I've never heard the electricity theory before, and I doubt there's anything intentional to it but I say we keep an eye out for it as we go along. Another thing I'm curious about paying attention for this time around is how much time is passing for each episode.
This was my first rewatch of the pilot in years. I watched the show during its initial run and some episodes here and there afterwards when it was briefly on cable in syndication. I'm glad to see how great it still looks considering it was done for TV 20 years ago. The colors especially stand out, with the reds popping out a lot more than I remember or noticed back then.
I'll also try to be vague about spoilers as we go along because we have some first time people, and I'm very curious to get their episode-by-episode take about where they think things may be going. Trying to figure this thing out back then was a major obsession, because I hadn't really seen anything like this on TV at that time, since this particular kind of serialization and "mystery arcs" wouldn't come into vogue until after Twin Peaks' brief, insanely unlikely run as a massive pop culture phenom.
A few things, plot wise: the pilot feels like it sets up a solid three or four suspects over its run. It's interesting and perhaps telling how the first half is frontloaded with the investigation, Cooper as an FBI man and clues/suggestions of backstory that could tie to the case, while the back end slides more into the stories of the town and Cooper becoming an observer. I also kind of forgot how some of the characters appeared to be set up as potentially more important in the pilot before almost being dropped entirely. I remember thinking one of them in particular was going to play a big part in the eventual reveals, but as far as I remember, he/she has an almost non-existent presence as things continue.
Cooper: Great first scene, and you get a pretty full sense of his character right here. I think his "That guy's a psychiatrist?" line to Truman as they walk away from Dr. Jacoby might be the underrated highlight for Cooper in the pilot. I really don't think anybody but Kyle McLaughlin could have pulled off Cooper.
James: what a tool. Everything about this guy, from his "Nice day for a PiiiiicNIC!" entrance, to his "Yo!" response in class roll call, to his dorky biker friends is funny. I absolutely buy Bobby and Mike being able to handle their own brawling with the entire Roadhouse. Man, I did not remember Big Ed getting laid out like such a sap, though.
Bobby: Favorite non-Cooper character of the pilot. I love that weird thing he does when he snaps his fingers angrily at the cops during his initial interrogation at school. What the hell is that? I think my greatest regret of the show is that we never get to see him in his role as star high school quarterback, because I have to assume he'd play with a leather jacket over his uniform.
Josie: Never liked her character, and it starts early here (did not remember that she's the first character we see).
Favorite music in the pilot: the music we get when Bobby and Mike arrive at school, which seems like it's Bobby's Theme here but I think starts to show up more for all the high school aged morally sketchy characters. Worst music in the pilot: the Circus Music that accompanies Audrey's actions throughout. Does that stick around? It may explain why I was more torn over Audrey and Shelley The Waitress in the early going.
I did not remember the Cooper/Attendant exchange KTB notes above, and it's pretty amazing. Ontkean deserves credit for not breaking at all there. You only get to see the back of McLaughlin's head, and that half a head tilt he does after the guy say "...Jim!" is even funnier knowing none of that was scripted. Also, I did not remember the kid popping and locking down the hallway during the first scene at the school.
Finally, I totally want Harry's jacket.
