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chaniI've been re-watching Twin Peaks on ARTE (the French-german network) for three weeks, and guess what? It isn't as good as I remembered.
I was 20 years old when it aired the first time in France, so there's a certain nostalgia to rewatching it, but almost 20 years later I am not as enthralled as I used to be. I was completely hooked at the time, in spite of finding Agent Dale Cooper, the lead character, often irratating (because of the character's personality and of Kyle MacLachlan's looks that I didn't like) and even slightly off-putting.
Is it because I already know "who killed Laura Palmer" and that most of the appeal was the mystery (btw I recall that I didn't enjoy much the episodes that follow the big reveal in the middle of the second season back then)?
Is it because I'm older and wiser? I remember that my 11 year older sister mocked my addiction at the time and didn't understand how I could enjoy such horrible tv series! That said, my sister's taste when it comes to art isn't very reliable...
Is it because it doesn't scare me much anymore?
Is it because I am not a big fan of David Lynch's quirky ways after all and I find them annoying when it's all that is left (since I know "who dunnit")?
Is it because I've seen many brilliantly written shows since then that trained my viewer's eyes? Twin Peaks was addictive and different enough to stand out in 1991, with a cinematography that was movie-like, which made the show look more ambitious than the average tv series, but then the Golden Age of television began in the late 90's and went on until now to the point that we often consider television not only as good but also better than movies.
It's nice to get re-acquainted with the Twin Peaks mythology, to see again certain memorable scenes (the recording messages to Diane, Laura's body wrapped in plastic, anything involving Bob, Audrey making knots inside of her mouth with a cherry stalk!), but apart from the pleasant comfort of being on "familiar ground", of feeling at home in a way, I am not impressed with what I see, with the infra structures of the show. Twin Peaks was everything but subtle. And the stuff that was quite daring plot-wise at the time, isn't anymore.
The series has become dated and once its efficiency – based on atmosphere (the score, the setting, the dream sequences, the bizarre citizens), kinks and suspens – has worn out, there isn't much to process.
I mostly enjoy my memories of the show, while watching it, rather than the show itself.
Is there such thing as an echo-watching?
Funnily enough when I was in Auxerre for my symposium on "Heresiology and Ecclesiology", the old hotel where we were staying had long red corridors (the walls were covered with red carpetting) and one of the guests (a respectable specialist in mediaeval liturgy) said that it looked very Twin Peaks-like. Twin Peaks might be one fo the shows that are underwhelming on second watching, especially 20 years later, but that had such an effect on the audience at the time that its images and style outlive it to become references and part of Pop culture.
I was 20 years old when it aired the first time in France, so there's a certain nostalgia to rewatching it, but almost 20 years later I am not as enthralled as I used to be. I was completely hooked at the time, in spite of finding Agent Dale Cooper, the lead character, often irratating (because of the character's personality and of Kyle MacLachlan's looks that I didn't like) and even slightly off-putting.
Is it because I already know "who killed Laura Palmer" and that most of the appeal was the mystery (btw I recall that I didn't enjoy much the episodes that follow the big reveal in the middle of the second season back then)?
Is it because I'm older and wiser? I remember that my 11 year older sister mocked my addiction at the time and didn't understand how I could enjoy such horrible tv series! That said, my sister's taste when it comes to art isn't very reliable...
Is it because it doesn't scare me much anymore?
Is it because I am not a big fan of David Lynch's quirky ways after all and I find them annoying when it's all that is left (since I know "who dunnit")?
Is it because I've seen many brilliantly written shows since then that trained my viewer's eyes? Twin Peaks was addictive and different enough to stand out in 1991, with a cinematography that was movie-like, which made the show look more ambitious than the average tv series, but then the Golden Age of television began in the late 90's and went on until now to the point that we often consider television not only as good but also better than movies.
It's nice to get re-acquainted with the Twin Peaks mythology, to see again certain memorable scenes (the recording messages to Diane, Laura's body wrapped in plastic, anything involving Bob, Audrey making knots inside of her mouth with a cherry stalk!), but apart from the pleasant comfort of being on "familiar ground", of feeling at home in a way, I am not impressed with what I see, with the infra structures of the show. Twin Peaks was everything but subtle. And the stuff that was quite daring plot-wise at the time, isn't anymore.
The series has become dated and once its efficiency – based on atmosphere (the score, the setting, the dream sequences, the bizarre citizens), kinks and suspens – has worn out, there isn't much to process.
I mostly enjoy my memories of the show, while watching it, rather than the show itself.
Is there such thing as an echo-watching?
Funnily enough when I was in Auxerre for my symposium on "Heresiology and Ecclesiology", the old hotel where we were staying had long red corridors (the walls were covered with red carpetting) and one of the guests (a respectable specialist in mediaeval liturgy) said that it looked very Twin Peaks-like. Twin Peaks might be one fo the shows that are underwhelming on second watching, especially 20 years later, but that had such an effect on the audience at the time that its images and style outlive it to become references and part of Pop culture.
no subject
Date: 2011-05-04 04:23 pm (UTC)I only saw Twin Peaks sometime after 2001 when the DVDs became available. I knew to expect a ground-breaking classic and I found it delivered in being atmospheric and mysterious, but on the whole I felt it was a little directionless and meandering, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
BTW, I caught a tiny bit of an episode yesterday and they hadn't even bothered with German/French - it was stereo German!
no subject
Date: 2011-05-04 04:30 pm (UTC)It sucked big time.
no subject
Date: 2011-05-04 05:49 pm (UTC)Nope. The reviews I've seen weren't favourable...