It’s been a year since Twin Peaks returned and since that time the conundrum of Dale’s
journey is still very fresh.
There is a similarity in season 3’s finale that has been matched before in the first
daunting outcome in season 2.
Dale’s course of actions has lead down to a limitless adversity.
And something I think we must consider about Twin Peaks’ abrupt conclusion is if it can
classify as closure; closure for Dale Cooper’s storyline.
Is it possible that we can ever hope for a better and happier resolution?
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With everything put in order, let’s begin.
Let’s take a look at the finales that took place back in 1991 and 2017 and I’ll label
the initial conclusion as 1 while the second labeled as 2.
I’ll exclude the additional storyline’s that doesn’t include Cooper in both finales.
Both storylines follow a vaguely similar manner: In storyline 1 Dale enters the red room, a
abnormal reality that he has only seen in his dreams prior to his entry now.
In storyline 2 Dale arrives into a foreign location, which one can speculate as a separate
reality.
1 and 2 has Dale infiltrating a portal to a separate reality on his own free will.
1 has Dale interact with unusual characters that are considered “dopplegängers”,
including an unusual Laura Palmer.
2 involves Diane finding a copy of herself, essentially a dopplegänger, and later on
Dale discovering a Laura Palmer.
In the moments leading up to Cooper’s capture, 1 presents the mimic Laura Palmer screaming
without reason.
Within the final minute of 2, lost and misdirected, Carrie, as if suddenly realizing her devastating
fate, screams in fear.
Although the path of the 2 episodes are direct, they both feature a contrasting appearance.
In conclusion 1 Dale and the audience can immediately notice the irregular behavior
and atmosphere of the red room.
It’s obvious that everything is out of the ordinary.
In conclusion 2 it isn’t until Dale further progresses that the audience notices the irregularity
of this mirrored world, it also seems that Dale doesn’t fully understand that he isn’t
in the proper place until the last moments when he asked Carrie what year it is.
For the moment let’s compare the two resolutions as if they were one event, let’s say in
the season 3 finale that Dale follows an identical path that he took 25 years prior when he entered
the red room, but this time the surroundings is heavily disguised.
Dale Cooper has lead himself into an outlandish prison twice now, as if that is where he truly
belongs.
It’s possible the events in season 3’s finale is a parallel dimension of Dale’s
time in the red room at the end of season 2, as if the black lodge is testing Cooper
for the second time.
If the setting in the season 3 finale is indeed a parallel dimension of the red room, then
it would only be visible within that mythological universe.
It wouldn’t have a connection to the real world.
So in other words, this dimension is only linked to the red room and not the real world;
much like a stage within a building, it’s only accessible from the antechamber we call
the red room.
This recognizable dimension is camouflaged to look like Dale’s world.
I have also said a few times in the past, with speculation, that Dale’s departure
from his 25 year imprisonment in season 3 was allowed by a deal struck by Dale and the
Fireman, who allowed Cooper to accomplish his task.
Dale just needed to seal his fate when the end came.
He might not have known where he would end up, but agreed to the terms.
Perhaps the Fireman was the one testing Cooper in the season 3 finale.
Depending on his actions in this “dopplegäger” world, he was lead to a certain demise.
On a technical level, Lynch might have always wanted Agent Dale Cooper’s life to end as
a tragedy, to show him as a selfless hero.
No matter where Dale was driven to, his story might have always intended to end without
the audience following him.
Even if he somehow learns to endure his consequences in this state, that is something we weren’t
meant to see.
We also need to imagine how much he has suffered in his confinement in the lodge and as Dougie.
We have rarely seen how Cooper has truly felt within the third season; there simply wasn’t
any narration or acknowledgements that reflected his current frame of mind.
He could have simply allowed himself to face what came next, no matter how confusing it
might get.
And it is a tragedy, a respectable figure is caught in a unfortunate collapse.
What is more unfortunate is that the viewer is blind to his next response, thus brings
the expiration of this storyline.
Dale’s life has proven to be in a loop in this season, that always circles back to where
he started.
Could it be possible that he can break out of that pattern, or are we left to accept
his final submission?
It’s possible we could see a continuation with the Twin Peaks universe, whether it’s
created by Lynch, Frost or whomever, but it’s likely that we might never see Cooper’s
liberation, but it’s not impossible.
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already.
Based on your interest for the show, you can find more my recent analysis videos where
I go over the show’s soundtrack and analysis its strengths in a series I call “Score
UnCovered”.
I have already covered the original 2 seasons and Fire Walk With Me.
Find that series in the card above or the description below.
One of the greatest things Twin Peaks has got going for it is it’s mysteries.
David Lynch has exhibited a tremendous amount of puzzles within the show that is virtually
unattainable, allowing us as the audience to establish our own conclusion.
We can signify Dale Cooper’s turn of events unlucky or fortunate, depending on what our
viewpoint.
We might say that Cooper has somehow failed in his task, or one can say Cooper expectations
of his role has lead him to a point of no return.
He must finish what he started no matter what it brought to him.
Let’s say the show goes onto a new season, who’s to say that the next ending will not
end on a cliff hanger.
Whatever happens to Twin Peaks, whether it continues to a fourth season or not, Dale’s
journey might never end.
So to end this video I want to ask you guys a question.
I have heard so many different thoughts on the show’s conclusion since I started working
on Twin Peaks videos a year ago, but now the I wanna ask, do you think there is potential
for the show to continue now?
Thank you for watching the video.
I know a lot of you have been wanting more Twin Peaks material.
I promise I won’t stop anytime soon, so stay tuned for more in the near future.
I haven’t forgotten about you guys.
Thank you again and I’m looking forward to hearing from you.