That sounds very much like my Twin Peaks experience. I'm a huge fan of the show (and wish there was more fanfic). Second watching makes S1 that much better. There is definitely a boring stretch in S2. Really don't like the whole Donna-James storyline. Josie doesn't do much for me, but I do have some sympathy in that she was so played by so many people that she never had a choice or a chance. But that also makes her a pretty flat character.

And the ending. Wow.

I haven't worked up the guts to watch the movie yet. Especially given that it handles the hours before Laura's death.