Leaderboard

If you'd like to update your Anthology box to include RtMI, I've got you covered: Just print them out (300 dpi) and stick them on your box! Get them here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Od7I3bVxuQP3j4N6sEItvwcTRR0qHdWW?usp=sharing

Still needs a version where Escape comes after LeChuck's Revenge ☝️ Seriously though, this is cool Jan! 👏 My goodness, we're getting a brand new Monkey Island.

This is taken from scans of the Monkey Island Chronicles from the LRG boxset (which I don't own, someone just posted a couple of screenshots and I turned it into this PDF). Very interesting to note how close it was to the final game in many ways (ie. the description of Scab(b) being made up of shipwrecked boats instead of buildings), but also the differences, too. And also the date on the document: Only weeks after Monkey 1 was released! https://www.dropbox.com/s/qyslilkh569dgae/Monkey-II-Story-Doc-Nov-1990.pdf?dl=0

Interesting! What was the name of your teacher and what did they do?

Haha, that’s great! I remember a very old interview with Ron saying that he only got 20 minutes into Escape and “got stuck.” I’d imagine that even that early in the game, it wasn’t exactly true to his vision of the series, so it’s probably no surprise that he distanced himself from it and maybe isn’t aware of the games’ plot that followed. I also remember a collection of theories on one of the MI sites about how it could actually be possible for the Herman/HT plot to work out between games, and some of them actually did make sense, but who knows if that’s what the developers were intending. I think within the confines of the one game, the twist works fine, but when compared to the rest of the series, it makes you stop and think maybe a little too much. I also theorised that this was the reason that Elaine was recast in EMI to be American, just so that the Herman twist might seem vaguely plausible with them both being American. (And having Herman be British might’ve given it away too soon!)

I understand completely! And I do agree that The Return is a difficult first watch. I was completely open to everything being wiped off the table, but the series walks a very thin line in which it constantly gives you the nostalgia you crave in very, very small doses, which keeps you hungry. I loved it the first time, but it definitely needed a rewatch in which I knew what to expect to fully appreciate it! It felt a lot faster too the second time! Man, I’m looking forward to the new series Lynch is making! And you were married to someone on production! What a good story! I used to have a teacher who worked on season 1. Those were the only lessons I never skipped! Ahh, the memories… Anyway, I agree that the ending shouldn’t be provocative to be provocative. If you can organically come up with a surprising resolution that fits the story and setting and blow people’s minds in the progress, than DO IT! (And you’ll pretty much have hit the creative jackpot.) (And if you do, don’t use a movie parody in the climax. I never liked that about MI2’s ending…)

You're very welcome! I think I do have an account on the TWP forums but never really posted there. I love that there's direct contact with Ron, Gary and David but on the other hand their presence there also causes a level of kissassery from regular users desperately trying to impress them / look smart that is a little too much to bear for me. I lurk from time to time though, because of interesting posts from the authors like that one.

If you watch Twin Peaks I recommend the Twin Peaks Rewatch Podcast by @Jake and Chris Remo. 🙂 https://www.idlethumbs.net/twinpeaks/

OK, I'll have to watch it now. That's it.

That'd pretty much be an essay -- I will type it in when I have more than a few minutes.

Just watch it If you’re not hooked by Episode 2 then it’s probably not for you, though! Also bear in mind that it was the first TV show that looked like a movie — revolutionary for the time. It really stood out. These days even TV comedies look like movies. It’s still wonderful though!

Also I have to add: I cannot see any meaningful similarities between Mulholland Dr and MI2! Convince me @Remi!

Damn, you guys are making me want to watch Twin Peaks. I know barely anything about it too, other than it's a murder mystery in a small town and there might be some paralell universe stuff (?)

Yes! I am a huge Lynch fan, and a huge Twin Peaks fan. (Unrelated to my level of fandom, but I was once married to someone who worked on the show. I know a LOT about Lynch and TP in general.) The Return was a difficult first watch, because I wanted the original show back sooo much. (I took the day off work to watch it — it actually started on my birthday, nice coincidence.) There were staggering highlights (eg.Part 8 and the amazing ending), but it took some adjusting. But FWWM was the same, and now it might be my favourite slice of Peaks. When I watched The Return the second time I enjoyed it a lot more though. It really is a GREAT series that ties together nicely, and you can appreciate that a lot more on the second run. But the ending was always amazing. Gave me goosebumps. (I hate it that the clip of the scream is used everywhere — that should be banned so it shocks first time viewers.) Anyway, as much as I love that ending, all I want from Return to MI is a GOOD ending. Season 3’s ending was a GOOD ending. It wasn’t particularly divisive, (it was generally well received in the TP community) but it was still challenging and provocative. I just don’t want Ron to try and create an ending that he hopes half the people who see it will HATE. Because that’s not being true to the story, it’s being disingenuous and contrived. Lynch and Frost didn’t sit down and say, “what could really fuck off half the audience?” They wrote the appropriate ending to the story they were telling. And it worked wonderfully. I think we’re all ultimately saying the same thing. Sorry, that was a long answer to a short question. On some topics I just get carried away

Hence "original vision". But, as I said, I'm sure Ron will find a way to make it work. I agree. I could see them doing a pixelated filter as a nod to the special editions, but I doubt they would do two complete sets of every background and character in the game.