Hot Damn, That Pie is Good
After all these years, the premiere episode of Twin Peaks season two remains absolutely delectable. I've blogged before about how I love the anti-momentum of it. How the finale of season one was plot driven, high melodrama and then David Lynch immediately threw a wrench into the works, bringing us to a full stop with Cooper lying on the floor and . . . Hank Warden shows up with warm milk.
The episode is a sequence of scenes and moments that are just exquisite. Audrey with that mask and her father. The Giant. Jerry and Blackie with the heroin. The wood tick in the path of a bullet. The man in a smiling bag. "What's there to smile about." "Uncle Leland's hair turned white." The stain on the floor. "Mairzy Doats". "These same geese were flying that night." Andy getting that board in the face and his line, "Do you know who it is? Do you know who it is?" which, like the best of Lynch, is simultaneously completely bizarre and absolutely natural. It's my favourite Andy moment in the whole series, and that includes season three.
There's also Pete taking a moment to quietly ponder smoke inhalation. There's Donna playing femme fatale with Laura's glasses--which recalls Laura's "Don't ever wear my stuff," line from Fire Walk With Me, giving the funny scene a darker meaning. There's Bobby playing doctor with an adorable Shelly Johnson.
There's Major Briggs' lovely vision of Bobby shortly thereafter, which has become more poignant knowing where Bobby ends up in season three. There's the Brothers Horne pacing around Hank. And, of course, there's the delicate, nervous nightmare of the Hayward Supper Club.
There's the incredible ending with the first depiction of Laura's murder. Sheryl Lee gives us her great horror scream in that scene but she's just as good earlier on with Donna in that diner booth scene I love so much.
I wonder if this scene was the impetus for all those booth vignettes in season three.
This is the first time Maddy really looked good after hair, makeup, and wardrobe were such consistent misfires for her in season one.
I even like the combination of olive green and, what, mulberry? And that massive collar. It's a strange but cosy outfit. You could say that about the whole series.