So..... we're just hoping he gets well, then?
No update? No death? Nada. Zip.
AFAIK, the actor himself isn't in the best of health. If that's the case, the most tasteful and sensitive thing to do was leave things as they stand.
Additionally, why would we get an answer to that when we get answers to nothing else except whether Jeffries is a TEA kettle or not.n 🙂
Additionally, why would we get an answer to that when we get answers to nothing else except whether Jeffries is a TEA kettle or not.n 🙂
It's also not a brain, it's a head.
So..... we're just hoping he gets well, then?
No update? No death? Nada. Zip.
This is the kinda thing that will probably be addressed in the Final Dossier: what his illness was, how far along, etc. doesn't really matter if he he died at the end of the Return. His time is nearly up.
Edit: to Sam's point, if Michael Ontkean had died during filming, an episode probably would've been dedicated to him and his character would've received closure.
I was bugged by how they dragged out the charade with the one-sided phone calls and all the rest of it. It was like they just wanted to harp on his absence (which seems kind of unfair to Robert Forster's character, who despite a fine performance never stops seeming like the wrong Sheriff Truman). I know to chalk it up as one of those things Lynch does because he can, like the five minutes of floor-sweeping and Gordon's French lady and Wally Brando... being Wally Brando. And if you want Lynch, you're getting all of Lynch. But seriously, it's 25 years later. It's fine if you just tell us Harry retired to Maui (which I gather is the truth).
I was bugged by how they dragged out the charade with the one-sided phone calls and all the rest of it. It was like they just wanted to harp on his absence (which seems kind of unfair to Robert Forster's character, who despite a fine performance never stops seeming like the wrong Sheriff Truman).
I can understand being bugged about how Lynch handled the Harry S situation, especially if the original Sheriff Truman was one of your favorites. I was disappointed that Ontkean wasn't in the Return too.
I have a slightly different take on it, however. I thought the tenderness and concern that Lynch had Forster show every time he talked to Harry was an expression on how much Lynch cared for both the character and the actor.
😉
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I like your more positive take! That's a believable way to look at it, and I'll endeavor to see it that way on rewatch.
I guess it's just funny how the show could almost scoff at our need to revisit old friends (barely an episode of 100% Real Coop, that freaky sequence with Audrey) but take all that time to dwell on a character who's not even there. Well, that's Lynch for ya. 😉
I'm still curious how things fell through. If it's Michael Ontkean's health, I certainly hope that it isn't anything serious. I wonder if Harry's presence in TP might have meant more Cooper in TP. Who knows.
I just wonder if the Final Dossier will tell us much about Twin Peak town characters like Harry Truman. If I remember correctly, most of the documents in the SHOTP were compiled by Major Briggs and edited into the published version by Tammy Preston. Unless there is more material from the earlier days that we haven't seen, it is unlikely that any editor would be gathering town documents because no one in Twin Peaks except Log Lady had a clue to what was going on.
Or who knows. Maybe one of them was inspired to become a TP scholar after they saw bearded men emerging from badcoop's green-gloved body.
A couple of things:
1) Is Michael Ontkean ill? I'd never heard anything about that until this thread, and I've read articles about his lack of appearance in The Return going back a year or two now. I even did a search before posting this, and could find nothing about it. Plenty about how he wouldn't be in the new show, and that he's retired from acting, but nothing about health issues. So... where does that come from?
2) For the sake of argument, let's go ahead and say there was some sort of health issue preventing Ontkean from returning. Why would that prevent Lynch & Frost from providing an outcome for his character?
The reason I even brought this up is because of how they handled The Log Lady. While I knew that Catherine Coulson was ill during filming, and that she'd died during production, I honestly did not expect them to address her passing directly. But no, they actually had her say, "I'm dying," and then had her die.
All I'm saying is, if they have another character (Harry Truman) who is supposed to be seriously ill, and they dwell on it in more than one scene, then I don't think it's out of bounds to want to know what becomes of that character. Did he died? Did he beat his illness? Still ill? We got nothing.
I guess I'm just a little surprised by some of the responses that are almost akin to how Hawk responded to Frank Truman about Judy.
I couldn't find anything about his health on the internet either, but he may be keeping it private. Consider the way we had no idea David Bowie was dying. Maybe Lynch was just going for the way things happen in life. People get sick, and they dont necessarily die just because part of the story is ending. It would have been strange if they never mentioned his whereabouts.
A couple of things:
1) Is Michael Ontkean ill? I'd never heard anything about that until this thread, and I've read articles about his lack of appearance in The Return going back a year or two now. I even did a search before posting this, and could find nothing about it. Plenty about how he wouldn't be in the new show, and that he's retired from acting, but nothing about health issues. So... where does that come from?
2) For the sake of argument, let's go ahead and say there was some sort of health issue preventing Ontkean from returning. Why would that prevent Lynch & Frost from providing an outcome for his character?
The reason I even brought this up is because of how they handled The Log Lady. While I knew that Catherine Coulson was ill during filming, and that she'd died during production, I honestly did not expect them to address her passing directly. But no, they actually had her say, "I'm dying," and then had her die.
All I'm saying is, if they have another character (Harry Truman) who is supposed to be seriously ill, and they dwell on it in more than one scene, then I don't think it's out of bounds to want to know what becomes of that character. Did he died? Did he beat his illness? Still ill? We got nothing.
I guess I'm just a little surprised by some of the responses that are almost akin to how Hawk responded to Frank Truman about Judy.
Lynch and Coulson had been friends for almost 45 years at the time of filming her scenes for the Return. It's quite a different scenario than with Ontkean. Lynch was paying tribute to a dear friend, not just a Twin Peaks character. She displayed immense courage in her final scene. I still wonder if they're her words.
I agree with your intent to a point, but we know that Harry "is" seriously ill in the Return and it's implied that his end days are close. A funeral would've been fitting, sure, and may even be on the cutting room floor. I really don't see it as being anymore of a "slight" than, say, Audrey, but miles better than Donna or Annie.
For the record, I haven't found anything on Michael Ontkean being ill either.
Lynch and Coulson had been friends for almost 45 years at the time of filming her scenes for the Return. It's quite a different scenario than with Ontkean. Lynch was paying tribute to a dear friend, not just a Twin Peaks character. She displayed immense courage in her final scene. I still wonder if they're her words.
I've read in "The Blue Rose Magazine" brand new issue #3 that Catherine Coulson died two days after the filming.
There is a very stirring full page in the magazine dedicated to CC.
Lynch and Coulson had been friends for almost 45 years at the time of filming her scenes for the Return. It's quite a different scenario than with Ontkean. Lynch was paying tribute to a dear friend, not just a Twin Peaks character. She displayed immense courage in her final scene. I still wonder if they're her words.
I've read in "The Blue Rose Magazine" brand new issue #3 that Catherine Coulson died two days after the filming.
There is a very stirring full page in the magazine dedicated to CC.
Wow that's intense and, if true, adds even more to the scene/gift given to us (and Lynch - Catherine too)! Unreal.
Fire walk with