Twin Peaks: Season 2, Episode 10 "Dispute Between Brothers" Review

 "Now unless you gentlemen have that paperwork, I suggest you take your cooperation and stuff it."

-Sheriff Harry Truman

"Dispute Between Brothers" picks up on the day of Leland Palmer's (Ray Wise) funeral.  Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) does his best to comfort Sarah Palmer (Grace Zabriskie) and reiterates that BOB (Frank Silva) was responsible and not Leland.

Ed Hurley (Everett McGill) and Dr. Jacoby (Russ Tamblyn) convince the high school to let Nadine (Wendy Robie) attend classes.  She tries out for the cheerleading team and gives an impressive audition due to her superhuman strength.

As Cooper starts preparing to leave town, he tells Audrey (Sherilyn Fenn) how he fell in love with a witness he was assigned to protect.  He failed and she died and Cooper's partner lost his mind.  Later, Cooper is prevented from leaving when Internal Affairs Agent Roger Hardy (Clarence Williams III) and Canadian Mountie Preston King (Gavan O'Herlihy) arrive and Cooper is placed on suspension due to his illegal raid on One Eyed Jacks.  Cooper is accused of smuggling cocaine into the U.S.  Sheriff Truman refuses to give a statement until presented with a court order.

Bobby Briggs (Dana Ashbrook) attempts to get a meeting with Ben Horne (Richard Beymer).  Audrey helps him get in the door, by Bobby is quickly tossed out of Ben's office.

Catherine Martell (Piper Laurie) reveals that she is still alive to Sheriff Truman.  She says that she escaped the mill fire and hid at her old summer house until she felt it was safe.

Norma (Peggy Lipton) gets a bad review of the Double R Diner from the mysterious food critic, who is revealed to be Norma's mother, Vivian (Jane Greer).  Norma kicks Vivian out of the restaurant and out of her life.

Hank Jennings (Chris Mulkey) is revealed to now be working with Jean Renault (Michael Parks) and Hank brings in Ernie (James Booth) to work with them as well.  Officer King is also revealed to be working with Renault and they plan to plant a trace of cocaine in Cooper's car.

While Harry is sleeping, he hears something moving outside and finds Josie (Joan Chen).

Major Briggs (Don Davis) invites Cooper on a night fishing trip.  Major Briggs starts to bring up something called the White Lodge, but when Cooper has to use the bathroom, a bright light flashes through the woods and Briggs disappears. 

What Works:

This episode is the start of a new phase of Twin Peaks.  The murder of Laura Palmer has been solved, so there really isn't any reason for Cooper to stick around.  We wrap things up and Cooper prepares to leave.  The internal affairs investigation becomes the reason for Cooper to stay and for the show to keep going.  I know some people don't like the next phase of the show as much, but I am totally fine with it.  I want Cooper to stay in Twin Peaks and this investigation is as good a reason as any.  It shows that our heroes actions can have negative consequences and definitely works for me.

My favorite part of the episode comes when Sheriff Truman is called in for questioning and point blank refuses to cooperate with Roger's investigation.  It's a great moment for Truman and I love how he stands up for his friend.  It's nothing short of badass.

Another great scene comes when Cooper gives his tragic backstory to Audrey.  It's great shading for Cooper's character and helps set up the coming conflict with Windom Earle.

Peggy Lipton gets a chance to shine when she discovers that her mother is behind the negative review of the Double R Diner.  You can see the heartbreak on Norma's face and it's even worse when you learn Vivian has done stuff like this before.

I also really like the scene with Hank and Ernie at One Eyed Jacks.  I don't know why, but I enjoy watching Hank pick on Ernie.  I find it very amusing.

Finally, the disappearance of Major Briggs is genuinely chilling.  It seems like we're about to get a serious reveal and then he's suddenly gone.  It's a great note to end the episode on.

What Sucks:

This episode picks up three days after the death of Leland.  I do think there was a missed opportunity here with the townsfolk learning that Leland was the killer and seeing their reactions to that.  I don't love that we kinda just skip over that.

Crystal Coffee:

The Crystal Coffee Award goes to the most competent character of the episode.  For "Dispute Between Brothers," this Award goes to Sheriff Truman for the way he stands up for Cooper and for breaking up the fight between the Milford Brothers.  This is his 1st time winning this Award.

Verdict:

This episode does a great job of transitioning us from the Laura Palmer mystery to the next phase of the show.  It gives us some great character moments for Truman, Cooper, Norma, Hank, and Ernie and ends on a creepy cliffhanger.  I wish we could have gotten more reactions of characters finding out that Leland killed Laura, but this episode has still got it going on.

 9/10: Great