Spoilers

“The Last Evening”

Part 8

Season one of Twin Peaks came to an end with all of those major storylines I talked about from the penultimate episode of season one coming to a peak in this finale. Except, of course, we did not learn who the killer of Laura Palmer was yet. I know there were some frustration at the time, including me, about when they would reveal the secret. Truth be told, people are just too impatient. It is something I have learned over the years since Twin Peaks’ first season.

We did learn several things. We learned that Jacques did not kill Laura as Leo ditched him before going to the train car. The show went out of its way to show that Dr. Jacoby was not Laura’s killer either, casting him in a more empathic light than we had seen before. And, despite the show kind of playing up Leo in the case, after years of reading comics and watching soap opera, I was sure that Leo was nothing more than a red herring. Twin Peaks was the master of red herrings.

I remember the shooting of Agent Cooper as if it were yesterday. I was so shocked about it that it threw my entire thoughts about the series into overdrive. It was a horrible way to leave the fans dangling over the break, and yet so tasty.

Watching Leland murder Jacques with the pillow was unbelievable at first, but made complete sense in retrospect. At first it just felt like a bad decision from a grieving parent, but, of course, we know now that there was more behind it than just that. This truly begins Ray Wise’s elevation of his performance into season two. When the alarm stops ringing, Wise changes Leland’s facial expressions from his sobbing to one of darkness. It is chilling looking back.

I fell in love with Pete and Catharine in this episode, even though Catharine is still pretty manipulative toward him, but it felt sincere when she asked him for help. You have to admire Pete for heading into the burning mill in search of his wife.

Are there any two characters more likable, but downright stupid as Big Ed and Norma? They are so manipulated by their respected spouses that you would think they would just come out and say what they want, and that is to be together. Thing is, they just can’t seem to get out of their own way and Nadine and Hank know the buttons to push.

Although Hank’s coincidental saving of Bobby’s life with a well placed bullet to Leo’s chest, just before Leo dropped an axe on Bobby’s head, was timed beautifully. I know this leads to one of my favorite quotes from this series of all time during season two. I use it to this day whenever shoe shopping, “New shoes.”

There is also a real ick factor with Benjamin Horne on his way to see the “new girl” who just happens to be his daughter Audrey. I remember watching this the first time and just having no idea how Audrey was going to get out of this.

Andy stepping up as the hero, only to find out that Lucy is pregnant, was really a tough blow. You felt for both of them.

This was an epic season one and spent a lot of time building these strange people in this mysterious little town. The central mystery of Laura Palmer’s murder was iconic and created a huge water cooler show.