they'd given her a chance to be funny.
I meant to comment last week that the ending with the aunts in the pool was unexpectedly moving. Im not a big fan of them like alot of people seem to be, but that sequence was really good.
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Nov 29, 2007 11:15 AM
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I would really enjoy seeing all the episodes from the beginning again. While the strike is on ABC could re-play it!
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Nov 29, 2007 11:20 AM
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It hit me when Ned got back to the Pie Hole (from Jail) and both Chuck and Olive were running to him. Olive giving him the extra hug for Chuck was so sweet.
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Nov 29, 2007 11:57 AM
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