There were a couple things I meant to say about the last few episodes.

***Spoilers***

One thing I want to mention is that the actor who plays Ben is really really good. His range is phenomenal. No, I'm serious. At first I thought he was just very funny and really good at over acting. I thought he was quite the character. But watching how he reacted when he found out his daughter was kidnapped and then later seeing him in the jail cell, well I realized what a phenomenal actor he is and I'm just so glad that you turned me onto this series.

Another thing I forgot to mention, I really liked the scene in episode 14 where they are watching the stage performance with the girl in the red dress singing. That was pretty cool and had quite an interesting ambiance.

Dom,
I agree that the images of Bob are haunting. For me, it is the moment when you see the maniacal grin and the gloves raised in the air and he runs towards Maddy on the staircase. Freaking terrifying and just so violent. Wow.

Gwen: God, how you must hate us white people after all we've done to you.
Hawk: Some of my best friends are white.

Synopsis:
A bit of a calmer episode than the last one, but Leland is still central here, madding it up bigtime, and is by far the best thing about the episode. I would like to know what he was intending to do with that golf club just before Agent Cooper gets called away.

There's also an interesting interlude where the Horne brothers have a shared childhood memory of watching an older girl dance for them in the dark with a flashlight that's pretty memorable.

Otherwise, a more traditional soap-like effort. We get to meet some new characters (Norma's mother + new husband, Lucy's sister Gwen). And Ben Horne looks like he's about to be taken for a ride by two separate parties.

Haha, I wish I could remember some of Jerry's lines when he was visiting Ben in jail. They were gold. He's supposed to be offering emotional and legal support to his client and he's like "Man, this is so depressing."

What did Cooper say about him? That Jerry had graduated last in his class?

One of the lines was something like 'As your lawyer, friend and brother, I advise you to get a better lawyer.'

Cooper: Did you kill Laura Palmer?
Bob: (howls like a monkey). That's a 'yes'.

Synopsis:

While we the viewer already know who Bob is, Cooper and Truman (and everyone else) don't know this. But in this episode, they find out.

Cooper knows in his heart Ben Horne didn't do it, and he knows he's used all his powers to no avail. So he turns to a final one, magic, to solve the riddle. And solve it he does, as he remembers what words Laura whispered to him in his dream.


There's a few comedy asides in this one (watching Lucy getting a little excited when Andy starts acting manly on the phone to Dick, and then deflating when he turns wussy again), but mostly it's intense.

The whole scene with 'Bob' and Donna is tense as hell, and the whole final section where they catch Bob, and his killing Leland....wow. Watching Leland remember it all, and be in terrible pain over it, only to die ...wow.


I think some purists argue twin peaks should have ended on this episode, but I'm glad it doesn't. IIRR, it does get more whimsical for a good stretch after this, but it remains fun, good to look at, and who could bored of Cooper? And anyway, the final 4 or so episodes are fantastic.

Yikes, this show is pretty weird DB! After watching too many bad things on the news and then watching this episode I am now officially creeped out .

I have to confess that i don't get what's going on here. (haha! I PMed diebitter and asked him if Leland actually died )

I don't get the whole "Bob" thing. I'm supposed to believe that Leland was a good man who was possessed? Why did Laura write in her diary about "Bob"? Please explain that one cuz right now I am associating Bob with Leland you know.

I have a feeling that the actor who played Leland never got another good acting role after this. He had to have been type cast. The whole thing with him attempting to dance with Donna was just so freaky. And I totally missed the clues that Cooper explains in this episode, you know about the dancing dwarf and the grey haired man. Went right over my head.

the below contains SPOILERS for those who haven't watched up to the point Katy and DB are discussing

Katy, I've always assumed that Leland was schizophrenic and mostly blocked out his abuse of Laura. His alter ego is Bob, a monster/devil. Because Leland's psyche believes Bob has possessed him, he can survive believing he is not responsible for his daughter's ruined life. The split personality that is Bob allows Leland to not be consumed by guilt. When he is confronted by his actions and can no longer hide them behind his other personality, he more or less kills himself out of guilt and pain.

As for Laura herself (and you'll have to watch the movie Fire: Walk With Me to understand this) she also allows her mind to split so that the person abusing her is the evil "Bob" character and not the father who loves her.

It's all about two minds making a justification in order survive something that would otherwise make them go even more insane than they already are.

Dom

Can't agree. There's too many things indicating Bob is an external presence.

1) 'Mike' talking about Bob and hunting him for years, and identifying loosely where he is, and describing exactly what he is
2) Sarah and Maddy Palmer seeing Bob in visions without knowledge of anything involving a 'Bob'.
3) Agent Cooper seeing Bob in a dream, and actually providing enough of a descritio he provides a sketch that 'Mike' can identify.
4) Ronette Polaski seeing Bob (not Leland) in her memories (and reacting violently to the previously-mentioned sketch).




-------------------
Katy,

Yes, I don't think Ray Wise did anything really good after TP, other than the movie 'Fire Walk With Me'. IIRR, he was pretty phenomenal in that, a real tour-de-force performance. It's amazing what performances Lynch can get out of some of his actors (see Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive for another terrific performance), actors who often go back to obscurity somewhat.

you could be right...but i've always thought of those things you mention as Lynch's way of finding the evil in ordinary life....more of an intepretation and not so much literal happenings.

Cooper: There's nothing quite like urinating out in the open air.


Synopsis:
LOL at Big Ed's face when Nadine asks about her underpants being visible in her shiny shoes at Leland's wake!

There's a sweet scene between Audrey and Cooper saying goodbye.

Well, this is an episode that feels like a final episode (at least right up until Cooper is saying goodbye and the FBI Internal Affairs guy turns up), and then it suddenly veers into something else, especially the end where Major Briggs disappears in the woods.


Still fun, but one of the more forgettable episodes.

Gordon Cole: These guys make a living looking through other peoples' drawers. We've all had our socks tossed around from time to time.


Episode 18: Masked Ball (2.011)

synosis:

Not a great episode, and not that much going on. The comedy relief comes from Andy and Dick playing Uncle to 'Little Nicky', who proves a bit of a handful; the old codger getting married to the pretty young girl; and Nadine developing a crush on Mike at the high school.

Oh, a new sublot is developing with James helping out a beautiful blonde with a Jaguar in need of repair before her husband comes home.

The only bit close to the Twin Peaks we know and love of old is where we find Ben Horne watching home movies, and the introduction of David Duchovny (pre-Mulder) in an interesting and startling way. (Can't wait to hear what Katy has to say about this. Katy, doesn't one of your sisters crush on Duchovny? Please show her this episode and report back her responses).

Oh, and there's some Windham Earl here, presaging the final major story of the series, which I am looking forward to getting started.

Overall, not great except for the introduction of Duchovny to the Twin Peaks universe.

Agent Denise Bryson: I may be wearing a dress, but I still put my panties on one leg at a time, if you know what I mean.

Cooper: Not really.


Episode 19: The Black Widow (2.012)
synopsis:


Nothing really great about this episode, just some fun stuff: the old guy going out with his boots on, and Andy reading aloud a book about sex during the doctor's verdict; the poor widow completely enchanting all the men in the vicinity, and Lucy getting very peeved by it; the obv-lying conman trying to wriggle out of the evidence he was involved in drug-trafficking ('these are wicked people, they threatened me, they tortured me, they threatened to hurt my family, what could I do?'); but even so, probably the weakest episode yet.



And is it me, or does David Duchovny look hot? Nice hair anyway.

It took awhile for the light bulb to go on when I was watching this episode. It wasn't until somewhere near the end that I went oh [censored]. Tell me that is not who I think it is. My sister will just die! I hope she never watches this show. She'd be devastated no question. (HUGE crush on DD)

I confess I found these last two episodes somewhat boring. It took me forever to get through episode 18. And I think I've missed some important parts from lack of attention. Does Ben still own his lodge? Who is this Nicky kid and why is Dick babysitting him? What the hell is going on?! And did I see this correctly, Andrew?

lol - "They have women agents?"..."More or less."

Bear with it.


I think you should show your sister the David Duchovny episode in question, and post a trip report.

I will never ever do this. Her thing for David Duchovny is very important to her and this would ruin it for her.

oh, please answer my questions about Ben and also who this little Nicky boy is. I seemed to have missed something.

Ben still owns the Great Northern, if that's what you mean.

The little Nicky thing was Andy and Dick taking the kid our to show Lucy their paternal side. But now they think Nicky is the Antichrist.... - it's a goofy plotline.

Ah so Ben didn't give up the lodge to Katherine?

And WHO is little Nicky? Where did he come from?

I don't think so. I think she took him for money.

Nicky? Oh I can't remember.

I do think these last 2 (and maybe the next one or two) are writer padder cos they don't know what to do. I suspect a set of 10 more episodes got ordered late on and they really couldn't handle it.


It definitely gets really good and weird again. But to my mind, Little Nicky, James and his blonde wife, and Cooper's investigation is just filler to the next proper story line.

Audrey Horne: I think Daddy needs an injection.



Episode 20: Checkmate (2.013)

synopsis:
Ah we're still in the more mundane, subpar stretch of Twin Peaks, but I'm pretty sure this is the last such one. It definitely picks up in the last 10 minutes.

One thing about this episode is there's a ton of kissing all the way through. I watched this on the train, and had to shrink the video image.


There was a scene with Renault talking quietly to his hostage, Cooper, that was quite compelling, and something weird is going on at Leo's house...

I would have to say that this episode (#20) is my least favorite of all. I just didn't see the point of any of it. It really seemed like they didn't know where to take the show. It's a shame because I was totally into it before but now I'm in danger of losing interest. I think the Andy/Dick thing is kind of dumb. The Ben Horne thing is getting too weird and I have to say I'm disappointed in Ben, not to mention in Josie too.

Although that thing with Leo was creepy. I knew nothing good would come of having him in that home! I just knew it.

It was a poor episode, and yeah, probably the worst yet. Good to see David Duchovny in a suit though?

The last 10 minutes was pretty good though.


Stick with it Katy, there's an episode coming soon directed by Diane Keaton that is visually quite interesting and in places arresting (it's a good episode anyway, IIRR).

Dr Jacoby: ...what she does in fact possess is a heightened sexual drive, and a working knowledge of technique, anatomy and touch that few men have ever had the pleasure of experiencing, or the skill to match.
Sheriff Truman: Is it hot in here?
Cooper + Hawk in unison: Yeah.


Episode 21: Double Play (2.014)

synopsis:

Ehhh, a little better than episode 20, but not much.
Low points: The whole James+Evelyn thing is really dragging the whole thing down. They made a big mistake with this silly subplot/padding. Twin Peaks should stay in Twin Peaks.
High Points: Ben Horne reliving the civil war, where the South wins; we finally get to meet Windham Earle.

Also, the opening shot is obviously a reference to a famous shot from the classic 'Battleship Potemkin'.





The good news is I think this is the last episode of the saggy middle stretch of season 2, and the Windham Earle story finally kicks in proper,right up until the end. And what an end it is.

Stay with it, Katy!

(After Bobby Briggs gives Albert some non-verbal attitude in a doorway)
Albert (shouting over his shoulder): Get a life, punk!


Episode 22: Slaves and Masters (2.015)

synopsis:
This could be called the 'red nail varnish episode', there's so much red nail varnish on display.


Yeah, we're starting to get back some of the old form here, but it's not quite there. Good to see Albert back for a while, and we also have a semi-solved mystery I'd completely forgotten about (or at least I assumed it was 'Bob'); who shot Agent Cooper. The Nadine/Big Ed/Norma thing also seems to be getting resolved...awww, good to see the big lug get some happiness. And Ben Horne changing the course of the American Civil War was worth watching - nice to see Aurey as a Southern Belle.

But thank the Twin Peaks Gods that the Evelyn/James storyline is over.

Also, I'm digging the whole "Leostein"/Windham Earle thing, even though it's pantomime.


My vague memories tell me things are now ramping up nicely for a great set of episodes lasting right till the last devastating seconds of the final eisode...

Episode 21 and 22 are blurring together in my mind. I've only seen half of eps. 22 so I can't really remember where it starts and 21 stops.

I seriously did laugh (yeah right out loud) when Albert hugged Harry and the two acted like they hadn't seen each other in years. What's going on with that? Also thought it was funny when Andy and Dick start to bawl over little Nicky's life story.

And my favorite part (episode 22?) was when Nadine walks in on Ed and Norma in bed together. Lol, the look on Norma's face as she self-conciously pulls the covers up a little higher over herself to portray some modesty in a most immodest situation. Too funny. And then she unenthusiastically takes the trophy but then immediately hands it back to Ed. I think Peggy Lipton is great in that scene.