Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me Analysis - Laura Palmer's Story (Part 2) 

Something I feel is important to take into account when discussing Dale and Laura's interactions, is how, in their respective diaries/autobiographies, they are set up to parallel each other in very intentional ways. Cooper's flaw in the Palmer investigation is not necessarily that he's "curious" or "excited" about the "adventure" of discovering what happened to Laura, but rather that he becomes unhealthily attached to her story because of his own similar suffering. My Life, My Tapes establishes important things about Dale that are fundamental to understanding, I think, the full breadth of his arc in The Return. Mark Frost explicitly mentioned that Cooper's tendency towards white-knight behavior was first expanded and elaborated on in My Life, My Tapes, saying that the intention with that book was to dive deep into Cooper's psychology. Cooper's mother was implied to be some degree of psychic or at least lodge-attuned, and seems to have died while actively resisting BOB's influence to save Dale. There are intimations and implications that Dale might have been assaulted or abused by a doctor at some point in his youth after his mother's death - he is described as being asthmatic and spending a good portion of his early childhood bedbound or otherwise incapitated, and Dale continually demonstrates a deep discomfort around medical settings and professionals moving forward - to the point that it's significant that he lets Albert examine him so closely after he gets shot. Dale's relationships in the book range from awkward to toxic, with several of his partners abusing or otherwise hurting him, and he always seems to take the blame even in cases where he's not at fault, his own guilt eating at him for perceived failures that he couldn't control. He's an abuse survivor as well, and this is what makes him become obsessed with Laura and Twin Peaks - he sees himself in her, and the hometown life he never had as a child, which makes him increasingly lose healthy levels of objectivity and leads to him being trapped in the Lodge.

I know this has been a hard year and a half (or however the hell long it’s been) for everybody. I’m trying to find a creative voice, just fighting out of a long depression and only just feeling like I could finally move closer towards creating something I can be proud of. I’m going to try to make twin peaks content. I’ve just been kinda stuck in the void for a while, seeing these great videos you did really does inspire me. So thanks, I’m glad you make these

Thank you for this series! The Twin Peaks television series helped me through some tough times.

great video! excited for the third part

Your analysis is incredible, you are always very on point. FWWM is my favorite Lynch film (in my top 3 of all time) so this means a lot to me, thank you so much.

as someone who has had a very similar life to laura, i actually *really really* love the diary and its one of my favorite books. its also written by a woman, david lynch's daughter :3 but yeah i liked and related to it so much that i wanted to give it to a future therapist but yeah i actually do highly recommend it ❤

The Secret Diary book is canon 110% and not supplemental Doesn't take away from any of the points you make, I find you will feel the diary supports them Highly recommended Theres even an official Sheryl Lee audio version

Your analysis of Lynch's work is great. I'd never heard of Functional Structuralism, but it really does help shine a light on FWWM's (and Blue Velvet's and the series') themes. Definitely excited for your future videos!

You are awesome. I saw the movie for the first time and you were the best analysis 🎉

"I have the fury of my own momentum" I'm having a blast listening to this series. Thanks.

The finger nails is related to when the letter is found under her nail and was found under the nail of all of Leland’s victims.

Oh nice, didnt know this series existed, will have to watch it from part 1 now.

Another great job.

I have a slight disagreement on your interpretation of Leland’s behavior. 1) The fingernail thing is related to cleanliness/purity, but he’s also threatening her-he’s talking about something being deep under her fingernail, the letter he will put there after he kills her. It’s horrifying and it seems like Laura has some idea what he’s getting at. You may have already noticed that, but I haven’t seen anyone else point it out up to this point. 2) I don’t think Leland approves of her relationship with Bobby. I’ve been impacted by incest and have studied in depth; imo Leland is possessive of Laura and doesn’t want to “share” her. Many sexually abusive fathers are obsessed with their daughters’ sexual lives, paranoid of what other men will do to them, which is of course projection. When Leland points out the locket, he is staking a claim on her. Laura’s own sexual behavior can be seen as defying him in that way.

yaaaay!!!!

Probably the best video on Laura ever made

Great to find this channel! Very erudite :)

u consistently put out the best stuff about lynch’s work and it legit makes me think abt it in a much more nuanced way !!!!!!! (off topic but may i ask ur pronouns ? i wanna be referring to u correctly when recommending these 2 ppl )

If anyone is curious in the video malmrose says the movie doesn't explain know why laura engages with "the dark side", her secret diary is a very enjoyable read which deals exactly with this and other things. I found it very interesting and i think others who preferred the laura point of view and the more personal feel of fire walk with me might like it too. (you can even find the audiobook version read by sheryl lee herself on ytube)

Why aren't these videos much more Popular?

Damn, you nailed it!

I came into your channel from your video on Xavier Renegade Angel. Have you considered doing an analysis on Moral Orel? It's one of the first fully dramatic adult animations (albeit only in the infamous third season) and has a lot of political things you could discuss.

I'v been saying if Everade had been a man his body would be lucky to make local news . Case in point Michael Fife after a false r@pe accusation

Loved this movie 😍

I don't think you can abstract the demonology from the show and state that Bob is an aspect of Leland. It's made fairly clear that he is a parasite by Mike (who inhabits Philip Gerard and is of the same kind of spirit). The Tremonds and The Arm seem to be different, not inhabiting actual people and unable to 'feed through possession' as Bob and we assume Mike does. The Tremonds are interesting because they seem to be feeding off Harold Smith in some fashion, to the extent that they might be influencing him - for either the grandson knows the future and Harold's parting words, or they Tremonds are the author of these words in Harold. They're like cuckoo birds in some respect.

Moar!

Feels ( in a sort of metaphorical way) like the story of Britney Spears.

Talked about bad dale, good dale, but not damn good dale

You should read the Secret Diary. Really.