Recapping Pushing Daisies is more than bittersweet. I’m sure you’ve heard that the show has been cancelled, and my mourning period is not yet over. This ridiculous action by ABC has me about to stop watching the network altogether. As our fabulous TV Editor said in an article a few days ago, “Is it lame for me to hope that maybe ABC will touch Pushing Daisies and bring it back to life? Then maybe Private Practice could die in its place.” Amen.
Well, it’s not over yet, so let’s get on with this. The Pie Maker is stress-baking, which I can totally identify with, and when both Olive and Chuck ask him about it, he admits that he is worried about Dwight Dixon. Dwight was (I’m sure you’ll remember) an associate of both Ned’s dad and Chuck’s dad from some obscure tour of duty in some obscure desert. He’s back to retrieve a pocketwatch from each of the dads, and in the meantime he is wooing Chuck’s aunt Vivian.
The Pie Gang conspires to get some dirt on Mr. Dixon, and Olive offers her services as pie delivery girl/snoop. When she arrives at the Aunt’s house Dwight and Vivian are about to head out. Lily has just learned of the relationship, and she is about to poke her other eye out with a fork. Ouch!
Over at Emerson Cod’s office, a loud-talking lawyer is asking the PI to investigate the death of his lover and former client – Gustav. Gustav was an extremely wealthy inventor of gadgets who had married a trophy wife, but retained the lawyer for both legal and lovin’ services. The lawyer wants justice, and to keep the cash out of the hands of the trophy wife.
When the Pie Gang wakes the dead Gustav, he is barely holding up the chandelier that killed him. He gets mouthy and Emerson threatens to kill him again. Gustav tells them that he has a second will, and they need to find it. He tells Chuck he likes her moxy when she plays along with his cantankerous attitude. This old dude reminds me a great deal of my dead great-grandpa – Love ya Pap!
When the Pie Gang head over to the mansion to check out the trophy room, Chuck and Emerson keep the trophy wife busy (is that Jan Brady from the Brady Bunch movie?) whilst Ned snoops. The trophy room is full of dead animals, and the largest is a Polar Bear. Ned turns it clockwise as instructed by Gustav, but all he finds is an empty safe with the words “Orbis Pro Vox” drawn in the back.
Ned lives in a closet, much like me, because he is unaware that there is a robber running around town taking money from the rich and giving a portion of it to a charity. Hmmm…the plot thickens…
A big charity bell ringing group whose motto, Ring For Right just happens to be the English translation of that Latin phrase previously mentioned, is the next stop for the Pie Gang. Their super friendly leader creeps me out, and one of the telemarketers is a little bit nasty. I believe, though I don’t want to make false claims, that the telemarketer is Long Duck Dong from that fabulous film of the 80s Sixteen Candles! The gang pretty much isn’t getting anywhere so they head back to the Pie Hole to sit in their “thinking booth” and sort out the mystery.
As Dwight and Vivian are on their date, Viv manages to melt the heart of the malevolent Mr. Dwight Dixon. But, the quick peek into his genuine side vanishes quickly when Viv shows him Chuck’s obituary. He gets a Grinch-ish look on his face and you can tell this isn’t going to turn out well for anyone.
The Pie Gang invites the Loving Lawyer to their booth and they tell him they are hot on the trail. The lawyer is so angry about the death that he offers to double their fee if they find the second will.
In an effort to catch the Bell Ringing Bandit, they set up Olive as a super rich crazy lady who lives at the address actually occupied by Lily & Vivian. She does a super fabulous job of being the bait, and they all head over to the Aunt’s place. Chuck hides in the basement looking through her father’s old things, and eavesdropping via the old can that she set up back in the day.
As expected, Lily is not happy about the situation, and she’s still stuck on the anger over Vivian’s relationship. Her temper is really set off when she realizes that the plan is going down this very night, and she pretty much goes apey. Back in the basement, Chuck is not finding any dirt on Dwight. An ominous shadow appears at the door, and though I fear it’s Dwight, it is not.
The creepy leader of the Bell Ringing Group is the shadow, and he runs right into Chuck. He explains that he did rob Gustav, but explains it was a setup. Chuck believes him, and they all end up back at the Pie Hole. In a nod to Star Wars Chuck, Ned and Emerson run through an “anger leads to hate” conversation, but it ends in hate leads to Stress-Baking. Such clever writing, some other network BETTER pick this show up!!! Later on a stakeout, they find Gustav’s widow and the butler (bellman) out on the town.
Dwight comes busting in the Pie Hole after he broke into Chuck’s apartment, and he delivers the message that he knows who Chuck really is. Olive binges on several pies, and Dwight shows up at the Aunt’s place. He delivers another message, that Lily needs to back off, or he will reveal the news of her real relationship with Chuck. She pulls a shotgun out, and he leaves. She later realizes that he exhumed Chuck, and he worry for her sister increases.
The Pie Gang confronts the widow and her lover, but they hit another dead end when they realize that the Bell Ringing guy lied to Chuck. The Bell guy threatens them, and turns over the will in an effort to maintain his Robin-Hooding ways. Not happening. They bust him, and we get the real story.
Gustav’s death was semi-accidental, because he decided at the last minute to recant his promise to the Bell Ringers and they wrestled over his Elephant Gun. With the will in hand, the Lawyer then learned that he was the sole heir of the whole estate.
Lily breaks into Dwight’s place and takes the watch. Ned and Chuck dig up Chuck’s dad to find out about Dwight’s motives. They have a tender moment, and they open the casket. Tune in next week to find out what they learn!
