Lost in Translation: Twin Peaks

Right off the bat, I don't know if this is for the Film or the Show.  They don't list the 'Fire Walk With Me' bit, but that would be the *least* strange thing here if they omitted it.

In any event, it's for Twin Peaks and it's from Ghana.

Yeah, this is going to be...something else.

I've seen all of the Episodes of the Show.  I've seen the Movie.  I've seen the Revival Series.

This is still insane!

Where do you begin with this one?!?

I mean...guy riding a Horse while holding a machine gun!  The Log is now a demon face!  Those twins!

Here's the original...

I mostly just cleaned it up.  I mean, why mess with this insane mess more than you have to?

Top 10 TV Moments of my 2017

Everyone loves Top 10 Lists about Television.  I haven't done one yet.

I also don't watch a lot of the stuff that usually ends up on these- like The Leftovers or Master of None.  As such, mine is going to be a bit different and (hopefully) a little a controversial.

Let's see what I've got...

Runner Up: All of the times that Shows stopped their Plot cold for Flashback/Side-Character Episodes (e.c. Master of None, Stranger Things, American Gods and The Handmaid's Tale).  Is that a new trend?

10. Taking Out Daddy (Iron Fist): I'm sure that this Show is on nobody's Top 10 List but mine.  Oh well.  In this big moment, the Businessman Son has been in the control of his not-really-dead Dad for around a Decade.  He finally snaps after one too many comment and stabs him to death!

Being a Comic Book Show with Magic on it, the killing doesn't take.  Even so, damn!

9. The Tick isn't a fan of ultra-violence (The Tick): The new version of the Show definitely delivers. Tick and Arthur are fighting some henchman alongside another Superhero- who happens to be in the Punisher mold. He keeps trying to kill the bad guys, leading to our Hero hilariously stopping him on multiple occasions. Fun stuff.

8. Watching the Film Reel (The Man in the High Castle): While I never got too far into this Show, one moment still stood out to me.  When our Heroine first watches the Reel showing how America won in WWII (changed from being a Book from, well, the Book), she breaks down crying.

Hell, if I saw a Film Reel now showing how Hillary actually won, I might too.  Trump Joke Quota reached.

7. All of Jessica Jones (The Defenders): This one may be a bit of a cheat, but hear me out. Every moment that I really, really liked from this Netflix Show tended to involve her. I liked her 'Am I the only one that doesn't know Karate?' line. I liked her entering a Scene by shoving an SUV through a wall. I liked everything about her. Bring on Season 2 already!

6. Rick vs The President (Rick & Morty): There were a lot of great moments this Season.  I was torn between this and the Citadel Episode as a whole.  For me though, this fight- starting out with one-upmanship and ending in an actual brawl- is a great micro chasm for all of the ingenuity behind the Show.  From Rick's unexplained death touch to the hidden twins to invisible commandos, it was all fun.

5. The Bomb Episode (Twin Peaks): A bit of cop-out, perhaps.  There are lots of micro-moments sprinkled throughout the Season that I loved.  It just wasn't generally consistent enough for me to pick one out.  So let's go with the 40-minute acid trip that just never let up.

4. Eleven vs The Portal (Stranger Things): I suppose I should remember to review this Season, huh?  While people are mostly in love with it (save for the Eleven Episode), I want to highlight the bit that stood out to me.  They used the Demodogs to make the threat more minor, but vast.  So, in contrast, seeing the giant creature behind the Portal was awe-inspiring.  When will that show up, if ever?

3. The Interrogation Room (American Gods): This Season was mostly style over substance, but what a show it was!  I almost went with Gillian Anderson appearing as 'Lucy' or 'Bowie,' but thought that this bit encapsulated the Show better.  Media makes big, grand promises- complete with visual aids-, while Mr. Nobody shows up to be creepy as hell.  More Crispin Glover in Season 2, am I right?

2. The First Feast (Channel Zero- The No-End House): Due to the slow burn nature of this Show, it is less about moments.  In spite of that, the first time that you see how The Father 'eats,' it is quite freaky and memorable.  Who thinks of something like that?

1. Trapped in the Car (The Handmaid's Tale): Could it be anything else from this Season?  In spite of my issue with her being a Scientologist, I really loved Elisabeth Moss in this Show.  She had so many great moments of quiet strength and sadness.  To me, however, the biggest moment is when her Mistress shows her the Daughter she hasn't seen in so long (time is a bit vague here), but won't let her exit the car.  It is powerful and heart-wrenching, even to someone who will never be a Mother.  Damn!

So that was my List.  I'm sure that I didn't hit upon everyone's favorite moments, but...who cares?

The Pros and Cons of 'Twin Peaks': Season 3

Way back in October, I finished with the Series.  Since then, silence (mostly).

I was planning to wait a month or so before writing my final piece on the Show, but time and the Holidays get ahead of me.

Since so much crazy happened and I'm not in love with all of it, I'm going to break it down in Sections.

Might as well try and new set-up for a Show this weird.

Pro: It is definitely a David Lynch Show- I really liked Season 1 of Peaks.  I still quite liked Season 2 of it as well.  That is definitely the most divisive of the first 2 Seasons for a number of reasons.

Did Lynch give up on the Show for a bit after the killer's reveal?  Maybe.  Did the Show suffer for it?  Not that much, really.  The Show turned from being solely about that mystery to being about the Town and all of its mysteries.  It was longer and less-focused- sure.

With Season 3, there is no disconnect.  This is Lynch through and through.

Con: It is an unfiltered David Lynch Show- There is a certain level of crazy that works.  There is a certain level of crazy that doesn't.

The Show tended to venture a bit too far at times throughout the run.  It could usually pull back, but weird moments were littered throughout the Show with much explanation.

For example- a shot rings out in the night.  The Deputy discovers that a kid accidentally fired a gun in a Van.  While trying to sort that out, a woman starts yelling at him about the traffic delay (since all of them stopped).  All of a sudden, a kid in her van starts screaming like he's possessed...and they cut away to something else.

Unless I missed it, this had no resolution.  There are many other things like that- including Mrs. Palmer killing a guy after revealing a spatial void behind her face.

There was nobody there to make sure that these all got elaborated on properly is my point.

Pro: Many good uses of returning Cast Members- As a Sequel show, this one often delivered.  It didn't just give you new people to deal with.  In addition to them, many notable people returned to add something to the Plot- be it big or minor.

If nothing else, it gave us the set-up for the weirdest one-off Character in the Show- Michael Cera.

Con: Many missing Cast Members or underused ones- I can't blame Lynch for the fact that human beings die.  That should be obvious.  That said...

Where were people like Piper Laurie, Ian Buchanan, Joan Chen, Lara Flynn Boyle, Kenneth Welsh (just in The Void), Mary Jo Deschanel and others?  Did they turn it down like Michael J. Andersen (who did play the Character on Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated!)?

Considering that some of the Actors were long dead- like Frank Silva- and still got a part, this stands out to me.

I'll deal with the Big Ed thing later...

Pro: Unique Vision- This might be similar to the first Pro, but I want to mix the positives and negatives.  This Season was lauded for its look and vision.  That Bomb Episode makes many Best TV Episodes of the Year Lists, after all.

Con: Pay off- So permit me to ramble for a bit...

What happened with Big Ed and Norma?  What exactly is wrong with Deputy Truman?  Did that guy kill himself in the Woods?  Did Becky get over it all?  What was up with the screaming kid in the car?  What is the story with Audrey?!?

Oh and what in the hell am I supposed to get about the Finale?

Pro: Kyle McLachlan shines- The crux of the Show was seemingly-built around him.  Without question, the man delivered.

As BOB Cooper, he was intense and interesting.  As Doug-E Cooper, he was committed to the Character.  As Dale (brief as it was), he was also quite good.

That said...

Con: Too much Doug-E- We get it, Lynch.  You trolled us.  Are you happy now?

No, I'm still not over it.

Pro: The Bomb Episode- While I don't love it as much as every Critic online seems to, I can't deny how visually-impressive and unique it is.  The Bomb, the bug and the bit at the Radio Station are all interesting to see.

Good luck decoding all of it, of course.

Con: The giant, pointless Retcon- This is a more personal one for me, especially since I haven't seen anyone else talk about it.

Season 2's Arc for Nadine had her lose memory after a suicide attempt and think that she was in High School.  At that point, she romanced a teen and had super-strength (for no clear reason).  During that time, Ed tried to get with Norma, who'd he'd long for going on a decade or so.

Before the Season (and Series, for 25 years) ends, Nadine gets her memory back and says that she's okay with Ed and Norma being together- catching them in the act and smiling.

In The Return, she abruptly announces in a later Episode to Ed that she's okay with him and Norma being together.  With her consent, he goes to her and they finally hook up.

Seriously?!?  Did you actually watch the Show, Mr. Lynch?  What was the point of that?!?

Pro/Con: It leaves you wanting more- For this final one, why not a combination?

On one hand, the Show answers many questions and delivers on the set-up done in 1991.  While doing so, it also sets up new things for you to wonder about.

On the other hand, will there even be a pay-off?  Was Lynch so sure that he'd get yet another Season/Series?  Is there a deal we don't know about?

More importantly, does he want there to be a final pay-off?  Is he content with just leaving the mystery there?

I guess, like many of you, I'm stuck waiting and watching.

Twin Peaks- you were weird as hell this year, but I mostly-loved you.  You just made it so hard to give you a chance sometimes.

Twin Piqued: Part 18 aka The End

Is this truly the end?  Am I ready?  Are you?

Important Moments

- BOB Cooper is destroyed and a new Dougie is made.
- Dale and Diane travel via electricity (or something) to Texas and hook up.  She disappears.

- Finding a note for 'Richard' left in her place, he tracks down Sarah- after beating up some cowboys.
- Dale finds Laura's double (her 2nd, actually) and takes her to Twin Peaks.
- In Town, nobody they know is around and 'Laura's' House is owned by another.  He asks what year it is and 'Laura' screams.  See you in 25 years?

Theme(s)

I guess the big one is Identity...
- BOB loses his identity, while Dougie 'regains' his.
- Dale seems to take the place of someone named 'Richard.'
- He finds 'Laura Palmer.'

Weird Moment(s)

The seeming ability to travel via Electricity and making a new Dougie is weird...for any other Show.

The Ending, meanwhile, is just kind of obtuse.  So the runner-up has to be the Cowboy Scene...

While the Winner has to be retread of the Black Lodge stuff.  Still strange as hell.

An odd Ending...but I guess I should have expected that.  To be honest, I was expecting an all Twin Peaks Side-Character wrap-up with like 4 seconds of Dale.  Reunite the broken families, perhaps?  Solve what exactly happened to Audrey?  How about a clear answer on whether or not that guy shot himself in the Woods?  Instead, it is just all Cooper trying to wrap other stuff up...to no avail.  If this is really the End, it sure is a Lynch-style anti-climax.  The first Season famously ended on about 5 Cliffhangers to guarantee a return.  The 2nd Season did a similar thing, only to no avail.  This one is not really the same.  Is Lynch just so confident that he'll get more Episodes?  Does he even care?  Let's not even get into what will happen if the Show does return with even less Actors from the original Season.  I guess Miguel Ferrer isn't getting a Story Arc for his Character.  Oh well.  I don't want to sound solely negative as the Episode did have some really good moments in it.  It is just hard not to feel a bit letdown when it just kind of peters to an awkward stop like this.  Again- if this had all just been Twin Peaks Side-Character stuff, I'd have been oddly-happy.  The stuff with Cooper trying to save Laura (and maybe succeeding?) was a fine Ending for him.  Oh well.  I'll save the rest of my thoughts for another Post.  I'll leave you with a reenactment of me trying to explain any of this to someone who has never seen the Show before...

Next time, final thoughts on the Season- good and bad.  I'll miss you, Woodsmen.  See you then...

Twin Piqued: Part 17

As the end draws near, how much crazier can this get?!?  Let's see...

Important Moments

- Both Coopers raise to Twin Peaks as Lynch exposits.  BOB is first...
- BOB is at the Station, which freaks out the faceless lady.  Naturally, his method of transporation involves this...

- BOB Cooper is stopped by a surprising source and Dougie/Dale (Dole?) arrives in record time.  Then all hell breaks loose.

Why try to explain when I can just show this...

- Everyone is reunited for some *almost* explanation (the best you'll get here), before Cooper has to leave for a trip.
- He is sent...to Fire Walk With Me- I mean, the Past.  Oh and David Bowie is still a Teapot.
- Cooper tries to change History.  Can he?

 Theme(s)

The obvious Theme is Revelation.
- All is revealed about BOB Cooper.
- We learn why Freddy and his Green Glove are so important.
- The face of the faceless woman is revealed.
- Laura's connection to Dale is somewhat revealed more clearly.

Weird Moment(s)

So...just about all of this then.

Runner-up to Lynch talking about his dick and getting this reaction.

The Winner: the whole Dale/BOB situation, plus what happens after it.  So, all of this then.

Wow.  This one was finally worth the wait!  The insanity on display here is just...something to behold.  2 Coopers!  The Woodsmen!  The floating head of BOB!  A punch to Hell!  A trip to meet Phillip 'Teapot' Jeffries!  A trip to the Past!  This whole Episode was weird as hell.  This was what all of this was building up to.  I still don't think that this was worth all of the random non-sequiturs that happened over the last 16 Episodes.  This could have been done in much less time, but such is David Lynch.  With one more Episode to go, will all of this be wrapped up?  Oh and what is up with Audrey?  Can you sum it all up for me, Bobby Briggs?

Next time, it all comes to an end.  What the hell else can happen on this Show?  See you then...

Twin Piqued: Part 16

After Irma took my power and delayed my viewing, I'm back on track!  Three to go!

Important Moments

- BOB Cooper takes Richard Horne to a rock, which does something magic and disintegrates him.  Damn you, Tesseract!  He's apparently his son too...but good luck figuring that one out with the information available thus far.

- Dougie (or Doug-E) is in a Coma.  Mitchum Brothers hijinks ensue.

- After nearly 8 Episodes of build-up, 1/4 of the Hateful Eight wait around Dougie's House...and get shot by a crazy Lawyer all of a sudden.  Alright...

- We learn the truth about Diane.  More on that later.

- Cooper is finally awake...and Cooper.  He says good-bye to everyone and goes to find BOB Cooper.

- Audrey FINALLY leaves her house, watches Eddie Vedder and then dances, before...dammit.

Theme(s)

As far as Themes go, this one works...Death and Revival.

- Those killers seemingly die.

- Dougie is finally 'dead'

- Richard Horne seems to be dead(ish).

- Diane is...whatever that was.

- Dale Cooper is finally back!

- Oh and whatever is going on with Audrey.

Weird Moment(s)

Runner-up is the casual way that everyone takes the transition from Dougie to Dale.  It's all 'oh, Electricity does that.

The winner is, of course, the bit with Diane.  Here's Wikipedia's summary of this...

"Having received a text from the doppelgänger, Diane tells the task force that, years ago, Cooper raped her and took her to an old gas station. Exclaiming "I'm in the sheriff's station... I'm not me", she pulls a gun but is shot by Albert and Tammy. Diane is drawn to the Black Lodge and dissolves into a seed. Tammy realizes that the "Diane" they had been associating with is actuality a tulpa"

About freaking time!  Yes, I'm going to be that guy.  Dougie (or Doug-E) Cooper was an interesting idea.  Should he have lasted for 15 Episodes out of 18 though?  No.  Nobody makes Lynch do what they want when it comes to this Series (unless it is that one time with the Network in 1990)- fine.  I just wish that someone would have reigned this one in and maybe focused more on him solving the mysteries of the area.  For instance, what about those people torn to shreds in New York?  How about the people who keep showing up with the Major's DNA?  How about the Woodsmen?  The guy with the rubber glove that gives him super-strength?  Diane's whole deal?  Hell, just have him constantly trying to figure out what BOB Cooper is doing and play up the idea that he's a Doppelganger.  Why couldn't we get that Show?  Don't get me wrong- I do enjoy this quite a bit.  I like the quirky stuff in Season 2 more than most seem to.  That one was just balanced out with the actual Plot and fun stuff like Cooper's crazy rival.  Hey look- my idea for having Dale trying to stop/catch BOB!  On the plus side, things seem to be moving...  

Next time, I feel like I'm in for a trick here.  Will the Plot finally move towards the big climax?  See you then...

Twin Piqued: Part 15

I won't let the Weather keep me from visiting my favorite crazy-ass Town...

Important Moments

- Out of the blue, Nadine gives Big Ed permission to hook up with Norma.  They agree to get married...which they already did TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO (and 16 Episodes ago).  What's up, Mr. Lynch?
- BOB Cooper goes to the Gas Station and talks to a giant Teapot, which is now the representation of David Bowie's Character.  Only on this Show, folks.

- BOB takes Richard Horne with him to do something.
- Drug Addict Asshole Boyfriend is freaking out with Gersten Hayward.  After a Warren Frost Cameo, he fires a shot.
- Audrey continues to be stuck at home.  This is going to be The Cabinet of Caligari isn't it?
- 1/4 of The Hateful Eight kills a random Supporting Character No Country-style.  Alright.

- The guy with the super-strength glove helps James in a Bar Fight.
- Log Lady gives one last message and dies.  Aww.
- After seeing a fateful bit of Sunset Boulevard, Dougie Cooper is inspired to...stab a light switch.

Theme(s)

With this hodge-podge of Plot, I'm going to have to be pretty vague here.  How about...The End.

- One Character meets his bloody end.
- Did we see the end of Dougie Cooper?
- Did we 'hear' the end of another Character?
- A lady freaks out at 'the end' (shut up- you write this at 1 am!)

Weird Moment(s)

This has slightly-less crazy than last time.  With a random, silly death, a pair of super punches and sudden Big Ed Plot, this one had some still!

I still have to go with the bit with BOB Cooper meeting Tea Pot Bowie, awkward voice dubbing guy (a shame that Bowie couldn't record some lines for this!) and the Bray Wyatt-style Editing.

Run.

Another crazy Episode where a lot happens and nothing happens.  Am I the only one that remembers how Nadine gave Big Ed permission to be with Norma?  Did that fill-in book somehow undo that major Plot Point just to abruptly take up 10 minutes of Screen Time as the Show is more than half over?  I love Big Ed and Nadine, but what the hell was this?!?  It kind of reminds me of the 'Norma's Mean Mother Comes to Town' Sub-Plot from Season 2.  Getting past that, the stuff with BOB Cooper was more of the usual insanity.  It is a real damn shame that Bowie could not film/record something for this Show- not that I hold it against the guy.  Speaking of people that are no longer with us, Log Lady's final Scene was great, even if it was sudden.  She still appeared way more than I expected, so good for her.  All of the Sub-Plot stuff seems to be going somewhere- save for Audrey's bit-, so that is sort of a plus.  I don't pretend to understand what Lynch is 'up to' here, but I still hope that it ends with something better than 'the 2 Coopers meet and merge back together.'  Will this strange journey be worth it?  I sure hope so!  What do you think, Obvious Dummy?

Next time, some Plot and closure- right?  At this point, it could be anything really.  See you then...

Twin Piqued: Part 14

There's not a huge bit of Plot this week, but plenty of strange!

Important Moments

- Lynch calls Twin Peaks and is given the clue about 'two Coopers' from Laura's Diary.  He later learns that Naomi Watts is Diane's Half-Sister and make a connection to the mysterious death in Episode 1.  Yes, THAT long ago.  He makes her and Dougie a target for the FBI.
- He shares a long, strange dream of his involving a Monica Belucci Cameo and a random recap of that bit in Fire Walk With Me involving David Bowie.  Suddenly that all makes...maybe some sense!

- In Twin Peaks, they arrest the corrupt Cop and go out looking for the Portal based on Briggs' clues.  They find...a trip for one of them to meet ????? and find a naked lady with mouths for eyes.  Why not?
- James hears a strange story from a British Co-Worker (as Security at The Great Northern) about how he got magic, rubber gloves.
- We learn from very ancillary folks that Billy is still around somewhere.
- Mrs. Palmer has a very strange encounter with a man at a Bar which ends with his death!

Theme(s)

The main Theme is Dreaming.

- Lynch's dream/clip show is revelatory.

- The Lodge bit is all but a dream.

- The Guard's whole Story is driven by his dream.

- Most of the crazy visuals could only happen in a Dream!

Weird Moment(s)

This one is a tricky choice!  So much crazy this Episode, so...

The runner-up is the whole bit in the Lodge.  A bunch of crazy visions- why not?

Just for the sheer randomness of it, the Winner for me is Lynch's dream, especially when Monica Belucci actually shows up!

This one is probably the craziest one since Episode 8.  This one at least had a more clear narrative.  There tend to be 3 kinds of Episodes this Season, which work differently to varying degrees.  First, there is the Plot Heavy Episodes, dumping lots on you in one Hour.  Second, there is the Random, Seemingly-filler Episodes, giving you lots of little things about everyone but Cooper.  That leaves us with what Episode 8 is, a class in and of itself.  This one did a good job of being the 2nd while still feeling like the first.  There's no new bits directly with Dougie (or Doug-E?!?) or BOB Cooper this time.  There is, however, more of him via the dreams and revelations than just a 10-second shot of him not catching a baseball!  We at least see the Characters learn more about what is going on with him.  Seeing the whole bit from Fire Walk With Me was a bit indulgent, but I guess makes up for Lynch not being able to get new Bowie footage.  You just know that he wanted some!  This Show is all about the journey, but will the destination be worth it?  I feel compelled to stick around to see how this Story plays out...

Next time, we'll have more craziness and I hopefully won't be late!  This is not going to go to a sane place any time soon.  See you then...

Twin Piqued: Part 13

After last week's bit of seemingly-random filler, will this one take a turn for the better?

Important Moments

- The Las Vegas PD confirm that Dougie Cooper has matching prints to BOB and Agent Cooper.  They don't believe it.
- BOB Cooper shows up to 'The Farm,' murders a few people (after winning an Arm Wrestling Match) and finds out who tried to kill him.

- Dougie Cooper is rewarded with a new Car and Play Set for giving The Mitchums their money.
- Shelly learns that her Daughter's dick boyfriend is still missing, so she offers her pie.
- Later, his Co-Worker is forced to try and kill him, but gives in to his conscience.  He confesses everything in a bout of Lynch-ian overacting.

- Audrey is still upset and still doesn't leave.  How are time and space working?
- Dr. Jacoby meets Nadine, who displays the Golden Shovel in her Showroom Window.
- The One-Armed Man places a ring on a desk in the Red Room.
- We learn that the Double R is a Franchise.  Meanwhile, Big Ed returns...to be a Background Player.

Theme(s)

The big Theme here is Success...
- Dougie is rewarded for the deal.
- BOB gets what he wants from The Farm.
- They delve into abrupt depth about the Double R's Franchise success.
- Dougie somehow solves a big case by sheer happenstance.
- The Las Vegas PD gets the information...but just doesn't use it.

Weird Moment(s)

This one was trying to be super-serious with all of the Plot.  That said, I have to admire the randomness of this giant view screen at The Farm...

The real winner is the whole part where BOB shows off while Arm Wrestling, wins with ease and then nearly Riki-Ohs a man's face!

Back to form, for the most part.  This one is all about weird Pacing in the Series as a whole.  Two whole Episodes without BOB appearing at all...and then he takes over the first quarter of the Episode.  Dougie gets nothing but a joke Cameo in the last Episode and then takes over another quarter of the Episode.  Was there no way to pace this out?  Furthermore, lets try to make sense of the timing.  In Episode 11, he celebrates with the Mitchums.  In Episode 12, he's suddenly at home with the kid playing catch.  In Episode 13, he's now back with the Mitchums in the immediate aftermath of the celebration.  Come again!  At least with the BOB stuff, he could have been just going to The Farm the whole time.  There's also a weird time-space issue with Audrey somehow still being at home at night, while a whole day passes for Dougie.  In the grand scheme of things, that's not even in the Top 50 strangest things in the run of this Show, but is still notable.  This one mostly-delivered on the good, while minimizing the bad.  I'm still over Dougie as a thing, but at least he was mostly used to forward the Plot.  Take us away, random End Credits Scene...

Next week, things continue to build.  Will it build to something worthwhile though?  See you then...