MovieChat Forums > Twin Peaks (1990) Discussion > The reason why Ronette survived

The reason why Ronette survived

posted 8 years ago by Medinensis
6 replies | jump to latest

This was batted around a bit in a recent thread so I thought I'd take a stab at it again . . .

Teresa Banks was a Blue Rose case. We don't know why (but we have a good hunch), regardless, the Feds were sent there immediately.

But in Laura's case we are told the FBI only came to town compliments of Ronette stepping over the state line.

Could it be that BOB, in a game of chess, devised to have "Cooper . . . Cooper . . . Cooper" lured to Twin Peaks ala Ronette? Thus the reason he didn't finish Ronette off at the train car.

Think so?

Well, no hard feelings if ya don't.

[–] laughingpineapple 8 years ago

I can't quite match this theory with the movie, that seems to tell us that Ronette was saved by the '''angel''' - which in turn seems to have been summoned by Laura's state of mind, and it's the reading that makes the most sense to me: Ronette was saved by Laura, and that's a good thing. And I reeeeally like Lost in the Movies' theory that Ronette and Donna mirror Laura's two sides, so in saving them, she saves herself.
But considering the show alone? Oh yes.

I went as far as to doubt the angels' intentions precisely because of what you say, but that whole "we added them because of talks with Sheryl Lee and because Phoebe Augustine was sad" thing from the interviews seems to confirm that they are in fact... positive... beings... of some sort.

[–] Medinensis 8 years ago

Playing Devil's advocate for a moment . . . .

. . . that seems to tell us that Ronette was saved by the '''angel''' - which in turn seems to have been summoned by Laura's state of mind . .

Summoned by Laura? I seem to recall Ronette the one that was praying.

Besides, it appears the only thing the angel offered Ronette was freedom from her hand restraints. It's not as though she was zapped out of Oz back to her bed in safety. Leland/BOB still had her at his . . . um, mercy, to do as he pleased.

"we added them because of talks with Sheryl Lee and because Phoebe Augustine was sad" thing from the interviews seems to confirm that they are in fact... positive... beings... of some sort.

The appearance of Laura's angel in the Lodge was certainly a positive -- I'll agree there.

[–] narnia4 8 years ago

Interesting theory. It fits in with the idea some have that the "friendly" spirits like the giant were only giving clues as a way to reach their ultimate goal of leading Cooper to the lodge.

For myself, the theory doesn't fit with how I read the ending of FWWM. Laura was killed because she upset BOB's plan by putting on the green ring, accepting death rather than possession by BOB. Ronette escaped because of intervention by the angel. There's also the letter under Ronette's fingernail, which would seem to indicate that she was an intended victim.

Of course, everything we see on the show is complicated by the enigmatic nature of the lodge(s) and how they relate to time and space.

[–] Medinensis 8 years ago

Laura was killed because she upset BOB's plan by putting on the green ring, accepting death rather than possession by BOB.

Agreed.

Ronette escaped because of intervention by the angel.

Somewhere on the fuzzy edge of logic there's that assumption. But taking a hard look at the scene, it's not clear how the angel saves Ronette. Undoing her hands from bondage is the only takeaway I see in the angel's intervention.

There's also the letter under Ronette's fingernail, which would seem to indicate that she was an intended victim.

Sure, but that was later on, not at the train car.

[–] narnia4 8 years ago

Somewhere on the fuzzy edge of logic there's that assumption. But taking a hard look at the scene, it's not clear how the angel saves Ronette. Undoing her hands from bondage is the only takeaway I see in the angel's intervention.

That's what I was referring to, but I admit that I don't really know exactly what's going on there. It's a very messy scene (not in a bad way). It's much more visceral than it is logical.

Of course you have to give Mike his fair share of credit too.

The letter is extracted early 2nd season, but is it ever made clear when it was actually put there?

[–] Medinensis 8 years ago

The letter is extracted early 2nd season, but is it ever made clear when it was actually put there?

I think the precedent is shown to us that BOB places the letter under the fingernail after the murder has taken place.

He thought by injecting Ronette's IV that his work was accomplished, so then proceeded to do his thing.

Besides, I think a bloody fingernail would have stood out quite easily if inflicted upon Ronette at the train car.