Monsters of Television

The question of who killed Laura Palmer has been eclipsed by the question of why. Close behind is the question of how everyone figures out the why, as our three sets of detectives – Cooper, Harry, and the Twin Peaks sheriff’s department; Audrey; James, Donna, and Maddie – each pursue their own leads to discover Laura’s murderer.

Cooper and Harry have uncovered enough evidence to place Leo and Jacques at the murder scene, but not enough evidence for why they would have committed the murder. Audrey’s quest to figure out the connection between Laura’s job at Horne’s department store and her job at One Eyed Jacks leads Audrey down the same path – and into an interview where Audrey displays her talent for tying cherry stems with her mouth. James, Donna, and Maddie cook up an elaborate ruse to get Dr. Jacoby away from his office so that it can be searched for a missing tape recording.

Things are setting up for an explosive finale as everything comes to a head. Cooper and Big Ed go incognito to gamble at One Eyed Jacks, unaware that Audrey is there as well, securing herself a job as an escort. Audrey’s dad is also about to show up with a gaggle of backers, hoping to close his deal with a little bit of help. Maddie – decked out as Laura – is left alone (or is she!) while James and Donna scour Dr. Jacoby’s office and Bobby, who saw “Laura” by the gazebo, plants drugs in James’s Harley. Catherine finds out about Josie and Pete’s plan, Hank pays Josie a visit, and I just want something to happen already.

Oh, and Shelly shot Leo, who almost shot Bobby, but had to go shoot Waldo the talking bird instead.

Let’s talk about the absurdity and awesomeness that is having a talking bird as your only witness to a crime. And of course Cooper has a thing about birds. Makes my brain go straight into Hitchcock territory which, let’s be honest, would be a perfect fit for this show. Alas, no such moments will be had as poor Waldo bites a bullet, giving us a fantastic visual of blood and feathers sprayed over the carefully arranged doughnuts (oh, Lucy – only you would put edibles beneath a bird cage). But Waldo manages to get out a few words before his untimely demise, words that are caught on Cooper’s voice-activated tape recorder. Who would have thought that the recording of a bird talking would be so painful to hear? Excellent, excellent.

(The tape also apparently caught some of Lucy talking to herself, and given the hint of a revelation we are given in this episode about Lucy’s recent behavior, I want to believe that that part of the recording will be brought up later. (Poor Lucy.))

All three of our investigative teams employ complex and sneaky methods to suss out information. Audrey is all slick and manipulative, hiding in Battis’s office and using the information she gleans from eavesdropping to get herself to One Eyed Jacks. James and the girls are so earnest and determined in their own plot with Dr. Jacoby that it’s quite endearing. And Cooper’s plan. Oh, Cooper. Cooper and Big Ed pull on disguises for their trip out of town. Which in Cooper’s case involves a tux and a pair of glasses. Big Ed gets the short end of the disguise stick, being stuffed into a curly wig and a false moustache. FALSE MOUSTACHES FTW. Also, and I love you Big Ed, but please don’t ever attempt to flirt again.

We’re getting there, you guys, slowly but surely. And I suspect – nay, demand – that we will get a doozy of a finale in the next episode.

Notes:

• I adore that we start this episode right where we left off: in Cooper’s room, with Audrey in his bed. They’re kind of adorable, you guys. And he’s so sweet with her! Plus, it’s hilarious.
• Having just watching Russ Tamblyn play a skeeze in an episode of Quantum Leap, that’s all I can see now.
• Harry tells Cooper about Josie’s concerns and Cooper is all skeptical like, “How well do you know her?” and I’m expecting a fight. But then Harry’s all, “I know all I need to know: I love her and she’s in trouble.” And Cooper responds with a, “That’s good enough for me.” BROMANCE. IT’S A BROMANCE.