Expectation setting by fans in the modern cyber arena

[AgentEcho]

I respect your opinion.

But honestly, people are going to react however they genuinely feel about something. You can't tell people to force themselves to see something through rose coloured glasses just out of respect for the creators.

I think people trashing outright verbal abuse to Frost or Lynch or any of the actors publicly is horrible, even towards Michael J Anderson or James Marshall.
But if longtime fans, (And let's be honest, no casual viewers are coming on here to badmouth the new series) - are simply expressing their honest feelings in a forum dedicated to the subject, there really can't be any cause for objection imo, whilst I can understand negative comments clogging the main discussing threads being potentially disheartening for those just trying to discuss the new series, and enjoy themselves discussing the clues and plot elements-- if it's confined to specialised threads it actually creates a more healthy and robust discussion imo.

As someone who came into the new season with high expectations and was a bit sad that the episodes didn't captivate me the way I'd hoped, it was really great to have other people who felt the same way, (who were hardcore fans of TP and Lynch) and discuss that dissatisfaction.

In some ways it was those conversations that provided the catharsis to get over it, and exactly as you say; just appreciate the Season wherever it goes as Frost and Lynch intended it to be seen.

I think that there's people on both sides of the fence who are rightly exhausted by what we're seeing in this series, frustration, elation, annoyance, anger, fear, bewilderment are just some of the emotions that this series demands of anyone who watches it. And props to the creators for the power of it.

For some the experience isn't highly enjoyable, and for others it's been a wild ride, meanwhile, all of us who are still going along for the ride still have no idea what to expect or what's coming. We all have fears; that good Coop will never get back, that dougie Jones will stick around forever, that explanations of mysteries won't be enough to carry the series.
These fears are reasonable and articulated fairly well by the critics, but the comments made by those who remain faithful are also valid.

Personally I'm here for the long haul, each week I will do my best to come from a fresh perspective. All I know is so far it's already been a very emotional roller coaster ride, which is rare for me from merely watching television.

Even the original series made me bewildered and angered at various points when I first watched it. I remember having loads of emotions whilst first viewing, albeit the captivating coffee and donuts and clues, snapping fingers and Dream dancing was a lot more cozy and welcoming than this new season, which at times I've actually felt like turning off, from sheer boredom, nausea and unpleasantness seemingly without end.

Only time is going to tell how this series pans out, and wether the deliberate hardship thus far put on the viewer is going to come round and pay off.

Like you, I remain faithful and eagerly await episode 6 -
Come back Coop, we miss you

I want to re-emphasize that I'm not saying people can't disike the series so far, or at all. Nor am I trying to force people to see the series with rose colored glasses. Have I not communicated my point effectively? Seems that way since many are missing my point, so my apologies. But to re-iterate and to summarize my central point: People set themselves up for negative reactions if they set expectations for things they have no control over. When it comes to fiction, avoiding this by no means guarantees a positive reaction. But it would make it easier for you to appreciate what is there. I mean if people want to be hell bent to set themselves up for a negative experience and want to tell me to f off for trying to point how they are doing that, obviously that's their prerogative, but I'm just offering a different perspective on how to approach it that maybe some people haven't considered. And how you set expectations is something within your control. You simply need to be aware of it and reflect on it. And the second main point, it's not the place of fans to dictate how a work of fiction or art must be created... that's the job of the artist... plain and simple.

[N. Needleman]

If we can cut down on the dismissals of the rest of us who like the show by equating us with Kool-Aid drinking cultists, desperate denialists or Deputy Andy - or suggesting Lynch is a senile or cynical, hateful old man who is deliberately mocking and torching his own characters and past work and has nothing but contempt for his audience - then I'm perfectly fine with criticism. But I think all of the above is regularly going too far. At least in a public forum.

[Agent Earle]

There haven't exactly been pleasant reactions directed at those who don't like what they see in TP: TR from "the other side" either. I'm sorry, but there just haven't. And it's not strictly in words, lot of it is in the general tone and camouflaged between the lines. But the negative, even aggressive sentiment is there, betcha there is. Heck, repeatedly pointing fingers at someone who dared to make this or that HUMOROUS meme isn't exactly a light way of taking it.
Not to mention there exists a thread for doubters and naysayers (very handily, so they don't have to clog the numerous threads celebrating the new season and sour the mood over there, and I'd say that pretty much functions all-right) whose title makes it perfectly clear there's no champagne bottles clinking on account of the new season and yet some of the advocates feel compelled to venture there regularly, lecturing posters and playing self-appointed referees over what kind of critique is acceptable and what kind isn't. It's beyond me what draws one to visit such a place where the prevailing sentiment about the show is very clearly at odds with his own. Let people blow off some steam, for friggin' sake, and enjoy the series in the company of like-minded ones, there's plenty of them around.

[N. Needleman]

Yeah, when the memes are about the rest of us that shit's not funny, cute or harmless. Sorry, but it's not. It's just bitchy and uncalled for, and when I see it I say something about it, especially when I'm now regularly being name-checked. The reason that happened, BTW, is because I was the one who asked nicely the first few times to stop making it personal re: the rest of the forum or going OTT in discussion of Lynch as a person, and then I got annoyed.

There's the occasional overbearing post regarding the negative contingent which I think is really unnecessary, but overall I'm not seeing the menacing 'tone' camouflaged between the lines of the regular threads where people are just enjoying and discussing the show. You've got plenty of ways to blow off steam without making it personal because you're not enjoying it, and I know this because I know not everyone who's not happy with Season 3 is behaving the same way. It seems like you've got a couple of people in there who are incredibly frustrated that they're not being given a large enough microphone and audience, and they're taking it out on the rest of us. Between the memes, the constant baiting and implying that the rest of us are deeply in denial or pretentious idiots, that's shitty behavior and no alternative narrative is going to change that. And it doesn't help anything or further any kind of give and take conversation.

[AgentEcho]

I hope this doesn't turn into a spat. We don't need insular echo chambers of like minded folks who never venture across the dividing line. I'm actually interested in engaging those who the thread addresses, and I admit I may not have done the best job doing that with the way I've expressed it (I just started listening to the Nonviolent Communication audiobook today )

Being a fan of both Samurai Jack and Twin Peaks has made this phenomenon rather apparent. These two revivals have some very oddly unique similarities. Both were shows with a highly regarded with a devoted fan base that ended without completing the story. Both were dormant for over a decade and at times it seemed unlikely there would ever be a return (much more so with Twin Peaks. Samurai Jack's return always had a sliver of hope... it'd never been declared dead as a door nail by the creator). Both were revived by the original creator who had total creative control (I'm only assuming that's the case with Genndy Tartakovsky). Hell, both even had to deal with the death of the actor who played the main villain! And very importantly, both were admired by fans and critics a like for being quite unlike other shows, particularly stylistically. Throw on top of that that one ended the day before the other began, I feel like there's some kind of spiritual kinship between the two franchises.

BTW I have criticisms myself of both revivals. They are by no means perfect. But, seeing in both fan bases this common criticism that the creators have deviated from story/tone elements the fans have come to expect admittedly frustrates me. These shows are KNOWN for bucking the trend and being different. You have the original creators returning after many years to finish the story they started. At least for me, the fact that these guys get to finish their stories on their own terms is cause for unambiguous celebration. And the criticism that they have failed to meet the terms certain fans have set flies in the face of that. It's essentially the same justification every financing head in the industry uses to curtail the creative freedom of filmmakers.

You can engage with art on its own terms and you may find in unengaging, and that's fine, and it's legitimate to criticize. This is not directed at everyone who is criticizing the show. This is very specifically directed at people who might say "This is a David Lynch show, not Twin Peaks". It's both, and maybe David Lynch has earned the right to define what is Twin Peaks. And if you feel you have more of a right then he has, I invite you to sell me on your qualifications.

[Agent Earle]

Well, who's "taking it out" on who is in the eye of the beholder - so it's virtually impossible to come together on this. But it wouldn't hurt to posses a touch of humor. From some of the terminology used, one would think we're in a military combat here.

[N. Needleman]

I've got humor dripping from my every corpuscle. There's a difference between people knocking characters they don't like (like oh, let's say Windom Earle) and clearly understanding that's in good fun vs. bitching about the actual board roster.