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…]