After two and a half years, my Lost in Twin Peaks podcast finally reaches the last episode of the original series (although there were will be an expansive episode on Fire Walk With Me in August for the twenty-ninth anniversary of the U.S. release). As a reward for patrons who patiently endured delays earlier in the spring, I released my finale episode a month early, shortly after another anniversary (the thirtieth in this case); it aired back-to-back with the previous episode, also covered below, as a two-parter on June 10, 1991. There was a lot to discuss here in terms of plot, iconic touchstones, behind-the-scenes and historical context: including the astonishing fact that the Time Magazine cover dated this exact day featured a gimmick black cover with the word "evil" subtly embossed upon it, leading to an essay on (one of) the very issue(s) Peaks addressed in more abstract form that night.
On my main podcast episode this month, I take a jauntier trip into nocturnal mystery, comparing Howard Hawks' adaptation of Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep to Twin Peaks, inspired partly by some feedback a year ago. When you look at the noir classic in light of season one, you notice characters hunting around quiet west coast neighborhoods for seedy clues buried inside secluded domesticity. When you compare it to season two, you may pick up on the more overt nods like characters named Sternwood and Vivian. And season three reveals some of the most intriguing connections yet: what is Mr. C if not a classically independent sleuth, severed from official institutions as he attempts to crack a case on his own while unable to trust anyone around him. And the Cooper of Part 18 may be the most overtly noir-ish incarnation of all. I also enjoyed re-visiting my own essay about Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade for the archival reading series, juxtaposing the two iconic detectives on page and screen, both played by Bogart to different effect.
Podcast Line-Ups for...
Lost in the Movies #80
INTRO
MONTHLY UPDATE
(mostly behind the scenes)
last appearance on Twin Peaks Unwrapped, Lost in Twin Peaks historical context, Mad Men season 6
TWIN PEAKS REFLECTIONS
Eckhardt, Malcolm / Marsh estate, Twin Peaks welcome sign / Ed & Norma romance + Part 15
OPENING THE ARCHIVE
Spade & Marlowe, Private Eyes (The Maltese Falcon & The Big Sleep, on page & screen)
TWIN PEAKS CINEMA
The Big Sleep
OPENING THE ARCHIVE
more on The Big Sleep
FILM CAPSULES
Blue Velvet & special features, The Sweet Hereafter, Mad Men season 5, St. Helens: Out of the Ash including Twin Peaks comparison, A&E Biography: WWE Legends w/ aside on professional wrestling, Biography: Booker T, Citizen Kane, The Battle Over Citizen Kane, Bimbo's Initiation, Snow White, Cocoon, To Sleep With Anger & writing film reviews again
OUTRO
Lost in Twin Peaks #29 - S2E21 (Miss Twin Peaks/"Episode 28")
INTRO
THE OPENING OF THE EPISODE
DIRECTOR/WRITER
PRODUCTION & TV CONTEXT
THE OPENING OF THE EPISODE
DIRECTOR/WRITER
PRODUCTION & TV CONTEXT
(when it aired, ratings, surrounding shows)
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
(#1 movie: City Slickers)
*saving news/TIME cover context & Usenet comments from this date for the next episode
+ subsequent media coverage for the Fire Walk With Me episode
FAN RECEPTION
(to the late season)
w/ dugpa forum comments
PERSONAL RECEPTION
(to the late season)
FAN RECEPTION
(to ep. 28 specifically)
PERSONAL RECEPTION
(to ep. 28 specifically)
THE FEEL OF THE EPISODE
"PREVIOUSLY ON" RECAP
THE STRUCTURE OF THE EPISODE
(including top storyline)
SCENES ORGANIZED BY STORY
Murder investigation / Packard family / Ghostwood / Shelly & Bobby & Leo / Ed & Norma / Josie & Harry / Lucy’s pregnancy / Windom Earle & Cooper's history + Mystery of the woods / Super Teen Nadine / Milford bride / Ben goes good / Audrey & JJW / Annie & Cooper / Mystery box / Ben & Eileen / Miss Twin Peaks
LOCATIONS
CHARACTERS
SCENES ORGANIZED BY STORY
Murder investigation / Packard family / Ghostwood / Shelly & Bobby & Leo / Ed & Norma / Josie & Harry / Lucy’s pregnancy / Windom Earle & Cooper's history + Mystery of the woods / Super Teen Nadine / Milford bride / Ben goes good / Audrey & JJW / Annie & Cooper / Mystery box / Ben & Eileen / Miss Twin Peaks
LOCATIONS
CHARACTERS
(introductions, first interactions, rankings, hot streaks, absences, returns)
COFFEE, PIE & DONUTS
COFFEE, PIE & DONUTS
(+ other food & smoking)
MYTHOLOGY
WHAT IS TWIN PEAKS?
WHO IS AGENT COOPER?
WHO IS LAURA PALMER?
MYTHOLOGY
WHAT IS TWIN PEAKS?
WHO IS AGENT COOPER?
WHO IS LAURA PALMER?
(w/ aside on Diane... podcast & sacrifices in pageants)
READING FROM MY OTHER WORK
LOG LADY INTRO
READING FROM MY OTHER WORK
LOG LADY INTRO
SHAPE OF THE SHOW
(ONE MORE READING)
SPOILER SECTION
(for future episodes)
CHARACTER MILESTONES
CHARACTER MILESTONES
FAN RESPONSES & READING FROM MY OTHER WORK
RANDOM OBSERVATIONS
FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
FAN RECEPTION
Lost in Twin Peaks #30B - Season 2 Finale: S2E22, Part 2 (Beyond Life and Death/"Episode 29")
THE FEEL OF THE EPISODE
THE STRUCTURE OF THE EPISODE
READINGS/CLIPS FROM MY OTHER WORK
LOG LADY INTRO
SHAPE OF THE SHOW: Preparing for Fire Walk With Me
READING FROM MY OTHER WORK
Lost in Twin Peaks #30A - Season 2 Finale: S2E22, Part 1 (Beyond Life and Death/"Episode 29")
INTRO
THE OPENING OF THE EPISODE
WRITERS/DIRECTOR & PRODUCTION CONTEXT
THE OPENING OF THE EPISODE
WRITERS/DIRECTOR & PRODUCTION CONTEXT
*TV context included in previous episode
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
(Gulf War parades, TIME cover: Evil + pieces on Madame Mao w/ my own aside on her life & connection to Twin Peaks, China-U.S. relations, video games, rock music, JFK & more)
*#1 movie context included in previous episode
FAN RECEPTION
(USENET QUOTES)
*no media coverage this time
FAN RECEPTION
(DUGPA FAN COMMENTS)
PERSONAL RECEPTION
(including DVD special features)
GENERAL FAN RECEPTION TODAY
Lost in Twin Peaks #30B - Season 2 Finale: S2E22, Part 2 (Beyond Life and Death/"Episode 29")
THE FEEL OF THE EPISODE
THE STRUCTURE OF THE EPISODE
(including top storyline)
MORE SCENES ORGANIZED BY STORY
MORE SCENES ORGANIZED BY STORY
(those with roots in season 1)
Murder investigation / Palmer family / Laura's spirituality / Laura's connection to Maddy / Harold & the Secret Diary / Ghostwood / Shelly & Bobby & Leo / Nadine's drape runners / Ed & Norma / Cooper & Audrey / Lucy’s pregnancy
Murder investigation / Palmer family / Laura's spirituality / Laura's connection to Maddy / Harold & the Secret Diary / Ghostwood / Shelly & Bobby & Leo / Nadine's drape runners / Ed & Norma / Cooper & Audrey / Lucy’s pregnancy
THE CENTRAL STORYLINE: Cooper enters the Black Lodge in pursuit of Windom & Annie
includes... origins in different story threads / scenes before the long Red Room sequence / 1. seated Cooper in the Lodge: waiting room passage / 2. walking Cooper in the Lodge: back-and-forth passage w/ breakdown of each room visit / 3. standing Cooper in the Lodge: showdown passage / 4. fleeing Cooper in the Lodge: doppelganger chase passage / other observations inside Red Room / the two Venus statues / final scenes after the Red Room sequence
MORE SCENES ORGANIZED BY STORY
(those with roots in season 2)
Super Teen Nadine / Ben goes good / Mystery box / Ben & Eileen / standalone
LOCATIONS
CHARACTERS
LOCATIONS
CHARACTERS
(introductions, first interactions, rankings, hot streaks, absences, returns)
COFFEE, PIE & DONUTS
COFFEE, PIE & DONUTS
(+ other food & smoking)
Lost in Twin Peaks #30C - Season 2 Finale: S2E22, Part 3 (Beyond Life and Death/"Episode 29")
MYTHOLOGY
WHAT IS TWIN PEAKS?
WHO IS AGENT COOPER?
WHO IS LAURA PALMER?
Lost in Twin Peaks #30C - Season 2 Finale: S2E22, Part 3 (Beyond Life and Death/"Episode 29")
MYTHOLOGY
WHAT IS TWIN PEAKS?
WHO IS AGENT COOPER?
WHO IS LAURA PALMER?
READINGS/CLIPS FROM MY OTHER WORK
LOG LADY INTRO
SHAPE OF THE SHOW: Preparing for Fire Walk With Me
READING FROM MY OTHER WORK
FIRE WALK WITH ME TRAILER
CLIP FROM MY OTHER WORK
SPOILER SECTION
SPOILER SECTION
(for future episodes)
CHARACTER MILESTONES
CHARACTER MILESTONES
READINGS/CLIP FROM MY OTHER WORK
TALKING ABOUT JUDY
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