Subject: Re: AGH! 26 Jan episode From: joe@athena.mit.edu (Joseph C Wang) Date: 1991-01-29, 15:56 Newsgroups: alt.tv.twin-peaks The 1/26 episode of Twin Peaks wasn't seen in the Boston area, but fortunately I have a friend with a VCR in a place where it shown. It would be interesting to track where it was and wasn't shown. Anyway.... (DON'T READ IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN 1/26). MAJOR SPOILERS..... In talking with people who have seen 1/26, my impression is that either one will think that it's the best Twin Peaks ever, or the worst Twin Peaks. No one I've talked to has had lukewarm reactions. I think that a lot of the compliants the 1/26 wasn't "Twin Peaks" enough are misplaced. I see 1/26 as Lynch trying to parody comedy in much the same way he tries to parody soap operas in the rest of the show. The pie fight scene was one of the best scenes to have appeared on Twin Peaks thus far. It seems that Lynch is not only a dramatic director of first rate (Maddy's death), but that he is also an excellent comedic director. Indeed, the rather poignant ending to that scene could almost be described as "tragic" relief, bringing the reader back down to reality and showing how low Ben has sunk. (Did anyone notice the workman during the scene? Was he fixing "sprinklers" perhaps?) I feel very sorry for people who missed the episode, because I doubt they'll be able to piece together what happened this week from next week's episode. I'm almost convinced that Lynch knew in advance that half of "Twin Peaks" viewers would miss this episode, and decided to use this as an opportunity to take some very bold risks and to experiment with the comedic side to the characters. At the same time, the plot in this episode reminds me a lot of "Candide" in that the ending leaves off roughly where the beginning was. As a result, viewers who miss 1/26, might not even notice when they see the next episode, and as a result they will be deprieved of some wonderful insights into our favorite cast of characters along with some belly laughs. Anyway, try to get a copy of 1/26, you'll either love it or hate it. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joseph Wang (joe@athena.mit.edu) Wake Up! Wake Up! 450 Memorial Drive C-111 All who wish not to be slaves. Cambridge, MA 02139