Return to TWIN PEAKS

Article first published as TV Review: TWIN PEAKS on Seat42F.

More than twenty-five years have passed since the cult favorite TWIN PEAKS left the airwaves after a mere thirty episodes. Last night, it returned to television with a brand-new season on Showtime. The two-hour premiere was met with much anticipation. Does it live up to the hype?

I recently binged the entire thirty-episode original run, plus the film Fire Walk With Me and the ninety minutes of deleted scenes known as The Missing Pieces, and I loved every minute of it. I don’t fully get why some people consider the second season and movie so inferior. Yes, it becomes less focused in year two, but I still enjoy it a lot. So I am going into the new stuff super pumped, definitely a fan.

But I have to say, I was left underwhelmed by the premiere episodes. This, despite all of the beloved returning characters and an immediately dive further into the mystery of the Black Lodge. Having slept on it to reflect, I think I can pinpoint why.

The lifeblood of TWIN PEAKS (film aside) is Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) and, to a slightly lesser extent, his relationship with Sheriff Truman. I like the other characters, but the story flows best when we are watching these two investigate together. The utter joy Cooper exhibits at the simplest things, such as cherry pie, bring an innocent magic that is enhanced whenever he is hanging out with his best bud. These initial hours lack that entirely.

Yes, Cooper is still essentially the lead, but he spends the entire two hours in the Black Lodge, where he can’t be himself. It’s impossible, given the structure of that place, and while that can make for a cool sequence or two, Cooper needs to get out before things can really start. MacLachlan also plays the evil doppelganger of Cooper, but again, this version lacks the charisma and magnetic personality of the real Cooper, so it’s not the same at all. And since Truman isn’t returning for the new episodes, we definitely don’t get any of him.

We do see other familiar faces in hours one and two. The Log Lady (Catherine E. Coulson) and Hawk (Michael Horse) are the best of those because they actually have plot, reopening the case of the missing Dale Cooper. Sadly, Coulson passed away, so she’ll have to exit the story soon. Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) also furthers things a little, albeit confusingly (which I have no problem with, and seems consistent with the old). But most of the others don’t have any kind of story to speak of, basically just making cameos so we can see them again. They all need their separate subplots that eventually intermingle in order to make them interesting. Lacking that, most feel gratuitous.

There are a slew of new characters with story, and multiple new settings are introduced, which is cool. I like that TWIN PEAKS is no longer confined to the town. I’m especially interested in what’s happening in New York City, and I always enjoy actress Madeline Zima (Californication). Unfortunately, much more screen time is spent on Evil Cooper and Bill Hastings (Matthew Lillard, Scooby-Doo, The Bridge), who are far less compelling. I don’t blame either actor, their story just isn’t at the same level as classic TWIN PEAKS story so far.

I understand that the new TWIN PEAKS, in keeping with its earlier incarnation, is a marathon, not a sprint, and so may end up being worthwhile and engaging as it plays out. Still, I feel that it needed to start strong in the first two hours, and by withholding the best version of Cooper, focusing largely on uninteresting new roles, and doing little with most of the returning cast, it totally misses the mark. Things needed to happen a little quicker at the front, at least providing a hook for the fans, and these episodes didn’t really do that.

Thankfully, Showtime has already put out episodes 3 and 4 on their streaming service, so I’ll be checking those as soon as possible to see if it improves.

Californication - "The Recused"

     Why does Hank (David Duchovny) have to be such a womanizing screw up? Things take a much darker turn this season on Showtime's Californication when Hank faces both assault and underage sex allegations, the latter of which leads to Karen (Natascha McElhone) finding out about Hank's one night stand with step-daughter Mia (Madeline Zima), which happened all the way back in the first episode. Hank's teenage daughter, Becca (Madeleine Martin), who usually stands by her father and overlooks his flaws, doesn't even want anything to do with him. Losing his family and facing jail time, one would think that Hank has been given a much needed wake up call. Sadly, that does not seem to be the case.

     The newest flub? Hank is now sleeping with his lawyer, Abby (Carla Gugino, Watchmen, Entourage). She attempts to recuse herself by passing Hank off on her boss, Lloyd (Alan Dale, Ugly Betty, Lost), but of course, Hank can't mind his manners for one day on the golf course with Lloyd. They erupt into fisticuffs, only to laugh and bond as soon as Abby agrees to take back Hank's case. Later, she has sex him one last time before telling him he is cut off from that pleasure until after the trial. Not only that, but by the end of the day, Hank has Karen smiling at him, too. How long does anyone seriously believe either women will stay out of his pants this time?

     What charm does Hank have to allow him to get away with all of this? I mean, I get it, having watched the show. Hank is just such an open, honest, likable guy. He may sleep with lots of women, but he'd happily commit to one, especially if that one was Karen. He has proven he can be faithful. Hank's ability to win Lloyd over post-fight is a little more confusing, both of them being dudes, but I think the same things that women find attractive in Hank, men find endearing in a different way. Hank doesn't hold grudges, his emotions are out there for all to see, and once Hank and another man get into it, they have taken out their anger and can move on from it. Even Karen's new love interest, Ben (Michael Ealy, The Good Wife, FlashForward), despite Hank's rotten behavior towards him upon their first meeting, is willing to befriend him.

     However, some things are above even Hank's charms. Despite his unknowingly bedding Mia, and Karen knowing that it was ignorance, neither she nor Becca can bring themselves to move past it. I think this is a case of both of them trying to bridge a disconnect between the Hank that they know and the man who can sleep with an underage girl, who was Karen's then-boyfriend's daughter, to boot. Yes, the facts support Hank, but it is still such a depraved act that it's hard to reconcile it with the Hank who would never knowingly do such a thing. Which he didn't knowingly do. They will eventually wrap their heads around it, but I don't think that might be such a good thing for Hank, in the long run. He has been forgiven a lot, and while I'd like to see him have a happily ever after with his family, he needs to make a few changes first.

     In the B plot, I am hoping that Charlie (Evan Handler) and Marcy (Pamela Adlon) are finally coming back together. Sure, Charlie is still continuing his conquest to bed one hundred women (he's up to twenty one), and Marcy is dating Stu (Stephen Tobolowsky, Glee, Heroes), but they make a great team, as evidenced by their pitch to Showtime this week. I wonder that they can't bring themselves to move past the past yet, as they clearly both see each other in that old, rosy light during the pitch meeting. Once Marcy admits to him that she is pregnant with his baby, which looks likely, I think it will come together. I guess some things just have to run their course, and Charlie and Marcy haven't finished the current track yet.

     Californication airs Sunday nights at 9 p.m. on Showtime.

Article first published as TV Review: Californication - "The Recused" on Blogcritics.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional TV news, follow Jerome on Twitter.

Californication - "Exile on Main St."

     Showtime's Californication began its fourth season last night with "Exile on Main St." Picking up three days after Hank (David Duchovny) was hauled away in handcuffs for assault in front of his family, it set the stage for brand new stories. Which is both good and bad. I mean, Hank's three love interests from season three stuck around long after he tried to end it with them. Why are they suddenly gone as season four begins, only three days later? I also wonder about the time line, as each season seems to progress naturally right into the next, without huge delays, and yet the young characters age one year per season. The seasons certainly don't feel like they cover an entire year.

     All that aside, Californication is a great show. It's hard to rate an episode as being particularly good or bad, as the series relies on long arcs to define itself. Rarely does one week deliver a self contained story. As such, I cannot say if the season premiere last night was particularly good or bad. What I can say is that it felt like a good, solid episode that fit beautifully into the established series.

     The overall story of the show revolves around Hank trying to win back Karen (Natascha McElhone) and forget his inappropriate one night stand with Mia (Madeline Zima, who sadly did not return full-time this year, or at all last night). These two arcs have been kept separate for three years, but the decision was made for them to collide spectacularly at the end of last season. I certainly don't blame the writers; it was time. What has resulted is Hank in the absolute worst place in his life yet. He faces legal consequences for sleeping with an underage girl, and Karen is more hurt than ever, wanting nothing to do with him. Which sends Hank back into another downward spiral, from which he never manages to crawl all the way back up from.

     I like the new character of Abby (Carla Gugino, Entourage), Hank's lawyer. From past experience, I'd say Hank will be sleeping with by next week, two weeks at the latest. Hank has already fallen into bed with the young starlet playing Mia in the movie version of his indiscretion, Sasha Bingham (Addison Timlin). Hank coaching Sasha in practicing the punch scene was one of the most moving moments of the series. Hank has never been a masochist, and it illustrated just how much pain he is in. It was a raw, moving scene, entirely satisfying. Paired with the dream sequences of his family, there was some powerful stuff.

     What is so entirely frustrating about Californication is that Hank is a good guy. His problems with Karen seem to me to be as much her fault as his. He is truly caring and sweet, and loves Karen completely. Yet, he can't bring himself to behave in a way that will win her back. If she's not fully committed, he has to be having sex with someone, and that's a problem. If he could just keep it in his pants, he'd be OK. Granted, the Mia situation was not his fault, and I feel terrible that Karen hates him so much for it. I understand her pain, but the anger she's emoting is not warranted. However, it's also easy to see why she wouldn't know the detailed truth, and so absolve Hank. It's the realism of their feelings and their chemistry that makes this show so great. And that fact that full understanding of Hank's biggest mistake really places no blame on him solidifies his role as a likable main character.

     Sadly, we saw very little of Becca's (Madeleine Martin) reaction to the Mia revelation last night. Her limited role was necessary, because Hank is the main character, and he has some heavy stuff to go through. I do believe it is within Becca's character to forgive him soon, but not immediately. Becca has always been understanding of her father, accepting him for who he is in a way that Karen probably never will, unfortunately. I am more curious about what Becca will say to Hank than what Karen will. Hank and Becca have the true father-daughter love, and the most lasting, stable connection of any two characters on the show.

     Elsewhere, Charlie (Evan Handler) is on the verge of putting himself back to where he was professionally in season one. With the outing of Fucking and Punching as Hank's, he has new success for his number one client. It looks like Charlie will be returning to his old agency, which may open up the return of old characters like Dani (Rachel Miner), who was last seen still working there. That's fine with me, as long as Charlie and Dani don't get involved again inappropriately, which I don't see happening. I will be most joyful, though, if Sue (Kathleen Turner) somehow figures into this year's arcs, as she was truly the most enjoyable addition in season three.

     Charlie's personal life isn't so together, which is a shame. Marcy (Pamela Adlon) seemed so close to taking him back, but I guess she was just having nostalgic fun. The two are clearly meant to be together. They've had a rough few years, but I wish the writers would allow them to work it out. Sure, drama must be kept going until the end of the series, but at this point, Hank has enough domestic strife to carry that banner on his own. A happy Charlie and Marcy would lighten the tone a bit. Does anyone really want to see Charlie bang eighty-eight more girls? I certainly don't.

     Californication continues its most enjoyable slog, continuing plots as season four opens. Hank never begins a new story; rather his entire life is one big novel or memoir. I say novel because of the wonderfully trippy dream sequences, which were back in evidence last night. How many more years the show will go on, I do not know. My hope is that they are given a fitting conclusion. I think the series is probably closer to an end than a beginning, but no rush. In my opinion, five seasons may be the perfect numbers.

     Check out Californication Sunday nights at 9 p.m. on Showtime.

Article first published as TV Review: Californication - "Exile on Main St." on Blogcritics.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional tv news, follow Jerome on Twitter.

Heroes down but not out

    Many fans of NBC’s Heroes have fled, claiming the show will never be as good as it was in the first season. Truthfully, I feel the first season was ok, but the second season was the zenith. That was when Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars) and David Anders (Alias) joined the cast. They were signed to become full time characters, but a shortened season, because of the writer’s strike, and failing ratings interfered, and both ended up leaving early in season three. I agree, that the show has floundered unevenly since then, but don’t give up hope yet.

      This week’s episode, “Strange Attractors”, proved that the show can be good, and not just when Hiro and Ando are the focus, as the popular Japanese duo sat this one out entirely. Look for more of them next week when Hiro goes back in time save his love, Charlie (Glee’s perky guidance counselor, Jayma Mays). Anyway, Claire has FINALLY become interesting, trying to lead a normal, college life and possibly falling in love with the wonderfully understanding Gretchen (Madeline Zima from The Nanny and Californication). I hope Gretchen sticks around, and Claire goes for it. The comparisons between her and one Buffy Summers have been quite evident, but unlike Buffy, Claire’s lesbianism should stick.

      Nathan and Peter have had much reduced plots, which is welcome, as they both tend to make the plot drag. As the real Nathan is dead, one can only hope that the actor will be leaving the show soon as well. Of course, Zachary Quinto’s Sylar, living in two different places at once, is richly enjoyable. That show will never shortchange that actor if they know what’s good for them. Plus, I am really digging Robert Knepper, fresh off a fantastic four year stint on Prison Break. It’s not certain what is going on with him and his mysterious circus, but he is acting the hell out of the role.

      Unfortunately, not all is clear skies. HRG is actually trying to do good, and not doing very well at it. He has always been a favorite character, and after the dissolution of his marriage and the loss of his job, does he keep having to get beat on? Also, Mohinder has been missing for quite awhile, though word is he will be back soon. But will he be back full time, or just as a guest star? Lastly, the less they focus on Ali Larter’s character(s) the better. I think it’s time she leaves for good, though I wouldn’t object to her son, Micah, returning to the show.