Wraaaaaped in Plastic June 20, 2014 5:19 AM   Subscribe

I rewatch Twin Peaks once a year. I think it would be fun to do a rewatch thread for the show in Fanfare. I'm thinking Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8PM EST? Who else would be interested in doing this?

It's in Fanfare's list of postable shows, so I suppose it's already been approved. This thread is mainly to suss out interest from everyone else and to set up a time. Twin Peaks is currently totally available on both Netflix and Amazon Prime.
posted by codacorolla to MetaFilter-Related at 5:19 AM (56 comments total) 20 users marked this as a favorite

The Blu-Ray edition, with tons of extras and almost an hour and a half of deleted and extended scenes from Fire Walk With Me, will be released on July 29th in the US. Maybe that would be a good approximate date to start this marathon watch.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:29 AM on June 20, 2014 [19 favorites]


I'll lay out the donuts.

O O O O O O O O O O
O O O O O O O O O O
O O O O O O O O O O
posted by Strange Interlude at 5:42 AM on June 20, 2014 [16 favorites]


I have been thinking about watching Twin Peaks for a while. My hesitation comes from my awareness of the reveal of the central mystery. Would knowing who BLANKED BLANKA BLANKER hurt my enjoyment of the series?
posted by joelhunt at 5:55 AM on June 20, 2014


Why aren't you posting this in Fanfare? Why are you posting it here?
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 6:04 AM on June 20, 2014


The Blu-Ray edition, with tons of extras and almost an hour and a half of deleted and extended scenes from Fire Walk With Me, will be released on July 29th in the US. Maybe that would be a good approximate date to start this marathon watch.

That's a good idea. Waiting a month sounds like a plan.

Why aren't you posting this in Fanfare? Why are you posting it here?

Because Fanfare is for actual show threads, and not administrative stuff like this. I don't want to start the Twin Peaks rewatch thread only to have it flounder and get 2 replies a week. As shown by the above comment it's probably worthwhile to have posted this first.
posted by codacorolla at 6:07 AM on June 20, 2014 [3 favorites]


I wholeheartedly support this. That's a damn good idea, codacorolla.
posted by schmod at 6:12 AM on June 20, 2014


I agree with codacorolla. The only reason I haven't been a more active commenter on FanFare thus far is because I haven't been watching along with anything except GoT and Hannibal, although I intend to catch up to the MST3K rewatch at some point. Twin Peaks was pretty much the beginning of my fascination with serialized TV, so I'm definitely looking forward to this. But the key to making all of this work as an organized discussion of the show is coordination -- hence this MeTa thread.
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:18 AM on June 20, 2014


Would knowing who BLANKED BLANKA BLANKER hurt my enjoyment of the series?

If finding out the big reveal or the twist ruins the experience of a story, well, it's not a very good story, is it?

I've watched Twin Peaks a handful of times, and there's so much more to it than knowing who blanked Blanka Blanker. There's a reason it's got such a cult following, and it's because it's much more than a one and done.

I am so in for this.
posted by phunniemee at 6:50 AM on June 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


I just rewatched the entire series this spring, after not having seen it since it originally aired (and I was in high school). Bring it on!
posted by chowflap at 7:05 AM on June 20, 2014


It looks like there's 30 total episodes of the show, which means 15 weeks total for the current proposed set-up. So... almost four months? I think that sounds pretty good. The real question would be how spoilers would work. It definitely doesn't make sense to make two threads, but people who love the series might not want to participate if they have to dummy themselves to what's just happened on the show (I still would, but I don't know about others).
posted by codacorolla at 7:06 AM on June 20, 2014


I'm in. Where are you going to schedule FWWM - after the two seasons, or before?
posted by jbickers at 7:12 AM on June 20, 2014


The real question would be how spoilers would work.

I feel like there should be a statute of limitations for spoilers to stop being spoilers. 20 years seems like plenty enough time to me.
posted by phunniemee at 7:18 AM on June 20, 2014


I would be interested - I haven't seen it, heard it's good. Would like to watch with other people.
posted by corb at 7:27 AM on June 20, 2014


Alright, let's say that we start on the 29th, which is conveniently a Tuesday, and then do a Tuesday / Thursday rotation. That's pretty far off, so if it gets to there and I haven't made the thread then whoever can do it.

I would say that FWWM should come after, since it's a nice closer to a bunch of the unresolved lore stuff and it's Lynch's last involvement with the material. We should also start with the full pilot, since that's available on Netflix and most other releases.

Spoilers are tricky... I think we can probably do a lax policy. Try not to say who BLANKED BLANK but also don't play spoiler kabuki for new watchers. Maybe new watchers should weigh in: what's your preference for spoilered discussion?
posted by codacorolla at 7:37 AM on June 20, 2014


I'm in. I just finally started watching the show a month ago and while I was watching it I wanted sooo badly to discuss it with someone but everyone was like 'Umm, yeah I watched that show, 20 years ago!'
posted by ian1977 at 7:37 AM on June 20, 2014


I don't think knowing who BLANKED BLANKA BLANKER will spoil it, as long as you don't know who killed Laura Palmer.

Yeah, there's a lot more to it than *who* did it. I mean, that was part of it for sure, but it was also about the motivation, the evil in people's hearts, who else knew what was going on, etc. I'd love to do a rewatch, but I've had several aborted attempts over the years. It's kind of slow moving, but extremely intense once you get into it. The pace and tone are a bit dated and it feels like more work watching it compared to contemporary shows. It probably says something very depressing about my life that I am way busier and do far fewer drugs than I did when I was originally captivated by the show.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:39 AM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


Finally I understand the purpose for Fanfare. I have been waiting for this moment my entire life. Can we cap it by discussing Fire Walk With Me?
posted by maxsparber at 8:15 AM on June 20, 2014 [4 favorites]


I feel like there should be a statute of limitations for spoilers to stop being spoilers.

My log sez: 'Rosebud' is a sled.






Also, Tottenham Hotspur 9, Keflavík nil, and Apuleius does eventually return to human form.
posted by Herodios at 8:19 AM on June 20, 2014


I'm okay with mild spoilers, as long as people aren't trying to ruin any Big Thing.
posted by corb at 8:19 AM on June 20, 2014


I'm in too - maybe this will finally push me to watch beyond the pilot. And, fwiw, I'm fine with spoilers in-thread.
posted by kalimac at 8:22 AM on June 20, 2014


I'm in. Where are you going to schedule FWWM - after the two seasons, or before?

It would pretty much have to be after, right? I mean, of course it takes place before, but it gives away so much from the show that I'd never recommend to someone going in fresh to watch it first.

It would be a bit of a stretch*, but it could be scheduled as a #MefiHorrorFilmClub entry to tie in and coincide with when the show is wrapped up [in plastic] on Fanfare.

* I wouldn't call the show horror, with some exceptions scattered throughout, but the movie really rides that line.
posted by doctornecessiter at 8:29 AM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


Oh man, I'm in. I am SO READY to rekindle my fiery hatred for Bobby Briggs.

The version I have is a burned DVD from when it was broadcast on Swedish TV - with Swedish subtitles and everything. I hope I can keep up with you fancy folks and your Blue-Ray discs.
posted by Elly Vortex at 8:40 AM on June 20, 2014


ack! Half way through season 2 and I just accidentally found out who blanked blanka blank by reading an article about The Straight Story. CONSARNIT ALL TO HECKFIRE
posted by ian1977 at 8:43 AM on June 20, 2014


Just to clarify a bit, codacorolla is suggesting a "rewatch," not a first watch, so the discussion would (almost certainly) include spoilers. But let's be considerate and not include spoilery stuff in this thread, for anyone who might want to avoid them.

(Also, I'd like to join this, if I can get the goods here. I haven't watched it before, but I still think it would be fun to do -- maybe even more fun -- spoiliciously, if I approach from that point of view.)
posted by taz (staff) at 8:44 AM on June 20, 2014


That said my reaction was 'What? Nooo! No way. Oh my goodness that kinda makes sense'
posted by ian1977 at 8:44 AM on June 20, 2014


This is definitely on my list of Stuff I Need to Watch and Haven't Yet, so this is as good an excuse as any. And I am totally okay with spoilers.
posted by dogheart at 8:47 AM on June 20, 2014


This is probably sooner than I could start a rewatch just based on personal-life stuff and the fact that I appear to already be in two MeFi book clubs and the Mad Men rewatch and theoretically I am supposed to do my job and clean my house and not just consume media with MeFites all day.

But I am totally pro the rest of you doing it, I would love to read the resultant threads, and I'll tag along behind you at some point and comment in them as well.
posted by Stacey at 8:54 AM on June 20, 2014


ian1977: "ack! Half way through season 2 and I just accidentally found out who blanked blanka blank by reading an article about The Straight Story. CONSARNIT ALL TO HECKFIRE"

Tepid, 86 degree Fahrenheit heckfire.
posted by boo_radley at 9:01 AM on June 20, 2014


Would knowing who BLANKED BLANKA BLANKER hurt my enjoyment of the series?


I started a rewatch recently with my partner who had only seen a few bits of a few episodes, though he has always been very aware of the show and its stars and David Lynch in general. Yet he somehow doesn't know who BLANKED BLANKA BLANKER, which, for me, was like finding out 8 years into a relationship that he was an alien or something.

The best part is that he doesn't fear spoilers at all, so he's always asking me if BLANK was the one who BLANKED BLANKA BLANKER, and then I get to be all, "well, maybe...what do you think?" while stroking my the imaginary beard on my chin and smiling, which drives him crazy (but not crazy enough to ever look it up on the Internet because...maybe he is an alien). Surprisingly (or not), this does not get old to me at all

Stay tuned for my pop-up t-shirt store full of WHO BLANKED BLANKA BLANKER? tees because this is my new favorite idea.

Can we cap it by discussing Fire Walk With Me?

Yes please.

I also really do like the idea of waiting until the Blu-Ray comes out but that might just be me looking for any extra excuse to buy it.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:36 AM on June 20, 2014 [3 favorites]


Just to hijack this thread for a little plug, we're also having a First Watch of Battlestar Galactica over in Fanfare!
posted by threeants at 9:52 AM on June 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


YES! Yes yes yes! This is precisely the thing that will get me to visit the garishly bright professional-white* FanFare! It's the platonic ideal of FanFare's raison d'etre, as far as I'm concerned. Awesome idea!
_____
* IMHO the background of FanFare should be the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.
posted by Westringia F. at 9:54 AM on June 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


* IMHO the background of FanFare should be the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.

Or like this!
posted by ian1977 at 10:10 AM on June 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


Darn it, this isn't about Liz Phair at all!
posted by Chrysostom at 10:13 AM on June 20, 2014


Is it still on Netflix? I'd love anything that gets me to power past the first eight episodes where I always falter (I have the attention span of a gnat, plus watching women be abused always takes a lot out of me emotionally) but maybe I'd watch along if the threads weren't full of spoilers?
posted by Juliet Banana at 11:31 AM on June 20, 2014


and by "we" I mean, uh, just me at this point, so come make me be not lonely!
posted by threeants at 11:48 AM on June 20, 2014


Westringia F.: "* IMHO the background of FanFare should be the color of television, tuned to a dead channel."

So blue, then?
posted by Strange Interlude at 11:50 AM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


Is it still on Netflix?

Yep. I hope they don't do something shitty like remove it when the new DVDs come out...
posted by codacorolla at 11:54 AM on June 20, 2014


The order that I would propose would be the pilot episode (different than what was shown on TV, but is the first chronologically in Netflix) followed by all of the episodes chronologically (so 29 more), capped off by the movie. The movie technically takes place before the episodes, but has major spoilers and was created after the show's original run had concluded.
posted by codacorolla at 11:57 AM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


>> IMHO the background of FanFare should be the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.

> So blue, then?

Oh yes. I was imagining static, what with MeFi being a "throwback" site, but we definitely rock the BSOD-blue style better than anyone.

But OMG, I only just now realized how that change totally alters the opening of Neuromancer ("The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.") Young readers will picture bright blue skies over the dystopian underworld of Chiba City....

Which is kinda fittingly Lynchian for this thread, come to think of it.
posted by Westringia F. at 12:44 PM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


I think it sounds great, but I guess I will have to take a pass. A "REWATCH" wouldn't be a good match with my "FIRST WATCH". I'll definately come by after I'm done to read some of the episode threads though.

Anyone know if the AV Club has done a rewatch? I love reading their stuff after I watch a show.
posted by joelhunt at 1:07 PM on June 20, 2014


Would knowing who BLANKED BLANKA BLANKER hurt my enjoyment of the series?

I've re-watched it and I don't think so. I honestly don't think the writers knew who did it when they set out writing the show. Just enjoy the ride, it's pretty fun.
posted by Hoopo at 1:28 PM on June 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


When I first saw the series, I already knew the alluded-to thing, but it did not ruin it for me at all. With Twin Peaks, it's not always so much what happens, but how.
posted by tomboko at 2:10 PM on June 20, 2014 [2 favorites]


Yes, please; I'd be up for a rewatch. I hope that spoilers, large and small, aren't avoided. Spoilered discussion is the whole point of rewatch threads, in my mind, and the only way I'd try Twin Peaks a second time. (Couldn't get past the first episode a few years ago.)
posted by moira at 2:35 PM on June 20, 2014


Can we cap it by discussing Fire Walk With Me?

I'd be in for that, as long as we skip the sequel, What About Bob?, which frankly I didn't get at all.
posted by Hoopo at 2:46 PM on June 20, 2014 [11 favorites]


I preordered the Blu-Ray and I'm so glad this is happening.

I saw Fire Walk With Me before I watched the series (not including when I was a 10 year old watching the series' airing, but let's not get into how much that delightfully warped my young impressionable brain.) So the major reveal was "spoiled" to the extent it could be spoiled in a sea of confusion. It's certainly not the end of the world for first-time watchers, but I think it's probably better to not discuss that one huge spoiler, but still have other smaller spoiler-y things open to discussion. Is there a way we can arrange that? I think that's friendly to both rewatchers and first timers who don't mind smaller subplots being discussed.
posted by naju at 3:22 PM on June 20, 2014


I'll be a tentative first watch candidate. I don't care about spoilers, if I did I'd pull up a chair in front of netflix and shut down all the forum noise. Don't know who killed her but have a sly suspicion it was Neil Gaiman.
posted by sammyo at 4:27 PM on June 20, 2014


YAASSSSSSS

I'm watching it for the first time now, and I would LOVE to talk about it. My friends seem mostly bemused by my enthusiasm.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 4:41 PM on June 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


This is relevant to my interests.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:20 PM on June 20, 2014


Darn good idea! And hot!
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:35 AM on June 21, 2014 [6 favorites]


I just re-watched most of it a few months ago and would do it again. My interest fizzled out in season 2, mostly because there was no one to commiserate with about the sharp decline in quality it took. This mirrored my original viewing of it when it aired, except I missed an episode or two, which made it really hard to follow (a real hazard for shows back when you had no way to see them again). I was actually surprised by how coherent the narrative is for a David Lynch project. I'd conflated the confusion I felt originally with Lynch's later work which is in actual fact not coherent, though entertaining.

For new viewers, the killer isn't important, honestly.
posted by cj_ at 7:07 PM on June 21, 2014 [1 favorite]


I started rewatching this on Netflix and was surprised at how much it holds up. Well, the first season.

I still have not completed the second season. I may need a support group…
posted by mazola at 11:54 PM on June 21, 2014


Yes please. And you can't really spoil this show, it's as delicious as cherry pie.
posted by freejinn at 8:41 PM on June 22, 2014


taz: "But let's be considerate and not include spoilery stuff in this thread"

Laura Palmer dies.
posted by schmod at 6:57 AM on June 25, 2014


I still have not completed the second season. I may need a support group…

Stick it out! The finale is AMAZING. In my opinion it makes up for trudging through the pointless and drawn-out subplots (F.U. James. Seriously.).
posted by Dr-Baa at 1:33 PM on June 26, 2014


When are we getting started on this? I bought a bit so I can champ at it, and I have been champing.
posted by maxsparber at 6:46 PM on July 2, 2014


July 29th, to coincide with the extended edition release.
posted by codacorolla at 8:46 PM on July 2, 2014 [1 favorite]


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