QUOTE by Fred: I've seen TP about 5 times, and FWWM about 10 times. But there are still things I don't understand, eg, the conspiracy to burn down the saw mill! Although, there is a very good essay about that on this website. But I still don't see how it can be advantageous to either Josie or Catherine to burn down their own saw mill, which is a business that is bringing in money every month. And what happens to all the people who worked there, eg, Pete Martell, Mr Pulaski? How does it affect Ronette for that matter? Poor old Ronette. Well, at least she seems to be making a recovery by episode 29. Also, why does Josie sell the company to Ben, after the mill has burnt down? Surely the company is worth nothing if the main factory has burnt down?!?

The Mill itself isn't what everyone is after on the show... they just want to sell the land it is built on so they can develop it through Ghostwood and make many millions of dollars.  In that sense, the value of the land is worth more than the mill.

Catherine wants to burn the mill and frame Josie for it so she can get her hands back on the land title that was willed to Josie by Andrew.  Josie wants to burn the mill because she is working for Ekhardt and he wants to destroy everything about the Packards as a final revenge against Andrew.  Plus, as a side bonus, there's insurance $$ to be gained by torching the mill.

Any other concerns about employees and the impact upon the town are secondary to the characters involved in the plot.  And, indeed, it is never really discussed in the show how the town's economy recovers (or doesnt).

That's an interesting answer, and I've never thought of that before. It's interesting that Josie and Catherine have totally different reasons for wanting to do the same thing, ie, burn down the mill.

The fact that lots of people have lost their jobs does get mentioned briefly by Dr Hayward at the dinner party, and Leland says he can't comment, but it is never mentioned after that. Actually, now I come to think of it, Pete is probably quite rich, being married to Catherine, and spends the rest of the series getting the shopping or going fishing.

The other major employer seems to be the Hotel. Perhaps there are a few jobs available there...?

Is it just me or was the entire Packard Mill plot extremely complicated?

I have a hard time understanding the whole plot and sublots with all the backstabbings to this day

Yes, it is very complicated.  It is probably the most complicated mystery of all TP... and it's certainly the longest running (the pilot ep all the way up to the series finale!)

 Actually, now I come to think of it, Pete is probably quite rich, being married to Catherine, and spends the rest of the series getting the shopping or going fishing.

The other major employer seems to be the Hotel. Perhaps there are a few jobs available there...?

 What did you mean with Pete being rich? You meant that he's living off of Catherines money? Or is he wealthy because of something else? If he's Living off of Catherines money that says something about catherine and her realtionship with Pete, its another aspect of this love/hatred relationship they've got going on, i think. He's getting cared for by Catherine, having no financial worries, this is in stark contrast sometimes to the way she treats Pete sometimes..... Their weird  relationship is one is one of the great elements in TP - show,  

Maybe Bob made them do it. Maybe all the Twin Peak people are weird because of Bob's psychic influence.

MWAHAHAHAHA!