Twin Peaks Episode 7 Plot Summary:
Hawk’s (Michael Horse) discovery may lead Sheriff Truman (Robert Forster) to the whereabouts of Special Agent Dale Cooper. Gordon (David Lynch), and Albert (Miguel Ferrer) to convince Diane (Laura Dern) to come with them to confront the “Cooperganger” (Kyle McLachlan). The U.S. government begins to investigate the appearance of Major Briggs’ fingerprints.
And now the story progresses.
For weeks it seems that, like Dougie Jones/Dale Cooper, viewers of Twin Peaks have been in a state of confusion, and immobility. We’ve been introduced to numerous side characters, seemingly random storylines, and general weirdness.
This week, however, like Dougie/Dale, the audience was snapped into a state of forward progress. While we didn’t disarm a psychopathic hitman like Dougie/Dale, we did some numerous storylines take giant steps forward, and we were given an absolute barn burner of a performance.
Laura Dern turned in a series-stealing performance as the emotionally scarred, foul mouthed former secretary of Dale Cooper, Diane. For 25 years we’ve waited to see who just Diane was, and now we’re introduced to her life with a baseball bat to the face, and a shot of vodka poured down our throat. Diane is an acerbic character to say the least, and her presence onscreen adds an air of drama, fear, and emotion to a season that’s been seemingly devoid of it.
Her scene with Dale/Bob is haunting. The anger and alcohol-tempered rage that is etched across her face for most of the episode melts away in seconds once she gazes upon the dead, black eyes of the “Cooperganger.” Dern’s interrogation, while a bit vague (surprised?), sends waves of fear over you. You’re watching this scene in horror, as you can see that she knows not only is this not Dale Cooper, but this is something more evil than even we the audience can even fathom.
The rest of the episode benefitted greatly from storyline progression. We finally found out what Hawk was searching for — the missing pages of Laura Palmer’s diary — which somehow ended up in the door of the Twin Peaks’ sheriff’s office bathroom stall. The off-screen incorporation of an ailing Harry Truman, and a quick scene with Doc Hayward, tied the end of season two into this season (finally). We also find that Ben Horne (Richard Beymer) has received Cooper’s old room key…which means the action will hopefully be returning to Twin Peaks soon.
Obviously the “Dougie” stuff was a combination of frustration and excitement — we get the same old, same old from this character until he disarms the assassin. He suddenly snaps into his Cooper form, and disarms the hitman with agility and aggression. You’d think this would’ve been the moment we get Coop back…but no. He’s still stuck in his malaise.
Some other thoughts on the episode and series:
- That foreboding shot over Twin Peaks at the end of the episode — could that be the return of the darkness/evil to the town? Remember in the original series there was an evil in the woods that the Book House Boys battled for decades. Could this be the sign that Cooper/Bob is coming?
- What’s the deal with the trucker that Andy was talking to? His truck was used by younger Horne in that horrific car accident. Why couldn’t he talk to Andy? What happened to him?
- It’s really intriguing to see where the story involving Ashley Judd’s character will take us. Why was she introduced? How is she going to be pivotal to this story? What’s up with her husband?
- What was up with the random dude in the morgue?
- How can Major Briggs body be younger than he really is? And what phone call is Ernie Hudson’s character making?
- Are we ever going to find out what was happening in South America? Was that at Cooper/Bob’s house that we saw a photo of?
- We should be concerned about what the Renault brother was talking about in the Roadhouse, right? Also, yes that is the same guy who played Jacques Renault.
All and all, this was the episode you’ve been patiently waiting for. The story moves forth with the same weirdness and vagueness that we love about the series. Good things are the horizon. Or terrible things (storewide). Either way — buckle up.
Rating: 8 out of 10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs76RKiubPY
