Review: 'Pushing Daisies' - Circus Circus

"Circus Circus" walks the same path between bizarre comedy on the verge of being outlandish and tongue-crampingly fast dialogue that will leave you dizzy if you fail to follow for just a single moment as all other episodes, only the second season is grabbing hold of all the story elements from the first year and building more character-centric stories.

Guest role casting again proves to be a hit for "Pushing Daisies," with so much hanging on the peculiar eccentricities of some of the characters. Lee Arenberg as the ring leader is one of the key characters of the episode, but it is the core crowd of the show that makes the episode such a joy.

Forget for a moment the dead clowns, the Warner Bros. Studios parking lot wonderfully converted to a circus and the baking of hallucinogenic pies, and instead the real focus of the episode is Ned's (Lee Pace) tangled romance with Chuck (Anna Friel) now that she has moved out. Olive's (Kristen Chenoweth) new life in the monastery only furthers the long-running stories that will undoubtedly lead to Chuck learning her real parentage and one astonishing reunion.

What Worked

As always, the ballet of avoidance remains the shows more interesting feature. Keeping the two star-crossed lovers separated creates a romantic influence more poignant than simple dialogue alone. And given "Pushing Daisies'" knack for razor sharp wit and dialogue, makes for a more entertaining setup.

There is something so captivating about Vivian's situation, and Ellen Greene plays the role perfectly. The scene in which she comes face-to-face with Chuck (well, almost) is incredibly moving in a very "Pushing Daisies" way, and prompts not only a deep pang of sadness for Vivian but also makes the desire for the lonely Aunt to discover her niece’s second chance all the more powerful.

And clowns from a car ... let’s see "CSi" try that one.

What Didn't Work

Unfortunately the truth of Emerson's (Chi McBride) family carries less impact than it should given the number of hints laid last season, and what is obviously a major part of the character is relegated to a fleeting single line explanation.

Also, the desire to see Aunts Vivian and Lily learn the truth of Chuck is becoming stronger and stronger, and as a result the situation may require a fresh twist in the near future. Then again, prolonging the current dynamic will only make the final reunion so much more entertaining and awe-inspiring.

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