Dusk Golem
A 21st Century Rockefeller
To be honest, I think the new season in some ways will also benefit from this.
People love episode 7 because it has answers, but to be honest while I liked the episode it's not my favorite of the new season like some people are saying it is. It's a good episode, but I think many are overrating it because it's provided some catharsis for them. I think some people have been harsher on the new episodes because it doesn't provide that catharsis, but I will bet a number of these episodes will go on to be more positively received down the line. There is some fantastic stuff in all 7 parts so far, and I think in the moment where you're more invested in seeing where the story is going it's easy to gloss over the things that don't seem as immediately important. But a big part of Twin Peaks and David Lynch as a whole is these apparently non-important bits, and more so it can be very hard to tell what's important and what's not. The guy sweeping peanut shells last episode could be a one-off intermission or gag, but for all we know he could become a major character and him taking out those peanut shells is going to turn into something big. That's always that possibility and don't you forget it.
I think that's what FWWM suffered for many was the lack of catharsis or answers to their burning questions of what they desired and it not being what they expected or wanted, but when taken as its own thing I think it's why the reception has risen so much recently on the film because on its own it's actually pretty fantastic. Not for everyone still, but Lynch never is and never tries to be. And I feel while overall this season has been well received, some of the specifics and some people are very evidently more invested in catharsis, moving the 'plot along', or seeing familiar things that they know they like. In the pursuit, and so far denial, of these things they're missing out on enjoying the show for what it's actually doing and its worth. I think many will come to like it more over time when those expectations are no longer in the way. How I go into each episode is I don't expect anything except I have liked almost everything Lynch has ever made and I want to see what he does. I've ended up enjoying every episode, and I think it's interesting how different each episode is in tone despite being made like a movie (each episode ends up having some clear themes and tonal things for some reason). And I will say I think some of the best scenes Lynch has ever filmed are in this series even so far not even half-way through yet.
I understand some people want Lynch to 'get to the point', but I think that's missing the point of what Lynch both wants to do and is doing. That might come off more pretentious than I intend, but I simply mean while I fully expect some more classic Twin Peaks tones to pop up in the series as it certainly has been so far, I also expect Lynch isn't just going to settle on that or is ultimately headed towards that. I don't think becoming more like the classic Twin Peaks is the end goal, just a roadstop honestly. I think this work in many ways has been Lynch revisiting a lot of things, and not just Twin Peaks. I don't think it's pure coincidence there's a lot in this season that wouldn't feel out of place in his other films. There's scenes that remind of everything from Eraserhead to Mulholland Drive to Wild at Heart to Twin Peaks. I can only guess, but as Lynch hasn't made a proper movie in over 10 years before this and as Lynch probably knows he's not getting any younger, I think in part he's exploring all the things he loves and would like to revisit, not as a best of album or anything but more Lynch had ideas he wanted to do and he did them.
Part 8 might be full of the answers people have been seeking (I will admit at the start of Part 7 I was surprised and happy how it felt suddenly getting answers to the Season 2 Finale stuff), but it also could go in a much stranger direction. We will know in less than an hour for what this part entails, maybe Cooper is coming back, maybe Cooper is never coming back, maybe this episode will be pure nightmare fuel, maybe it'll be one of the most beautiful things we'll ever see. It's hard to say, but I think the best way to enjoy the season is with an open mind rather than expectations. I mean, maybe an expectation to be surprised might be the best thing, and to see if you enjoy it. I certainly know I am so far, at least.
