MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE: By all measures this show, in a different time might have ended up on the WB right after a threesome on Gossip Girl. Murder, Incest, Adultery, Betrayal, Lots of Sex, Gambling, Prostitution, Faked Deaths, Spousal Abuse, Motorcycles, Shut-Ins, Drug Addiction, Cheerleaders, Mistaken Identities, One-Armed Men, Serial Killings and Split Personalities all indicate a gritty, implausible, smutty and surely patriarchal narrative. How on earth would a Lady even consider this show?
The Lady cannot help but knowing where television resides today, this show holds up. Every character, is subtle, secretive and most importantly intelligent and self-sufficient. We viewers take our cue from Special Agent Dale Cooper - the true outsider sent to solve Laura's murder. His style doesn't take anyone in this tiny, odd town for a fool or for granted. He withholds judgement of each person he meets might have something to hide or offer, even the Log Lady. If only we Ladies could be so even-handed!
However, the Matriarchy kind of has something its teeth into here - The Lady continues to marvel at the number of well written parts for women of all ages in this show that just doesn't seem to happen today. All play their age, all look their age, and all are fully clothed and yet still incredibly compelling, sexy and powerful. In Twin Peaks you don't disappear after 35. Audrey Horn, Donna Hayward, Jocelyn Packard, Norma Jennings and especially Catherine Martell have their own agendas, regardless if God or their parents or the law tell them otherwise.
CONS: I can't pretend that I can explain all that goes on in this show. The resolution of the main conflict seemed a little to convenient and supernatural to me, especially considering how well the show straddled the real and the surreal. I'll never really make sense of the Mill subplot n a coherent way. Additionally, the killer was revealed half way through the second season, so its easy to lose interest for the rest of the show, but the quirk kept me coming back for more.
EYE CANDY FACTOR: GLORIOUSLY EVEN! With Kyle Maclachlan as our proud, principled and restrained tour guide, swooning is sure to follow. Local boys Bobby Briggs and James Hurley are delicious rebels too. A nice balance to the incredibly retro beauty of Sherilyn Fenn, Madchen Aamik and a fed Lara Flynn Boyle.
FINAL VERDICT: SPLIT, with MATRIARCHY getting a slight edge: I still believe that this was the best forum for Lynch ever. The restrictions of Network Television kept him from going too far off into the recesses of his own mind in terms of sexuality and just plain weirdness. And while it's easy to peg him of late as just a strange guy who loves boobs and brunettes, I think think his thoughtful treatment of all his characters suggests motives that are more than just prurient.
You would have liked to stamp us with this one, patriarchy, but the women of Twin Peaks are just to smart, savvy, ambitious, unapologetic, well dressed and driven to stamp us down completely:
One woman can make you fly like an eagle, another can give you the strength of a lion, but only one in the Cycle Of Life can fill your heart with wonder and the wisdom that you have known a singular joy.
You can't win on SSC with quotes like that, patriarchy. Score one for the ladies.
Good use of "prurient!"
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