What in the actual f*ck.
I'm a reasonable man, I realize I've been crapping on D&D even more than usual this season but I really do have to give them props for doing exactly what they set out to do. They hoped to subvert our expectations and they did just wonderfully in that regards.
We expected all of that buildup over the years to actually amount to something that at the very least passes for a presentable series finale but instead, we got an incoherent, steaming pile of shit. Expectations subverted!
We expected all of that character development to actually result in a beautiful pay-off that respects the journey of self-discovery each and every one of our beloved characters went through to get to where they are now but instead, we got a painful, disrespectful cycle of character regression. Expectations subverted!
We expected the final season of this show to keep us at the edge of our seats with thrilling writing that didn't subvert our expectations for the sake of subverting our expectations via low-quality shock value-seeking writing, but to introduce plot twists that make sense within the overall narrative of the story but instead, we got CW-level predictable, cringe material. Expectations subverted!
I get it. I really do. GRRM let them down by not getting the books ready in time and so they had to improvise away from his influence, but this? This? For a long while, Game of Thrones lived up to the slogan of its parent network, it wasn't just TV, it was something different, something unique and now to have to see it come to this... it's nothing short of disappointing.
On the bright side though, at least this episode didn't suck completely. The acting, score and cinematography were all on point, so I guess it's nice that I didn't walk out of it having appreciated absolutely nothing about it.
So why do I even bother anymore? I honestly could not tell you, though it's probably a mixture of masochism and a faint sliver of hope that they won't flush our collective investment into this series down the drain by the end of it, just one more episode dammit.
Holy shit! Lynch and Frost fucking did it! These past three episodes have combined to equal the finale of the original series, maybe even surpass it. This episode is not a tight bow tying up the loose ends of the show but that's because it's not supposed to be. This show is about how evil weaves it's way into everything despite being beaten back countless times. Evil hits you where you least expect it and no one is safe because no one is perfect, not even Cooper. Tying up everything is directly contrary to the very purpose and direction of the show.
This finale is not completely coherent and it's not going to make sense in the way you may want but that is one of it's greatest strong points. Cooper, Diane, and Laura are right there with you, they think they know what's happening and which direction they're going but really have no goddamn idea. Coop specifically thinks he knows exactly what is happening and what he needs to do but is mystified when little things go against his plan. Diane leaves and on the note calls him Richard. Immediately after he leaves his hotel room and it's clearly a different hotel and car. He winces and moves on. He meets the woman he knows is Laura Palmer and she has no idea what the fuck he's talking about. But he persists because he knows in his heart he is right. She invites him into her house while she packs and it's apparent she's just killed her husband. Cooper stares, yet he still knows his mission and moves on despite the signs that he's in over his head. He goes to Laura's house with "Carrie" and is confronted by people who directly refute that Sarah Palmer has anything to do with the house (though oddly mentioning the Chalfonts) and "Carrie" stands there not exactly knowing what to tell him. Then the final breakdown happens where Coop is visibly shaken in the streets. Cooper asking what year it is spins the whole thing in another direction. Is it past? present? future? How long in what direction? We don't know and forced to accept that just like Cooper. The final thing we see are the lights going out as Laura looks onward and screams, as if she is actually Laura not Carrie. As an audience member you are terrified but you don't know why. It's a combination of a universal reaction to a scream and the memory of what that scream implies within the story.
To me the whole thing implies this constantly shifting time frame where the character's names and actions shift slightly. They are not exactly the same just as Dougie wasn't exactly Cooper, but they have similar roles. In one scenario Laura might find herself the victim of abuse and dying young from her abuser. In another she may find herself the victim of abuse but instead the roles are switched and she is the murderer. Cooper may find his dream girl investigating the case around a girl's murder, but if it never happens then even a relationship he had (Diane) may flounder for no specific reason. This uncertainty and randomness in the world gives rise for bad things to squeeze themselves into unexpected places, just as good things squeeze themselves in. David Lynch has stated that much of what Twin Peaks is about centers around coincidence. That didn't fully make sense to me until now where he shows us. Now the quirky nature of the show makes even more sense. These silly, unexpected things happen all the time and mostly they are good and harmless, but the bad also worms its way into everything. This episode and season in general are insanely complex and I'm writing this right after watching it for the first time so I may have mis-remembered some things ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) and I have definitely missed some things and honestly I want to hear what because this ending just got my noggin joggin.
Just let me get two things out of the way I think were weak storytelling.
First, putting the drive on the hub was the stupidest thing to do as it could only lead to her getting caught. It also was illogical as it was clear that they would just override it and/or claim it as false. Granted she didn't know about the Janitor room but she knew there was surveilance everywhere and because of that might reach the conclusion that all those feeds had to be watched somewhere. But the story needs to go on so I'll take it.
Second, its hard to believe that they didn't inspect the stuff they brought to Juliette or they would have found the note. Even not knowing what it meant they would not have let it through. Plus, from a storyelling point of view it was giving too much away. Would have been better to not show it. Instead they could insert a scene when Juliette is about to break down to explain that she didn't die. And speaking of dying, Where are all the others that went out? Does someone actually go out to collect the bodies ?
Now, for the big reveal at the end I have to say I didn't see that coming. After making us believe (and I did) that it is safe outside, not only do we learn it is not, but there are literally dozens of silos out there. Does that mean the whole of mankind lives underground ? My guess is that each one thinks they are the only one and each one does have someone taking care that it stays like that. But we still don't have an idea about why ?
There is one thing I noticed that I want to point out. When Juliette told Holland about the door below he seem genuinely surprised. As if he didn't knew. That was the moment he ended the conversation. Just saying.
So, I don't know the books but from reading elsewhere I understand we barely scratched the surface of the story. I wonder how slow they will go with this one. The second season is already confirmed but thre is always the chance of not getting a third, or forth, or however many they need to play this out.
I sure hope we're not getting left hanging in the air atsome point.
