Michael G. Munz

The official website of Seattle sci-fi/fantasy author and geek Michael G. Munz

Michael Re-Watches Twin Peaks: Season 1, Ep 6

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Season 1, Episode 6
Written by Mark Frost
Directed by Lesli Linka Glatter

I only remember a few things about this episode from my first viewing: Nick, who had a major thing for Sherlyn Fenn (he had a Boxing Helena movie poster in his dorm room, as I recall), going “Zing!” when Audrey told Cooper she was 18 at the start. One of the girls in the dorm lounge who was watching with us demanded we watch another episode immediately after the little cliff-hanger ending with Audrey as well. Oh, and over the course of repeated watchings, the songs that the Icelanders sing are now permanently accessible in my head, which is kinda cool.

Really, Mark Frost delivered one of my favorite episodes with this one because of various scenes: all the investigating, including a trip to the Log Lady’s and Jacques’s cabin. Major Briggs at family therapy. Audrey beginning her investigation. The whole Icelander visit. Oh, plus Leo gets beaten up and shot. Anything bad happening to Leo makes for a good episode in my book blog! [Read more…]

Michael Re-Watches Twin Peaks: Season 1, Ep 5

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Season 1, Episode 5
Written by Robert Engels
Directed by Tim Hunter

My memories of my original viewing of this episode are spotty, but a few things do stand out in my mind: My friend Nick remarking on how he loved Cooper’s reaction when Andy drops his gun. My own amazement (No, that’s too strong a word. Mild surprise?) in finding out that Andy and Lucy were a couple. (I’d somehow missed the earlier, more subtle indications.) Everyone in the dorm lounge bursting out in laughter due to the llama moment. Oh, and, this being the first episode with the now iconic sketch of BOB, I’m fairly sure that Nick wore his “Have you seen this man?” t-shirt–the same type of which I would get for myself on a trip to Snoqualmie a year or so later. [Read more…]

Michael Re-Watches Twin Peaks: Season 1, Ep 4

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Season 1, Episode 4
Written by Harley Peyton
Directed by Tina Rathbone

By this time on my original viewing experience (being shown the series by my friend Nick in my college dorm, as you may recall), our Twin Peaks viewings had collected other viewings, and had snowballed to at least half a dozen other regulars. I think this was about when we started knocking on doors of some people before we watched an episode, just to make sure they wouldn’t get mad at us if they missed anything.

As for this specific episode, I remember Nick cracking a joke during the funeral when the priest talked about loving Laura that implied that he was sleeping with her, too. Given what goes on in this town, I admit I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if that were actually canon. (And now I wish I could remember anything from my single read of The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer years ago.) [Read more…]

Michael Re-Watches Twin Peaks: Season 1, Ep 3

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Season 1, Episode 3
Written by Mark Frost & David Lynch
Directed by David Lynch

This may be one of my favorite episodes of the whole series. Though I was already interested in the show by this point on my first viewing, I’m pretty sure the rocks & bottles weirdness and the dream sequence at the end just knocked it out of the park for me. Not to mention this is, if I recall correctly, when Albert shows up. Albert was Nick’s favorite. He was practically beside himself grinning at his first appearance. When I later showed the series to other people myself, I was just the same as Nick had been, if not more.

…At least I think this episode has all that stuff? Time to find out if my memory is as good as I think it is about all of this… [Read more…]

Michael Re-Watches Twin Peaks: Season 1, Ep 2

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Season 1, Episode 2
Written by Mark Frost & David Lynch
Directed by Duwayne Dunham

Ah, the first non-pilot episode! Things look a little more polished. The sets are built, and this episode has more vibrant color than the pilot, which is mostly a characteristic that carries on through the rest of the series. I’ve always assumed that’s chest one of those changes that happens between the production of any pilot episode and when the show is picked up. More than the pilot, this episode really feels more like Twin Peaks. Maybe it’s that visual difference. Maybe it’s the additional quirkiness (not that the pilot wasn’t quirky), like Sheriff Truman shoving an entire donut into his mouth, Cooper ending a long list of directives with “Harry, I really have to urinate,” or a fish in the percolator.

I don’t have many specific memories of my initial viewing, but I do recall getting startled by the first real shot of BOB, and asking Nick who that was. Nick: “That’s BOB.” Me: “Yeah, he’s definitely not Bobby.” [Read more…]

Michael Re-Watches Twin Peaks: Pilot

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The Pilot!
Written by Mark Frost & David Lynch
Directed by David Lynch

I’ve decided to break these re-watches down into a few sections. I’ll start with my specific memories of my first experience with each of these episodes from way back when I first caught the show in college. Then I’ll slip into my thoughts and observations while I view it anew, and then follow that up with my picks for favorite lines, moments, etc…

Autumn 1992: The University of Washington Haggett Hall lounge. I think we started the episode with just me, Nick, and Ted the R.A., but as the pilot went on, more and more people joined us as they came in and saw what we were watching. I was amazed at how many people recognized it and wanted to see it again. [Read more…]

My Twin Peaks Re-watch

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I graduated from Twin Peaks High School.

No, I don’t mean that as a metaphor for having watched the whole series, the show’s formative influence on me, or having learned to make a damn fine cherry pie. I mean I graduated from the high school used to portray Twin Peaks High School in Fire Walk With Me. Michael G. Munz, Snohomish High School Class of ’92. How’re ya doin’ down there?

Curiously, Bobby is walking into the library here, which seems a little out of character for him… 😀

They filmed it when I was still a student there, but at the time, I wasn’t familiar with the show. Sure, I’d heard of it. Who hadn’t? Even in those pre-Internet days, it was somehow a part of our cultural consciousness. Yet for whatever reason, I never watched it while it was still on the air. (Exception: The season 1 finale aired on a night that I and a bunch of other friends were sleeping over at my friend Scott’s house. For just a moment as we were flipping channels, it came on. Though my recollection is vague, I think it went something like this: Audrey was at One Eyed Jack’s, getting dressed up to meet “the owner.” Being teenage guys, of course scenes in a brothel made us pause. “What’s this show?” “I don’t know.” “Wait, is it that Twin Peaks thing? I hear this show’s weird as hell.” Cue the scene switching to Nadine, sitting on the floor in a peach dress and ubiquitous eye patch, pouring out a bowl full of pills to attempt suicide, and then Cooper playing blackjack. “Yeah, this is weird.” “Hey, Scott, doesn’t your dad have a pool table?”) [Read more…]