After being shot by Josie at the end of Season One, Good Cooper actually lapsed into a coma. Everything in Season Two, and Season Three: The Return, thus far, is Cooper’s coma-dream. I base this theory, in part, on the following observations/indications.
The One-Armed Man (whom I think is positive energy) has given several commands or pleas for Coop to “wake up” and “don’t die.”
Lyrics of some of the songs that have been played as well as song titles mentioned in the dialogue refer to dreaming/sleeping.
Then there is Audrey’s infamous audition for employment at One Eyed Jack’s. (That cherry stem knot still ranks as one of the funniest gags I have ever seen.) Now, if that kind of dexterity isn’t a male dream, I don’t know what is.
There is also the dream like quality and ambiguities in many of the scenes - especially in the Red Room/Black Lodge where time is ambiguous and everyone (everyone but Cooper) talks backwards (which some consider a symbol of tapping into the unconscious). It is here where Cooper is unable to keep his fear at bay and he finds himself being chased and running away from the Bad Cooper. Good Cooper’s courage is imperfect and, according to Hawk’s warning, Cooper is risking the annihilation of his soul.
Hawk tells Coop, “The Black Lodge is the shadow-self of the White Lodge. The legend says that every spirit must pass through there on the way to perfection. There, you will meet your own shadow self. My people call it 'The Dweller on the Threshold’. It is said, if you confront the Black Lodge with imperfect courage, it will utterly annihilate your soul.”
Cooper is in a state of cognitive dissonance. Cooper must accept responsibility for his affair with Carolyn and her subsequent death. He also must acknowledge his attraction to an under age Audry. Cooper will have to stop running away from, face and accept the Bad Cooper as a part of himself (after all, they do share the same fingerprints). This is the only way Cooper will be able to vanquish the Bad Cooper. Accepting and gaining control over his negative self will be proof of his perfect courage and will enable Cooper to come out through the other side of the Black Lodge into the White Lodge and love.
That's a good one. Well thought out. Dunno if I believe it but it's good.
How very social psychology of you. 🙂
Indeed well thought out. I especially like the part about accepting and gaining control over his darker self.
Anything is possible.
I was thinking that the other day about Cooper being in a coma after being shot at the end of series 1 and that would account for the discrepancies between the old series and the information in The Secret History with Norma Jennings and Annie.
Yes, nicely concieved! I tend to agree with the Detective that it is unlikely to go quite there, but it sure makes some sense.
AND...SOMEONE is dreaming!
That would be the ultimate final middle finger from Lynch to the network that made him reveal the killer. Cooper waking up and all of season 2 and 3 were a dream and we dont know who killed Laura after all!
That would be the ultimate final middle finger from Lynch to the network that made him reveal the killer. Cooper waking up and all of season 2 and 3 were a dream and we dont know who killed Laura after all!
Ultimate fuck you to the viewers as well.
The st elsewhere ending would be an absolutely atrocity to this show.
Great theory, but I think the "it was all just a dream" and "they were dead all along" endings are too cliche. Anything is possible tho.
That would be the ultimate final middle finger from Lynch to the network that made him reveal the killer. Cooper waking up and all of season 2 and 3 were a dream and we dont know who killed Laura after all!
Agreed. A big FU for ABC.
Plus it explains the lack of Annie this season as well (as she doesn't really exist in this universe).
Still it opens he question of what happened to Audrey, as by this logic the bank explosion never happened. Then what did really happen to her and how come she ended up having Richard as her son?
That would be the ultimate final middle finger from Lynch to the network that made him reveal the killer. Cooper waking up and all of season 2 and 3 were a dream and we dont know who killed Laura after all!
Agreed. A big FU for ABC.
Plus it explains the lack of Annie this season as well (as she doesn't really exist in this universe).
Still it opens he question of what happened to Audrey, as by this logic the bank explosion never happened. Then what did really happen to her and how come she ended up having Richard as her son?
They end it as season 2-3 is a dream, and abc laughs saying "haha thank god we axed that shit".
Fire walk with