Day Two Hundred and Eighty-three - Twin Peaks: Season 2, Episode 1, "Value-sized for extra enjoyment!"

After the cliffhangers of the season 1 finale, it's nice to have a little bit of resolution as to the fates of most (not all) of the folks of Twin Peaks whose health and well-beings were in question. As you may recall, Catherine and Shelly were trying to escape the Sawmill fire, Leo was shot by Hank, Nadine OD'd on pills, Audrey was about to come face to face with her pimp father at One-Eyed Jack's, and Agent Cooper was shot point blank by persons unknown.

The premiere opens where we left Agent Cooper, lying on the floor of his hotel room at the Great Northern in a quixotic sequence where an elderly waiter (who seems more than a little senile) delivers Coops warm milk but does nothing to help the wounded agent... even coming back several times to give him a thumbs up.

Of course, it just gets weirder from there as, once the coot leaves (or does he?), Agent Cooper is visited by a vision of the Giant (played by Carel Struycken, whom folks should recognize from Star Trek:TNG and The Adams Family). Like the Man from Another Place, The Giant has several quixotic clues to impart to Coop in his quest against BOB. It's nice to finally get some more supernatural goings-on as the season 1 finale was barren of them.

Anyways, Coop is saved by the timely arrival of Truman & Co. and taken to the hospital... where he is informed that Leo's in a coma, Shelly and Pete are hospitalized with smoke inhalation, Catherine and Josie are missing, and he's only been unconscious a few hours. Talk about your eventful nights.

Meanwhile, Audrey fends off her father's amorous advances while maintaining her anonymity by playing games with curtains, pillows, and even a porcelain mask to hide her identity, managing to keep him at bay until other matters call him away. This leaves her in Blackie's bad graces and a bit of a prisoner at One-Eyed Jack's.

Lots and lots of things that were hanging over our heads from the previous season were resolved, but plenty of mysteries (and ghostly shenanigans) are still afoot... such as BOB, MIKE, Ronette's visions of the train car as she comes out of her coma (and suffers PTSD flashbacks), The Owls, and so on.

It's kind of funny to see Leland revitalized after a little spat of premeditated murder, even if his hair turning white overnight gives everyone around him pause. In addition, there's Maddie's vision of blood at the Palmer house to sate more of my thirst for the supernatural.

I'm a bit bummed that Josie and Catherine didn't make a single appearance. Catherine, I understand, as there's no mention from Shelly as to whether or not she got out of the blaze and it's more of a mystery if she's missing (possibly a crispy critter), but Josie's friendly note to Pete leaves me a bit disappointed. While I like its playful tone and see through the deception (thanks to all of the other audience knowledge we have concerning her, Catherine, and Ben Horne), I still wanted to physically see her on some set, somewhere... anywhere.

But, maybe that's just because Joan Chen is too adorable. I probably would've fallen for whatever she said/wrote just as Harry and Pete seem to do.

This episode marks the return of one of my favorite characters, Albert (Miguel Ferrer), along with his acerbic wit... and features one of the goofiest moments that I have yet to see from Andy. The acting is both frighteningly awkward and endearingly weird. I especially love it when Albert cracks up during Ed's story about how Nadine lost her Eye.

At the end of the day, the season two premiere was very satisfying and I look forward to charging through the remaining episodes as the month goes on. I'm definitely going to have to pull extra duty a few of these days and pump out double episodes as there are but thirteen days left in which to watch 21 episodes, so look forward to that (I know that I do :D ). Great, great stuff. Feeling very full, entertainment-wise.

Until tomorrow, Potatoes~

Day Two Hundred and Eighty-two - Twin Peaks: Season 1, Episode 8, "Cliffhangers... cliffhangers as far as the eye can see!"

As the season draws to a close, storylines come to a head and massive drama awaits all those who view "The Last Evening."

Still at One-Eyed Jacks, both Coop and Audrey work their own angles... Cooper sweet talking Jacques across the border back into American jurisdiction and Audrey infiltrating Blackie's cathouse to find out anything she can about Laura's death.

Back in Twin Peaks, Leo attempts revenge on Shelly for shooting him (and getting out from under his thumb) by attempting to make her death a twofer as he ties her up at the Sawmill, hoping she goes up in flames when he torches it. Leo then confronts Bobby only to be shot by Hank who is tying up loose ends.

Can we get more convoluted?

Yes... yes, we can, as James and Donna search Jacoby's office and find the Coconut which has both the half-heart locket and her last tape which seems to implicate Leo. While that's going on, Jacoby heads straight to the Gazebo and attempts to contact Laura (Maddie in a blonde wig) only to be assaulted by an unknown party.

Woof.

Skipping forward a bit, Jacques is shot by Andy while trying to escape and confesses to his part of the wild night at his cabin with Leo, Laura, and Ronette. Unfortunately for him, a distraught father doesn't want to wait for the facts to come in and takes justice into his own hands. RIP, Jacques. Them Renault boys... they be dropping like fat, maple syrup soaked flies.

Best of the Best (or Worst of the Worst, depending on your perspective) are the final few seconds where Agent Cooper is shot by an unknown assailant, point blank, three times... aaaaand scene.

If Twin Peaks didn't get a second season, that most definitely would've been the worst way to end it. No BOB, no "Fire Walk With Me," and Audrey left to her own devices in a whorehouse... in CANADA (*bone-chilling scream*). It would be like if Dallas ended with J.R. getting shot (maybe that's a little too on the nose) or if Fringe ended with Peter disappearing from both universes and never a reason given why.

Luckily for us, though, Lynch & Company managed to squeak another full season out of the Network (which we'll continue with tomorrow). Still, as season finales go, this one had pretty much all the goods. A decent amount of action (Andy, Hank, Catherine), lots of mysteries coming to completion (Leo/Shelly, The Sawmill, The Night at the Cabin), and plenty more to keep the average viewer salivating for more (Audrey as the Queen of Diamonds, Coop getting shot). I'm certainly glad I'm not waiting for the fall to come around for the season 2 premiere, I'll tell you what.

Still... no BOB. Pretty disappointing, in that regard. At the very least, I wanted him to show up in a dream sequence or something (*hint, hint for the season 2 premiere*), but oh well.

Until tomorrow, Potatoes~

Day Two Hundred and Eighty-one - Twin Peaks: Season 1, Episode 7, "Oh, to be that Cherry Stem."

After the cliffhanger of Audrey in her birthday suit in Agent Cooper's bed, a first-time watcher probably would've expected more drama than Coop doing the right thing and laying nary a finger on the high school temptress... instead going for malts and fries downstairs while she gets dressed... but Twin Peaks isn't Melrose Place and Agent Cooper always stays true to his character.

Tonight's episode continues to the next day with more to the Josie/Ben/Catherine storyline as Josie tries to sway Truman when he confronts her about staking out Ben and Catherine's tryst. Unfortunately for Josie, an overzealous insurance salesman tips her and Ben's play too early and Catherine knows she's being double-(or, perhaps, triple)-crossed.

 In addition, the White Hats at the police station wait on Ronette's Myna bird whose mimicry might shed some light on what happened at Jacques Renault's cabin. They don't get too far, unfortunately, because the wounded Leo races to the station from his sniper perch overlooking his house to slay the avian witness... but not before Coop's tape recorder catches a few interesting tidbits.

Speaking of Leo, Shelly is a mess after shooting him late last episode. Too bad she only winged him, but things have to play out just so. Leo definitely has more to do in this supernatural soap (like avicide).

For me, the most interesting parts of the episode are Audrey's quick investigations at the deparment store and Coop and the Bookhouse Boys sting which leads both parties to One-Eyed Jack's. Not only does this episode contain the infamous Cherry Knot sequence where Audrey impresses Jack's madam, Blackie, with her tongue-twisting talents, but seeing Everett McGill in a wig and mustache is comedy gold, even as he sells it well. I love that scripted goof where he gives Blackie his actual profession before recovering nicely and giving her some of her own innuendo-laden banter back to assuage her suspicions.

That Cherry Knot, though. Wowsers! It's been occasionally imitated and often lampooned, but say what you will about the scene, it has implanted itself into our cultural zeitgeist as one of the most thoroughly erotic sequences of the 90's... almost up there with Sharon Stone's leg-cross in Basic Instinct.

As usual, I could do with out Donna, James, and Maddie and their shenanigans, though trying to trick Doc Jacoby gives Bobby an opportunity for another frame job. Bleh. Like I said, One-Eyed Jack's is where it's at.

I'm actually really disappointed that there's nothing supernatural going on in this episode. Arguments have been made regarding Leland staring out after Maddie when she sneaks away to help Donna and James trick Jacoby, but even those are just theories and discussing them any further would be spoilery.

Can't wait till everything comes to a head in the first season finale!

Until tomorrow, Potatoes~

Day Two Hundred and Eighty - Twin Peaks: Season 1, Episode 6, "What the Log Saw."

We're back for more Twin Peaks on our Halloween Spooktacular and it looks like Agent Cooper and the Bookhouse Boys are closing in on another possible crime scene for Laura's ill-fated night.

Following up on the evidence that Bobby planted at Jacques Renault's apartment, Cooper, et al, head to the woods near the border and discover not one but two log cabins that hold some interest in the murder of Laura Palmer. The first is the residence of the mysterious Log Lady, whose log is finally ready to impart what it saw that night... after tea and sugar cookies. The second cabin, though, which is Renault's, definitely holds some clues of a more concrete nature.

Meanwhile, the rest of Twin Peaks is busy with their own issues. Norma's husband is back, trying to find his way out of the doghouse with her even while he assaults Leo who, apparently, was his minion before prison. Guess that means Hank was definitely a Black Hat (more on that in coming episodes), but what does that mean for his connection with Josie?

Speaking of Josie, we see her in the shadows at the hotel. It seems that not only is Ben Horne conspiring with Catherine, but Josie isn't quite the innocent widow that she makes out to be for Truman and Pete. Look forward to her own conspiracies getting more and more dangerous.

Bobby visits the kooky shrink, who uses his knowledge from sessions with Laura to draw Bobby out, and Donna and James widen their small group of White Hats to include Laura's cousin, Maddie.

I think that my favorite part of the episode came from Audrey and her not-so-subtle blackmail of the Horne's store manager so she could get the coveted Perfume Counter job that she thinks will help in her own investigation of Laura's death. That and her end-of-episode ploy for Cooper, where she shows up naked in his bed at the hotel, make for prime Soap material.

It's painfully obvious how much of a send up to Soap Operas that Twin Peaks was as opposed to a straight supernatural murder mystery show like, say, Fringe or X-files (both shows that definitely draw a part of their existence and inspiration from Twin Peaks). Normally, that's a turnoff for me and there are definitely parts of Twin Peaks that I could do without. The whole Donna/James/Maddie love triangle that's developing is just so much fluff, as is Bobby's therapy and Shelly's domestic violence woes... but I can suffer through the hammyness thanks to the occasional clue that shows up in those sequences.

As for the rest, though... which is pretty much anything with Agent Cooper and company... all of it is absolute gold. Riveting, funny, often doughnut-laden gold.

Until tomorrow, Potatoes~

Day Two Hundred and Seventy-seven - Twin Peaks: Season 1, Episodes 4 & 5, "Welcome to the Bookhouse Boys, Coop."

Our journey with Agent Cooper continues today during Couchbound's Halloween Spooktacular as we review two episodes and draw ever closer to that first season finale.

Halfway through season one and Coop is still only getting dribs and drabs of evidence and information, either forensic or supernatural, to help him discern the identity of Laura Palmer's killer. That doesn't stop the intrigue in Twin Peaks from beginning to boil over, though, as life (and the dangers it presents) begins to go on for its residents even as they try and deal with Laura's absence by finally laying her body (but, perhaps, not her soul) to rest.

As everyone gathers for the funeral, lots of things are happening in the background.

Sheriff Truman and the rest of the Bookhouse Boys alert Agent Cooper about the existence of, then invite him to join, their secret society. It seems that they're hot on the trail of the drug connection in Twin Peaks, which might have something to do with Laura's death. This puts Leo and several other local Black Hats on alert.

There's also more drama concerning Ed/Nadine/Norma with the fact that Nadine is all lovey-dovey again and Norma is dealing with her soon to be paroled husband... as well as continuing plot that deals with the sawmill and the affair between Ben Horne and Catherine.

For such a small town, Twin Peaks certainly has more than its fair share of Soapy melodrama.

As per the norm, everything is connected. Ben and Catherine are having a trist (that Josie is shadowing) at the same motel that Coop and Truman confront the one-armed man... but is it their one-armed man or just someone who looks like Mike from Coop's dream (a fact which will resolve itself in episodes to come).

I love how Andy is your typical small town goofball cop who drops his gun and cries at almost every situation. It's a sweet sort of "Aw, Shucks" character that you can't help but love purely out of pity... especially during his mopey moments where Lucy gives him the cold shoulder.

There are also more Audrey moments to love, like when she sits down with Coop at the breakfast table only to be easily caught out (via her handwriting) that she wrote him the mysterious letter cluing him into One-Eyed Jack's. I especially loved how she tried to play hard to get by saying she's busy, but instantly fell for Coop's perfume compliment and stayed anyway. I can't say I'm all that thrilled with her "please let me be your daughter again" act for her father, but I really liked the bathroom scene at the high school where she and Donna compared notes about their separate investigations.

Twin Peaks is ever filled with breadcrumb after breadcrumb. In the meta-sense, I know that it won't be too long before certain parties are revealed and things get even wackier, but just trying to judge it as if this were my first viewing of the series, I'd like to think that there's plenty enough to keep my attention thanks to the wide, wide variety of storylines that all crash into each other, creating events you can't entirely predict.

I mean, sure, it's easy to see that something was going to happen between Bobby and James at the funeral, but even with his odd behavior, you wouldn't expect Leland to jump on top of the casket... let alone break the bloody thing!

And the Bookhouse Boys... what a weird development. Who'd've thought that there'd be a small organization of White Hats to combat the obviously organized Black Hats around town. Everyone just seemed so small town folksy at first, but Lynch gradually made them all complex as time wore on. It probably would've felt more natural for Truman and company to vet Agent Cooper a bit more before letting him into their playhouse, but oh well.

One final note... look out for the first appearance of The Owl (at least, I think it's the first... I've already been wrong before). Important, important creature!

And I think that will do it for our first week of Twin Peaks for our special Halloween Spooktacular Month. Tomorrow and Sunday we'll be taking a brief break from Agent Cooper, et al, to watch some horror flicks, then it's back on the trail of Laura Palmer's killer (and all that entails) fresh on Monday.

Until tomorrow, Potatoes~