Michael Re-Watches Twin Peaks: Season 2, Ep 3

I remember nothing of my initial viewing of this episode. (Heck, it was over two decades ago!) I do know that our dorm lounge Twin Peaks watching group had grown by this time to about ten regulars, plus or minus a few depending on the night. But rather than mention that, I’ll take a moment to talk about something else…

Long-time Twin Peaks fans know that sometime in the 1990s, the series was re-released on a cable channel called Bravo! that may or may not exist anymore. Paired with each episode was a new introduction by Catherine E. Coulson, in-character as the Log Lady, with each of her new lines written by David Lynch. They’ve since been paired with the episodes on the DVD collections as well, but you’ll notice that I haven’t mentioned watching those yet. The truth is I don’t really like them as episode introductions. Don’t get me wrong: I’m glad they exist, and I enjoyed seeing them, but they’re almost like a DVD commentary; they fit better for me as something you watch after your first viewing.

I’m sure I’m in the minority on this.

The Re-Watch

Well this episode starts with some big stuff: Ronette was attacked in her hospital bed, and now she’s got something under her nail. (It’s a letter B.) With a 24-hour guard, how did BOB get in there? He can’t physically move around without a host, right? Did an owl fly in the window and do it? Don’t hospitals take measures to keep owls out of intensive care??

After a two-episode delay, Cooper tells Albert and Harry about the Giant and his clues. I can’t say as I blame him too much for the delay, even though the rocks-and-bottles thing went over well enough.

Albert is understandably skeptical about the whole BOB thing, and gets back to the whole Cooper-shot-thrice thing. Apparently Cooper was shot with a Walther PPK, which Albert then says was James Bond’s gun. You know, nearly every single time I’ve shown this to someone they mention “That’s James Bond’s gun!” a moment before Albert says it. I love that. 🙂

And speaking of love, it’s time for perhaps the most famous, and most quoted, of all of Albert’s lines, complete with a sudden swelling of dramatic music.

Now you listen to me. While I will admit to a certain cynicism, the fact is that I am a naysayer and hatchet-man in the fight against violence. I pride myself in taking a punch and I’ll gladly take another because I choose to live my life in the company of Gandhi and King. My concerns are global. I reject absolutely revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method… is love. I love you Sheriff Truman.

Albert: Full of surprises. It’s a fun moment, and an interesting layer to his character after being mostly just a highly competent, highly condescending, acerbic presence. I never took the love thing to mean romantic love, but rather a love for a fellow human being. This is not to say I’d have a problem the character were gay at all. It’s just that the rest of his speech indicates a more general, universal love. Speaking of love, I also love Cooper’s follow-up to the reveal of Albert’s contradictory nature: “Albert’s path is a strange and difficult one.”

…Except, wouldn’t demanding Harry’s badge after Harry punched him last season be retaliatory? Well, pobody’s nerfect.

But on to new people and new experiences! This episode introduces us to the orchid-breeding, agoraphobic, dazzlingly-coiffed Harold Smith.

You know, Harold looked older when I first saw this at age 18. Now he looks so young! Though I also just watched the Psych ep that he’s in, so that could be affecting it. He says he wrote to Donna to see if she’s place one on Laura’s grave, but also because Laura wanted him to get in touch with her. Plus hey, he’s a mysterious older guy who has his own place! Combined with the mystery of his relationship to Laura, Donna spends a while hanging out.

And speaking of new character introductions, this ep has another one: Hello, Dick.

After taking a whole episode to rush over to the Sheriff’s station from the Great Northern, Leland finally shows up to talk to Cooper and Harry about how he knows BOB. (Hmm, was he the mystery caller last episode? But why would he want to be anonymous?) And again I still wonder, is this Leland actually remembering, or is BOB just dropping hints like the Riddler?

We get another Mysterious Asian Guy sighting, and then it’s time for yet another new character when Jean Renault shows up. I hate this guy. But in a good way, for the most part. I think he hangs around the series a little too long, but his ruthlessness and fake Quebecois accent are mostly a welcome addition for me.

While a lack of Haliperidol, Mike wakes up from inside Phillip Gerard. And speaking of waking up: Nadine’s still in her coma, pumping out so much adrenaline she’s ripping through restraints. That’s a very active coma. And then she wakes up and thinks she’s a teenager. I’ve had mornings like that.

And speaking of, um, the opposite of waking up, Cooper questions Dr. Jacoby under hypnosis so he can better remember details of Jacques’ murder. Jacoby’s hypnosis script is a golf narrative, and it nearly makes Harry sleep, too. As someone who really, really finds golf boring, I can’t really blame him. Jacoby mentions smelling engine oil in the park, too. So definitely BOB there, so far as I’m concerned. Oh, and he saw Leland kill Jacques.

James shares a tender hug with Maddy after just walking straight into the Palmer house. Then Donna just walks in. Then Leland just walks in. (Well, okay, it’s his house, but still. Murderer in town, people! Lock the doors! Stop visiting cemeteries at night!) Also James smashes the Palmer’s lamp. Classy. And then Harry and Cooper just walk in! And what happens then? Leland gets arrested! So let this be a lesson to you folks: When there’s a murderer in town, lock your damn door or you’ll get your lamps destroyed and your ass arrested! And stop visiting cemeteries at night!

After repeatedly walking in on Maddy and James at the wrong time, Donna can’t take it anymore. She runs to Harold and stumbles on…

Favorite Moments:
Though it’s actually not my favorite of Albert’s lines (I prefer his whole tirade during Laura’s autopsy on the day of the funeral), of course I have to go with his hatchet-man speech.

Least Favorite Moment:
Nothing major in this one, but possibly Big Ed singing? He’s got a good voice, but I’ve never really been a fan of people singing on screen, unless it’s a musical. (I’m weird that way. Apparently as a toddler I used to tell my own mother not to sing when she sang to me.)

Weirdest Moment:
Mike surfacing in Phillip Gerard in the Sheriff’s Station men’s room. His echoing voice is an especially effective…er…effect. Or was that just Sheriff’s station bathroom acoustics?

Favorite Lines:
“Do you have a judgment about that you’d like to express?” (I use this one a lot.)

“It’s been six weeks, Dick. You said you were going to call.”
“I know. …I lost your phone number.”
“I work for the Sheriff, you could’ve dialed 911.”

Things I noticed for the first time:
Doc Hayward says he’s going to close the door behind him when he leaves Ed alone with Nadine, but after she wakes up the camera pulls back and the door is still open.

Sparkwood & 21 traffic light count: 4

Waterfall close-up shot count: 2

Windblown trees shot count: 4

On to episode 4 of the second season…
View all of my Twin Peaks re-watch blogs here!