Here’s mine, through the immortal words of Statler & Waldorf:
I personally thing this is the biggest let-down for a comeback pop cultural phenomenon since "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace", back in 1999.
Three, possibly four good episodes out of 18 is not good at all.
And I was right all along. Soooooo many completely pointless scenes I can’t even count them anymore. Like that crippled husband in the wheelchair for instance. Not to mention of all the Roadhouse performances! Gee! Mind you, I sat through it all, thinking it would be all worthwhile. And don’t get me started about episode 8.
One of my sisters called me about 3 weeks ago. She had just started to watch The Return, but fell asleep watching episode 5. She asked me if she really should watch the rest, or give up. I told her then that it does get better. “You just have to hang in there”. I will call her today and say she don’t have to bother with the rest of the episodes. It's a complete waste of time.
It’s clear to me now that the original intent of 9 episodes really could have worked out fine. And when David Lynch wanted to abandon the project, I don’t think it would have been a bad idea to hand over the steering wheel to someone else. Like for instance the makers of the French mini-series “Les Revenants”, who supposedly were huge fans of Twin Peaks. That could have made the show less “difficult” and more approachable for a wider audience, and therefore more successful.
I don’t think “The Return” had anything that the original series had. No mood, no mystic, no good drama, no music, no scare-the-shit-out-of-the audience-moment. No nothing except for some the recurring cast. It was different, VERY different. And not in a good way. I mean, just the slow pace!
But I have enjoyed discussing it all with you here, and I will miss it. I even think I managed to start the thread with most views on this forum , “To all you Episode 8 lovers”, in which I even was accused of trolling. (If I ever would be accused of trolling, Twin Peaks would be the only justified cause for that. So that’s fine.)
And for the final episodes, I do like how they managed to incorporate the scenes from FWWM to the new storyline.
Still, I think that in 20 years time, when people are talking about Twin Peaks, and the Twin Peaks feel, etc, they will still think of the original run. Not “The Return”. This one is something I will try to forget as soon as possible. The only reason not to forget is, is if there is a season 4. And if that ever happen, I hope I will see all you guys again!
I disagree with almost everything you said in terms of negative attitude toward the show. However, I cannot discredit your own experiences. Some people LOVE the Phantom Menace, just as I loved every second of the return, and think it is the best revival that any show/movie has experienced. I think in 20 years time, people with think about TWIN PEAKS, and see all 3 seasons as Lynch's surrealist masterpiece.
You say"
I don’t think “The Return” had anything that the original series had. No mood, no mystic, no good drama, no music, no scare-the-shit-out-of-the audience-moment. No nothing except for some the recurring cast.
THAT'S BECAUSE IT IS NOT THE ORIGINAL SERIES. Your reliance on the old show to carry the new season is your obvious problem. I thought the return had its own mood, its own mystic, EXCELLENT drama and tension, brilliant music choice, and I was genuinely terrified at points.
I liked it but I have been a huge fan of Lynch,
from writing essays to visiting his painting retrospective and creating an homage to his early short film "the Alphabet" for school.
And in terms of my appreciation for him as a fine artist this was all i wanted and more.
In many ways some aspects could be seen as him indulging himself with a budget he could only of garnered with the Twin Peaks brand, but believe me every aspect is of great intellectual value to discipled creatives who seek insights into his modes of operation. If you are just a fan of the tv series and not his rich body of work beyond it I can see how you are frustrated, but I was delighted by heavier incorporation of effects that utilized techniques reminiscent of his paintings and early animations that the original show was not able to make room for. He is a brilliant artist with a lot of more recent interests he obviously wanted to explore while also touching on old ones.
My impressions: I laughed hysterically and I cried my eyes out. I was appalled and comforted. I was confused and understood. I was anxious and relaxed. I was frustrated and hypnotized. In other words, it was a journey and I enjoyed it.
Also its pretty obvious from all of the scenes within the town that he could have very easily recreated the aesthetic of the original series, its not like its challenging to incorporate more music. But it almost made the music more interesting to me that he'd use it in selective referential moments. He got his bachelors and graduate degrees in painting so in many ways I view that as the best way to dissect his work, and in those terms the music was just as relevant, just used in selective patterns instead of broad strokes.
everything about audrey is cruel though ill give you that but it also feels great to surrender to the ultimate vision
While I did appreciate Episode 8, I agree with everything else you said. I'm disappointed in the season as a whole. It just wasn't very good. So much time was wasted on pointless things like watching people drive. I know Lynch thinks these scenes were artistic, and I understand the symbolism, but they were BORING. While the original Twin Peaks may have been weird, it was never this boring.
I'm going to pretend The Return never happened.
I love the old series for the good and kind characters (Agent Cooper, Doctor Hayward, Sheriff Truman - to name just a few), the atmosphere, and something very close to a sense of security - knowing that whatever happens, there's always a piece of cherry pie and a cup of damn good coffee.
I'm going to pretend The Return never happened.
I love the old series for the good and kind characters (Agent Cooper, Doctor Hayward, Sheriff Truman - to name just a few), the atmosphere, and something very close to a sense of security - knowing that whatever happens, there's always a piece of cherry pie and a cup of damn good coffee.
The more I think of it, the more I feel sorry for all the actors participating in this mess. But atleast they got paid, and they did their job well.
I'm with you Athena, I'm too gonna pretend "The Return" never happened. I will consider it "non-existent". Just as I do with "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace".
But look what happened to the Star Wars saga whit "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story". They took a fan of the franchise to direct a "spin off" set in the time of the original three movies. And I think "Rogue One" is the best Star Wars movie since 1983's "Return of The Jedi". It was the closest thing I've seen to the original Star Wars movies, when it came to setting a certain vibe/mood etc. So, I'm trying to say, that when it comes to revive vintage pop cultural phenomenon, it's not a bad thing to entirely disconnect the original creators, and let new fresh blood mimic the old stuff that we all loved so much.
And yes, maybe I am a complete nostalgic, trapped in the old Twin Peaks, just like "SomethingVague" suggests. But even Mark Frost and David Lynch must have known what most of the Twin Peaks fans was craving for? I'm not alone to feel like this.
As much as I would like to love "The Return", I just can't. Having said that, I still would like a continuation. A season 4. But I'm not sure I would like for David Lynch to direct and produce it. I don't want to sit through another slow paced 18 episodes with a lot of pointless scenes that don't go anywhere. It's been hard as it is.
Oh, I, too, am strongly reminded of the Star Wars prequels and how lame they were. Loved Rogue One every bit as much as the original trilogy, though.
I even know what I would like to see in another 25 years: a spin-off showing Cooper setting off to find Annie. (The whole Cooper/Diane romantic business and the fact that there's no mention of Annie in the entire The Return is what pisses me off most of all, to be honest.)
Fire walk with