So I've started my first rewatch of TOS since The Return (I think my last rewatch before this was about 2 years ago), and I thought it would be fun to start a thread similar to the 'New Observations' thread in The Return section. Not to go over old ground, but I've found it interesting how many little things you pick up on when watched with The Return in mind. I'm about halfway through Season 2, and here are my notes so far:
Who is the hooded figure watching Leo's meeting with Mike and Bobby? They never get mentioned again.
Why is Coop waiting by Laura's grave at night when Jacoby turned up? Was he specifically waiting for Jacoby or was he waiting to see if anyone with a guilty conscience turned up?
Considering Laura's murder was serious enough to warrant an FBI investigation, and considering the seriousness Leo and Jacques' criminal activities, it's surprising that they didn't take the time to sneak back to the cabin and clean it up.
It's really astonishing on this rewatch how little BoB/mythology there is in the first season. The second season, for better or worse, really did a lot to seal what a lot of Peaks is about. Right from the off, with the doddering old waiter/Giant, there's subtle yet distinct change in tone.
The electric's start to mess up when Leiland enters the Great Northern for the Icelandic party. First, Jerry's microphone plays up, then the music comes on of its own accord. Was this flux in the electrics due to the arrival of Leiland/BoB
Waldo mimicking Laura, on paper, should be ridiculous. But it's actually pretty disturbing. I always forget how much so until I watch it.
Who is the Asian gentleman Audrey shares such a lingering glance with when she leaves Coop's room en route to One Eyed Jacks? I don't think we see him again but the glance really does linger.
The girl whispering in Coop's ear in the casino is insignificant but makes a nice parallel with Laura whispering in Coop's ear - not forgetting Laura worked at One Eyed Jacks.
Ben's obvious arousal at a masked Audrey is never easy to watch.
I'll skip The Giant's moments for bow because I think there's a thread of its own there (coming soon!)
Mrs Tremond and her grandson - Mrs Tremond seems concerned after her encounter with Donna. The grandson is sullen. "She seemed like a nice girl" is said in a tone of passive-aggressiveness.
In the hospital at Ronette's bedside - Harry: "You were visited by a giant?" Albert:" Any relation to the dwarf?" ONE AND THE SAME!!!
Mrs Chalfont opening the door to Coop and Donna makes an interesting parallel with the end of The Return, especially with the names concerned. I don't know if its more significant than that, but it's a nice little link.
It's interesting that Ben has a dossier on Josie and Andrew - Coop also wrote one as per The Secret History.
Mike says that the 'place' where BoB comes from 'cannot be revealed.' Why? What or who prevents this realisation?
Mike: "Do you understand the parasite? It attaches itself to a life form and feeds. Bob requires a human host. He feeds on fear and the pleasures. They are his children." A parasite goes where there is food; it does not create its food. An interesting analogy for the argument of who killed Laura, Leiland or BoB? BoB could only feed on what was already there. Perhaps he encouraged or exaggerated qualities that were already there, but the core qualities were already there in Leiland.
If Leiland did go into the light and was greeted and welcomed by Laura, why was in the Red Room requesting Coop "find Laura?"
The hooded figure who appears when Briggs disappears - the only other similar looking entity is the one in Season 1 who watches Bobby and Mike's meeting with Leo. But surely it's a different being? Who?
The White Lodge is not the opposite to the black per se, but is actually the Black is the doppleganger of the White - the shadow self as Hawk puts it. Which means the purpose of and the relationship between the Lodges is more ambiguous than good and evil.
Mike Nelson was really a missed opportunity. He simmers with rage in Season 1, an aura cautious danger surrounding him. By Season 2 he's forgotten then becomes Nadine's love plaything. Now, I actually enjoy the Nadine story arc but the Mike of the first season had a lot of potential that wasn't explored.
The Military lost their co-ordinates on Briggs. Funnily enough, Briggs is looking for co-ordinates of his own 25 years later.
The "Coop/Owls are not what they seem" messages were sent from the forest - to where? They strike me almost as a partial recording of The Giant's conversation with Coop, as if taking place within a different plane, or a lodge, within the woods and there was some sort of 'data' leakage back out into the 'real' world.
Doug Milford does not appear enough and does not have enough presence for me to truly believe that he is the same Doug Milford of The Secret History. I just don't buy it. Sorry Mr Frost.
Andy and Dick deserved better than the little Nicky storyline.
Why is Briggs dressed like a World War pilot? Are there any parallels in The Secret History anywhere? Because if he went back in time, I could imagine Doug Milford finding sone documentation of it for the dossier.
It's interesting that in the second half of the second season, they gently layer the mythology stuff through, so it never seems to dominate or take centre stage against the other stories - Josie, Nadine and Mike, Wyndham, Little Nicky etc. Perhaps it would have been better to have emphasised the mythology stuff and had it lead the show, like the Laura murder did previously. At least it would give the show a sense of direction (whether real or illusory).
Why is Briggs seated on a stone carved throne covered with vines at the start of "Checkmate?" Just some sort of mystical affectation or is their something specific it relates to?
The dripping water sprinkler leaking onto the photo of Briggs' neck - a reminder of Leiland's posession? Is this supposed to raise viewer questions around Briggs being inhabited?
Oy vey!
Note to self: Don't try reading the forum first thing in the morning........
The dripping water sprinkler leaking onto the photo of Briggs' neck - a reminder of Leiland's posession? Is this supposed to raise viewer questions around Briggs being inhabited?
I don't remember this part. Where/when was it?
The biggest thing that stood out to me on my last re-watch was when Leland is driving with Maddy's body in his trunk, swerving and singing "Surrey with the Fringe On Top" we then cut to Coop and Harry in another car, and Coop is whistling that song. Wow, Bob, wow.
The dripping water sprinkler leaking onto the photo of Briggs' neck - a reminder of Leiland's posession? Is this supposed to raise viewer questions around Briggs being inhabited?
I don't remember this part. Where/when was it?
The episode after Briggs returns home. He's in the sherriff's office, and it's just after he's been escorted out by the military police.
I laughed when the Secret History started giving Dougie Milford that backstory. But I would contend we are shown so little of him in the series that it works. I mean, prior to Secret History, all we knew about him was that he was the Mayor's brother and had had a bunch of wives...
Also, I do seem to recall a connection in the Secret History to Briggs wearing that pilot gear... some plane that disappeared or something... I cannot recall the details off the top of my hear, but it seemed like maybe there was a connection
Fire walk with