Twin Fantasy? Or, how I tried to stop worrying and love the Bob, but couldn't

Sometimes I still see him running towards me. His stringy, long gray hair blowing behind him; his maniacal gaze fixed on me, with a cannibalistic ferocity that causes horripilation and sets my heart racing. It's easy enough to shake off, though, by simply reminding myself that Twin Peaks is just a TV show, I'm safe, and that- deep breaths now- if it were Bob, I could just run back into my apartment, lock the door and call 911. I'm a girl with a Lynchian safety plan. By now, three weeks post-peaks viewing, my visions of Bob are a thing of the past.

Yes, but it wasn't that easy when I first started watching. Alone. At night. In someone else's empty apartment. All of which were bad choices. Those who know me know that I'm uniquely susceptible to terrifying nightmares (I wake up unable to move, paralyzed by a dream I can never remember), flashes of fear, and a general inability to compartmentalize my emotions in the aftermath of scary movies. Which is why I avoid them. However, Twin Peaks is so well-written, with such nuanced narrative and multi-faceted characters, that I couldn't not watch. And while I'm glad that Bob's out of my subconscious, I can still appreciate that the show had many redeemable qualities. Not enough to throw myself back into the nightmares, though.

In my search for a TV show on DVD to fill the void that was left, I stumbled upon the ultimate '70's television experiment in experimental programing: Fantasy Island. The two shows share the same kitsch value, mostly in that they both make me laugh in in bemusement, smile at reoccurring oddities, and keep me asking "why?" on the edge of my seat. Of course, the major difference, one which is ideal for a little chicken like me, is that Fantasy Island is Bob-free. For my horror-loving friends, who've told me they laugh in the face of on-screen gushes of blood, it may not be so enticing. But that's my highest praise.

Both shows fall into a niche of bizarre, non-commercial appeal of alternative television. Here is a comparison, side-by-side, for your consideration. Please, sit back, have a cup of coffee and enjoy. Just make sure it's hot.

Idiosyncratic protagonist:
Twin Peaks
Special Agent Dale Cooper- He's an investigator who comes to the small town to solve a tragic crime. Using keen senses, unorthodox methods, and dedication to professionalism, he solves the crime (not a spoiler), but also ingratiates himself into the community, making loyal friends and insane enemies. He is straightforward, honest, and trusts his gut. Vices: cherry pie, black coffee, yoga headstands, recording his musings on a tape recorder for his secretary, communing with giants.

Fantasy Island
Mr. Roarke- He's the owner of a tropical getaway that offers paying guests their ultimate fantasies realized. He's meticulous with the details, always reminding those with past-recreation wishes that his duplication is "EXACTLY" as it was before. But he also delights in adding clauses to the fantasies that test his participants' will, subvert their desires, and push them to their emotional breaking points. Always with a smart suit and a reptilian smile. Vices: teaching people a lesson they don't want to learn, matching jeeps for all his staff. And wearing white suits.

Similarities: Slick men who are sharp dressers, like being in control, and divulge their motives and goals on a need-to-know basis.

Differences: Agent Cooper is introduced as a force of good, with a hero complex, with hints of ambiguity. Mr. Roarke is morally-ambiguous from the get-go, with hints of human emotion later is the first season...but is it all a trick? In his partnership with Sheriff Harry S. Truman, Agent Cooper is the slightly less than realistic character. Their teamwork gets a dose of reality from the Sheriff's normalcy and role as the straight-man. Mr. Roarke is quite over-the-top on his own. When you add Tattoo, his little person side-kick with the most muddled yet creepy accent I've ever heard, there's no limit to the surreality. Basically the straight man on this show are all of the guest stars.

Narrative:
Twin Peaks
This television show is well-written in that it mixes schmaltz and mystery, quirky humor and horrifying suspense, and small-town charm and unconscionable crimes, with an overall glaze of David Lynch's purposeful manipulation of one's comprehension. It's a show that messes with your mind and enjoys it. The characters aren't always well-developed or rounded, but always fascinating. The story unfolds episode by episode, juggling numerous side-plots, and seemingly unrelated characters.

Fantasy Island
The show functions as isolated episodes. In fact, only the two men and the setting tie episodes together with any continuity. The beginning of each show, Tattoo spots the guest fly overhead, yells "Da plane, da plane," and they line up to greet their new subjects of experimentation, with a brief exposition of each guests' background and fantasy. At the end, the guest are bid farewell on their plane off the island, with more exposition: what was learned, what has changed, a self-congratulatory pat on the back by Mr. Roarke, and a stupid joke from Tattoo. There is no character development across episodes and that's part of the appeal: at the beginning of each there's anticipation of who will arrive this time and what bizarre situation they will find themselves in, under the watchful eyes of Mr. Roarke.

Similarities: Weirdness? A what-will-happen-next appeal?

Differences: Sequential, building-block storyline vs. discrete episodes.

Little people, little roles
Twin Peaks
In Sp. Agent Dale Cooper's dream about Laura Palmer, in which she whispers her killer's name in his ear, also features a quasi-freakish little man who speaks in a low-toned and bizarre prosody (which Lynch created by having the actor memorize his lines phonetically backwards, then played the recording in reverse). The movement was also played back in reverse, his bow-legged walk exaggerated. My eyes were glued to it even as my mind was saying "This little man is going to be in your nightmares...turn away!" It was an effectively creepy scene.

Fantasy Island
Tattoo is a developed character, who has billing at the beginning of the show. His accent, as mentioned, is over-the-top and kind of demeaning, but it serves as some comic relief. His purpose on the show is to ask Mr. Roarke the questions the audience is intended to be thinking at given points throughout the show and to say a one-liner at the end of each episode.

Similarities: small people? Who are excellent actors.

Differences: An intended freakish factor vs. quasi-patronizing comedy. Neither one is politically correct, is given enough credit or time in their roles, or really does the show justice. And yet, each seems like an integral, memorable aspect, one burned in the psyche of audiences.

The Fear Factor:
Twin Peaks
The terror that Lynch creates is slow-burning. He gives the viewer flashes of crime and glimpses of the hidden evil in many town people, but not for very long does he unleash (almost literally) the horror movie persona and events that you anticipate for hours. The fear is exponentially enhanced by the soundtrack. Towards the climactic episode, I started watching episodes in broad daylight, but, more importantly, on mute. While doing meditative chanting and yoga relaxation poses. So much less frightening! But even that couldn't stop the most horrific scenes from being imprinted in my mind. The flawless acting is critical to the effective development of fear as well.

Fantasy Island
Full disclosure: I was able to watch this show without nightmare. It's not terrifying. It's more oddly scary, in a safe, cable-TV-in-the-age-of-the-Brady's kind of way. There are psychotic murders, flashes of suicide, and lots of morbidity, but none of it's as disturbing as most of Twin Peaks. But it's weirder than you think, the surprise of which induces a modicum of fear.

Similarities: Both have bizarre suspense, twists, and deceptions.

Differences: Bob. BOB! And that's enough.

Now that he's gone from my life (and my door is locked just in case), I feel free to write that I appreciate the quality of the Twin Peaks series. There isn't anything like it on television. Fantasy Island has yet to be duplicated, but it has been spun off to shows of minimal quality, like "Temptation Island" and any narrative program in which character's wildest dreams are granted. The kitsch value is unique, however, and with it's bearable level of horror, I'm left satisfied. And while the town of Twin Peaks is quaint (albeit rife with moral degradation), I'd prefer the tropical breezes and palm trees of the island any day.

**Addendum: I refuse to post any pictures of Bob: a) because just seeing them come up in google searches makes me stare in nonsensical horror at my bedroom doorknob, to see if it's slowing turning; and b) I feel like sharing his identity could be interpreted as a spoiler to the uninitiated. Watch Twin Peaks yourself, then you'll know Bob, truly know him, and his eyes will be ingrained in your psyche for the rest of your life. Enjoy. Or, if you're horror-averse like me, stick to the light yet satisfying Fantasy Island.

This entry was posted by Nicole, on Saturday, April 05, 2008. You can leave your response.