Author Topic: Twin Peaks  (Read 64 times)

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Offline Michael Hardner

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Twin Peaks
« on: July 09, 2017, 07:39:08 pm »
Ok - anybody ?

I watched the original series when it was on, then re-watched it a few years ago.

Now I'm watching the new series.

And I have opinions.  Many.  Opinions.

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Offline kimmy

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Re: Twin Peaks
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2017, 10:06:04 pm »
I found that the aburdist elements made it impossible to take seriously.

Like, one minute they're doing a serious murder mystery, and the next a grown woman shows up talking to a log. Totally breaks the frame.




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Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Twin Peaks
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2017, 05:53:38 am »
Yep.  But as I said on the other thread, with surrealism you can't feel the pathos.

It's a dog's breakfast, for sure. (Opinion 1)

Offline kimmy

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Re: Twin Peaks
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2017, 09:27:42 am »
I kid, Michael. I kid because I care.

I think the surreal and supernatural elements added to the unsettling atmosphere.  The contrast between the wholesome sleepy little town and the strange and ominous things (that may have been?) lurking just out of sight was an effective storytelling tool.  I never figured out any of the mythology of the show-- the Black Lodge, the owls, the dancing midget, and all the rest.  I'm not sure it actually even matters.  They contributed to an atmosphere where you sensed that nothing was as wholesome as it seemed, and evil and corruption was just under the surface everywhere.  The discovery of these strange folklore elements surrounding the town parallels the discovery that all the residents have their dirty secrets.


At the end of the show, there's a scene where Sheriff Truman talks to Agent Cooper... he questions Agent Cooper's conclusions, feeling it's too far fetched, he can't wrap his head around it.  Agent Cooper's reply is something along the lines of: (spoiler) "What's harder to believe, Harry?  That Leland Palmer was possessed by a demon? Or that a father could **** and murder his own daughter?"   That's not just two characters talking, that's David Lynch telling the audience what the show is really about.  There's a similar scene in season 4 of Game of Thrones where Tyrion relates to Jaime his recollection of their retarded cousin Orson smashing beetles in the garden. You might wonder "why did they waste 5 minutes of screen time in a pivotal episode talking about smashing beetles?"  ...but that wasn't a story about beetles, that was the author telling you, the viewer, what the show is really about.


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Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Twin Peaks
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2017, 10:13:00 am »


I think the surreal and supernatural elements added to the unsettling atmosphere.  The contrast between the wholesome sleepy little town and the strange and ominous things (that may have been?) lurking just out of sight was an effective storytelling tool.

Says you.  I am fascinated but I can't get much of a 'story' out of this mishmash.  Not yet.

Quote
I never figured out any of the mythology of the show-- the Black Lodge, the owls, the dancing midget, and all the rest.  I'm not sure it actually even matters.  They contributed to an atmosphere where you sensed that nothing was as wholesome as it seemed, and evil and corruption was just under the surface everywhere.  The discovery of these strange folklore elements surrounding the town parallels the discovery that all the residents have their dirty secrets.

There was some kind of dormant spirit in the woods - BOB - who infected the town and caused this bad stuff to happen.  In the end it infected Cooper himself, ie. in the last episode of season 1.  Fire - Walk with Me was a movie and a prequel but also a crazy mishmash.  Oh, there were aliens for some reason.

Now it seems like there's an unearthly force that is replacing 2 or 3 Dale Coopers, and they get beamed into the experimental box created by the mysterious billionaire... and then into Las Vegas.   And all the old storylines are continued 25 years later.


Quote
At the end of the show, there's a scene where Sheriff Truman talks to Agent Cooper... he questions Agent Cooper's conclusions, feeling it's too far fetched, he can't wrap his head around it.  Agent Cooper's reply is something along the lines of: (spoiler) "What's harder to believe, Harry?  That Leland Palmer was possessed by a demon? Or that a father could **** and murder his own daughter?"   That's not just two characters talking, that's David Lynch telling the audience what the show is really about.

Sure, and that's an interesting enough theme to work with.  The story though is a toy box of crazy.  People morph into gold balls, they get sucked into power outlets... I end up laughing at serious scenes a few times.  I am watching all the same.
 
Wait now, you were 7 years old when this first aired ?  When did you watch it ?

Offline kimmy

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Re: Twin Peaks
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2017, 09:38:37 pm »
Says you.  I am fascinated but I can't get much of a 'story' out of this mishmash.  Not yet.

David Lynch stuff can be pretty frustrating and is usually too "out there" for me.  My recollection of Twin Peaks is mostly of the imagery and atmosphere.  I don't recall much in the way of story elements. I do recall looking into the forest at night and wondering if I was supposed to be seeing something looking back... the haunting theme song... the strange feeling of isolation created by some of the cinematography, like the distant view of the waterfall.  I recall that freaky dude trying to climb right out of my TV at me. That was really unsettling.  I think Lynch has a knack for bypassing your brain and getting straight to your gut.


Wait now, you were 7 years old when this first aired ?  When did you watch it ?

I watched the first season on VHS some time ago. How long ago? Not sure... but that it was on VHS tells me it wasn't recent to say the least.

 -k
Paris - London - New York - Kim City