TV Detail: Pushing Daisies review. Season 2 Premiere—"Bzzzzzzzzz!"

As last night's season premiere proved, there is nothing else on television that can match the dreamlike whimsy of Pushing Daisies—a comforting, sugary confection as light and sweet as cotton candy. The chemistry between the show's four leads—the endearingly boyish Lee Pace as Ned, the piemaker; the sunny Anna Friel as Ned's childhood sweetheart Charlotte, a.k.a. "Chuck"; the deadpan Chi McBride as the private eye Emerson Cod; and Kristin Chenoweth, who plays Ned's co-worker and secret admirer Olive Snook with perky verve—is so charming it's combustible. There is undeniable magic about a show built on the premise of bringing people back to life (if only for a minute, or, in Chuck's case, a lifetime).

Alas, in terms of storytelling the premiere didn't provide much to, pardon the pun, buzz about. The episode introduced a number of story lines, and some were more compelling than others.

"Bzzzzzzzzz!" began as all episodes of the show do: flashing back to childhood Ned and Chuck. Lily (Swoosie Kurtz) introduces Chuck to the wide world of beekeeping, setting the scene for the episode's insect-infested murder mystery. The makeshift gang of detectives had to solve the murder of young Kentucky Fitz (Autumn Reeser), a spokeswoman for the Burt's Bees knockoff Betty's Bees. Fitz was stung to death by a slathering of bees, leaving her body almost completely swollen with bites (in one of the series' most impressive—and disgusting—makeup jobs). Chuck goes undercover at Betty's Bees, where she miraculously only meets two people—company president Woolsey Nicholls (French Stewart) and Betty (Missi Pyle), former president turned "mascot." True to Pushing Daisies form, by only introducing two suspects there is little doubt as to who the actual culprit is.

But the murder mysteries are merely the appetizers. The main course (and desert) of the show is the interplay between its characters. And that's where this episode stumbles a bit. While it's refreshing to see Chuck and Ned break free from last season's tension over Ned's accidental killing of Chuck's father (bringing his mother back to life had unintended deadly consequences), the decision to shackle Olive to a nunnery is perplexing.

Olive's safe-keeping of too many secrets, including the knowledge that Lily is Chuck's mother, leads to an expected meltdown. Lily then essentially kidnaps poor Olive and brings her to the place she retreated to while pregnant with Chuck. There, Lily later reveals another (mildly interesting) nugget of information: she had an affair with Charlotte's father while he was engaged to her sister Vivian (Ellen Greene). It's unfortunate Olive had to be at the brunt of this information, almost as if the show doesn't quite know what to do with her, so they sideline her until something emerges. Or at least that's what it seems like.

Regardless, the true joy of Pushing Daisies lies in its infinite details: the honeycomb-shaped office; the mysterious honey-soaked house, with hives and nests hanging from the ceiling like stalactites; Lily's green eye patch at the nunnery; the quiet longing and knowing glances shared between Ned and Chuck, dancing their never-ending "ballet of avoidance"; the characteristically strong dialogue, which sparkles and crackles as ever.

Top three quotes from the episode:
1. Vivian talking about Charlotte's favorite pillow: "I'm sure it's teaming with fungus and microscopic bugs that feed on human skin, but she was fond of it."
2. Woolsey talking about why he replaced Betty with Kentucky: "She's 38, which rounds up to 40, which rounds up to 50, which rounds up to old."
3. Vivian's sublime ode to Lily's infatuation with liquor: "Olive...you have to calm down. You want a drink? Lily, hand me your purse!"

After a number of close calls, it seems high time Lily and Vivian become wise to the fact their beloved Charlotte is still among the living. Do you agree? And do you concur Olive's new convent lifestyle is nothing to sing home about (despite the hilarious ode to The Sound of Music?) And what did you think about the revelation at the end about Ned's father? Feel free to post your comments.