everylittlestar
RR Diner
- Apr 16, 2022
- 23
- 65
i never really liked any interpretations of S3 that focus on a very literal, strategic conflict between good and evil that requires us to interpret Lynch's powerful emotional symbolism throughout as some sort of coded language for mechanical plotwork that ultimately frame the final image of Laura screaming in horror as something positive when its so clearly harrowing, and especially haunting to anyone with a deep emotional connection to that character. i think the exact purpose of Cooper's mission in S3 is meant to be not just cryptic but truly unknowable, and as a result, unjustifiable when Cooper is ultimately faced with the emotional consequences of all his tunnel-visioned "greater good" pursuing, which is embodied throughout the season in the worst way by the much more obviously harmful Mr. C, who is also running around on some cryptic quest which he seems willing to destroy everything and everyone in order to accomplish.
that said, i also dont think Lynch means for us to fully interpret Classic Cooper as a bad person. i think his intentions are good but i think perhaps what the end of S3 leaves us to question is if the ends truly justify the means? (well, one of the thousands of things it leaves us to question, at least.) this is very speculative of course but i find S3 as a whole feels like it could be Lynch reflecting on his own sort of zen philosophy toward life and coming to the conclusion that he's just as lost in this world as anybody. i know theres an innate frustration in trying to put out positivity into the universe with an enlightened, "big picture" mindset and still only seeing things get worse and worse. maybe trying to focus on some greater good cosmic force and trusting that your faith in it will guide you to only do good things, only makes it harder to predict the unforeseen consequences of your actions on the lives of individuals around you. i think even in the S2 finale we were starting to see how Cooper's hero complex leads him to blindly giving away his soul and giving rise to his evil shadow self. i also think the scene of Annie turning into Caroline who turns into Laura's doppelganger (not sure i got the order right on that) implies that Cooper is already stuck in a repeating cycle of trying to save women and only leading them to more suffering. Cooper's greatest virtue throughout the original run is his unbreakable commitment to his noble way of seeing things, but that also ends up being his tragic flaw.
im not sure if the way i phrased any of this makes sense, ha. i dont often analyze things outside of my own head but i always love when we share personal interpretations around here
that said, i also dont think Lynch means for us to fully interpret Classic Cooper as a bad person. i think his intentions are good but i think perhaps what the end of S3 leaves us to question is if the ends truly justify the means? (well, one of the thousands of things it leaves us to question, at least.) this is very speculative of course but i find S3 as a whole feels like it could be Lynch reflecting on his own sort of zen philosophy toward life and coming to the conclusion that he's just as lost in this world as anybody. i know theres an innate frustration in trying to put out positivity into the universe with an enlightened, "big picture" mindset and still only seeing things get worse and worse. maybe trying to focus on some greater good cosmic force and trusting that your faith in it will guide you to only do good things, only makes it harder to predict the unforeseen consequences of your actions on the lives of individuals around you. i think even in the S2 finale we were starting to see how Cooper's hero complex leads him to blindly giving away his soul and giving rise to his evil shadow self. i also think the scene of Annie turning into Caroline who turns into Laura's doppelganger (not sure i got the order right on that) implies that Cooper is already stuck in a repeating cycle of trying to save women and only leading them to more suffering. Cooper's greatest virtue throughout the original run is his unbreakable commitment to his noble way of seeing things, but that also ends up being his tragic flaw.
im not sure if the way i phrased any of this makes sense, ha. i dont often analyze things outside of my own head but i always love when we share personal interpretations around here
