The Twin Peaks Tv-Series Thread.

[Oblivion138]

While it didn't last long, Twin Peaks did change the primetime landscape. Without its quirkiness becoming a cult phenomenon, there's no way we ever would have gotten The X-Files (a show that, unlike Peaks, went on a bit too long).

I love the series, warts and all, but that second season lull (after Lynch and Frost went off to do other things, and before Lynch returned for the big send-off) can be a tough slog at times. In some ways, during that period, Twin Peaks went from satirizing soap operas to being one. Particularly in that whole dead-end subplot with James and Evelyn. But even as we descend into that whole stewpot of silliness, there is still some great material in there.

And though it's incredibly divisive, I'm also in the camp that loves FWWM. It's a completely different beast, but ultimately, it has to be. The film is - and must be - tragic. It's not without its quirks and comedic moments, but overall, it falls in line with the much darker episodes of the series. And obviously, is much more explicit...which again, is not merely a function of being an R-rated film rather than a TV series, nor a desperate attempt to be exploitative, or appeal to prurient interest. There were a great many things that were discussed and alluded to in the series regarding Laura's death and her behavior prior to the murder. And it was the kind of stuff that you could talk about, but never show, on network TV. For the film to address her final days, these things had to be shown. It is a depressing, even heartbreaking film...but I do feel it belongs to the Twin Peaks universe, 100%. And it certainly delves deeper into

[Show spoiler]the world of the Lodge Spirits...particularly the relationship between MIKE, BOB, and the Man From Another Place.

Obviously, though, FWWM should only be viewed after one has viewed the series. Otherwise, there's really no mystery to the murder of Laura Palmer, and one cannot experience the series as it original played to an audience going in cold. One should not experience the murder of Laura Palmer until one has already experienced the series as a whole. Even if you view it after the reveal of Laura Palmer's killer, there are still things in FWWM that won't make sense.

[Show spoiler]Like when Annie appears to Laura, and tells her that the good Dale is in the Lodge, and can't leave. Annie only appears toward the end of the second season, and Dale only enters the Lodge in the finale.

What brings me back time and again, even beyond the main draws of the series in its heyday - the joy of watching the oddball characters interact in charmingly quirky ways...the mystery of Laura Palmer - is how much it makes me think. And theorize. Like the best of Lynch's film work, Twin Peaks invites the viewer to interpret...not merely to watch, but to participate on an intellectual level. And when it comes to topics like

[Show spoiler]the Black Lodge, or how much is spiritual and how much is psychological,

there is truly no end to the theories and interpretations one can extrapolate. Which leads to many, many wonderful, lengthy, spoiler-filled discussions. haha

I've tried to stay fairly spoiler-free here. But if anyone wants to engage in deeper, more spoileriffic conversation, I'm always game. I could talk about this series endlessly.