Don't Eat the Daisies... or something.

[caz963]

So... Pushing Daisies.

It's an interesting and unusual premise, it's got a great look - the colours are absolutely gorgeous and it has this whole Tim Burtonesque surreal quality going for it (not to mention the mock Danny Elfman music as well). Oh, and Kristen Chenoweth gets to sing which is never a bad thing.

BUT.

It's just not doing it for me. I've seen three episodes so far (which are 1, 3 and 4 because of ITV's scheduling cock-up), and so maybe that's not enough on which to form a proper judgement. Although, isn't that the point? Shouldn't it have grabbed me by now?

The problem for me is that it thinks it's cleverer than it is, and that I'm starting to find the narration too intrusive. Last night, for example, there was a point early on where two characters were interacting and it was one of those instances where you could tell what they were really thinking - but we got told anyway. Why? I'm not stupid. I can work these things out for myself, thank you very much!

And while yes, the premise - guy brings back first love from the dead but can never touch her or she'll die again - is definitely unusual, where can it go from here? I get that it's supposed to be a "sweet" romance. But surely, there's only so much of that an audience can take before we want something to actually happen. (Or before we want to grab Ned and Chuck by the shoulders, give them a good shake and yell at them!)

I'll stick with it, because let's face it, there's nothing else on at 9pm on a Saturday night. Although I can tell you now, without a shadow of a doubt, if West Wing was still on More4 at the same time, I'd have given up on the brand new show and gone back to watching repeats I've seen several times before. Which is pretty sad - on my part (I know!) and on the part of the current crop of TV shows, IMO.

Comments

[hooloovoo_42]

I got used to the narration after a while, although I think there may be less of it later on. I think that ITV may have made a mistake in leaving out ep2. There may not have been a lot of plot movement in it, but IIRC, it does do give some explanations of their backgrounds.

I think I looked on it as something a bit quirky and different and filtered out the bits that irritated me. But I think watching it with adverts may slow things down enough to make the irritations more noticeable.

If you want to try it again, I think I have them all and can send you copies.

[caz963.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I do actually have them all on the PC and I was thinking I'd try them again at some point if I can find the time. And yes, I like the quirkiness etc. but right now, there doesn't seem to be much else, if you know what I mean?

[hooloovoo_42]

I *think* it gets better. TBH, I can't remember, but I did look forward to watching it each week.

[foreverdreaming.livejournal.com]

I'll be honest, I'm actually loving it. I downloaded episode 2 (Stupid ITV) but haven't seen last night's yet. I adore the visual qualities (like you say, very Tim Burton-esque) and all of its little quirks.

The voiceover hasn't started to annoy me yet and I honestly spend the entire time watching it grinning like a fool because, to my mind, watching this show is like curling up in bed with chocolate and a trashy movie.

I certainly don't think it's ever going to be intellectually stimulating like TWW , but as far as sheer entertainment value, for me, it ticks pretty much all the boxes. That being said, I do also wonder where on earth it can go, given the no touching thing....

[caz963.livejournal.com]

Well, I wasn't watching it for intellectual stimulation, but it's not doing it for me on any other levels either. It's too... cutesy right now. But like I said, there's nothing else on so I'll stick with it for a while.

[cantbesilent.livejournal.com]

I actually love the "where can it go" thing, because thats a question the characters are asking along with the audience. Chuck should just pack her bags and move across the country, but she doesn't, because they *need* each other. So how do you work that out, on top of all their other issues? To me the physical aspect is less about sex and more about the small things. He can't hold her when she's upset, can't hug her when she's happy, he can't even hold her hand. Its very dark and depressing under the candy-coated surface.

Basically, I just don't think its as cellophane as its made out to be. I'm like you, though, I love it. It makes me smile for so many reasons, from the funny to the cute to the clothes.

[bexatious.livejournal.com]

I couldn't get into it either for the reasons you listed. It wants to be clever and it isn't, the romance is teeth painfully eyerolling, the narration is like a badfic wherein the author writes absolutely everything to the greatest detail and doesn't let me make my own assumptions.

I couldn't watch it past the first ep at all - despite my love of Chenoweth, I really don't like any of the other actors so that kinda blew it out as well.

[caz963.livejournal.com]

Yeah, although it's lovely, visually, it's too... "nice". And where on earth can the so-called romance go? I mean, overly-drawn-out UST can be a pain in the arse, but there are possibilities at least. This? Not so much.

[toshfraggle.livejournal.com]

I like it, but I don't love it. It's not a show I'm going to get involved in fandom with, for example. But I'll watch it, like I do a few other shows, because they are new and currently *on* and the stuff I really like ended years ago.

[caz963.livejournal.com]

Yes, I feel the same, really. And it's a shame, because I have friends that enjoy it a lot, and it came highly recommended. But there's nothing else on, so I'll stick with it for a while.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

I like PD, but I don't LOVE it. And I think the main reason I keep watching is Emerson, who I adore. But it does grow on you. I liked it more by the end of the season than I did at the beginning.

[kiss-me-cassie.livejournal.com]

Oh, Emerson Cod! How could you not love him? (I think he wins my favorite too, with Olive and Digby coming next. Ned and Chuck? Eh. heeeee!)

[caz963.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'll keep watching, mostly because there's nothing else on at that time on a Saturday night I want to watch, but given that quite a few friends have recommended the show, I was expecting it to have grabbed me by now.

[kiss-me-cassie.livejournal.com]

I'm starting to find the narration too intrusive.

That's one of the things I like (besdies the whole fairytale feel) but I know a lot of people who hate it. Ah well. Not everyone likes the same things. And you gave it a try, so that's all well and good.

Plus, fluffy Sunday fare. Like I actually watch some of my shows for CONTENT? Pshaw! sometimes you just need fluffy filler that you don't care about.

[caz963.livejournal.com]

Hee. I know what you mean about the fluffy filler, but at the moment it seems to be too much "fluff" and not enough "filler"!!

There are aspects of it I do like - it's quirky, the fairytale thing you mention, and I recognise that not everything on telly is meant to be intellectually challenging (and let's face it, 99% of the stuff on the box isn't that!). But quite a few friends have recommended this to me and I was expecting to have liked it more, I guess. But I'll stick with it for the remaining episodes and hope it grows on me!

[cantbesilent.livejournal.com]

Its not for everyone. I *love* it, but its totally not for everyone. It grabbed me right away, so if it hasn't done anything for you yet, it might not ever.

That said, things don't stay as sweet and happy the entire 8 episodes and it takes a dive towards the dark right at the end. Which is good because that "where do we go" question is a nagging one, and I'm excited about the direction for next season.

[caz963.livejournal.com]

I think it's partly that I'm disappointed - a lot of my friends have recommended it and I really wanted to like it! I don't hate it, and I like quirky things but it's just not "essential viewing".

[cantbesilent.livejournal.com]

Its always bad when things are overhyped, so I totes understand. I've gone to see so many movies and come out going "eh" cause it was over-recommended. PD is def. one of those things that is *amazing* to some people but not-so-great to others.

[stabbim.livejournal.com]

Although, isn't that the point? Shouldn't it have grabbed me by now?

The problem for me is that it thinks it's cleverer than it is, and that I'm starting to find the narration too intrusive.

I feel the same way. It's not just you.

[caz963.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank God! I always think my expectations are probably too high (TWW has ruined me for "ordinary" telly!)

[kathyh]

The problem for me is that it thinks it's cleverer than it is, and that I'm starting to find the narration too intrusive.

I know what you mean. I was hoping to enjoy it but really wasn't grabbed by it and found it too stylised for my taste. It went down like a lead balloon with my husband so we've given up on it I'm afraid. I was rather disappointed as I usually like quirky dramas.

[caz963.livejournal.com]

I don't mind stylised or quirky at all - in fact I quite like them usually, but this one just hasn't grabbed me like I thought it was going to do. Oh well, the search for something decent to watch continues...

[leli-5.livejournal.com]

I like it fine but I agree with you as far as it being too 'nice' and as far as wondering how long the in-love-but-no-touching thing can go on before I just get annoyed with it. I watched the first episode because of Cheno, but I actually kept watching because Ninety-Nine started to like it.

Tuesdays were usually game night for all three boys, so I'd be home with her while her parents watched her brothers and it was a little bonding thing. She likes the one-on-one time, I think, and having something to talk to me about that is just 'hers'. So, I kept watching even though I don't love it. I mean, it's okay but I'm not crazy for it.

Then again, as you've said, there's pretty well nothing else on tv that I'm interested in watching, so...

[caz963.livejournal.com]

wondering how long the in-love-but-no-touching thing can go on before I just get annoyed with it.

Quite.

I mean, long, drawn out (over 7 years!) UST was bloody frustrating, but at least there was the likelihood of something happening! I do like "the look" of PD but I think I'm really just trying to find a reason to keep watching. Meh.