Television programmes [2]

Good old Frankie.

Might be worth a watch.

{{It still looks and feels more like ST than the official new tv series does! }}}

...

{{{ This vid could stand as a summary of Frankie Boyle doesnt get much tv work these days - from the best panel show ever put on tv- Never Mind the Buzzcocks- I have no idea how they got anyone to go on that show! }}}




{{Though at its greatest when the brilliant Simon Amstell was in charge }}}

{{ Concept art for the Judge Dredd tv show- not happy with Mega-city- looks like it owes a bit to much to the Urban film and not enough to the comics- cant imagine Ronnie Corbett block being in there or the Ronald Reagan Block for the Demented }}}

{{Karl Urban might reprise his excellent turn as Dredd in the tv show
When asked at a convention about reprising the role in the tv series he replied-

"I am in discussion with them about that. I told them that if they write the material and give Dredd something to do and a function, I will be there. I would love too."

All very positive sounding at this early stage- just down to the writers now to give him a part worth playing. As the standard of writing seems to be his main criteria. }}}

Watched Twin Peaks last week, now have to watch Fire Walk with Me before I start on the new season.

It's still a ways down on my queue, but I'm looking forward to it.

bungobaggins wrote:Watched Twin Peaks last week, now have to watch Fire Walk with Me before I start on the new season.

Still not gotten around to the new season, but watched both the original seasons and the movie - most fucked up television experience I've had, gave me creepy dreams about giants and whatnot for weeks. Waiting for all the episodes to come out before I watch the new one. What did you think about it?

I like the previous trailer better. This one was too focussed on action over comedy.

chris63 wrote:

{{ I am finding new Peaks as extraordinary a journey as the original.
It is different however. My initial feeling seems to hold ever more strongly as it goes on- that the 'feel' of the original tv series slowly got more odd, and dark, and mysterious and supernatural as it progressed and eventually became super sinister and super beautiful in Fire Walk With Me which was imbued with the later mood of the final series of the original. The new Peaks starts off with that darkness, beauty and supernatural weirdness and over times slowly becomes more and more like the original tv series in feel.
But the story it is telling, the manner in which it is doing so and the the visual representation of it is pushing at the edges of conventional tv as much as the original was, just in a new and different way for a new time.
Doing that once is some accomplishment, doing it twice 25 years apart? That is genius.

ps episode 8 is one of the most astounding pieces of visual story telling I have ever seen. After it was over all I could think was, 'this must have been how it felt to have been one of the first people to see Kubricks 2001!' }}}

Watched this the other night. 2nd episode, BBC2 Tuesday night. Loved it. weirdly funny. Florence Nightingale wants to be a nurse & all the Dr tried to do was get her sacked even tho she was a volunteer. She helps some poor old bird who's got one hell of a boil on her bum & is then accepted fractionally by the said Dr, till he pinches the old ladies' brooch & pins the blame on Florence to get her sacked yet again.

Watched a BBC4 prog about Frank Lloyd Wright this evening & I was thoroughly engrossed. Didn't think I would be but, glad I watched it now.

@Ringo

I really enjoyed Twin Peaks. Season 1 was perfect, but there were some things in Season 2 that I didn't like: the James storyline that went nowhere, and how Audrey was sidelined and became an environmentalist-wacko instead of the femme fatale/detective-wannabe character that I really enjoyed in the first season. It just sucks to see one of your favorite characters in the show completely dismantled.

It did keep me glued to the television, and when it was finished there was a feeling that I was missing something by not being able to watch the movie and the new season right away. I would say it was very successful because I kept coming back despite the flaws.

Bungo !! Hello ! Good to hear you !

{{ Bungo- with series 2 you can really see and feel the absence of Lynch and Frost's direct control. Lynch was pissed off and had little to do with the bulk of series 2. He was opposed to revealing who had killed Laura, believing that was the trunk off which all the other mystery branches sprung and if you answer that everything else goes with it, you've killed the golden goose.
He did come back however had took full control with Frost of the series 2 two part finale, which did a lot in my view to salvage that series and return it to the right mood and feel.
This is subsequently added to with Fire Walk With Me, which given its subject matter, the last week in Laura's life was both much darker than the tv show and more esoteric. In other words more Lynchy!
The new series takes the themes developed in series 1 of Peaks, the end of series 2 and the movie and runs with them,really runs.

On a side note to Peaks Mullohand Drive is a curio worth a look- it snot strictly speaking got anything to do with Twin Peaks, though some of the same actors appear in different roles. But it is very Twin Peaks like, and includes some elements which seem entirely Peaks- such as the appearance of odd characters such as the Cowboy being heralded by flickering light and the sound of electricity- in Peaks an indication some sort of 'Lodge' activity is occurring. Judge for yourself-



Or the diner scene- is that a hobo or a Peaks Woodsman?



This might all be explained by the fact that Mulholland Drive was originally meant to be a pilot for a tv series and the lead character was originally, Audrey Horne.
So Mulholland Drive can sort of be viewed as separate from Peaks, but taking place in the same internal universe. It could be another Blue Rose case. Maybe.... }}}}

Been catching up on Twin Peaks again myself. It definitely takes a new route in the second season. Interesting to hear Lynch wasn't as involved, although his frequent apperances would seem to speak against a complete disconect. I find myself supporting the reveal of the murderer, because it was ultimately a side show to what was actually going on. It took too much focus in that regard, I felt. Only my opinion though.

Not tried the new season yet, nor the movie. Will soon.

bungobaggins wrote:@Ringo

I really enjoyed Twin Peaks. Season 1 was perfect, but there were some things in Season 2 that I didn't like: the James storyline that went nowhere, and how Audrey was sidelined and became an environmentalist-wacko instead of the femme fatale/detective-wannabe character that I really enjoyed in the first season. It just sucks to see one of your favorite characters in the show completely dismantled.

It did keep me glued to the television, and when it was finished there was a feeling that I was missing something by not being able to watch the movie and the new season right away. I would say it was very successful because I kept coming back despite the flaws.

Agree about Audrey. Glad you liked it! Personally I loved the second season just as much as the first, though I agree that the first was the best one. And I didn't know Lynch was opposed to revealing the murderer - that was my main gripe with S2. Still not seen S3, and going away on some work related stuff for a few weeks, so will have to catch up in October. The bright side is I will have 18 episodes ready to watch - and nightmares until Christmas, most likely

{{{ With series 2 you only need look at the difference in writing/director credits to see the difference- between them Lynch and Frost did over half of series one on writing and directing duties.
In series 2 Lynch directs the first two and cowrites the first with Frost- he then only directs 1 episode in the middle and comes back to do the finale. Which he only directed- out of series 2 Lynch only cowrote 1 episode- the opener of the series. Granted he didnt write a ton of series 1 either though he and Frost were more involved in creating the story arc and characters but series 2 is more than twice the length of series 1 so thats a lot of Peaks with no Lynch. }}}

That gum you like is going to come back in style.

{{{ Right then. Um, blimey! Twin Peaks : The Return.
This first bit is the spoiler free review-

Ok that ending is going to split folk I am sure- I have had it sitting at the back of my mind for days now, like a great black ball of garmonbozia.
And in that time my view on that final episode has actually completely about turned from initially thinking it was an incredibly dark and bleak ending to thinking its actually a happy ending. But I might be wrong.
That perhaps give some clue as to what a subjective experience watching this is. And that's the thing- if you go into it expecting answers you are both going to get a lot to some things and not get a lot to other things, and be left to decide for yourself on an awful lot more.

First though I have to say they gave it the wrong title- they should have called it Twin Peaks: The Journey- both because that's what it is, a metaphorical and abstract journey into the nature of existence, perception and reality and because if you spliced it all together there is probably a whole episode worth of just watching people drive. Largely in the dark, and often with no dialogue.

As a tv show its hard to judge- there is a plot and there is a story, character arcs and there is a resolution, and they are pretty much sort of in the right order. But it is in no way gentle in how it goes about taking you on its journey, you jump on, you hang on in there and you experience it to the end and then you wonder what just happened and why it makes you feel so really weird and uncomfortable somewhere deep down and fundamental.

Visually its stunning. Direction wise, its Lynch and is shot in his trademark style. It ranges from the so simple an amateur film maker could shoot it, to so exquisite your breath is taken away. But it will test your patience at points in his tendency to simply let the camera linger and observe a scene, not just in the lengthy driving sequences but also, for example, a four minute shot of someone simply sweeping a bar floor.
The effects, like the direction, range from the very simple- cut outs crudely animated, cut frames to create jerky motion, to the absolutely stunning, with huge vistas that fill the screen with haunting abstract imagery.
Its also more violent than previously, more in keeping with both Fire Walk With Me and modern tv trends- there is not a lot of gore and violence, but when it does occur it does not hold back.

In terms of story it will delight, horrify, shock, puzzle, confuse, and leave you wondering. It will in short take you on a journey through a whole slew of emotional states, many of them uncomfortable ones.

On the performances side Kyle Maclachlan steals the show playing four different roles across the piece, all unique enough in their own way to always feel like completely separate people. Its a great performance. Lynch himself returns as Cole and is as charming and as quirky as ever, and the supporting cast of newbies and Peaks originals all do their job, with particular mention to the late Catherine Coulson, the log-lady, whose scenes are particularly poignant.

In summing up, which is hard, Twin Peaks the Return, like the original it's unique in its own time- its not like anything else on tv, but nor is it like its predecessor either.
That I really like- my biggest fear for this series was that it was going to follow the trend of other reboots and returns of old series- that it would simply be a series of excuses to have scenes that are reminiscent of 'that bit in the original' that it would be full of callbacks and cheap links, that it would try, and inevitably fail, to recreate the feel and mood of the original.
Luckily Lynch and Frost have not made the mistake of trying to trap lighting twice in the same jar. Instead we have a total continuation in themes, plot, characters fro the original but as different from it as it is from everything else on TV.
This is how to bring something back- with its own identity and purpose, connected to the original but not just retreading it. And for that alone I hope its successful and becomes a model to follow for reboots and relaunches of old shows.

The downside to this is if you go on looking for that old Twin Peaks feel, those old quirky fun characters you are going to be very disappointed. This series isn't really interested in catering for you its to busy doing its own thing. Nostalgia is present, there are call backs and connections to previous events, but they never feel cheap and they are never just for the purpose of having a call back and they are rare and far between.

Would I recommend it? Oh yes, completely and utterly even though it will almost certainly frustrate and occasionally disappoint your expectations and undermine what you think you want to see. Much like the original Peaks its one of the most original, best, most though provoking things I have ever seen on television. And just like the original I would be hard pressed to tell you exactly what it was about and what happened in it.

Though I am going to have a go in my spoiler filled analysis anyway at some later point.  

'Got a light?'}}}

{{{ Twin Peaks The Return- the spoiler filled version.

Part One- Context: Into the Zone (the necessary if complicated groundwork)

In order to get a handle on what on earth series 3 of Twin Peaks is about it is first necessary to gather some context to the events we are witness.
For this I will be relying on a few things- firstly some particular scenes and phrases from series 1 and 2 and Fire Walk with Me and a website which was put up by the shows makers following a particular episode.

But the website itself requires its context first.
It is supposedly written mainly by Bill Hastings. In the show this character is a Head Master in a small quiet American Town who is arrested and accused of the murder of a librarian. He claims at first not to know the women but it eventually revealed that he is in fact does, and that together they were investigating what for want of a better word I'll call for the moment the paranormal. Specifically around other dimensions and entities. They succeed in locating a portal between dimensions where they are contacted and given a message by the big head of Major Briggs.
The website was created by Hastings to record his interests.
You can see it for yourself here-

http://thesearchforthezone.com/#

But here is the main quote on the front page-

'We will have to reconcile with the question that if someone from outside our familiar world gains access to our plane of existence, what ramifications will that entail? There might be forces at work from deep dimensional space, or from the future…or are these one in the same? Think of the events that could have splintered time? The things that could have laid the seed for a starting point for this development? Perhaps technological innovations or the assassination of President Kennedy?'

Its accompanied by a picture of multiple earths going off into infinity.

The site includes a number of links for further reading which discuss parallel universes and the idea of density shifting- the notion that there are higher and lower dimensions around us and that shifts in 'density' move things between them. In each layer time and space can be different, subtly or widely different.

Here are some quotes from the piece on density and parallel universes which point us in the right direction to be thinking about the context of the series-

'The Universe is based on 5 major dimensions....You are familiar with the first three linear axis of ordinary spatial volume related, x, y, and z of standard math. The fourth is time...The fifth dimension involves vibrational frequency. This frequency or vibrational rate is super imposed on matter and energy at the sub atomic level. This would be called its resonant frequency....matter and energy, and that which supports the essence of life, exists on many different vibrational frequencies. Each vibrational level is independent from each other, but occupy the same space....We will start at the base vibrational frequency for matter and energy. This would be our Universe and laws, represented by the name density level 3. Density is related to our current interstellar medium or the density of basic subatomic particles, which are the basic building blocks of matter....At density level 4 a new Universe appears, less crowded in the number of stars, and in the density of matter itself....Time is progressively slower in fourth density than in third, but to an entity in third density visiting it seems the same.'

We are also directed to the works of Tesla and the properties of electricity in the universe.

So where does this all leave us? Well it tells us several things to be aware of as we view the series- firstly that this story concerns more than one version of reality as we know it. That by altering density it is possible for entities to move between these worlds and existences, and that time is also effected by doing so as light travels at different speeds at different densities. It also gives us electricity as a means of travel, of changing density between one level and another. In Peaks the entities from the other levels basically travel via electrical currents in the universe and between universes.

That gives us some philosophical context to what we are seeing and witnessing unfold. But it requires some story context to from Twin Peaks itself and for that we can turn to series 1 and 2 and Fire walk With Me.

The first one in a reoccurring line first spoken by the Log-Lady in original TP- 'Laura is the one.'
We see in the Return that the 'essence' of Laura was sent into the world by the Giant/Fireman as a direct response to the Experiment/Mother of all Evil/Judy whichever you prefer, spewing her eggs and the esence of Bob into the world during the disruption of densities caused at the heart of the first nuclear bomb test.
I want briefly to mention the revelation that the Giant has the title of Fireman- this points us to his role in proceedings- there are two types of spiritual fire in Peaks- the good  sort associated with heat and light and the other sort which only consumes and destroys and has no wants only the need to keep consuming more its the sort which consumes Laura, its utterly corrupting.
The Giants job as Fireman it seems from the Return is to combat these outbreaks of black fire by interfering in the course of events. Where he exists appear to have a device which can 'insert' things from his own level into our world. His job, as his title suggests, is to put out fires by creating a new dreamer with a new dream of the world. And his words should be considered in that capacity as that is his main motivation in proceedings.

Next up we turn to Fire Walk With Me and one scene in particular, the mysterious return of Philip Jeffries played by the late David Bowie- Jeffries is an important character in the Return in we will talk about him more later (they just get someone to do a Bowie doing a southern American accent impersonation and turn him into a giant industrialized teapot, incase your wondering).

Here's the crucial bits of the Jeffries scene in Fire Walk With Me-

Cooper- Gordon. Its 10.10am on February 16th. I was worried about today because of the dream I told you about.

....

Cole: Cooper meet the long lost Philip Jeffries. You may have heard of him from the Academy.

Jeffries- Well now, I'm not going to talk about Judy. In fact we're not going to talk about Judy at all. We're going to keep her out of it.

Cooper- Gordon!

Cole: I know Coop.

Jeffries (pointing at Cooper)- Who do you think this is there? ......Believe me I saw them. It was a dream. We live inside a dream. The ring. This was above a convenience store. Listen all and listen carefully- I've been to one of their meetings. Hell God baby damn no I've found something! And then there they were. (Screams and disappears among a lot of static and sounds of electricity and shots of electric cables).

And here is the scene-



Everything here is of huge importance to the Return and when put in connection with all the stuff about parallel worlds and electricity we begin to get our context.

Jeffries words about Judy form a central mystery of the Return and lead in the end to its conclusion. His line that we live inside a dream' will be repeated in the final episode by the big head of Dale Cooper superimposed over events, showing as that we are inside his dream at that point.
And there is a conclusion to be drawn that Laura being the one points to Laura's essence being sent into the world to dream a world in which Bob was defeated. She failed at the task however and instead the black fire consumed her and she was killed within her own dream in that reality, only to finally be corrected by Cooper crossing worlds to find the 'real' Laura and Dale/Richard who finally wakes her from the dream.

What waking Laura from her dream means its rather subjective but we will come back to it.

But we do now have our context for considering the Return in. Its a tale set in a multiple universe where entities from different levels of existence can move between worlds by the use of electricity. Some of these entities bring corruption and evil others bring salvation and good, known in series 1 and 2 as the White and Black lodges.
We also no of two other 'locations'- above the convenience store and the Red Room/Waiting Room with its red drapes and zig-zag patterned floor.

Its also about dreams, the idea we live inside a dream and the question of who does the dreaming. In essence it points to the notion that we all perceive a different universe whilst in the same one let alone shifting to another, and that personal universe is our own dream inside of which we live.
In terms of watching the series this means in effect that sometimes we are inside one persons dream of the universe and at others inside someone elses.
We also hop parallel worlds, subtle changes like glitches in the system appear- characters are talked of as being missing, or disappear and no one mentions them again- this may be what has happened to Audrey, but her we will come back to- and there are scenes where between shots the entire contents or people in a room will change position. Or a seemingly innocuous scene of Big Ed drinking a coffee and reading, innocuous until you notice that his just visible reflection in the window is not in sync with his actions, drinking when he is not ect. All indicating that we are seeing more than one world, more than one version, more than one dream of the same person bleeding together.
A result of the victory of Bob over Laura.
Laura's is a dream that was to rid the world of Bob by dreaming a world in which he was defeated. Bob's dream was to dream a world in which he was victorious. Coopers dream is to save Laura and defeat Judy who is the ultimate source of corruption who spawned Bob.

Taken all this together we have the basic concepts necessary to grasp what unfolds in series 3 the Return. Parallel worlds, dreams and dreamers, and electricity shifting entities between one and the other.

Ok thats the groundwork laid- next up answering pressing questions- who or what is Judy? Whose dreaming what and when? How do doppelgangers work? As well at looking at stuff we learned such as what exactly are Blue Rose cases. What is the unit of the FBI Cooper and Cole and Albert all work for, what happened to Jeffries what is their job at the FBI exactly? Also what happened to Major Briggs? Who is Diane really? And of course what the buggery did all it mean and why do we spend so much time just looking at stuff as time passes?

Not entirely sure how I'm going to structure this but I'll think of something! }}}

The Orville. sort of meh, but I came in halfway through the episode, maybe wasn't sufficiently brought in. I was hoping it would be on the level of Galaxy Quest but was disappointed.