Dark Entries returns to The Red Room podcast.

We have the distinction of being a repeat guest on the Ruminations From The Red Room podcast! This time Mitch has 100% truth in advertising with the focus being on Twin Peaks: The Return's (a.k.a. Season 3) first four episodes.

Listen to us here.

Mitch's blurb summary:

Mitch and Guillermo don't dissect, or deconstruct in this episode of From The Red Room. It's two long-time fans, taking in the first sights, and sounds of an adventure both familiar, and new. So much to come, and we'll dig deeper as we get our footing. Just glad to back in those big, majestic pines.

Predictably we loved it, but of course this raises all the whys & hows involved in that love. And there was even something in it we didn't actually love, but you'll have to listen to find out. Plus what Lynch creation isn't worth comparing & contrasting notes on to try and divine the secrets behind his darkly glassed world?

[We love that Nicole LaLiberte more than faux dop-Coop.]

There are points where I relate Dale Cooper to Sigurd of Saga of the Völsungs, and utter the inspired phrase "playground of charm" three different times. These moments alone make our dialogue brilliant, but also tune in & subscribe for my host's irrepressible sincerity & persona that makes his podcast a cut above the internet itself.

[The So Fine Ladies of the Double RR Diner!]

Stay tuned as Dark Entries will likely equinox otherworldly space again on Ruminations From The Red Room after the next installment of Twin Peaks: The Return!

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While a mostly happy bookstore fixture for over two decades, Guillermo Maytorena IV is currently willing to entertain your serious proposals for employment as a literary/cinema critic, goth journalist, castellan, airship pilot/crewperson, investigative mythologist, or assisting in a craft brewery. Should you be connected to any of the above or equally interesting endeavours, do contact him via LinkedIn or G+.

"I'll See You Again in 25 Years."

In the wake of Showtime's announcement of a long awaited/unexpected Twin Peaks third season, my curiosity compelled me to dig out my old print article of Fire Walk With Me as film reviewer for my university paper after a recent re-watch of both the show & film:

[Think the press kit got the caption wrong, since Michael J Anderson was The Man from Another Place.] 

Re-examining this vintage evaluation at the prophesied time later, I didn't give enough credit to Sheryl Lee, who had to travel soooo far down the emotional rabbit hole to get what she needed to play Laura Palmer's final descent into the Black Lodge. (And that Pink Room music still stands as the best Twin Peaks soundtrack cut!) Otherwise, I still agree with all the above, and feel that the David Lynch's strangely unique & nightmarish vision still haunts us ... and will always haunt us.

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While a mostly happy bookstore fixture for over two decades, Guillermo Maytorena IV is currently willing to entertain your serious proposals for employment as a literary/cinema critic, goth journalist, castellan, airship pilot/crewperson, investigative mythologist, or assisting in a craft brewery. Should you be connected to any of the above or equally interesting endeavours, do contact him via LinkedIn or G+.

NBC's Dracula: Episode 8, Come to Die.

Whenever there’s a gun introduced into a vampire story, it’s a groaner since the audience knows a gun's an ineffectual weapon against a vampire*, so when it happens this episode it doesn’t hold any dramatic water ... unless the writers totally surprise you by getting their most gutless character to shoot someone for the vampire!

Finally the all fallout we've been waiting for as the season comes closer to its finale: Harker shoots Davenport! Lady Jayne breaks it off with Alexander (again)! Renfield throws down with Dracula! Jonathan casts Mina off in a final fit of distrust! Lucy’s faux seduction works too well as Harker gives her a go! Van Helsing krampuses Browning’s children!

Out of the above, seeing Renfield dish out tough love to Dracula reverses their usual cinematic relationship again. Renfield actually tells Dracula what not to do, restrains him physically, then stops him by strength of reason.

All this passionate interplay aside, the most clever contribution to the vampire lore was huntress Lady Jayne pouring a flask of holy water down her captives’ throats, and having their mouths erupt in black blood baking soda deathcanoes!

Setwise, while I’d first join many of the Pall Mall clubs to enjoy their furniture instead, one must say the Order Of the Dragon's got beautiful chesterfields in their hideout. Also we spot some really fetching gold rimmed tri-foot teacups!

Visually there’s really not too much experimental or cinematic loanage going on, which is a shame (with the exception of Dracula tossing Renfield into stairs, sort of like Renfield’s death in the 1931 version). Certainly this was a high drama character blowout, but maybe some practical vertigo effects for Harker’s post-murder nausea, or canted whip pans as he runs away from the scene, but instead we only get the usual costume piece camerawork.

It’s all up in the air, and it’ll be thrilling to see where it lands in the next two shows! Anyone care to make some guesses? Odds are Harker redeems himself by pushing Dracula into his power transmitter, which explodes into irreproducible fragments, revealing the still living Browning brats in a sub-basement, giving Harker enough press to permanently blow the lid off the Order in the first viral infowave, gets pardoned, and wins Lucy’s hand back for being the big hero he really isn’t. Yet I really still want to see it go like in my last paragraph of the episode 2 commentary, but I’m thinking the writers can’t see it that world changing “Fight Club” (film, not differing book) alternate history ending, which would more surely secure them a second season. We’ll see what the coffin of television holds in store next week.
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* Yes, there are good exceptions, like Underworld.

While a mostly happy bookstore fixture for over two decades, Guillermo Maytorena IV is currently willing to entertain your serious proposals for employment as a literary/cinema critic, goth journalist, castellan, airship pilot/crewperson, investigative mythologist, or assisting in a craft brewery. Should you be connected to any of the above or equally interesting endeavours, do contact him via LinkedIn or G+.