Holy Wow! So I am now 3 episodes and the movie away with being finished and the show is blowing my mind! I know all about having to use everything you're going to show the audience, but the way some of the stuff has played out and the show has changed directions a few times has left me absolutely digging it. I was afraid I would burn out but I am still averaging 2 episodes or so a day!
Stop reading here to avoid spoilers!
I don't even know where to begin! I was expecting the reveal of Laura Palmer's killer to be revealed at the absolute ending of the show, so after writing Part 2, I was surprised to find out that not only did they reveal who it was, but that it was actually Mr. Palmer! The whole possession by Bob thing has been an interesting plotline that has been running in addition to The White Lodge, but once he died, I had no clue how they were going to keep the show going.
One of the things I love about the show is how well it positions its characters through the different plots. I knew that Leo wouldn't be a vegetable forever, but the way they sent him in the woods to become a lackey for Windom Earle and bring him back to the forefront while freeing up Shelley to return to the diner and reducing Bobby's role is just downright brilliant. Characters step forward and then back, making such an excellent use of the ensemble that shows like Lost who tried to emulate it still seem mediocre now that I'm watching.
With Laura Palmer's murder resolved, the story moved on to Jean Renault and I dug how they utilized some conspiracy to keep Cooper in Twin Peaks to keep some of the other plotlines cooking. DAVID DUCHOVNY as Denice was absolutely brilliant casting and an amazing cameo, I absolutely adored Cooper's acceptance in the face of everyone else's reactions, even when posing as the waitress to help spring Coop during the hostage situations.
Donna and James continue to just make me irate, James is just an absolute idiot in the face of everything, so even though he loves Donna, he apparently has to leave the town and go get involved with a married woman. I guess I understand the point of him being afraid that he is corrupting every woman he is involved with, but good lord just give it a break. At least he is off show for awhile and is only reporting in to Donna through postcards.
Ed and Norma! Finally together! Nadine's super strength story continues to be bizarre, but watching her wreck Hank was an absolute highlight for me. Hank was played with the perfect amount of douchebag so watching him strong arm Norma's new Step-Father was both heartbreaking and appropriate. Funny that right as I was questioning where Mike had gone, he appears as Nadine's love interest and becomes the very tool that helps bring Ed and Norma together!
I'm glad Josie is gone, her connections to the Packards were running tedious after the mill burnt down so while I'm sad to see Truman be unhappy, I'm not upset. Her performance was bizarrely unfitting of what they wanted to do with the character in my opinion. Killer but victim? Actress? Then why did she spend the last two episodes being so whiny instead of just finding a way to take care of business? I guess the whole "I think I'm going mad" works in when you factor in the Bob reveal, but now that Leland Palmer has died, I think they needed to try and explain a little better how he might have possessed her. Or maybe he has the whole time. And on a related note, I hope they explain why Jones tried to kill Truman. Revenge I guess for Josie killing Eckart, but why didn't she try and kill Packard or Kathryn instead? Someone more significant?
Ben Horne's journey through mental collapse was fun in that it allowed Bobby and Audrey to step forward a bit, one seeking fortune and the other trying to find her place in the adult world, but now that he has been "cured," I don't know if I like where they are heading with the character. A secret connection to Donna's Mom? That Mr. Hayward wouldn't have known about even after 20 years of marriage in a town that small? I do love that now that he is "cured," all of his cigaring has been replaced by similarly shaped vegetables.
Ben's quest for forgiveness has brought Audrey front and center, and almost as important to running the Great Northern as Ben had been, I am enjoying her growing into a young HBIC in spite of him, and while I make a frowny face when she looks so oblivious during her romancing by Billy Zane (BILLY ZANE, BILLY ZAAAANNNE), she is adorbs when doing it. Sort of a step back from how she could try and be an equal to Cooper earlier in the show, but she is growing up and I'm digging her much more than I was in the first season.
Some of my favorite moments have been the little tangents that don't really go anywhere but are great at showing off different characters and parts of the town. Andy and Dick investigating the potentially murderous Little Nicky and the Wedding and Subsequent Irritable Woman both stand out, in addition to the Travel Writer coming to town.
Windom Earle has been an excellent foil for Cooper, more brilliant but less grounded, playing alone while Cooper uses all the help he can get. I'm confident Cooper will emerge victorious and then retire to Twin Peaks, it is just a matter of who will be killed in the meantime.
I know there is more to discuss, but I won't remember much of it until I can review each episode. Aside from Cooper's retirement to the city, I could maybe predict more, but don't really want to. I'm ready to just go wherever the show wants to take me and hang on for the ride.
PS I love that Albert came back! And Gordon! Who is beginning a potential love affair with Shelley Johnson! Heather Graham as Norma's Sister was also brilliant casting. I'm looking forward to she and Coop finding love and a happy ending!
PSS: OMG when Leland slayed Maddy and then was almost busted by Cooper I was shouting at the TV! GET EM COOP! He has come so close to catching these villains multiple times but they always seem to elude him. Also really dug the revelation scene where Cooper pieces it all together at the Roadhouse.
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