The thing that holds Twin Peaks back for me is the humour. At times the absurdism can be funny, like the iconic waiter scene at the beginning of Season 2. More often, the humour is just lazy and this episode is a perfect example. I'm sorry but I don't see what's funny about someone discussing whether to burn a cheese pig, or someone swatting a fly, or someone walking into a room with a piece of tape stuck to his head. And since that type of thing makes up much of the episode's runtime, I can't say I enjoyed it as much as usual.
Yet one scene is one of the most eerie in the entire series when Major Briggs delivers a message to Cooper that is the same as the one delivered by the giant: the owls are not what they seem. It's creepy on many levels, confirming the giant was real. And where did the coded message come from? Another planet? Is the answer to Twin Peaks' mysteries not supernatural but in fact extraterrestrial?
There are also some nice soap opera-esque moments. Donna catches Maddy looking at James seductively while they sing. This is a confusing moment for James because Maddy is like Laura for him, and Donna knows this. No wonder she feels insecure. Then there's Bobby's plan with Shelly, when he convinces her to use Leo for disability benefits. What they're doing feels like another stab at Leo and one he deserves, for all he's done to her. Major Briggs' discussion with the Log Lady about achievement is also a highlight.
Yet one scene is one of the most eerie in the entire series when Major Briggs delivers a message to Cooper that is the same as the one delivered by the giant: the owls are not what they seem. It's creepy on many levels, confirming the giant was real. And where did the coded message come from? Another planet? Is the answer to Twin Peaks' mysteries not supernatural but in fact extraterrestrial?
There are also some nice soap opera-esque moments. Donna catches Maddy looking at James seductively while they sing. This is a confusing moment for James because Maddy is like Laura for him, and Donna knows this. No wonder she feels insecure. Then there's Bobby's plan with Shelly, when he convinces her to use Leo for disability benefits. What they're doing feels like another stab at Leo and one he deserves, for all he's done to her. Major Briggs' discussion with the Log Lady about achievement is also a highlight.