Episode 1

1. Why doesn't James tell Cooper what he told Donna in the woods, about Laura telling him Bobby killed someone. He is crying and spilling his guts about everything else- and Donna had not started making pacts for secrecy yet.

2. Mike is so obviously jealous that Bobby met with Leo without him. "When did you see him?", he asks softly as he turns away from Bobby toward the camera, holding back tears.

3. Did Laura buy James the necklace? She breaks it, but she writes in her diary that "kitty got a new collar." If she did, how secret did she really want their affair? I mean, she is wearing it in FWWM when she is screwing Bobby for coke.

4. When Ed first meets Cooper, he says James works at the Gas Farm. We never see any indication of this. He's also only part of the Bookhouse Boys during the Bernie scene. James could have been a working man and a secret sleuth, but instead he's just Donna's bitch.

5. What was so "ridiculous" about the smogasbord? In the pilot, it was "damned."

6. When Harry tells Coop how long he's been seeing Josie, in the same breath he tells how long Andrew's been dead- exonerating himself? Trying to not look opportunistic?

7. What are the physics of the cigarette landing in the banana bread at that depth and angle?

8. Coop flirts with Shelley, but only once.

9. Harry should have told Cooper to ask the Log. He would have if he was given the go-ahead.

10. When Shelley lost the first of the two of Leo's shirts she had so far that year, why didn't Leo teach her the lesson about respecting his property then?

11. If James chose a soft drink or the sparkling cider, would he have been less of a wuss?

12. Nadine was a "real character", re: James to Dr. H, in season 1. She then became a flimsy, 2D character.

13. Laura seems to think Jacoby was a good alternative to James' sweetness (Why? Did he spank and degrade her a bit in therapy? Did she spank and degrade him, and that's how she "reached" him?) How would meeting him first have helped her with her current boredom with dumbass James, philosophically speaking?

Episode 2

1. Why can none of the other Hornes just eat and ignore Jerry when he returns? Were they just about to pray? Also, "Un-cle Jer-ry's back..." seems to disturb Audrey and Sylvia- was he a molester?

2. Is it just me, or are brothers going out to get laid together and sharing teen hookers creepy?

3. Leo seems to think Bobby and Mike should have anticipated Laura's death... because she was "a wild girl." Bobby never accuses Leo of killing Laura outright, but he sure tries to frame him with the shirt, anyway. (It's amazing how much he keeps from Shelley in season 1.)

4. Why does Harry know all about One Eyed Jack's instantly at the mention of 'Jack with one eye', but tracker Hawk has no clue about it?

5. Albert comes into the Sheriff's station smoking a cig. Pete is filleting his catch of the day indoors, flinging guts all over into percolators and such. You think both of these establishments might stink a bit?

Episode 1

1. i think this is was the first time the full impact of what happened to laura, as well as the events surroundly her life(bobby killing a guy) were allowed to show outwordly, especially to trusting donna, previously best friend to girlfiend laura, now almost girlfriend at this point. and the fact that donna knows the police are looking for the other half of the heart, namely james. sure he's innocent, but there would be no drama and him just walking into the station and saying "so i heard you guys wanted to see me. oh and by the way, bobby briggs killed a guy."

3.definitely discontinuity for dramatic effect. tho wasnt it feb 1st that was day one? so they only had it for a few weeks. i dont think theres an answer. but she is the one that broke it, so i assume it was her that bought it.

7. looked like a piece of meatloaf to me. i doubt most people eat their banana bread on a plate, by itself, and with a knife and fork. but then again, it takes all kinds.

13. remember bobby's meeting with jacoby. dr. j says and does thing no psychologist would do. beyond his confortational manner, he divuges things laura told him, a clear violation of his code of conduct. jacoby is a pretty eccentric character anyway, and he makes many vague comments early on about laura, like "she wanted to be killed" that later turn out to be true. i wouldnt be surprised if he know about BOB and the other weirdness and fright laura was going through. she had only been seeing him for a few weeks right? do the show say how long she was seeing harold? they seem like the only two people who laura told about BOB. anyway, it safe to say he knew much more than he let on.

episode 2

1+2.dinner is already pretty negative before jerry arrives. johnny's out of it and a source of frustration and anger for sylvia. audrey is withdrawn with her family when she not pulling her "stunts" as ben puts it. and ben is his arrogent self. i dont see any subtext of molestation, as sylvia yells too when jerry tries to kiss her. basically shes angry that ben(and by extention jerry) has little to no regard for his family life, of course we know this changes throughout the show, turning into almost a sitcom situation, boss goes crazy, daughter takes over, old business friend(EVIL!EVIL! im sorry i know some of you like zane, but it should have been audrey and coop. she(and seemingly everyone else) stopped going to high school, shes 18, the case was over by ep26, i mean come on!(sorry i gotta vent about that every so often)) but yes, the hornes are beyond disreputable in these two episodes. free access to a dozen women, one of which is soliciting her first john, this was dark stuff for 1990. hell, its dark stuff for TV now.

"2. Is it just me, or are brothers going out to get laid together and sharing teen hookers creepy?"

You've never done that with your brother?

"2. Is it just me, or are brothers going out to get laid together and sharing teen hookers creepy?"

You've never done that with your brother?

 That's a lady you're asking that there question to, squire!

I had to laugh at your comment about Mike's jealousy of Bobby seeing Leo. I've always thought that bit is unintentionally hilarious. People who would just be tuning in at that point would no doubt think "Oooh errr, tension with the gays!" In a cell, no less.

Ok, ok, fine.

But also, don't be so hard on James, calling him a "dumbass" and such.  I've personally been completely played by a girl who I thought I was in love with, but who turned out to be the school bicycle.  And most people have been played by a member of the opposite sex.  Haven't you?

I always thought that "It's Uncle Jerry" thing seemed a little off myself.  It did have some weird sexual tone to it.

I am going to say that the it would be impossible to dart anything with a cigarette.

And it bugged me too that Laura had that necklace but the James thing was supposed to be a big secret.

Why did Coop seem weirded out by the Log Lady at first?  He is a strange bird himself.

I often find myself screaming "Ask the Log! Ask the Log!" at the television. Having said that, I do consider it delicious irony that the Log Lady just seems to swan around eating bear claws and chewing pitch gum like some sort of elaborate set dressing but is in fact a sweet, kindly mystic who knows what's what from the beginning. I know I'm kind of obligated to like Cooper, what with being a Twin Peaks fan and all, but with hindsight he wasn't that intuitive (please refer to "twelve rainbow trout", rocks and bottles and his highly suspect means of deducing that Leland was the killer).   

the log lady is the man...so to speak. considering she (noncanonononically???!) directly addresses the viewer, she's well in the know.   and at the risk of exciting wizard, Cooper is clearly off his kite the entire series.

Anyway, picking apart the seams of twin peaks and Cooper's methods is ultimately futile, more holes than the original prince of persia game

I've personally been completely played by a girl who I thought I was in love with, but who turned out to be the school bicycle. 

 in the future, try dating 100% human women. a human bicycle is only going to get you so far. zing!

JFK- aw, I was being rhetorical, but thanks for the interpretation! Circuitous logic can explain away everything, but you do have to admit these things look odd.

wizard- Give it 10 years hindsight, and you will realize that this is the reason all high school boys are dumbasses, easily made bitches of evil high school girls. Nothing personal against James, he just follows his pecker around like it's some kind of true love compass.

faceintheleaves & Cooped- Cooper is a dumbass, too! Carl and Cliff may have been dicks, but how naive are Harry and Andy to stand for such a shoddy Special Agent bumbling around their investigation? HAHA, Log Lady as set decoration, so so true.

i knew you were being rhetorical, and i dont think i denied the WTF factor, but it got me thinking on a couple of them, and i wanted to give you my take. and the circular logic i speak of in the end is written for exactly the reason you say, it can explain anything. thats why i dont get the posters who accuse those of us who have the more elaborate mythologies to the films and such as missing the forest for the trees. i mean, just because lynch put a monkey in the movie as an abstract image and doesnt mean anything to him, it just creates a feeling on film, doesnt mean that we dont have the right to find our own feeling and meaning to whatever. i just hate it when people accuse you of overthinking and that your conception of a piece is completely removed from the author's conception. so what?
honestly i dont care to know lynch's feelings on his work(other than his factual anctedotes). i have my own thinking to do.

Lynch's feelings on his works: 'You get an idea, and you catch an idea...and i like smoke, and fire, and electricity...and that's a beautiful beautiful thing.'

No point in asking the man, cos that's as coherent as yer gonna get ...thus JFK is right; no point in caring about what Lynch thinks....still love him though, that rascal!

Some great points on your list, but my favorite will always be...

Why are they having football practice in February, and why is the star quarterback a coke addicted, cigarette smoking, 110 pound delinquent who can miss practice every day in a week?

Why are they having football practice in February, and why is the star quarterback a coke addicted, cigarette smoking, 110 pound delinquent who can miss practice every day in a week?

 

And why does the Homecoming Queen look like a stoner who got left behind four grades?

Twin Peaks is a funny place, but I have no problem with these idiosyncrasies.

I actually forgot to mention that this list came about during a viewing which I though, why I had never considered any of these things hiding out in the open! 1 & 2 are works of art because they slip this weirdness in so that it doesn't even seem weird.

p.s. JFK- I debated on typing meatloaf but the ciggy doesn't look greasy enough. Either way, how does a cig vertically penetrate a semi-solid mass of mystery prop food like that?

"And why does the Homecoming Queen look like a stoner who got left behind four grades?"

I don't know what you mean, from the start I found Laura Palmer beautiful and deceptively normal looking.

Why are you all nitpicking the best thing that ever came onto television, a series in which almost every episode (from the pilot to 16 or so) is a work of beauty and power?

nitpicking because

1: it's not perfect. there are some weird logical things amiss, such as football in feb. if one cannot see this then one is a poor critic. how can one truly see the good if one cannot acknowledge the bad?

2: it's outta love, it's an affectionate punch at the show. plus, is the point in this board not to nit pick? where's the interesting discussion involved in "omfg lynch izz geenius, wish twin peaks had a 7th season set in the green lodge with derp de durp"

always thought it was meatloaf or some kind of fishbake. no banana bread.

 

 JFK- I debated on typing meatloaf but the ciggy doesn't look greasy enough. Either way, how does a cig vertically penetrate a semi-solid mass of mystery prop food like that?

my father used to make a mean beef and pork meatloaf. with bacon on top. and there was not a drop of grease, ever.
so i know its possible.
as far as penetration, i guess bobby's smoking brings out the worst in the Major.
what really is WTF? is why does betty only have one slice of meatloaf/banana bread on her plate, and NOTHING ELSE. i mean, sure she's a dimunitive lady and doesnt need that much to subsist on, but it was this fact, not the other ones we previously mentioned, that i think about everytime i see that episode.

@wizardofxenia-
you know i have nothing against you, i just like to joke around. and as ive seen you on the korine board, hell just knowing youre a fan, im less hesitant to be barbed in our discussions because i know you can take it, and hopefully you find it funny, which is always my intention(unless we're talking black lodge), and not hurtful. i have respect for everyone on this site, even those who dont deserve it(i wont bother mentioning names).
moving on,
granted, you qualified your statement about TP being the best show to have graced TV by mentioning it was so for only the pilot and the first 16 episodes. so you saved yourself from being called on the fact that you either hate/dont understand/dont want to understand/dont care about the lodge mythologies. but this reasoning doesnt make sense.
the lodges were part of the show from ep.2. we see the murder of laura in ep.9 and maddy in ep.16. all of these instances are dependant of the lodge aspect of TP. when you denegrated the BL half of ep.29, you werent just criticizing the set design, the backwards talking, the whole weirdness of it all, you were attacking its mythos, and that mythos goes all the way to the pilot, starting with the mention of the similarities in teresa bank's murder, and the letter R found under her ring finger.
it just seems like you have done a switcheroo, without realizing you are contradicting yourself.
if im wrong and out of line just say so. i will apologize if i am.

So in S. 2 ep 1 James tells Cooper about the rest of Laura's pre-death monologue to him, and ends with "Laura said a lot of nutty stuff. Half the time it went right by you." Maybe by now he has deemed the Bobby killed a guy thing as a psychotic or drug induced hallucination.

But he tells Cooper that when she said "Would you like to play with fire, little boy? Would you like to play with BOB?", it "stuck." (That part wasn't in FWWM.)

Is it possible that somehow he knows that BOB isn't Bobby? James has intuition for a moment? Hmmmm, WTF??

i think so. hiding behind the moodiness and cock-sure attitude(which i must say, while TP is nominally a drama, there are many other genres it covers. too many to mention). but one especially used, and turned on it head during season 1, was the soap opera. and just as frost admitted to putting a ridiculous amount of cliffhangers not just to ensure the show being picked up for another season(cliffhangers or not, no way ABC would bail on the cashcow TP was in 1990) but also as a parody and homage to the classic soap operas. i think james' general derision around here is misplaced, as i think his character was partly a representation and comment on the moody teen with family problem but is in love with the girl next door but is scared of it(and his girlfriend gets murdered as the show starts), and so maybe we shouldnt take it so seriously. meaning maybe we are meant to laugh at some scenes, instead of laughing at it ironically. of couse this changed in the second season, so its hard to really know a character after a handful of episodes(and only small portions of those episodes would feature him anyway).
i thought that when james tells truman about the "do you want to play with fire, little boy" line laura said, he says it took place in the woods. probably ghostwoods. he also says she recites a scary poem about fire on the same night. could it be the one-armed mans quatrain, "through the darkness of futures past..."? sure she probably said some coked-up things, but yeah, james knew. everytime laura says bobby in FWWM, it is coy, manipulative, sexy, desperate. the way james said it, and the fact that he rembers it weeks later, makes me think he knew this wasnt bobby laura was talking about. and later that episode, we see leland recognize bob, then at the station, explain he knows the man in the picutre, he says the same thing as james, and flicks a match. on orginal viewing, this is when i figured out leland/BOB was laura's killer. it was too coincidental not to have meaning.

damn i love JFK's posts !

aww, youre sweet!

bronksqualleggstrings