It’s hard to overstatehow much of an impactthe originalTwin Peakshad on the world of television when it initially debuted in the 1990s. A serialized mystery show that had viewers on the edge of their seats,Twin Peaksbecame the “water cooler” cultural event of its time. The show was developed by the brilliant filmmaker David Lynch, an acclaimed artist behind such beloved classics asBlue Velvet, Eraserhead, Muholland Drive,andThe Elpehant Man. The series presented a captivating mystery; the residents of a small town discover that the high school homecoming queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) has been murdered. The idiosyncratic FBI Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) is called in to investigate, but his search only leads to further questions about the lurking evil beneath the surface of the town.
Despite the show’s popularity, it was canceled at the end of its second season, and left viewers with one of the biggest cliffhangers in television history. Cooper’s soul had been possessed by the evil spirit “Bob,” and there was no indication as to whether he could escape. Some thought that Lynch might answer these questions inthe spinoff filmTwin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, but since it was a prequel, it didn’t provide any insight on Cooper’s future. However, Lynch finally returned to the mythology of the show with the 2017miniseriesTwin Peaks: The Return. While it was even more baffling and artful than its predecessor,Twin Peaks: The Returndelivered a perfect ending to the saga that stands among thegreat television finalesof all time.
A Great Tie-In to Season 2
While the first season ofTwin Peaksis one of the most perfect seasons of television ever, the second season faced somemajor creative hurdlesthat Lynch had many issues with. Lynch is a filmmaker who works best when he’s given free rein to pursue his weirdest impulses, but working under a network like ABC confined him to strict parameters. ABC demanded that Lynch solved the mystery of “who killed Laura Palmer?” early on in the second season, even though he had intended to keep it a secret. Lynch grew irritated as the second season began introducing various uninteresting subplots, emulating the sort of generic romantic and crime shows that he had initially been lampooning.
However, Lynch returned to the series to direct the season 2 finale “Beyond Life and Death,” which was radically different from nearly anything else in the season. A bizarre, surrealist journey into the enigmatic Black Lodge forces Cooper to face off against his evil doppelganger, who eventually possesses his soul and body. The shot of the “evil Cooper” laughing was the conclusive ending to the series beforeTwin Peaks: The Return, so it was only fitting that the sequel series would offer another ending that baffled, disturbed, and confused the audience.
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While the season 2 ending had to deal with fixing mistakes in the lead up, theTwin Peaks: The Returnfinale “What Is Your Name?” allowed Lynch to end the series on his own terms, as he personally directed every single episode. Cooper and Laura have returned to Twin Peaks at the old Palmer home, but discover that it’s no longer occupied by anyone that they recognize. Cooper doesn’t even know what year it is, and Laura shrieks before the credits run. The lingering questions that emerged would only continue to spark discourse and fan theories amongTwin Peaksfans.
Solidifying the Theme of Good Versus Evil
In many ways,Twin Peaks: The Returnemulates the same style of “legacy sequel” that has been popular in the industry thanks to the success of the rebootedStar Wars, Halloween, Ghostbusters, Top Gun, Rocky, Blade Runner,andThe Karate Kidfranchises; these legacy sequels allow original cast members to return in more reflective roles. WithTwin Peaks: The Return, Lynch used and weaponized the audience’s nostalgia by turning the saga into something greater. The fact that the show became so different indicates that the “magic” ofTwin Peaks’ quirkiness has been stolen by evil.
In the original series, the “MacGuffin” is Laura’s death; by slowly investigating the mystery surrounding the innocent girl’s murder, Cooper reveals secrets about all of the town’s inhabitants, locations, and organizations. InTwin Peaks: The Return, the “MacGuffin” is the original show. Viewers were perplexed as to why the charming music, jokes about cherry pie and coffee, and extended melodrama were absent, and why the charming small town had been overtaken by violence and hatred. This mystery allowed Lynch to both complete his story and analyze the modern state of television.
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The theme of an existential battle for good and evil is seen through the fight for the “soul” ofTwin Peaksitself. While the original series had introduced the villainous presence of “Bob,” it’s explained inTwin Peaks: The Returnthat Bob was an underling of an evil more powerful entity known as Judy. Judy represents all the evil in theTwin Peaksuniverse, and Lynch was finally able to pay off an Easter Egg that he had set up inTwin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Former FBI Agent Phillip Jeffries (David Bowie) mentions to Cooper that “we’re not going to talk about Judy,” but Jeffries’ spirit returns to finally explain the true enemy that they’re dealing with at the end ofTwin Peaks: The Return.
Proving Laura’s Importance
While it was great to see returning cast members like Dana Ashbrook, Madchen Amick, Miguel Ferrer, Russ Tamblyn, David Duchovny, Peggy Lipton, and Ray Wise among others, it was absolutely essential that Lee return to play Laura. Lee’s performance was magnetic and embodied all the goodness that existed in this world, and she was unfairly snubbed for an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her work inTwin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Lee toldFangoria“it’s almost like I could feel her spirit or life force having more to say,” and agreed to reprise her role.
The final chapter shows how essential Laura is for Cooper to complete his mission, even if he leaves her once again suffering and confused. Perhaps the message ofTwin Peaksis that Laura can never truly be saved, but the search to do so shows that forces of light can still exist.
