Twin Peaks: Season Two

It used to be that there was a separation between film and television. Those who worked in the movies would never think of lowering themselves to television. Alfred Hitchcock made quite a stir when in the fifties he dared to create a weekly television anthology series. In 1990 many where stunned by the news that film director David Lynch was creating a television series. Anyone who is familiar with the films of David Lynch knows he is not a man who permits his work to be tied to convention. He is at his best with experimentation and his series, Twin Peaks broke ground in areas of television that still have not been matched. Finally, the second and last season of this quixotic series is on DVD bringing to an end one of the strangest rides ever offered the television audience. There are many who feel the series was just too weird to watch; other became rabid fans. There is one thing about any of the works of David Lynch, there are not prone to lukewarm feelings.

The second season picks up where the first left off. FBI Special Agent Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) is still on the trail of the murderer of homecoming queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). While this initially seemed like just any other investigation Cooper found that the inhabitants of the small northwestern town of Twin Peaks, Washington where far from the usual suspects.

After a less than successful foray into the local brothel, 'One-Eyed Jacks', Agent Cooper receives a serious gunshot wound. While lying there bleeding he is has a vision where he is visited by a mysterious giant (Carel Struycken) who provides Cooper with cryptic clues on how to proceed in the investigation. After piecing together information both from the normal channels of investigation and more spiritually based means Cooper realizes that Palmer had a second, more revealing diary. The diary is in the possession of town local Harold Smith (Lenny von Dohlen). The town is reeling from the burning down of the Packward Saw Mill, the primary source of income. Laura’s father Leland (Ray Wise) is so shocked that his hair has turned white overnight. Leland is possessed by a deadly, murderous spirit that goes by the name of Bob. Leland has no knowledge of what he does while under Bob’s sinister control. As if all of this isn’t enough for the lamented Agent Cooper he discovers that his completely insane former partner Windom Earle (Kenneth Welsh) has come back in the picture. It turns out that sweet, innocent Laura lead a double life of sex and drug use while secretly working at One Eyed Jack’s. Much of this season is concerned with Cooper’s attempt to locate the second diary hoping it will put all the pieces in place. Cooper is lead and mislead by people in this reality and the spirit realm including his own double and the return of the ‘Man from Another Place’ (Michael J. Anderson) who has the habit of talking backwards while dancing to jazz in a red curtained room. Cooper is kidnapped, lied to and shot at when all he wants is to solve the mystery and have a cup of coffee and a slice of cherry pie.

This series set is not for the casual viewer. Like any work from the strange and wonderful mind of David Lynch it takes some degree of effort and concentration to even begin to understand the plot lines and themes. There are more twists and turns here than in a bowl of spaghetti. Just when you think you have things figured out there is something just over the horizon to completely change things up. Lynch is one of the true auteurs on the cinematic scene today. He enjoys exercising complete control over his works but is not above calling on others to help him realize it. While Lynch was the true creative force behind Twin Peaks he used others directors and writers to help out. Among the visiting directors are people like Caleb Deschanel (father of actresses Emily and Zooey) as well as actress Diane Keaton. Each brings their own touch to their episode while maintaining the overall vision of Mr. Lynch. One of the more well known and strange techniques that are employed by Lynch is the use of backmasking. This is when dialogue is recorded backward and played forward. It is responsible for the other worldly feel to several of the dream or vision sequences. The series often has a dreamlike feel to it. There are frequently breaks in the linear timeline that keeps the audience always off balance. The whole series is intended to push the envelop with the audience and completely break away from what most think television should be. Lynch does not compromise in what he wants his audience to experience and ultimately this was the demise of the series. The television networks were just not ready for something so innovative and different. This season just takes the gloves off completely going wild with the use of camera angles, lighting and color balance. Lynch wanted to bring the level of technical excellence found in film to television. Instead of the usual wrap it up in 44 minutes format most television dramas use this series has to be considered as a whole. Unfortunately the first season is discontinued but copies are still around. This second season can stand on its own since it does provide exposition of the first season at key points. This is a series of contrasts between good and evil as well as one that looks deeper into the dark places of the human mind; not your typical TV faire at all.

Over its 30 episodes Twin Peaks provided the television audience with some of the best actors around. The smallest roles are cast with masters in their craft just adding to the excellence of this production. Kyle MacLachlan was an actor already familiar to Lynch after staring in his 1984 variation of the science fiction classic Dune. Here MacLachlan seems to have a lot of fun in his role. He gets to combine the staid FBI agent with a man on a vision quest. He plays Cooper in just the right off beat fashion to be able to sell his strange character to the audience. Lara Flynn Boyle is incredible in characterization of Donna. She is sexy and self assured while having a little bit of innocence about her. Before is pivotal role in the late, lamented Carnivàle, Michael J. Anderson became a household favorite here. While short in statue his acting ability is great and the only regret is his screen time is all too brief. Ray Wise simply owns the dual role of Leland and Bob. He is able to change every aspect of his performance to suite his character.

Paramount does an outstanding job of bringing this season to DVD. They pay their usual attention to the technical specifications as well as providing some interesting extras. The full screen video is flawless. The colors are vivid and extremely well balanced. This was one of the first television series to have a six channel sound track which is provided here in a brilliant Dolby 5.1. The channel separation is far better than most television series. Overall this is produced more like a film than the usual series. There is a grid to navigate the extras including behind the scenes insight from many of the cast and crew including Kyle MacLachlan, Madchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn, David Duchovny and, of course, David Lynch. All of the Log Lady’s introductions are present as well as a look at the secret diary. This is a must for all the Lynch fans out there but may confuse the novice. .

Posted 03/22/07