** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

"She’s dead… Wrapped in plastic…"

http://www.filmica.com/casiopea/archivos/tp_laura.png


Twin Peaks started as a series in 1990, produced by the director David Lynch and Mark Frost. It ran for 2 seasons, and concerned itself with the characters and community of a lumber town, Twin Peaks, and centred on the investigation of the murder of a popular and well-liked member of this community, Laura Palmer.


It was a genuine TV phenomena back then across the world, with the mystery being a big talking point. I remember pages and pages of magazines and newspapers going through all the evidence and the theories of how was involved, who killed her, and why. It's was hellish good fun. Equally talked about was the weirdness of the series, and the quirky characters and dialogue. Finally, everyone realised there was a genuie quality in the making of the series that was so absent in many TV dramas of the time.




This thread is intended to be a running episode-by-episode analysis and discussion of the entire run. I'll try and do a brief synposis each episode avoiding spoilers in these where possible, to give everyone a chance to catch up (especially since season 1 is hard to get)



The program of discussion, which I'll update in this starting post as it goes on, is currently as follows:


SEASON ONE
PILOT - 26th March
Episode 1 - 30th March
Episode 2 - 2nd April
Episode 3 - 13th April
Episode 4 - 16th April
Episode 5 - 20th April

TWIN PEAKS - PILOT
 

TWIN PEAKS - THE PILOT

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Synopsis:

The pilot concerns itself with the discovery of the murder of a well-known, liked girl, Laura Palmer, naked and wrapped in plastic, in the lumber town of Twin Peaks.

It goes through the impact of this discovery within the community, and uses this as a way to introduce us to the characters of the town, show their relatiionships between each other, and show the first stages of the investigation into the murder by Agent Cooper (Kyle Maclaughlin).


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The pilot does a great job in presenting all this, with a quality and style that you wish you'd see in most feature films. Lynch creates a strange, eerie feel in presenting these small town details, and has enough Lynchian elements (a screaming girl in school for example) to both disconcert and keep you paying close attention. It's a great intro to many of the characters, and having seen it, I enjoy the references to characters unseen but to come (Miguel Ferrer's 'Albert' for example).

I enjoyed the pilot greatly (4th time I've seen it), and have more to say, but was hoping some others might want to comment first...

Re: TWIN PEAKS - PILOT
 

I wasn't thrilled with the pilot. I don't really know why; it just didn't do it for me.

One specific thing I disliked was the kid out of the 50's...James is it? His acting was annoyingly over the top. However, I assume this was done on purpose, and I can see myself possibly warming up to him later (like a hot bath).

I have nothing else to say about the episode, except that obviously Agent Cooper is the coolest.

Oh and I think Lynch didn't care at all about the murder "mystery" and wanted it to remain unsolved forever. He was more interested in the weird characters and surreality, but the general public liked it for the mystery.

Re: TWIN PEAKS - PILOT
 

agree w/juntmonkey. wasn't thrilled by the pilot. way too much overacting by many of the characters--not in the good way either.

wish i had been in on the fun when this show aired originally. i remember the buzz about it, but my family didn't have a tv. suppose it'll have to do to watch all of the episodes with you folk.

how does a professional editor do this: toward the end of the pilot when the sheriff flips on his lights to pull over james and donna the shot in between shows the truck without the lights on.

Re: TWIN PEAKS - PILOT
 

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how does a professional editor do this: toward the end of the pilot when the sheriff flips on his lights to pull over james and donna the shot in between shows the truck without the lights on.

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Probably because he didn't have a shot that would match what you're talking about. 99% of continuity problems are not an editors fault - he can only use footage that was shot - not that should've been shot! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: TWIN PEAKS - PILOT
 

I never watched Twin Peaks when it first aired. I finally got all the episodes after I heard some podcasters compared Twin Peaks to Lost. I was immediately intrigued and started watching. Great, great series. Had Twin Peaks been around during the age of the internet, this would've been a worldwide phenomenon.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

I remember watching the pilot the night it first aired - this is the first time I've seen it since then. It brought back all the glee and amazement and pure awe at what I was seeing. What a fantastic pilot and a wonderful jumping off point for the series.

The characters are indelible and completely unreal - but they work in the context of the Twin Peaks - both the town and the show.

I have a thing now and forever for Peggy Lipton. First in The Mod Squad and then this. And I think the actress who played Shelly is absolutely gorgeous.

Great show...I hope I can find the first season somewhere.

Re: TWIN PEAKS - PILOT
 

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how does a professional editor do this: toward the end of the pilot when the sheriff flips on his lights to pull over james and donna the shot in between shows the truck without the lights on.

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Probably because he didn't have a shot that would match what you're talking about. 99% of continuity problems are not an editors fault - he can only use footage that was shot - not that should've been shot! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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no, it could have been edited correctly: simply by shortening the first shot, for one option.

you seem to have accidentally mentioned shelly and peggy when you meant to tell us that audrey horne is your crush.

Re: TWIN PEAKS - PILOT
 

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how does a professional editor do this: toward the end of the pilot when the sheriff flips on his lights to pull over james and donna the shot in between shows the truck without the lights on.

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Probably because he didn't have a shot that would match what you're talking about. 99% of continuity problems are not an editors fault - he can only use footage that was shot - not that should've been shot! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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no, it could have been edited correctly: simply by shortening the first shot, for one option.

you seem to have accidentally mentioned shelly and peggy when you meant to tell us that audrey horne is your crush.

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well that goes without saying
[img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Re: TWIN PEAKS - PILOT
 

dom, have you ever seen boxing helena? that's the film that started my infatuation with sherilyn fenn. (that may say some things about me that shouldn't be said, but i'm no psychologist.)

Re: TWIN PEAKS - PILOT
 

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dom, have you ever seen boxing helena? that's the film that started my infatuation with sherilyn fenn. (that may say some things about me that shouldn't be said, but i'm no psychologist.)

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yeah....really bad movie, IMO...and written and directed by Jennifer Lynch, David's daughter

Re: TWIN PEAKS - PILOT
 

I'm just too tired to write something deep about this tonight but I just watched the pilot and thought it was pretty interesting. If I can get my hands on season 1 (doubtful) I would be up for discussing it with you guys.

I've never seen Twin Peaks before and didn't know what to expect.


[ QUOTE ]

The pilot does a great job in presenting all this, with a quality and style that you wish you'd see in most feature films. Lynch creates a strange, eerie feel in presenting these small town details, and has enough Lynchian elements (a screaming girl in school for example) to both disconcert and keep you paying close attention.

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I agree completely. The style is very unusual for a television series. Just strange and fascinating. I rather liked it even though it was campy. It had a strange, eerie feel which completely creeped me out staying up late to watch it by myself. The screaming mother and the crying cop gave me the heebie-geebies. I need one of you guys here to watch it with me. The music didn't help the creepiness factor either.


Like Dom said, the characters are completely unreal (and yeah, Agent Cooper is the coolest) but it works somehow and I can definitely see where I could get hooked. I'm just doubtful I'll be able to find Season 1 so don't want to get too excited about it yet.


(Btw, I don't even know which one was Peggy Lipton but I think her daughter stars in The Office now, right?)

Re: TWIN PEAKS - PILOT
 

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dom, have you ever seen boxing helena? that's the film that started my infatuation with sherilyn fenn. (that may say some things about me that shouldn't be said, but i'm no psychologist.)

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yeah....really bad movie, IMO...and written and directed by Jennifer Lynch, David's daughter

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what?!? with an imdb rating of 3.7 it can't possibly be bad.

katy, yes, peggy's daughter is on the office.

fun facts, all around.

Re: TWIN PEAKS - PILOT
 

Cooper is the coolest. Truman is a pretty cool dude tho, as is Bobby's dad (who we only saw briefly)

overacting? hmmm, well, it's pretty stylised for sure, but I think the only one that didn't work completely was Bobby in places, who did look like an actor overacting in places rather than part of the twin peaks weird (I have no idea if that makes sense).

I was also struck by how young Audrey looked. Audrey was my twin peaks crush, but she looks illegal in that pilot. I'm sure she looks older as it goes on... (I hope I hope I hope).

I was also surprised how wimpy Leo came across as, becuase I remember him being pretty scary...

Looking forward to episode 1....


Katy I'll hold your hand. And one incentive to stay with it. Later in the show, David Duchoovny appears, in the unlikeliest of roles...

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

I haven't been able to see the Pilot. The university library bought it but has been processing it for the last month or so, I am still waiting for it to be available to check out.
Fortunately, they do have the hard to get Season 1 and I saw all of it (about a month ago), looking forward to the discussions on those episodes. I haven't seen Season 2 yet either because it is in the same situation as the pilot in the university library (bought but not yet processed by the library). I can't wait to continue with the story, then watch the movie (although I heard the movie was not good).

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

I wasn't the only one creeped out by the ceiling fan, right?

Laura's mom was hilarious in Seinfeld, and is apparently scary as hell in Inland Empire. Come to think of it...isn't Susan's father from Seinfeld also in Twin Peaks?

I did mean Bobby with the overacting, not "Jimmy".

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

Oh, it also must be said the music of Twin Peaks is fantastic, as is the general use of sounds.

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these people are gonna freak when they first see Bob!

[img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

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these people are gonna freak when they first see Bob!

[img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

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Dom

ixnay on the oilerspay

And to be fair, so are we...

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

"Fellas, don't drink that coffee! You'd never guess. There was a fish... in the percolator! Sorry..."


Episode 1: Traces to Nowhere

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Synposis

Written by Mark Frost and David Lynch
Directed by Duwayne Dunham.
Original Airdate: April 12, 1990.

FBI Agent Dale Cooper and Sheriff Harry Truman discover more about the troubled secret life of the murdered Laura Palmer; Big Ed Hurley reveals that he was drugged at the Roadhouse; a frightened James Hurley, vengeful Bobby Briggs and Mike Nelson are released from jail; Catherine Martell lays bare her plot to take control of the Packard sawmill.


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discussion to follow.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

This is a great episode, and sets the tone for the entire series absolutely perfectly. We have 'damn fine coffee' (this comment was HUGE when the series aired, but was one of several) that's black as midnight on a moonless night (that's pretty black) , cherry pie that'll just kill ya, noiseless drapes, 'shenanegins', logs, brief glimpses of characters to come, and beautiful colours and more cool dialogue.

Thank goodness Sherilyn Fenn looks a lot older (and so drop-dead gorgeous) in this one compared to the pilot. LoL at the snippet of conversation between Cooper and her ('do your palms ever itch?'), and the assorted people stuffing their faces with donuts in the cop-shop. Leo also comes over as a bit tougher. I'm wondering if there was a big gap between the pilot and the actual first season.

Overall, loved watching this episode, and can't wait for the next one.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

carter, fenn looks way older because she is. there was a year in between the pilot and episode one, if you didn't know. no worries, though, you aren't a dirty old man for lusting after her. she was already twenty-five or so in the pilot.

anyway, really wish i'd seen this show when it was on tv. probably would've thought it was pretty cool, but it's just dumb now, for the most part.

it seems i analyze things from a different perspective than most of you, so i'm just going to shut up about not liking it for the rest of the way and comment on other things.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

"I feel like I know her but sometimes my arms bend back..."

Episode 2: Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer

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SYNOPSIS:
Written by David Lynch and Mark Frost.
Directed by David Lynch.
Original Airdate: April 19, 1990.

FBI Agent Dale Cooper demonstrates an unusual deductive technique for the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department; Benjamin Horne and his brother, Jerry, take a trip to One-Eyed Jacks; Donna Hayward and James Hurley pledge their love; Leo Johnson holds Bobby Briggs at gunpoint. Agent Cooper has a very strange dream.



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A terrific episode, one of the best. Discussion to follow.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

carter, it looks like you and i are the only ones watching twin peaks. shall we continue discussion via pms? lol.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

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carter, it looks like you and i are the only ones watching twin peaks. shall we continue discussion via pms? lol.

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Patience little trooper. If you build it, they will come.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

I am watching too, I just haven't commented.

On the first episode, I really liked the quotes you mentioned Carter. I think the detective is the coolest TV character I've seen.

I am also very attracted to Fenn.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

SPOILERS!


Lynch directed this one, and it's a great piece of work. The visuals are really good, the weird and funny touches he puts in really set it up as great (Cooper's hair when he awakes from his dream - lol), and the use of ambient music makes it very cool.

We also meet some new characters. Albert (Miguel Ferrer) the FBI man with a truly terrible attitude (he cracks me up); Ben Horne's brother Jerry blathering on about incredible sandwiches, and the Horne brothers stuffing their faces as they talk; and Blackie, the madame of One Eyed Jacks. And the girls of one-eyed jacks....oh brother. We also meet the midget in the red room...which strange coincidence, I caught a reference to last week when watching the Simspons episode about the shooting of Mr Burns.


It's hard to describe the impact this episode had when it broadcast, with the dream sequence and backwards talking at the end, but I can assure you, EVERYONE was talking about it the next day. Some were turned off, some loved it, most didn't get it but given the cliffhanger ending, you knew they were going to tune in next week. And everyone was already starting to try and work out who killed Laura Palmer.

You get a feeling Cooper is definitely some component of Lynch. Many of his films are definitely dream-like, and Cooper using his dreams as the gateway to his deductive process, and also having that dream at the end firmly cements Cooper as a man, whilst clever and cool, who is definitely tuned into the dreamworld.

And back in the soap-opera elements, we see scenes with Bobby and Shelley, James and Donna, and probably most sad, we have Leland Palmer starting to go through a breakdown over the death of his daughter.

Also - for those of you who got the DVD's of season 1; the commentary track has a big giveaway of who the killer is, so if you don't know, don't listen.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

Yes, that stupid commentary ruined a surprise, although I might forget by the time I get to see season 2, since it is taking the library forever to process the dvds.

The dream sequence was awesome, I really loved it. I had to watch it over a couple of times. The dvd extra of the little person explaining how he had to talk in the red room was cool.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

Aye, that dancing dwarf, that music, the striking features of Sheryl Lee - so beautiful, so weird, so memorable. The whole thing may actually be the best 2 minutes of TV fiction ever.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

which episode does SF tie the cherry stem in her mouth?

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I think it's in series 1, but can't remember for sure. We'll cover that when we get to it.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

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which episode does SF tie the cherry stem in her mouth?

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It is in the first season because I have seen it.
I think it is the last episode of season 1.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

Hi db, sorry I haven't been chiming in. I've been really tired lately. I will try to watch it this evening and add my comments.

I think it's pretty cool that rothko is watching with us even though he doesn't like the show. Way to be a team player, rothko.


"Do your palms ever itch?" That's a weird line. I'm going to have to remember that one.

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Loved this when it first came out, haven't seen it since. I sure do remember Sherilynn Fenn! This series had the most stunning collection of beauties I've probably ever seen. I wish we would see Kyle MacLachlan (sp?) more. He's done some interesting stuff that has redeemed him from when I first saw him in Dune -- which really took some doing.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

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Loved this when it first came out, haven't seen it since. I sure do remember Sherilynn Fenn! This series had the most stunning collection of beauties I've probably ever seen. I wish we would see Kyle MacLachlan (sp?) more. He's done some interesting stuff that has redeemed him from when I first saw him in Dune -- which really took some doing.

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I certainly agree with your line regarding beauties on TV. A lot of them are incredible.

I like Kyle MacLachlan a lot. He was also in Blue Velvet. I didn't like Dune, but I thought he was a good choice for Paul Atreides.

Now he is acting in the tv series Justice and in the tv series Desperate Housewives.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

Yes, I liked him a lot in Blue Velvet and in The Hidden, but those were long ago, and I can't remember seeing him in anything since ... hmm ... maybe in some cheesy Raiders type movie ...

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

He was in SHOWGIRLS!

And yes, he was actually a really good choice for Paul Atreides I think. If fact, the whole movie was reasonably cast, except for Sting.

Re: ** TWIN PEAKS: EPISODE BY EPISODE **
 

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Loved this when it first came out, haven't seen it since. I sure do remember Sherilynn Fenn! This series had the most stunning collection of beauties I've probably ever seen. I wish we would see Kyle MacLachlan (sp?) more. He's done some interesting stuff that has redeemed him from when I first saw him in Dune -- which really took some doing.

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I think it's interesting how you guys all love Sherilynn Fenn. I'm just getting used to the characters in this show. I wasn't even sure which one she played at first. Audrey, right? She's really cute but just so weird in this show.

I kind of like Norma and Shelly. I think Shelly has the most beautiful hair. One thing I find odd about the show is how some of the characters speak in a very stilted, emotionless fashion. David Lynch has a really weird style.


Not sure what to add to the discussion here so I'll just say this. The crying mother is freaking me out, as is that doctor at the very end. How is it he has that heart anyway?

And Cooper, he cracks me up. I'm just like him when it comes to pie. I always want more and more servings of pie. It would be great to be that unselfconscious and just keep asking for more.

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Loved this when it first came out, haven't seen it since. I sure do remember Sherilynn Fenn! This series had the most stunning collection of beauties I've probably ever seen. I wish we would see Kyle MacLachlan (sp?) more. He's done some interesting stuff that has redeemed him from when I first saw him in Dune -- which really took some doing.

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I think it's interesting how you guys all love Sherilynn Fenn. I'm just getting used to the characters in this show. I wasn't even sure which one she played at first. Audrey, right? She's really cute but just so weird in this show.

I kind of like Norma and Shelly. I think Shelly has the most beautiful hair. One thing I find odd about the show is how some of the characters speak in a very stilted, emotionless fashion. David Lynch has a really weird style.


Not sure what to add to the discussion here so I'll just say this. The crying mother is freaking me out, as is that doctor at the very end. How is it he has that heart anyway?

And Cooper, he cracks me up. I'm just like him when it comes to pie. I always want more and more servings of pie. It would be great to be that unselfconscious and just keep asking for more.

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It's completely awesome to experience your first taste of Twin Peaks, as you're experiencing it, Katy! Any I'm with you, Norma and Shelly are beyond hot.

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Hope we're still discussing this.

Ok I never did comment on the 2nd episode. Wow, holy crap there was a lot going on.. First off I love Ben and Jerry. The scene with them is great. Lol at those sandwiches. (I don't know why I like this scene so much) And then the boat ride to One Eyed Jacks and the interior scenes of the brothel. I liked the whole first part a lot. Did you guys?

Haha, then there was that scene where Cooper is trying to hit the bottle with the rocks and he accidently hits Andy in the head. That was good. That cryin cop deserved to be hit in the head.

But what is with that curtain lady? She confuses me. I have to say there's a pretty weird mix of characters in this show. Some of them I don't really care for.

I thought episode 2 was very entertaining and I was completely spellbound. However, that ending was a little freaky you guys! I don't know if I can watch these at night [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] I was totally getting creeped out. Oh my god that dream sequence and the dwarf. GAH [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

I have to admit this is a pretty cool show and I'm getting hooked. I was skeptical at first.