I originally added the following as an ETA after bowisneski seemed to share my same unpopular opinion in the post above mine, but the conversation has already moved forward, so new post it is^^;LateReg wrote:I think that Part 16 Cooper is awesome, but I also think it's more than just that. It's finally what we want, and it's too good to last. In the study of identity, it's also an example of how Dougie contained all the best traits of our Cooper - once Cooper finally wakes, he's fully formed because that's just who he is - he didn't need to gradually come back to himself, he was always there inside Dougie in the form of our Cooper's core components that can't be changed. I think you're right to question what you're seeing there, even as my instinct was to just love that moment and want to live in it forever, which fits the themes of nostalgia. And I love how that moment ends with Diane freaking out, remembering, and then marching her way to Cole's hotel room to the same theme we heard when first introduced to Evil Cooper. I think that's a perfect and meaningful swing, and one of my favorite transitions; I felt it deeply...specifically that something wasn't quite right. At any rate, I think that there's a lot going on in that Cooper scene and it's ok to doubt what you're seeing. Personally, I never found it hollow like some people did.laughingpinecone wrote: As yet another diverging opinion, I was surprised by how little 'regular Coop' we got... ...and I hate pt16 Coop. I appreciate his role in the story if I frame him in a certain specific way, which I find very easy with the way the story continues, but I've found nothing in interviews to support my interpretation that it's intended to be anything but a 'crowning moment of awesome', which I reeeeally loathe. "I am the FBI" within 20 minutes of the FBI storyline culminating in the tragedy of killing Diane? That's rough, buddy.
'My Coop' is only in the red room/bw scenes, in the FWWM time travel, and in the very final scene. That's not a lot of Coop! Thankfully I find the Vegas storyline full of moving Cooper moments, and I appreciate this kaleidoscope approach to Dale Cooper in general, so I'm good. But damn if that pt16 doesn't leave me squinting...
I see that Cooper as Cooper hyperperforming what he perceives as himself. He's the one who desperately wants to be 'the old Dale Cooper', so that's what he acts like. Imho it makes sense for HIM to be inordinately hyped by the feeling of being himself again, of having agency again, as if nothing of this tragedy had transpired at all. Like the way he talks to 'Harry' on the phone, as if no time had passed. Everything is good again! He can be the hero triumphant! A Cool Guy (tm) who drives Sports Cars (tm) and has his adoring family remark on it. A completely understandable mood swing after 25 years AWOL + his week as Dougie, I'd say, and another facet of the whole Dale Cooper. Definitely part of this whole study of identity. So it makes sense for me. But it's definitely not the Cooper I wanted.
And I know it's not what Mfrost and Kmac are saying, so it's my interpretation but I won't push it as the intended meaning.