I am – Hercules!!

Bryan Fuller + Paul Reubens = Giddy Anticipation.

The sinister Canadian “L-Prime” brings good news:

What’s it called?
“Smell of Success”

Who’s responsible?
Script by Scott Nimerfro, shot by Lawrence Trilling.

What does TV Guide say?
“When the assistant to scent expert Napoleon LeNez is killed in a scratch-and-sniff-book explosion, Ned, Chuck and Emerson detect the aroma of foul play. Oscar Vibenius: Paul Reubens.”

Anything left out?
Aunts Lily and Vivian run parallel again to the main story, and very enjoyably so.

A scratch-and-sniff murder? How does Paul Reubens fit in?
Turns out a pre-release copy of an olfactory self-help book was rigged to explode, and Reubens was the rival aromatologist to the author, so he’s naturally suspected of trying to bring down his rival.

Does Reubens bring the zany crazy?
He is kind of astoundingly low key. Again, this show really knows how to twist expectations and fly against type, so Reubens is easily the least conspicuous character on display, but he is set up as an important piece for the future by the end.

How about this week’s mystery?
One of the more engaging in a while, possibly the best so far. Supporting/one-off characters are all engaging, from the author, to Paul Reubens, down to the pop-up book shop owner, all feel whole and entertaining, unlike many of the incidental mystery characters so far.

Is Olive still helping solve the mystery?
Not so much this week, she’s back to her deliveries to the aunts, and gets caught up in a bit of Darling Mermaid Darlings fever.

What’s good?
“I don’t do loose, I prefer tightly wound.”; “Quasimodo would have been much safer in his belltower, where he was safe and he had his bell.”; “Somebody’s mad at somebody.”; “Far as you know, yes.”; “Although I’m sure she would have preferred a version where she lived.”; “And a bargain too.”; Kristin Chenoweth in the flipper; “I must admit I am curious.”; “Had intimate relations on a bearskin rug.”; The Pop-Up Book of Sport Related Death, The New Patriot’s Pop-Up Book, and basically the entire sojourn to the pop-up store; The Reagan administration’s role in things; “Is that vodka? “Water.” “As in Russian for vodka?”; “She says it’s a waste of a perfectly good tumbler.”; “There’s no such things as monsters.” “What about CHUD?”; “If I ever say that it means I’m having a panic attack.”; “Just wanted to try it on before I gave it back … while you’re here would you mind taking my picture?”; Olive in the costume in general; “Something something something something acceptance.” “Those are the stages.”; “Look, there’s the killer.”; “Don’t make me cut a bitch.”; “I already preordered my copy.”; the t-shirt on young Chuck in the slide; “But I didn’t mean to.”; “…Hi Emerson!” “Hey Olive.”; “I’m canceling my preorder.”; a wonderful and touching musical closing featuring the traditional (and eventual Cat Stevens hit) “Morning Has Broken”, right before we’re presented with a hint to how Paul Reubens will be recurring and the first real potential threat to Chuck’s secret.

Not so good?
Nearly nothing. This was easily the best episode since the pie-lette, bar none.

Rating for 1.7 (out of five)
***** -- the best non-pilot hour this show has presented us with thus far. Funny, an engaging mystery with some actual colourful characters, advancement/creation of some overarching plots, delightful interplay between our leads, and some genuinely touching codas. Very nice.

8 p.m. Wednesday. ABC.

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