Bickering Peaks: A Twin Peaks Podcast

1987 was the time when David Lynch & Mark Frost first met and started to collaborate - so what exactly was Mark Frost up to right before that time? Two semi-psychological thrillers that shared enough similarities we're discussing them as one. "African" mysticism, single parents, curses, psychiatry, and a dash of 80s moral concern come up in both Scared Stiff and The Believers. We comb through these similarities to try and pick apart what interests, thoughts, and concerns were bubbling with Mark Frost as he and David Lynch began their collaboration on a number of projects that would culminate in Twin Peaks. We also finally take a stand and support what David Lynch has been saying for years: that Lynch/Frost productions really do have more than a healthy dose of Frostianism to them, a statement we feel comfortable making after working through Frost's pre-Peaks works. A few notes: Scared Stiff is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Eiy06dregg Another similarity we forgot to mention in the podcast: both films feature children who have another pseudo-spiritual facsimile from another culture - a lamp and a doll, both with somewhat racially insensitive markings. Finally: Aidan was right regarding the "anthropological work" described in The Believers - it was in Sudan, in east Africa, over 3,000 km from the Ivory Coast.

A young man, a severed ear, and a dark mystery in the heart of small-town America. One of David Lynch's most iconic films is also one of his most accessible, and most beloved. We talk the imagery, themes, and Lynchian elements embedded throughout the film, as well as the way they pave the path towards Twin Peaks. Also! David Foster Wallace makes (another) appearance. We talk the deleted scenes from this film. And we decide that Heineken is clearly the superior beer (not really PBR fans, don't worry). Hope you join us for another jump into David Lynch's world of odd and beautiful Americana. Wallace on Blue Velvet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wie8uPgQOYE Deleted Scenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXkopNrx9Io

The Equalizer is, well, not equal to the rest of the Mark Frost and David Lynch works we've discussed so far, but it's still worth noting! Bridging the gap between Hill Street Blues 70s aesthetic and Twin Peaks early 90s look is a show so 80s the theme song was done by a member of The Police. We break down the two episodes penned by Mark Frost, finding some points to criticize, and some to praise. But we now know one thing for certain: whenever we're facing long odds, we're looking to the newspaper ads first!

David Lynch's "Dune". The mere mention of it conjures feelings in most people that run the board from excitement to vitriol. Few films can lay claim to such a legacy. A financial flop at the box office, confusing in its sprawl and artistic choices, and famously denounced by its director, it stands as one of the most controversial films of all time. But why? And is it really as bad as we all remember it to be? **Spoiler: yes, one of us thinks it absolutely is as bad as we remember...** In our podcast ep today, we tackle the beautiful 1983 disaster that is Lynch's "Dune". We talk about the history of this book's adaptation, dating back to the early 1970s and the most famous aborted film in history, Jodorowsky's Dune. We talk about the choices that led to a 500 page behemoth being condensed to 2 hours of whispered voiceovers. We talk about the changing film industry and what a "Dune" production today might look like. And we took in some listener responses to the film from social media. Oh, and we danced a little to Toto. Who wouldn't? Watch out for worm sign! The Bicks are doing "Dune"! Notes: Jodorowsky's Dune: http://www.jodorowskysdune.com/ Dune Soundtrack (by Toto and Brian Eno): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMnM1Qww2xs Tor.com: https://www.tor.com/2017/04/18/david-lynchs-dune-is-what-you-get-when-you-build-a-science-fictional-world-with-no-interest-in-science-fiction/ Denofgeek.com: http://www.denofgeek.com/us/movies/dune/258447/david-lynchs-dune-the-case-for-directorial-control The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/03/the-messy-misunderstood-glory-of-david-lynchs-em-dune-em/284316/ Dune - Just the whispered voiceover lines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBNsDi6jI5M Have your say! Link to our tweet convo about "Dune": https://twitter.com/BickeringPeaks/status/957095133589073921

Hill Street Blues was one of the most decorated TV series of all time, and just happened to be where Mark Frost got his first taste of running a major network TV show. Join us and our special guest Stacy as we take a quick survey of the show, analyzing it for its historical impact and context, as well as the major threads that connect it to Twin Peaks. We also took quite a few dives into vaguely connected topics including the joy of 80s sweeps weeks, the Reagan administration, "The Great Imposter" Barry Bremen, and David Mamet, for good measure. Does this once-lauded show hold up today? What was Mark Frost's impact on it? And what does it reveal about Twin Peaks? Join the Bicks to find out! Emmy Theft on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-K_kTCSGp4&t=6s

From Victorian social mores to [intense mechanical whooshing], THE ELEPHANT MAN has it all! Join us as we take a walk through the back alleys of East London and into the hearts of John (Joseph) Merrick and Dr. Frederick Treves in David Lynch's 1980 film. While not a conventional Lynch film in the sense that most people like to think of it, THE ELEPHANT MAN deals with much of the same subject matter that would captivate Lynch as his career continued. Differently-abled bodies, violence (sexual and otherwise), the eternal struggles of man against his nature and against the world around him, and deep dreamscapes -- whether nightmares or lofty aspirations or indicated by billowing coal smoke from the chimneys of an industrializing city. Grab your Kleenex. We're cranking Barber's Adagio and heading to the London Hospital... THE ELEPHANT MAN (1980) Starring: John Hurt, Anthony Hopkins, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller. Directed by: David Lynch Produced by: Jonathan Sanger and Mel Brooks. Screenplay by: Christopher De Vore, Eric Bergren, David Lynch For more information about Joseph Merrick, visit: https://www.biography.com/people/elephant-man-joseph-merrick

Sex, parenthood, and the anxieties of both. That's what we took away from David Lynch's first feature length film, 1977's ERASERHEAD. Join us as we journey through the sweeping industrial landscapes and dream worlds that make up Henry Spencer's existence and listen to the sounds as we explore what it means to raise a baby that the doctors aren't even sure is a baby... What are your thoughts about this film? Do you love it? Do you hate it? How frightening IS the "Eraserhead baby"? Let us know! Notes: - J.A. Fairhurst's "The Key to Eraserhead" is a fascinating alternate exploration of the themes in this film. We highly encourage you to check it out at https://key2eraserhead.com/ - More about Henry's window: welcometotwinpeaks.com/lynch/eraserhead-has-a-positive-message/

Aidan and Lindsay tiptoe into the shallow end of the recently released Twin Peaks: Limited Series Event boxset. Mostly, it's a discussion of the special features, which include nearly 8 hours* of treats like the original Showtime promos, the Rancho Rosa title cards, and a series of incredible documentaries from Richard Beymer, Charles de Lauzirika, and frequent Lynch documentarian Jason S. , which give us unprecedented and unfettered access to the set and the working processes behind the scenes. This is a box set made with the fans in mind, and these two fans give it their most heartfelt Cooper-esque thumbs up in thanks! *6 hours are available on the DVD and Blu-ray, with an additional 80 minutes exclusive to the Blu-ray.

"Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology." Join us for a wild romp through the world of 1970s sci-fi action/adventure television with a look back at Mark Frost's first professional writing credits and two Season 2 episodes of "The Six Million Dollar Man"! We work our way through 2x15 ("Return of the Robot Maker") and 2x22 ("Steve Austin, Fugitive") and explore the early special effects, slow motion action scenes, and rad sound effects. Plus, it's just a fun time. Notes: Synopses for the episodes can be found here: - http://bionic.wikia.com/wiki/Return_of_the_Robot_Maker - http://bionic.wikia.com/wiki/Steve_Austin%2C_Fugitive Listen in for a special announcement about the @25YL/@BookhouseBabes #DeckTheLodge contest. You can find out more about it here: https://goo.gl/9opojK Don't forget to check out our partners in podcasting, those fine fellas over at Twin Peaks Unwrapped (@TwinPeaksUnwrap).

We start our dive into the deep cuts of Mark Frost's & David Lynch's careers with the early short films of David Lynch. We marvel at just how complete an aesthetic and feel Lynch was able to create seemingly right from the get go. The music, visuals, and themes that will typify his later work were all present in their haunting fullness, right out of the gate. We also discuss his ties to the art world and the larger social ethos of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, as presented in these early films, and naturally draw some comparisons with Twin Peaks and The Return as well. All of the works mentioned here are available on YouTube: Six Figures (Men) Getting Sick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMZOgev1ErU Sailing with Bushnell Keeler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78ETYtxttJI Absurd Encounter with Fear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDqN9-VD9dM Fictitious Anacin Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGOyoSAuREc The Alphabet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOvsmAngDuM The Grandmother: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p5qEt766ZQ The Amputee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPEUwm8_4wk Watch along with us and enjoy!

***SPOILER ALERT for The Final Dossier*** With "The Final Dossier" already a week old, we waded out into the deep end to start picking at some of the lingering questions left by the end of the novel. We're no closer to having the answers, but it's going to be a lot of fun to try and figure out how this dessert course relates back to the meat and potatoes of the original series, the original novels, and The Return.

Welcome to our final podcast episode for Twin Peaks: The Return. We’ve taken two weeks to parse the episode and our own feelings toward it, and we’ve managed to distill 14 days of late-night conversations and heated debate into 3 hours (!) for your listening pleasure -- hopefully, anyway. We tackle the pros and cons of some of the biggest theories, discuss the things that resonated deeply with us, and get a little wistful and philosophical as we come to the end of this 11 month-long journey through Twin Peaks with you. (We also let you in on what’s next for The Bicks -- hint: we're not going anywhere!) Thank you all for listening! We’d love to hear your thoughts and comments -- follow us on Twitter (@bickeringpeaks) or Facebook (facebook.com/bickeringpeaks), comment on SoundCloud, or give us a star-filled review on iTunes! David Auerbach, Waggish.org: https://www.waggish.org/2017/twin-peaks-finale/ Alex Fulton, Part 17/18 Simultaneous watch: https://medium.com/@onantiad/episodes-17-18-of-twin-peaks-the-return-are-meant-to-be-watched-in-sync-81352ce38e8 Lynchian Times, Finale & Vertigo: https://lynchiantimes.wordpress.com/2017/09/17/twin-peaks-vertigo-obsession-dreams-and-the-death-grip-of-time/

Parts 17 & 18 - The Past Dictates the Future/What is Your Name? Somehow, some way, we recorded our podcast episode. It'll be up later tonight. But we did it differently this time around: instead of recap & analysis, this is pure reaction. We've only watched it once. So we're remembering it like we would a dream... This was partly inspired by Lindsay's own dream last night (which you can read about here: goo.gl/3GehVR)and partly because it really seems like the most appropriate way to handle what we've been given, all things considered. We're gonna get things wrong. We're going to misremember things. We probably won't hit on any answers. But maybe that's okay? We hope you enjoy it! And don't panic! We'll do a trad. recap/analysis once we've digested this a bit more. For now, our unfiltered thoughts about the Twin Peaks: The Return finale... Notes: Joel Bocko's excellent take on the finale: https://goo.gl/yDHCg7

Part 16 - No Knock, No Doorbell THE SLEEPER HAS AWAKENED! With the return of Cooper to the world of Twin Peaks, we gotta wonder: what does it say about this show that his reemergence isn't the most startling aspect of the part in which it occurs? Revelations about Diane and Audrey mean that some very long dormant pieces are moving into place for a finale of epic proportions...

Part 15 - "There's some fear in letting go." **FAIR WARNING: The language in this week's Part was foul at times, and we repeated some of that language in this episode.** In this week's installment we say a touching goodbye to an old friend as The Return ramps up towards its final hours. As it starts to seem less and less likely that many of these storylines will see any kind of resolution, the plot begins to focus in on Twin Peaks and the plots that seem to be converging on the town and its residents. Notes: John Bernardy's excellent and most recent analysis of The Wizard of Oz connections can be found here: https://25yearslatersite.com/2017/08/20/we-long-to-see-the-wizard-the-wonderful-wizard-of-lodge/