TWIN PEAKS CONVERSATIONS bonus podcast premieres tonight w/ David Lynch's American Dreamscape author Mike Miley (YouTube & extended PATREON)

Early this year when I stumbled across a YouTube trailer for an upcoming book titled David Lynch's American Dreamscape, full of clips that exhibited Lynch's keen eye for postwar American iconography and landscapes, I was intrigued. I already had my own plans to tackle Lynchian Americana in a Journey Through Twin Peaks video essay (which I will begin exploring in depth behind the scenes this month, having already outlined my ideas for this chapter), so this seemed right up my alley - and as soon as I discovered more about the book being promoted, the project felt even more resonant. Mike Miley, a New Orleans teacher who has previously analyzed game shows, developed this book from an initial series of essays comparing individual Lynch works to various novels and musical movements; intrigued by the ways this film director linked up with other forms of media, he subtitled the resultant study Music, Literature, Cinema. I'm always keen on drawing connections and Mike's efforts are some of the more imaginative I've encountered: Eraserhead and Fire Walk With Me with Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper and Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar; Blue Velvet with Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are; Mulholland Drive with The Day of the Locust and other Nathaniel West fiction; the third season of Twin Peaks, particularly Part 8, with Cormac McCarthy's The Crossing; Wild at Heart with the rise of rock 'n' roll as theorized by Greil Marcus; all of Twin Peaks with the teen tragedy ballad; Lost Highway with cover songs; The Straight Story with The Anthology of American Folk Music and Bob Dylan's The Basement Tapes; and Inland Empire with mixtapes. Drawing together the three threads, a coda parallels Lynch with David Foster Wallace and Lana Del Rey.

I had a great time juxtaposing images of these different works for the intro to the (otherwise mostly audio-only) video that resulted. It turns out that there are often visual as well as thematic rhymes between the works - or at least between their promotional materials, or the related images I found online to illustrate an idea. You can scroll down for screenshots of these as well as links to Mike's, my, and other's work which we ended up discussing alongside David Lynch's American Dreamscape. The first, public part of our discussion takes a broad view of Mike and his analysis: his first acquaintance with Lynch's filmography, his development of this project, and what he sees as its purpose. In the longer back section for the $5/month tier on Patreon, we dive into each of these sections in turn - with particular emphasis on those involving Fire Walk With Me - and I pose particular questions that occurred to me while reading. I was a great conversation and a fascinating book.

PART 1 on YouTube premieres at 8pm EST

Listen to...

PART 2 on Patreon

(also premieres at 8pm EST)

April 2025 Patreon round-up: EXCLUSIVE - Breaking Bad season 2 viewing diary (second part) + Advanced narration audio (& bonus still image) for Journey Through Twin Peaks

A couple months ago, I shared the first half of this Breaking Bad season's viewing diary (the previous season was covered for the public many years ago). I intended to wait until June to finish the season but other plans fell through and I decided that last month's patron pick podcast (on Penda's Fen) was enough of an interruption. The time had come to conclude Walter White's journey through season two. As much as I enjoyed the first seven episodes, I was even more bowled over by the last six, from the introduction of one of TV's most memorable supporting characters (eventually a lead in his own spin-off) to the grand, novelistic season finale teased from the premiere's first moments. Above all, the fleshing out of Walt's immensely compromised ethos alongside his flinty focus (and the way these two qualities interact) impressed me deeply. I was also struck by the structure the show develops while pursuing its multifaceted storytelling strategy. There was certainly a lot to discuss in these overviews and in the process I stretched my two-paragraph-per-episode format to its limits. I'm not sure yet when I'll watch the next season - not to mention the two after that - but I hope to resume the series later this year. For now, I want to focus on Journey Through Twin Peaks and other video projects, which this month yielded a couple advances: the audio recording of my narration for the upcoming 37 as well as an image which will be used in that chapter (an "in memoriam" mosaic of actors who passed away before The Return). I also conducted my usual bimonthly patron poll to determine next months' podcast topic for the top tier - a close contention resulting in the first runoff poll in six months.

What are the April rewards?

belated February 2025 Patreon round-up: EXCLUSIVE - Breaking Bad season 2 viewing diary (first part) + Lost in Twin Peaks season 2 illustrated companion advance

Years ago, I launched several months of first season viewing diaries by writing about each episode of Breaking Bad up to that season's finale. Other shows introduced to my site during that period - specifically Mad Men and Veronica Mars - were eventually completed, but others were never resumed (including The Wire, The X-Files, and - considering its subsequent revival - The Kingdom). Of these, the suspense-driven Breaking Bad was one of the hardest siren calls to resist. Although I'm not currently publishing any non-Twin Peaks material publicly, my need for monthly Patreon $5/month tier exclusives provided a good opportunity to finally continue the series. With the first season - presented publicly - having established the premise for Walter White (cancer-stricken chemistry teacher turned meth manufacturer), the second season is keen on worldbuilding, revealing a whole community of criminals (and at least one memorable attorney), and I had a great time exploring that world when I viewed the season last spring. Since then I've kept this viewing diary in my back pocket for the proverbial rainy day - which February proved to be. I published the first seven episodes at the beginning of the month with plans to present the other half of this season (already written) in June, with hopefully more seasons to come after that although I haven't watched them yet. To refresh your memory of what's in those episodes - which I'm not just engaging with but watching for the very first time - I've included some screenshots at the end of this round-up as well as in the image above.

At the other extreme of the preparation spectrum, my work on the illustrated companions for my Lost in Twin Peaks public podcast release - which I advanced to the $1/month tier as their monthly reward - took way, way longer than expected...hence this February cross-post appearing halfway through March. I shouldn't have been surprised; in all its various capacities, from applying images alongside various episode categories to re-editing what was originally recorded for patrons, that public presentation has proved to be my most laborious project ever since it was initiated back in 2021. (At this point, the re-packaging has already taken much longer than the underlying episodes took to create which seems mindboggling.) Now, at least, one more step has been completed. Patrons can enjoy - with or without the audio context - vivid screenshots from each Twin Peaks second season episode, accompanied by in-the-weeds statistics (like which characters have the most screentime in each episode), and images from the historical context of the time: what was in the news, on magazine covers, or on rival channels. (To view the already published - and public - illustrated companions for the first and third seasons as well as Fire Walk With Me, check out this page.)

What are the February rewards?

Musicians of the Road House (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #31)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through mid-August before pausing again, although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

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Providing a passage between past and present, plot and periphery, "reality" and dream, the Musicians offer a chorus to express a confused community.

Jerry Horne (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #33)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through mid-August before pausing again, although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

• indicates passages added or revised since 2017, if you want to skip directly to fresh material; this is a revision of an earlier piece written before the third season.

• Jerry is defined by his appetites and enthusiasms, which is a good thing since his legal - and navigational - skills are more questionable.

Janey-E Jones (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #35)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through mid-August before pausing again, although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

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Used to carrying the load for her family, Janey-E is tough on her husband until she slowly realizes that his presence now offers security and, more importantly, love.

Annie Blackburn (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #39)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through mid-August before pausing again, although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

• indicates passages added or revised since 2017, if you want to skip directly to fresh material (in this case, just in the "Books" section as well as one "Offscreen" and one "Additional Observation", all near the end); this is a revision of an earlier piece written before the book Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier.

Annie returns to her troubled town, where her trauma began, in order to heal, but her romance with a wise, kind, gentle man puts her in greater danger than ever.

Mike Nelson (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #40)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

• indicates passages added or revised since 2017, if you want to skip directly to fresh material; this is a revision of an earlier piece written before the third season.

•Mike is a follower - whether surly mimic of his best friend or grinning boy toy for a superwoman - but when he thinks he has the upper hand he can be quite assertive.

Bushnell Mullins (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #41)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

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Curious and protective, tough but fair, Bushnell is eventually proud to call himself Dougie's boss.

Detective Dave Macklay (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #43)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

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Concerned but seldom alarmed, Macklay carefully navigates a case unlike any he's encountered in his corner of the world.

Ray Monroe (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #44)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

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Far more than the mere henchman he initially appears as, Ray has many sides and many lives - but not as many as his boss.

Margaret "The Log Lady" Lanterman (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #45)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

• indicates passages added or revised since 2017, if you want to skip directly to fresh material; this is a revision of an earlier piece written before the third season.

The Log Lady, eccentric, mystical, compassionate, is the heart and soul of Twin Peaks.

Richard Horne (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #47)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

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A stain upon Twin Peaks drawn from its greatest admirer and one of its most prominent citizens, Richard embodies the darkness that has settled over his town after twenty-five years.

Anthony Sinclair (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #50)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

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A dishonest insurance agent who inspires contempt in almost everyone he encounters, Anthony is nearly driven to murder before he breaks down.

Bill Hastings (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #51)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

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Hastings is a high school principal swallowed up by a strange (to him) yet all-too-familiar (to us) nexus of a criminal investigation, love affair, and supernatural encounter.

Eileen Hayward (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #52)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

• indicates passages added or revised since 2017, if you want to skip directly to fresh material; this is a revision of an earlier piece written before the third season.

Eileen is a bedrock of attentive comfort in Twin Peaks, until even she is revealed to be hiding something.

Candie (as well as Sandie and Mandie) (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #54)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

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Candie, the most called-upon member of a trio including Sandie and Mandie, is dazzled by the world around her if rather disengaged from the immediate needs of her bosses.

Carrie Page (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #55)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

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Things aren't going well for Carrie in Odessa and they don't get much better when she takes a ride with an FBI man to Twin Peaks.

Sonny Jim Jones (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #59)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

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A boy in search of a good dad (even one he has to take care of himself), Sonny Jim is delighted by the turn his own father has taken.

Charlie (TWIN PEAKS Character Series #60)

The TWIN PEAKS Character Series surveys one hundred ten characters from the series Twin Peaks (1990-91 on ABC and 2017 on Showtime as The Return), the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992), and The Missing Pieces (2014), a collection of deleted scenes from that film. A new character study will appear every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday although patrons will have immediate access to each entry a month before it goes public. There will be spoilers.

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Charlie watches and responds to Audrey's exasperation with the sense that he's a helpless observer, but does he actually hold the key to her destination? Who is he, anyway?