Around the dinner table, the conversation was lively. Thank you but for now, the forum has been archived.
If I were Dale, knowing what I know, I would be in no hurry to stop being Dougie. Dougie looked like a prison. Dale, as it turns out, is a prison.
sigh.
Good point.
I miss Dougie.
Yep, I've compared his fate to those in Sartre's "No Exit." Even Mr C is better off, IMO.
MJ, you said you were in pain and I ridiculously assumed it was the same as mine.
Tell me about YOUR pain (if you are comfortable doing so).
MJ, you said you were in pain and I ridiculously assumed it was the same as mine.
Tell me about YOUR pain (if you are comfortable doing so).
I will, promise. I need more time to make sense of it all. I am going through my stages, perhaps in a different order than you did.
If I were Dale, knowing what I know, I would be in no hurry to stop being Dougie. Dougie looked like a prison. Dale, as it turns out, is a prison.
sigh.
Here's my theory, which may be too simplistic and happy-ending-ish, but nevertheless:
The real Dale Cooper went back to Dougie Jones' life and family. The newly created Cooper tulpa/doppelganger/whatever went on to be the Dale/Richard we saw in the last hour-plus.
Why do I think this? Because that clearly wasn't Dale Cooper we were watching at the end. He seemed cold, flat. More reminiscent of Mr. C (or even the Dougie of the first 16 episodes) than Dale.
And because I'm simplistic and it gives Dale Cooper a happy ending that makes sense (as much as anything about Twin Peaks can make sense).
I don't think Coop would be happy saddled down with Janey E and Sonny Jim in Vegas. He lives for solving mystery and seeking justice. There would be no adventure as married suburban father.
I don't think Coop would be happy saddled down with Janey E and Sonny Jim in Vegas. He lives for solving mystery and seeking justice. There would be no adventure as married suburban father.
Especially with a job as insurance salesman. Or he could work for the brothers.
If I were Dale, knowing what I know, I would be in no hurry to stop being Dougie. Dougie looked like a prison. Dale, as it turns out, is a prison.
sigh.
Here's my theory, which may be too simplistic and happy-ending-ish, but nevertheless:
The real Dale Cooper went back to Dougie Jones' life and family. The newly created Cooper tulpa/doppelganger/whatever went on to be the Dale/Richard we saw in the last hour-plus.
Why do I think this? Because that clearly wasn't Dale Cooper we were watching at the end. He seemed cold, flat. More reminiscent of Mr. C (or even the Dougie of the first 16 episodes) than Dale.
And because I'm simplistic and it gives Dale Cooper a happy ending that makes sense (as much as anything about Twin Peaks can make sense).
I kind of flip flop with this idea too. I think it's more to sooth my aching and infected wounds. It's highly unlikely. But unlikely is not impossible.
And I'm pretty sure the new Mr. Jones can find a better job now. This gives me a little spec of peace.
The real Dale Cooper went back to Dougie Jones' life and family. The newly created Cooper tulpa/doppelganger/whatever went on to be the Dale/Richard we saw in the last hour-plus.
I wish, but it really looks like Dougie 2.0, with his wide-eyed "Where am I?," is a mix of pleasant Cooper exuberance and old-Dougie's "simpler" nature. He'll be a good husband and father who's happy to work at Lucky 7 and won't drag his family into any dark, twisted places that we should all stay far, far away from.
I'm pretty well convinced that Richard is Cooper-in-an-alternate-universe... who's just not as good as the Cooper from the old universe.
(And that's a sad note to leave this on... though I've had a hopeful thought of my own about how he doesn't necessarily stay stuck as "Richard." But that's going to require some rewatching and - if it holds up - deserves its own post.)
Hmmm, reading this just sparked something in my brain.
There is an ongoing theme of Tulpas and replacements and people "not feeling like themselves."
This makes me wonder about Cooper's moment outside the "Palmer" house when he asks what year it is. Is one of these moments of clarity? Is he wondering what he is, where he is, what the hell is going on? Does he not feel like himself?
This also raises a TON of other questions and theories but my head is about to explode and I will turn into a red (not gold) bead/pearl if I try to approach this now. And I'm sure this possibility has been explored somewhere already. If someone has a link to another thread, please share.
Fire walk with 
