Twin Peaks
What Was it About? Laura Palmer, blond high school sweetheart and favourite daughter of the sleepy town of Twin Peaks, is murdered. As FBI agent Dale Cooper arrives to investigate, the secrets of Laura, her murder, and the entire town begin to unravel.
How long it lasted: Two seasons
Why Was it So Great? The brainchild of David Lynch, Twin Peaks was both batshit crazy and brilliant. It's a weird show which uses a straightforward murder mystery to kick start a soap opera, while wrapping the whole thing in bizarre imagery, dreamstate storytelling and general weirdness. The characters were likable, the mythology strong and the writing sharp. It was compelling.
Best Bits: The diner's magnificent pie. Learning of Laura's secret life. The killer's eventual reveal. The Black Lodge. The Man From Another Place. "Sometimes my arms bend back". Everything Cooper does and says. Leland's dancing.
What Went Wrong? When Laura Palmer's murder was solved in season two, viewers fled the series amidst claims that its central story was over. Lynch had never intended to solve the murder, which he saw as an instigating event, a way into the story, and nothing else. Twin Peaks was ahead of its time in demanding commitment from viewers, and perhaps the murder mystery was played too heavily, affecting the audience's expectations. The show did continue until the end of season two and had some great moments. It then ended on a cliffhanger that, at times, has threatened to destroy my very soul.
Should I Still Watch It? Yes, but be mindful of the mind-shredding anger you will experience when left with a cliffhanger ending. It wraps up some things thematically, but leaves the story hanging more painfully than Heath Ledger on a string. Go in with an open mind and just have a good time. If nothing else, witness a precursor to LOST's level of serialisation before audiences were prepared.
Stefan tells stories, writes about stories and tells stories about stories.
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