# Are there any dream sequences in films and television that don't suck? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408 "2010-11-21T04:08:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/41 "2010-11-22T18:21:45Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Twin Peaks. Agent Cooper’s dreams where an integral part of the storyline. You really can’t take the dreams out of \*Twin Peaks \*and still tell the same storey. In _Northern Exposure_, the dreams are integral to the character development, but not always necessary to the plot. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/42 "2010-11-22T19:17:58Z")
The Times Square bit in Vanilla Sky. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/43 "2010-11-22T20:04:25Z")
I can’t possibly have anything to add to this thread, as I for one think the dream sequence in _The Sopranos_ were some of the best ever done. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/44 "2010-11-22T20:19:18Z")
The “Twilo” episode of _The Dick van Dyke Show_. Wonderfully funny, off the wall, and it has dreams-within dreams-within dreams _ages_ before _Inception_. It also gave Producer Danny Thomas a way to guest star in the episode without playing himself. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/45 "2010-11-22T20:27:31Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Have you ever seen a film or show where dreams were well realised and useful to the story? Let me tell you about [my happy horse](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzYzVMcgWhg&playnext=1&list=PL3F4AE28EAFE069B2&index=1) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/46 "2010-11-22T20:32:58Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > You really can’t take the dreams out of \*Twin Peaks \*and still tell the same storey. Also true for medium, which I’ve enjoyed for the way it changes up Allison’s dreams and visions in interesting ways. > [@](#): > > In _Northern Exposure_, the dreams are integral to the character development, but not always necessary to the plot. I loves Joel’s fever dream, where he gives birth 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/47 "2010-11-22T20:34:13Z")
I almost always dream in third person. I also die in my dreams occasionally. Now that I think about it the ‘death’ I remember the most vividly is one I had in First Person. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/48 "2010-11-22T20:40:58Z")
This is a bit off-topic, but I thought the LSD sequence in the film _The Doors_ was a particularly on-target depiction of the acid experience. ---
**Author:** ![Blut\_Aus\_Nord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Blut\_Aus\_Nord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blut_Aus_Nord)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/49 "2010-11-22T21:30:43Z")
Papillon Second dream sequence is the best I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/50 "2010-11-23T00:03:06Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > Let me tell you about [my happy horse](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzYzVMcgWhg&playnext=1&list=PL3F4AE28EAFE069B2&index=1) 🙂 I just logged on to say yes, I just remembered, it’s “lovely” horse. I’m sure it’s happy too though. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/51 "2010-11-23T00:58:40Z")
Gilligan climbs the beanstalk? Blanche’s dead husband? Dorothy being pursued romantically by Lyle Waggoner and Sonny Bono? Frasier in bed with Freud? I don’t usually dream, but i have a feeling i’m in for a few nightmares tonight… ---
**Author:** ![FrigidLizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3bc359/32.png) [@FrigidLizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrigidLizard)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/52 "2010-11-23T01:00:26Z")
I’ve always admired Virginia’s dream sequence in The Tenth Kingdom miniseries. It does a great job mixing contemporary and fairy tale symbolism, and expresses the unspoken resentment she has towards her father. It’s great that she feels responsible for her actions in the dream, saying, “I never should have eaten the apple!” It’s pretty good for it’s “realism”, too; like many of my own dreams, it maintains a core narrative with changing details. ---
**Author:** ![GythaOgg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@GythaOgg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GythaOgg)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/53 "2010-11-23T01:19:07Z")
I’m quite fond of the dream episode _Eureka_ did, ‘Noche de Suenos’. I’m mostly fond of it because the very hunky male lead got a naked scene, and the other even hunkier male lead had a scene in a open-front shirt. Rowr! It’s also quite a fun episode, and a fan favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/54 "2010-11-23T01:41:26Z")
> [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](#): > > Hey, that’s just what I came in to post about. (BTW, Living in Oblivion is a great movie all around - I highly recommend it.) > > Here’s the [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4je71Tz_9IE)of that scene. Me too–the movie is overall pretty funny, but that rant cracks me up every time. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/55 "2010-11-23T01:45:49Z")
I’ve always found David Lynch, whether it’s supposed to be a dream sequence or not, has been the best at capturing the ineffable _feel_ of dreams in his work. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/56 "2010-11-23T02:10:37Z")
There was a dream sequence in _Northern Exposure_ that really got the “dreamlike” feeling down. Anyone recall the phrase “toy cows in Africa, silly cows”? ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/57 "2010-11-23T15:42:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The tricky thing with dream sequences is that, when you’re actually dreaming, all sorts of weird things are going on… But at the same time, while those weird things are going on, your brain is still telling you that it’s all perfectly normal. Without some sort of direct neural interface, this is impossible to depict in art, but at the same time, it’s right at the very essence of dreaming. I think this feeling was captured pretty well in **Inception**. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/58 "2010-11-23T17:12:14Z")
I second the Twin Peaks dreams. Love that dancing dwarf and the backwards speech that was reversed. Also Nightmare on Elm Street ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408/59 "2010-11-27T07:33:49Z")
It seems that IO9 has been stealing article ideas from SDMB this week. [40 Lurid bizarre science fiction dream sequences](http://io9.com/5698836/40%252B-lurid-bizarre-science-fiction-dream-sequences) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dream-sequences-in-films-and-television-that-dont-suck/561408.md?page=2)