Twin Peaks, The X-Files, Fringe and MUCH MORE!

[Christine]

Did anyone watch Haven on Friday night? Its based on a Stephen King novella called The Colorado Kid. It was along the lines of X-files.

[Jaice]

I did. I've been discussing it over at the Stephen King Fans group (http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3...). Most people seem not to like it, but I think it has potential. I have never read the novella, so I cannot compare the two.

[Christine]

I agree with you that it has potential. Most everything I read leading up to watching the show said that there wasn't much of Stephen King's story in the TV show. I think I have the book somewhere so I will attempt to read it. The fact that the story is set in Maine is about the only connection I can see as well as the newspaper headlines saying something about "the Colorado Kid". Its definitely a quirky town with quirky people but the acting is stiff. I sure hope it gets better. I read thru what the SK Fans group said and they surely don't like it. I believe in 2nd, 3rd and even 4th chances. What else am I going to watch? "So You Think You Can Dance"? Ugh, I don't think so!

I also read that Haven was being compared to "Twin Peaks" from back in the 80s. Did you watch that one?

[Jaice]

Christine wrote: "...What else am I going to watch? "So You Think You Can Dance"? Ugh, I don't think so!"

LOL

Christine wrote: "...I also read that Haven was being compared to "Twin Peaks" from back in the 80s. Did you watch that one?"

No, I had never heard of it before reading that.

[Christine]

I just looked at your profile. You are 24. No wonder you have never heard of Twin Peaks! It was a tv show done back in the 1990 (sorry, I was off by a decade) by David Lynch. It involved the murder of Laura Palmer and an FBI agent who was sent to this small town in the northwest to investigate it, again a quirky town full of quirky people. It was VERY strange and a show ahead of its time. Had a cult following for a long time, probably still does.

[Jaice]

Christine wrote: "I just looked at your profile. You are 24. No wonder you have never heard of Twin Peaks! It was a tv show done back in the 1990 (sorry, I was off by a decade) by David Lynch. It involved the mu..."

Hmm, it sounds like something I would like to watch.

[Christine]

I'm sure there are DVDs of the show.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I've started re-watching The X-Files again. I'm gonna try Supernatural when I get the chance :-) I've heard of Twin Peaks - I'm older than Jason of the Borg, but I never watched it - might have to give it a try too. I listened to The Colorado Kid recently on audiobook, but probably won't watch the TV show.

[Jaice]

Dustin wrote: "...I'm older than Jason of the Borg..."

The Borg were assimilating other species before humans had begun banging stones together. :-P

[Maciek]

You guys never seen Twin Peaks ? boy, you're in for a ride. I learned about the series while browsing the compositional credits for Angelo Badalamenti - the opening sequence of this show is one of the best things ever. It perfectly matches the beautiful music. See for yourselves:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2lkvr...

[Maciek]

Also, is anyone in the group a fan of the original Twilight Zone ? I love that show. Rod Serling is my hero.

[Jaice]

Maciek wrote: "You guys never seen Twin Peaks ? boy, you're in for a ride. I learned about the series while browsing the compositional credits for Angelo Badalamenti - the opening sequence of this show is one of ..."

That is one of the most beautiful openings I have ever seen on a show, both in terms of the imagery and the music. It seemed more like the opening of a movie than a show. I added both seasons and the movie to my Netflix queue. Did you watch both seasons and the movie already, Mac? If so, then please give me your impressions.

[Jaice]

Maciek wrote: "Also, is anyone in the group a fan of the original Twilight Zone ? I love that show. Rod Serling is my hero."

Absolutely.

[Maciek]

I've seen both seasons, but I haven't seen the movie - it's said to be "a prequel and sequel combined", so I think it's best to watch it after seeing the show.
Speaking of which, I think you'll really like it. The premise was already described - mured of Laura Palmer, special agent Dale Cooper is sent to Twin Peaks to investigate - but it's not your usual crime story, no no. It's way more than that. The first season is concerned primarily with the Palmer murder, and the second season is David Lunch going to places weirer than weird. It's a cult show by all means; I'm sure you'll agree when you'll see it.
Actually there were three seasons planned, but the series has been cancelled; I can;t remember why, propably due to financial reasons, with the general consensus being that the second season did not match the success of the first. This leaves the series ending in a cliffhanger - but I think it's a perfect end for the show; I do think that the third season is unnecessary. There is a lot of fan-fiction, "secret diaries of Agent Dale Cooper" and such where fans write their own visions of how the show might have looked if it was greenlit to continue.

The performances are astounding. Kyle Maclahlan steals the show as Cooper, and his coffee and cherry pie routine are classics. But what appeals mightly in Twin Peaks to us guys are the girls. These actresses are one of the most feminine women on the planet, particularry Madchen Amick and Sherilynn Fenn. There is a lot of sensuality in Twin Peaks, but Lynch skilfully manages to hold it from becoming a softcore porn that pollutes so much of modern TV and instead makes it pleasurable to watch; the viewer is genuinely interested in relationships between people.

Overall, I'm glad you'll see it and I'm sure you'll aprreciate is as much as I do. I think what sums it up best is a line I stole from The Church of Dead Girls: A Novel(also recommended): "Every town has its secrets: some are darker than others."

[Maciek]

Jason "plasborgma" wrote: "Maciek wrote: "Also, is anyone in the group a fan of the original Twilight Zone ? I love that show. Rod Serling is my hero."

Absolutely."

Ha ha ! I knew that. Which are your favorite episodes ?
Mine is propably "The Stop at Willoughby". It's so bittersweet.
Plus, did you know that it was Rod who rote the screenplay to the original Planet of The Apes ? They largely changed it but kept his ending, which made the whole movie for me.

[Christine]

Maciek, I am so glad to see there are still people out there who like good television even if it was 20 years ago. In my opinion, Kyle Maclahlan has not done anything as good as his Agent Cooper. I think the show got cancelled because people did not get where David Lynch was going with the second season. There is no doubt that the show was weird but it did things that made you think.

[Christine]

Maciek wrote: "Also, is anyone in the group a fan of the original Twilight Zone ? I love that show. Rod Serling is my hero."

Definitely, the episode that has always haunted me is the one starring Burgess Meredith, "Time Enough At Last".

Rod Serling's work will always have value.

[Jaice]

Christine wrote: "...Definitely, the episode that has always haunted me is the one starring Burgess Meredith, "Time Enough At Last"...."

I was just about to name this one as my favorite too. :-) "It's not fair!" I love many episodes of TTZ though.

[Maciek]

Christine wrote: "Maciek, I am so glad to see there are still people out there who like good television even if it was 20 years ago. In my opinion, Kyle Maclahlan has not done anything as good as his Agent Cooper. I think the show got cancelled because people did not get where David Lynch was going with the second season. There is no doubt that the show was weird but it did things that made you think. "

I agree. I saw several of his movies and didn't like them as much as Twin Peaks. He'll always be Cooper for me.
"This is, excuse me, a damn fine cup of coffee!"

[Christine]

I always remember him being crazy for the pie.

[Becca]

I vaguely remember reading an article that David Duchovny was in an episode of Twin Peaks. I think it was Twin Peaks anyway. My memory is shot, I can barely remember my name.

[Christine]

Becca wrote: "I vaguely remember reading an article that David Duchovny was in an episode of Twin Peaks. I think it was Twin Peaks anyway. My memory is shot, I can barely remember my name."

I had to check this out because I did not remember David Duchovny being on Twin Peaks, and, yes, you are right. He played a cross-dressing DEA agent!

[Becca]

Dustin wrote: "I've started re-watching The X-Files again. I'm gonna try Supernatural when I get the chance :-) I've heard of Twin Peaks - I'm older than Jason of the Borg, but I never watched it - might have to ..."

I've been considering an X-Files marathon awhile myself lately. I realized I couldn't remember certain details about the shows anymore and it kinda freaked me out. LOL. I think I lost my nerd license... When watching reruns, I was able to tell which season an episode played by Scully's hair; I'm curious to know if anyone else has noticed that detail from season to season.
I have to say I love the show Supernatural. It makes great use of folklore and urban legends. Great show, all around. And that car...very sexy. :D I highly recommend Supernatural Dustin, I doubt you'll be disappointed.

[Christine]

I'm glad to see I am not alone in being a Supernatural fan. I love that car and Dean and Sam aren't bad either!

[Becca]

Dang straight Christine. Dean is a man sandwich. :P

[Christine]

Becca wrote: "Dang straight Christine. Dean is a man sandwich. :P"

I just got a good look at your profile pic, nice!!!!! Dean is too!

[Becca]

Christine wrote: "Becca wrote: "Dang straight Christine. Dean is a man sandwich. :P"

I just got a good look at your profile pic, nice!!!!! Dean is too!"

Why thank you very much. :D I'm kinda torn between Dean and the car. Guess I'll just have to love them both. LOL.

[Jaice]

Becca wrote: "I'm kinda torn between Dean and the car. Guess I'll just have to love them both. LOL."

You must be very jealous of Sam then, as he is always riding in the car with Dean. And, if you rode in the car between Dean and Sam, then it really would be a "man sandwich." ;-)

[Christine]

I don't think you can have one without the other :)

[Christine]

Christine wrote: "I don't think you can have one without the other :)"

I meant Dean and the car

[Becca]

I don't know Jason, I think I might end up kicking Sam out the door. And Dean is more than man enough be a man sandwich all on his own. LOL.

Very true Christine, and I don't have a problem with that at all. :D

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Having recently finished Fringe season one and starting to rewatch the X-files, I think I'll agree with Jason that I actually like Fringe better :-) still I'm only in season one of X-files, so we'll see. Fringe Season 2 comes out on DVD and Blu Ray in September - I just pre-ordered a copy today :-)

[Christine]

X-Files was good when it was on TV but like everything else, it has become dated. I think that is why I like Fringe better now. Someday it will be something new, I hope!

Don't forget to check our Supernatural in the meantime.

[MsBeaglely]

I could never get into the X-Files. I tried so many times to watch it, but everytime (and I do mean EVERYTIME) I turned it on the same episode was airing. It was the one with the red haired girls/women named Eve. I took it as a sign that I wasn't meant to watch the show & gave up. I haven't made an attempt in years.

[Christine]

Jen wrote: "I could never get into the X-Files."

It wasn't a show for everyone. I would definitely take that as a sign if it kept being the same episode over and over again. I don't remember that one at all. Weird. Try Fringe.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Jen wrote: "I could never get into the X-Files. I tried so many times to watch it, but everytime (and I do mean EVERYTIME) I turned it on the same episode was airing. It was the one with the red haired girls..."

Yes. I just watched EVE again within the past week. It's one of my favorites from season one :-) I'm enjoying watching some of the episodes I skipped over when I went through the series last year. GENDER BENDER from Season One was an unexpected surprisingly good episode that I had skipped but enjoyed recently.

[Jaice]

Dustin wrote: "...I'm enjoying watching some of the episodes I skipped over when I went through the series last year...."

I don't know how you can skip episodes.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Jason "I don't know how you can skip episodes. "
I'm watching every episode this time :-) I'm on the last disc of season one now.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

There was just so many episodes during 9 seasons that I originally just picked the ones that sounded good to me, but you never really know without watching them.

[Becca]

Don't judge an episode of the X-Files by its title. ;)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Dean Koontz remains my favorite author. I never know exactly what to expect and the reader has to distance themselves from reality to some extent - which is also why I enjoyed the X-files and am now enjoying Fringe (alternate reality :-) btw, have you watched Warehouse 13? I saw season one come in the store and it looked interesting? What about Dexter? That show looks interesting too.

[Christine]

Dexter was too gory and Warehouse 13 too silly for me. I love Fringe and am looking forward to the new season.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Wow! too gory and too silly for YOU? They must be very extreme. I don't have television (cable/satellite) so I wait until the shows are available on DVD. I'm very excited for Season 2 of Fringe to be released next month :-)

[Christine]

I like watching the shows on DVDs. I watched Battlestar Galactica and Supernatural that way. I get bored between episodes and sometimes miss one and then in some of the more complex shows like Fringe if you miss an episode, you get completely lost.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

FRINGE IS AWESOME! and it seems to be getting better all the time :-) I re-watched some of the earlier episodes of season one and I really liked the direction and focus that they seemed to gain by the end of the season.

[Christine]

I agree. I am not completely sure where they are headed but I like its quirky-ness, its creativity and especially its humor. I think its one of the best shows on TV.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

Christine wrote: "I agree. I am not completely sure where they are headed but I like its quirky-ness, its creativity and especially its humor. I think its one of the best shows on TV."

Like I said in an earlier post, I just hope they can keep it all together and not make the mistakes of The X-files where the conspiracy kept changing and people who you thought were dead and gone, weren't - Maybe that's where Patricia Cornwell got her idea ....

*SPOILER ALERT - PATRICIA CORNWELL - KAY SCARPETTA*
I can't remember if you've read Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta series but in Point of Origin she killed off a main character and in Blowfly brought him back. The series dramatically went downhill after Blowfly.
*End of SPOILER ALERT*

I think when a series/story has run it's course there comes a time when it needs to end. Those last seasons of the X-files were hit and miss with good episodes - I just hope that the people behind Fringe can learn from that mistake and end the story when the time comes. 9 seasons of the X-files was too much. When Mulder left, they should have started a new series with the new characters if they wanted to try to keep it going, but really it went all down hill. just my opinion & observations :-)

So, have you watched True Blood and if so, what's your opinion on that one?

[Christine]

I am a totally devoted fan of True Blood. I love Alan Ball, creator or the series, who also did Six Feet Under. I am not crazy about the Sookie Stackhouse novels but they keep me going between seasons. It probably has too much sex and violence and blood for most people but I am obsessed with the show and all its characters. Its off the charts with originality.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I recently saw a magazine with the characters on the cover covered in blood - certainly got my attention :-) I haven't watched Six Feet Under either - do you recommend it?

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl, Colorful Colorado]

I have to log off now but I'll be back someday, sometime. See ya later - it's been a fun day at the library :-)