Twin Peaks, Episode 2.12: The Black Widow

Twin Peaks: The Black Widow

With his FBI credentials still suspended, Dale Cooper decides to find a home around Twin Peaks. He decides to take a look at a piece of dilapidated property called Dead Dog Farm. Inside, he discovers evidence that is possibly related to the attempt to frame him for drug trafficking. Coop and Denise quickly circle in on Ernie, Hanks' former cellmate and new father-in-law, as someone that can help them. Meanwhile, the mayor's brother dies while in the throes of passion with his considerably younger bride. Though there is some debate over whether or not this was an accident. All the while, Dale is still receiving secret massages from Windom Earle...

The most interesting part about “The Black Widow,” another middling episode, involves Major Briggs' continued disappearance. While talking with another officer from the same department, it is revealed that the strange radio signals they have been monitoring – initially said to be from outer space – are in fact emanating from the forest. Briggs returns in the episode's final few minutes, re-appearing just as mysteriously as he disappeared. Considering how the strange going-ons in the woods at least link back to the mysteries of BOB and Cooper's dreams, at least this stuff still feels like “Twin Peaks.” As opposed to the increasingly contrived program it was becoming in the second half of its sophomore season.

The new character of Denise does, at least, injects some fresh energy into “Peaks'” current events. There's a very cute scene where Cooper and Audrey's conversation about her dad's latest controversy is interrupted by Denise entering the room. Instead of commenting on Denise being transgender, she is instead just impressed that the FBI has female agents at all. The show's continued, matter-of-fact acceptance of Denise remains a surprisingly sweet side of the season.

While “Twin Peaks” has always possessed a quirky sense of humor, that was always tempered by a harsher surrealism or sense of tragedy. As those elements have receded, “Twin Peaks'” quirky side is starting to grow out-of-control. Nadine's super-strong high school adventures, which including body slamming Mike with ease here, is just one symptom of this. Andy and Dick becoming increasingly certain that their ward, Nicky, is some sort of devil child could not be more of a desperate attempt to spin a nothing subplot into something. The same could be said for the possible black widow, who the men of Twin Peaks are transfixed by, or Ben Horne's sudden obsession with the Civil War. Quirk, when separated from a contrasting cynicism or sense of heart, becomes twee, annoying, or even insincere.

And when it comes to the show's other lingering subplots... How many times can I say I don't care about this bullshit? Catherine mistreating Josie, James' side-quest at the mystery woman's mansion, the growing drama between Hank and Norma, Bobby's attempt to get a job with Horne and resolve his and Shelly's money problems: Sincerely, I ask, do any “Peaks”-heads find this stuff involving or at the very least interesting? Most of these characters I've never liked very much and, now divorced from the show's more important lore, I can barely keep myself from dozing off during their scenes. [5/10]