Do you remember back when TV series were nothing like they are today? It wasn't even that long ago, when shows on TV consisted mainly of sitcoms and soap operas, maybe the occasional action series. Even sci-fi shows like Dr. Who, or Star Trek were completely different, mainly in how each episode was more-or-less stand alone, having little to do with the rest. Thus, there was not much incentive to follow a complex plot line over several episodes (or even seasons), just to figure out some mystery or another. Knowing the characters and their background was enough for viewers to enjoy a new adventure in each episode, which was completely resolved in its 45 minutes (not counting commercial interruptions).
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Then Came David Lynch
If you don't know the name of this director, but you've enjoyed Twin Peaks, I'd certainly check out the rest of his works. But beware, this guy is weird... at least judging from his films. Many of them I don't even consider suitable for mainstream audience. Not that they're particularly graphic or violent. Actually, they are relatively tame in comparison to many... But the strangeness they portray can make most people feel uncomfortable. It's mostly because they are hard to understand, if at all possible.
Looking at it at the bright side, this same quality is also what inspires countless conversations trying to make heads or tails of what has been seen. Because Lynch has such a skilled way of placing the unusual right in the middle of the most perfect normality, making it seem like it's ideally suited to be there. If it weren't for the fact that most of us notice that this... or something about all this... is completely out of place. So they try explaining it, taking a couple of mental leaps without which you couldn't get away from "it just doesn't make any sense". Before you know it, all these viewers will be glued to the screen for the next episode, no matter if they claimed to like the show or hate it.
Drama? Crime? Horror? Mystery? All of the Above?
Twin Peaks came out in 1990, and was first broadcast on ABC network. I wasn't hooked on it back then, though I remember seeing a couple of scenes that captured my imagination. But that was all before streaming, so once you've missed the pilot, it would be impossible to catch every twist of the story, and I didn't bother. However, once you've seen certain things you could never un-see them again.
Like that lady who carries a wooden log around like baby. Or the bizzare way the hotelier brothers try to lure Scandinavian investors to finance their projects. Or that weird lady obsessed with building completely silent curtain runners. Or how one of the female protagonists looks just like the murder victim, whose case the main story line is centered around. Or even how the two characters of law enforcement are portrayed: both the local sheriff and the FBI agent investigating the murder are extremely likable, reasonable, and naturally friendly, so unlike the characters usually representing these roles.
Great Impact at First, Then Petering Out
The first season of Twin Peaks has been the essence of the show, particularly the mystery surrounding the murder of Laura Palmer. Apparently, David Lynch never meant to resolve this, spinning the story further and further, while feeding the followers just enough tidbits to keep them watching. However, the network had other ideas. In the second season the veil was lifted, which was enough for many fans to stop coming back. Additionally ABC kept changing the time slot for the show, another fatal stab to an otherwise successful series.
It wasn't until 2013 that I actually watched the whole two seasons, and I had to agree: while the first season was fantastic, the second one clearly lacked something... direction? Anyway, I finished it, but I felt it was hardly memorable. Although now it seems like I should probably watch it again, to catch up to the all new continuation...
25 Years Later Twin Peaks Continues
In 2017 a completely new Twin Peaks season came out on Showtime. Contrary to expectations, it's not a remake, or a reboot, but simply a continuation... after a quarter century break. Interestingly, many of the original cast members are featured in it again, and most importantly, the writers (David Lynch and Mark Frost) and director (Lynch) are the same as in the first two seasons. I haven't gotten around to watching this latest Twin Peaks, but to be honest, I'm a bit excited. David Lynch has been the source of both incredible brilliance as well as major letdowns, so I don't know what to expect. In any case, I thought I should at least write a review of the old Twin Peaks before getting into the latest addition. If you've gotten curious, here is a trailer for the third season:
Take a Look at the Previous Posts in my Binge On This Series:
The Man In the High Castle: What if the Nazis Had Won?
Lost: Mystery With Addictive Potential
Babylon Berlin: Sociopolitical Tremmors in the Weimar Republic
Rome: A Realistic Sandal Series
Carnivàle: A Throw-back to the Thirties
Weeds: The Hillarious Alternative to Breaking Bad
Mr. Robot: Hackers, Freedom, and Mental Issues
Das Boot: A Real German WWII Series
Black Sails: Pirate Lore Galore
Twelve Monkeys: Time Travel and Pandemic
The DocsMX 2020 Film Festival