Mike (Twin Peaks)

Last updated
Mike
Twin Peaks character
First appearance"Pilot" (1990)
Last appearance"Part 18" (2017)
Portrayed by Al Strobel
In-universe information
Affiliated with Black and White Lodges

Phillip Michael Gerard (aka Mike) is a character in the TV series Twin Peaks , portrayed by Al Strobel.

Contents

Character overview

Mike is an inhabiting spirit similar to the primary villain of the series, Bob (Frank Silva), who was his partner in serial murder. After committing several rape/murders with Bob, Mike had a religious epiphany and repented, cutting off his own arm to rid himself of a tattoo that read "Fire Walk With Me", which symbolized being touched by "The devilish one". Bob had an identical tattoo on his arm. Bob, however, would not repent. Mike has spent years trying to find and stop Bob.

In contrast with Bob, Mike only ever appears in the visual form of his host, traveling shoe salesman Phillip Michael Gerard. Gerard lost his arm in a car accident. He also had a tattoo of the word "mom" on his arm.

Television series

After FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) comes to Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), Mike appears to Cooper in a dream, explaining his and Bob's history, but in a way that is not immediately clear. He shows Cooper a vision of Bob as he appeared in life. Later, Cooper, Deputy Hawk (Michael Horse), and Sheriff Harry Truman (Michael Ontkean) locate Philip Gerard, who is at the time unable to give them any information. Later, in the show's second season, Mike is key to solving Laura Palmer's murder.

Prequel film

In the prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me , during a scene taking place in the Black Lodge,[ disputed ] The Man From Another Place (Michael J. Anderson) confronts Cooper and asks, "Do you know who I am?" Cooper shakes his head, and The Man From Another Place responds, "I am the arm". This gives the indication that he is the arm that Mike removed in order to get rid of the tattoo that linked him with Bob on the left shoulder.

Mike also harasses Leland Palmer (Ray Wise), Bob's host, in a road rage incident where he accuses Leland of "stealing the corn", and that "the thread will be torn." Before driving away, Mike tries to tell Laura that Leland is indeed Bob's host.

The film reveals that Mike was present on the night of Laura's murder and was, unintentionally, the reason Ronette Pulaski (Phoebe Augustine) survived and escaped; he had tracked Bob down and his efforts to enter the train car (in which Laura and Ronette had been raped), led to Ronette falling through the momentarily opened door. Bob swiftly shut the door again, denying Mike any chance of saving Laura's life, but as Bob closed the door, Mike threw the Owl Ring into the train car, which Laura put on, preventing Bob from possessing her (as he had originally intended).

At the end of the film, after Leland murders Laura, he enters the Black Lodge and sits beside Mike, Bob and the Man From Another Place.

Revived series

In the 2017 revived series, Mike appears once again in the Black Lodge as a sort of guide for Cooper, who is transported back into the real world after being imprisoned in the alternate dimension for 25 years.

Related Research Articles

<i>Twin Peaks</i> American drama television series (1990–91, 2017)

Twin Peaks is an American mystery serial drama television series created by Mark Frost and David Lynch. It premiered on ABC on April 8, 1990, and ran for two seasons until its cancellation in 1991. The show returned in 2017 for a third season on Showtime.

<i>Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me</i> 1992 film by David Lynch

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me is a 1992 psychological horror film directed by David Lynch and written by Lynch and Robert Engels. It serves as a prequel to the television series Twin Peaks (1990–1991), created by Mark Frost and Lynch, who were also executive producers. It revolves around the investigation into the murder of Teresa Banks and the last seven days in the life of Laura Palmer, a popular high school student in the fictional Washington town of Twin Peaks. Unlike the series, which was an uncanny blend of detective fiction, horror, the supernatural, offbeat humor, and soap opera tropes, the film has a much darker, less humorous tone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dale Cooper</span> Fictional character in TV series Twin Peaks

Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Dale Bartholomew Cooper, portrayed by Kyle MacLachlan, is a fictional character who is the protagonist of the ABC television series Twin Peaks and its 2017 revival series by Showtime. He also plays a supporting role in the prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.

The Man from Another Place, also known as The Arm, is a character from the television series Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. He is an inhabitant of the Black Lodge, a realm of pure evil. He was created from MIKE's severed left arm. Early on in the series, The Man gives Agent Dale Cooper clues to apprehending The Man's nemesis, BOB. He later makes recurring appearances in relation to the Black Lodge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Palmer</span> Fictional character from Twin Peaks

Laura Palmer is a fictional character in the Twin Peaks franchise and the primary focus of the series. She is portrayed by Sheryl Lee and was created by the series creators David Lynch and Mark Frost. She first appears in the ABC original series Twin Peaks. A high school student whose death is the catalyst for the events of the series, Palmer is the protagonist in Lynch's prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), which depicts the final week of her life leading up to her murder. Laura also appears in the novels, Twin Peaks: The Return (2017), and a variety of merchandise based on the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob (Twin Peaks)</span> Fictional character from the television series Twin Peaks

Bob is a fictional character in the ABC television series Twin Peaks, played by Frank Silva. He is an interdimensional entity who feeds on pain and sorrow. An inhabiting spirit, he possesses human beings and then commits acts of rape and murder in order to feast on the suffering of his victims. In the film Fire Walk With Me, this suffering is called "garmonbozia" and can manifest in the form of creamed corn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leland Palmer</span> Fictional character

Leland Palmer is a fictional character from the television series Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. He also appears in the prequel, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me. He is portrayed in all his appearances by Ray Wise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin Horne</span> Fictional character

Benjamin Joseph Horne is a fictional character in the television series Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, portrayed by Richard Beymer. His middle and last names are based on department store owner Joseph Horne, founder of Horne's in Pittsburgh where Mark Frost is from, while his and his brother Jerry's first names are based on the ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's.

Episode 29 (<i>Twin Peaks</i>) 22nd episode of the 2nd season of Twin Peaks

"Episode 29", also known as "Beyond Life and Death", is the twenty-second and final episode of the second season of the American mystery television series Twin Peaks. Episode 29 served as the final episode of Twin Peaks for over 25 years, until Twin Peaks: The Return was aired in 2017. Upon its original airing in 1991, the episode was paired with episode 28 to form the second hour of what was then billed as a two-part series finale. The episode was written by the series co-creator Mark Frost, producer Harley Peyton and regular writer Robert Engels and was directed by series co-creator David Lynch, who rewrote parts of the script. It features series regulars Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Richard Beymer and Kenneth Welsh; and guest stars Frank Silva as Killer Bob, Michael J. Anderson as The Man from Another Place, Carel Struycken as The Giant, and Heather Graham as Annie Blackburn.

Episode 2 (<i>Twin Peaks</i>) 3rd episode of the 1st season of Twin Peaks

"Episode 2", also known as "Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer", is the third episode of the first season of the American mystery television series Twin Peaks. The episode was written by series creators David Lynch and Mark Frost, and directed by Lynch. It features series regulars Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Ray Wise and Richard Beymer; and introduces Michael J. Anderson as The Man from Another Place, Miguel Ferrer as Albert Rosenfield and David Patrick Kelly as Jerry Horne.

Episode 14 (<i>Twin Peaks</i>) 7th episode of the 2nd season of Twin Peaks

"Episode 14", also known as "Lonely Souls", is the seventh episode of the second season of the American mystery television series Twin Peaks. The episode was written by series co-creator Mark Frost and directed by series co-creator David Lynch. It features series regulars Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Ray Wise and Richard Beymer; and guest stars Frank Silva (uncredited) as Killer BOB, Hank Worden as The Waiter, Julee Cruise as Singer, and David Lynch as Gordon Cole.

Episode 16 (<i>Twin Peaks</i>) 9th episode of the 2nd season of Twin Peaks

"Episode 16", also known as "Arbitrary Law", is the ninth episode of the second season of the American mystery television series Twin Peaks. The episode was written by series co-creator Mark Frost, producer Harley Peyton and regular writer Robert Engels, and directed by Tim Hunter. It features series regulars Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Ray Wise and Richard Beymer, and guest stars Miguel Ferrer as Albert Rosenfield, Don S. Davis as Major Briggs, and Al Strobel as MIKE.

Episode 8 (<i>Twin Peaks</i>) 1st episode of the 2nd season of Twin Peaks

"Episode 8", also known as "May the Giant Be with You", is the first episode of the second season of the American mystery television series Twin Peaks. The episode was written by series co-creators David Lynch and Mark Frost, and directed by Lynch. It features series regulars Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Ray Wise and Richard Beymer; and guest stars Grace Zabriskie as Sarah Palmer, Chris Mulkey as Hank Jennings, Miguel Ferrer as Albert Rosenfield, Don S. Davis as Major Garland Briggs, and Victoria Catlin as Blackie O'Reilly.

<i>Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces</i> 2014 feature-length compilation of deleted and extended scenes from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces is a 2014 feature-length compilation of deleted and extended scenes from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, a 1992 film directed by David Lynch and written by Lynch and Robert Engels. It was released over twenty-two years after the movie and the original series ended and three years before the revival, Twin Peaks: The Return, aired.

Episode 9 (<i>Twin Peaks</i>) 2nd episode of the 2nd season of Twin Peaks

"Episode 9", also known as "Coma", is the second episode of the second season of the American mystery television series Twin Peaks. The episode was written by Harley Peyton, and directed by series co-creator David Lynch. It features series regulars Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Ray Wise and Richard Beymer; and guest stars Chris Mulkey as Hank Jennings, Miguel Ferrer as Albert Rosenfield, David Patrick Kelly as Jerry Horne. Don S. Davis as Major Garland Briggs, Victoria Catlin as Blackie O'Reilly, Don Amendolia as Emory Battis, Frances Bay as Mrs. Tremond, Grace Zabriskie as Sarah Palmer, and Catherine E. Coulson as the Log Lady.

Part 18 (<i>Twin Peaks</i>) 18th episode of the 3rd season of Twin Peaks

"Part 18", also known as "The Return, Part 18", is the 18th and final episode of the third season of the TV series Twin Peaks. It was written by Mark Frost and David Lynch, directed by Lynch, and stars Kyle MacLachlan. "Part 18" was broadcast on Showtime along with Part 17 on September 3, 2017, and seen by an audience of 240,000 viewers in the United States. The episode received critical acclaim.

Part 2 (<i>Twin Peaks</i>) 2nd episode of the 3rd season of Twin Peaks

"Part 2", also known as "The Return, Part 2", is the second episode of the third season of the TV series Twin Peaks. It was written by Mark Frost and David Lynch, directed by Lynch, and stars Kyle MacLachlan. "Part 2" was broadcast on Showtime along with Part 1 on May 21, 2017, and seen by an audience of 506,000 viewers in the United States. In addition, the two episodes were shown as a feature at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, where they received a standing ovation. The episode received critical acclaim.

Part 17 (<i>Twin Peaks</i>) 17th episode of the 3rd season of Twin Peaks

"Part 17", also known as "The Return, Part 17", is the 17th episode of the third season of the TV series Twin Peaks. It was written by Mark Frost and David Lynch, directed by Lynch, and stars Kyle MacLachlan. "Part 17" was broadcast on Showtime along with Part 18 on September 3, 2017, and seen by an audience of 254,000 viewers in the United States. It received widespread acclaim.

Part 3 (<i>Twin Peaks</i>) 3rd episode of the 3rd season of Twin Peaks

"Part 3", also known as "The Return, Part 3", is the third episode of the third season of the TV series Twin Peaks. It was written by Mark Frost and David Lynch, directed by Lynch, and stars Kyle MacLachlan. "Part 3" was released on Showtime's streaming service Showtime Anytime along with Part 4 on May 21, 2017, immediately after the broadcast of the double premiere; it was eventually broadcast on Showtime on May 28, 2017, and seen by an audience of 195,000 viewers in the United States. It received mainly positive reviews.

References