Interesting thoughts on viewing TPTR as an 18 Hour film rather than in 18 hour long parts.
'“It all comes out now, flowing like a river.”
Margaret Lanterman, aka the Log Lady (Catherine Coulson), declares this to Hawk (Michael Horse), ostensibly as a declaration for what Hawk and his cohort will discover about Dale Cooper, his doppelgänger, and the epic battle between the forces of good and evil that we call “Laura” and “Judy.” The statement could just as easily refer to the way that Lynch and Frost assembled the show. While each episode presents certain intrinsic norms with regard to narrative, theme, and character, those melt away when each episode is strung together. What emerges is a continuous narrative flow, where every disparate storyline seems to flow effortlessly together.
This matters in two significant ways. First, information important to the central “plot” is embedded from the very beginning, slowly and intricately opening the mystery up as the series progresses. The very first scene in the new series contains shots from the season two finale of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) in the Red Room telling Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) that she’ll see him again in 25 years. When Part 1 aired back in May, this repetition felt like a cute way to announce that the revival had arrived as promised. Now that we have seen what happens to both Cooper and (possibly) Laura, we understand that the entire series was a setup for the reunion of these two individuals."
Full essay here: https://decider.com/2017/11/24/twin-peaks-the-return-marathon/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=DeciderTwitter&utm_medium=SocialFlow
Something else to ponder: how does having originally viewed TPTR in 18 hour long parts, analyzing and discussing them to death, impact viewing it as an 18 hour film afterward?
I have yet to rewatch as an 18 hour film but I plan to once the Bluray version is released.
Interesting thoughts on viewing TPTR as an 18 Hour film rather than in 18 hour long parts.
Hi Caoimhín,
The real question, to me, is whether or not, we will be able to view the thing as a movie. I'd be willing to bet big money we won't.
Watching it as a movie would include an option to skip all the closing credits. How many, say, four hour movies have you seen that had a set of credits after each hour? My guess would be none. 😉
Lynch liked to call it an eighteen hour movie, but we all know it wasn't. It was a TV show with eighteen episodes. Even if they gave us that option, it would necessarily leave out scenes like the "Has anyone seen Billy ?" moment at the end of... uh, well, Episode 7. Which, if I recall correctly, had the familiar frequenters of this forum fascinated for quite a while. 😉
The real question is: will we be able to synchronize episodes? Just kidding!! Kinda. No, really, I'm not kidding. I would love it. But that feature is even less likely than the watch-as-a-movie one. >:-(
😉
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As a parent of two small kids who works full time, being able to stay awake for 18 hours straight would be an impressive feat in itself 😀
I'd love to actually be able to see this in one sitting and see what a difference it would make, in that the show does follow the rhythms of a film, especially compared to the original series which is a lot more fast paced overall. As pointed out above though, the credits and events leading into them (the girl screaming in the roadhouse, where's billy?) would need to be edited quite significantly to join up in a way that feels natural to the whole.
As a parent of two small kids who works full time, being able to stay awake for 18 hours straight would be an impressive feat in itself 😀
Hi Chris,
Just out of curiosity, why do you make your two small kids work full time? >:-(
Just kidding!! 😉
Anyway, I find when I'm binge-watching something, it doesn't have to be devoured all in one day, but rather I won't watch anything else before the binge is over. Otherwise, you'd never be able to binge shows like LOST or Game of Thrones, without astronomical (and most likely mortal) amounts of amphetamine. Or maybe Sparkle. Where's Red when you really need him? 🙂
Speaking of which, where is Red? And, by the way, what's his last name? I bet it's Pill. As in Red Pill. 😉
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Lynch approached the entire project as a movie (writing, production, budget, etc.). But I do not believe the new season, in its current format, is intended to be watched like one.
There are plenty of shows that are a continuing story and as such can be watched in one go (True Detective, to name one). Sure, same counts for the new Twin Peaks. But Frost and Lynch were always adamant not to consider Netflix because then they would have to release all 18 parts at once. They knew Twin Peaks works better in smaller doses.
That said, I wouldn't completely rule out a limited theatrical release in two or three parts, but that would require more budget and, even more precious, time. And at this point, I'm afraid there's not enough demand to get that going.
Interesting thoughts on viewing TPTR as an 18 Hour film rather than in 18 hour long parts.
Hi Caoimhín,
The real question, to me, is whether or not, we will be able to view the thing as a movie. I'd be willing to bet big money we won't.
Watching it as a movie would include an option to skip all the closing credits. How many, say, four hour movies have you seen that had a set of credits after each hour? My guess would be none. 😉
Lynch liked to call it an eighteen hour movie, but we all know it wasn't. It was a TV show with eighteen episodes. Even if they gave us that option, it would necessarily leave out scenes like the "Has anyone seen Billy ?" moment at the end of... uh, well, Episode 7. Which, if I recall correctly, had the familiar frequenters of this forum fascinated for quite a while. 😉
The real question is: will we be able to synchronize episodes? Just kidding!! Kinda. No, really, I'm not kidding. I would love it. But that feature is even less likely than the watch-as-a-movie one. >:-(
😉
- /< /\ /> -
Valid comments.
The credits also included clues about characters and dedications to the deceased.
Point taken on a continuous 18 hour film version not being included on the bluray. However, given that a fan edited all the Missing Pieces into FWWM, there's a good chance that a fan will edit all 18 parts into a continuous piece.
All that said, I think the author of the article was calling a binge watch, an 18 hour film version (unless he knows something that we don't). And, that's how I intend to watch upon release to find out if the viewing experience is any different as a whole.
Lynch approached the entire project as a movie (writing, production, budget, etc.). But I do not believe the new season, in its current format, is intended to be watched like one.
There are plenty of shows that are a continuing story and as such can be watched in one go (True Detective, to name one). Sure, same counts for the new Twin Peaks. But Frost and Lynch were always adamant not to consider Netflix because then they would have to release all 18 parts at once. They knew Twin Peaks works better in smaller doses.
That said, I wouldn't completely rule out a limited theatrical release in two or three parts, but that would require more budget and, even more precious, time. And at this point, I'm afraid there's not enough demand to get that going.
I agree in that upon initial viewing, a viewer would lose an important, and intended, component(s) of the viewing experience by choosing to binge watch rather than watch it how it was released.
I think binge watching after having viewed it in entirety can add depth to the experience.
An aside, does True Detective have the same director for every episode each season? Serious question because I don't know. Not that it would invalidate the one film vs season long narrative argument as the Wachowskis and Tykwer have shown in Cloud Atlas, for example.
As a parent of two small kids who works full time, being able to stay awake for 18 hours straight would be an impressive feat in itself 😀
Hi Chris,
Just out of curiosity, why do you make your two small kids work full time? >:-(
Just kidding!! 😉
- /< /\ /> -
I've always been a stickler for a victorian sensibility ?
All of season one is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. Season two has 6 different directors across 8 episodes.
All that said, I think the author of the article was calling a binge watch, an 18 hour film version (unless he knows something that we don't). And, that's how I intend to watch upon release to find out if the viewing experience is any different as a whole.
Hi Caoimhín,
Sounds like a plan.
Me, I'm going the whole nine yards. As soon as I get the set, I'm going to watch the original series, FWWM (plus Missing Pieces, natch), and The Return.
Just can't decide whether to watch FWWM first, or in the order they were produced and shown! >:-(
Of course, I'll probably need a lot of Red Pill's red pills, because as Morpheus said, "This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back... You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes."
I'm planing on staying in Wonderland for a long, long time. And when I'm done, I'll probably feel like Neo emerging from his pod. Dazed and confused.
Probably not naked, though. 😉
😉
- /< /\ /> -
An aside, does True Detective have the same director for every episode each season?
First season, yes - Cary Joji Fukunaga. Second season, nope.
😉
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I posted the this Digital Spy interview w/Frost in another thread but a portion of it is pertinent here:
"You've said that the Season 3 script was delivered as a single piece, but we had it in weekly episodes. How did you feel about that?
"The original run of the show really benefited from the fact that nobody knew about 'binging' back then. To roll out the episodes one week after the other gave people time to digest and theorise and talk amongst themselves. The internet has obviously enhanced that ability exponentially.
"I don't particularly enjoy binging myself... I steered us away from Netflix in this instance right from the start, because I didn't feel that was the right format to roll out this particular show. With Showtime we were able to more or less replicate the original experience – one a week, take your time, think about it, write about it, talk about it, then come back for more.
"I think that was a healthier way to engage with the material. To ask somebody to sit through 18 hours at once, particularly of this show – we'd have to give discounts for psych wards probably! You don't know what effect it would have on people."' ?
All that said, I think the author of the article was calling a binge watch, an 18 hour film version (unless he knows something that we don't). And, that's how I intend to watch upon release to find out if the viewing experience is any different as a whole.
Hi Caoimhín,
Sounds like a plan.
Me, I'm going the whole nine yards. As soon as I get the set, I'm going to watch the original series, FWWM (plus Missing Pieces, natch), and The Return.
Just can't decide whether to watch FWWM first, or in the order they were produced and shown! >:-(
Of course, I'll probably need a lot of Red Pill's red pills, because as Morpheus said, "This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back... You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes."
I'm planing on staying in Wonderland for a long, long time. And when I'm done, I'll probably feel like Neo emerging from his pod. Dazed and confused.
Probably not naked, though. 😉
😉
- /< /\ /> -
That's an even better idea (pills included)!
As far as deciding whether or not to watch FWWM first: it's a question without proper answer if one has already watched seasons 1 and 2 and FWWM; at least to me. Lettuce ? Know what you decide.
I have recommended TPTR to several friends. I strongly urge that they only watch one per week. And think on it.
In my opinion one of the most immaculate and masterful parts was the tension and irresolution of it all. For a single hour to seed so many questions and such befuddlement and rational conflicts; well, it makes this show truly unprecedented.
While a French woman is refreshing her lipstick and you're just dying to know what exciting news Albert has to share... and then finally, and his news makes no sense to you, only more questions - Aggghhh! Masterful.
Fire walk with