10 Things We Learned From Twin Peaks: The Finale
3. Subplots Left Unresolved
As Part 18 reached the midway point, it became apparent that the fate of so many characters would be left unresolved.
Steven Burnett's body was never found, if in fact he shot himself. It was hinted that his wife, Becky, wasn't a mere victim of domestic violence but a conspirator in...something. Ben and Beverly Paige's threatened affair was never consummated nor extinguished. Was Red's designer drug a gateway, feeding the heads of the Twin Peaks townsfolk and transporting them into the supernatural realm, or did Richard hallucinate the coin magic trick in Part 6? Audrey Horne's fate, or even her existence, was never confirmed. Did the Roadhouse scenes even happen, in our disintegrating perception of a material reality?
The effect of purposefully ignoring these arcs compounded the sense of alienation seeping into Part 18. There was no sense of sloppiness on the part of Mark Frost and his incredible ability to weave a narrative. Part 17 demonstrated that he could tie a frayed knot tightly. No, these vignettes, in and of themselves, showed that the world spins. Sometimes life eventually turns out the way you want it to. Big Ed and Norma belatedly entered marital bliss. Bobby Briggs lost his love, but gained self-respect and a deeper purpose. James Hurley continued to misdiagnose the pain suffered from his absentee mother. Carl Rodd's presence was a small, good thing for the community.
Removing us from these people drenched the very title of the series in grim irony, and underscored the notion that all has been lost...