Let’s Rewatch Twin Peaks for the First Time

Welcome to Twin Peaks, Population: Us
Welcome to Twin Peaks, Population: Us
How have I managed to go this long without seeing a series as heralded as Twin Peaks, a show that pretty much defines the notion of “cult television,” a show by one of the oft proclaimed geniuses of cinema? Well, for one thing, I was a kid when it first came out. When the pilot episode was broadcast in April of 1990, I was fourteen years old and, in all honesty, that year I was far more excited that The Flash had his own show.

Which, I admit, still doesn’t explain why I haven’t caught up to the show in the subsequent twenty-four years. The answer to that conundrum is that I’ve never been a huge David Lynch fan. Once I stopped watching television shows about superheroes and turned my attention to cinema, I went in pretty hard for the old stuff: noir, Westerns, sixties European art cinema. By the time I got around to Lynch, my taste had formed in other directions. That’s not to say that I don’t admire David Lynch. I like parts of many of his films, and I love all of Mulholland Drive and The Straight Story. But that’s about as far as I’ve gone with him. Which makes me the perfect man for this job. I come to Twin Peaks as someone who likes, but doesn’t love the cinema of David Lynch. I come as an admirer, but not a true believer.

Over the years, I’ve gone out of my way to steer clear of Twin Peaks—for fear of learning too much and spoiling the discovery of the show itself. I could easily avail myself of the answers to its mysteries with the click of a few buttons, but, then again, if I wanted to do so, I could also ruin the end of pretty much every novel ever written. But I’ve always suspected that Twin Peaks might hold far more enjoyment in its mysteries than in its questions. So come along with me as I make my first trip to Twin Peaks, Washington.

We'll see what there is to see.

Check out all the posts in Criminal Element's Twin Peaks Rewatch.

Jake Hinkson's posts on the first season air every Monday and Friday throughout March!

Comments

  1. david hartzog

    I watched it at the time, and rewatched the whole thing a couple of summers ago on DVD. Now seems like a good time to watch this masterpiece again. I hope you enjoy it a much as I did.

  2. Heather Martin

    I love David Lynch, and this show. So many shows and books referance Twin Peaks, it’s a must watch for any sci-fi or mystery fan

  3. david hartzog

    I think it paved the way for a lot of offbeat shows that did click with audiences. And the movie is underrated.

  4. Alastair Chadwin

    Just one request please. I saw the series on original broadcast and don’t have a copy now. Could you include an episode recap to remind us of what happened as I’d rather not have to trust my aging memory!

  5. Clare 2e

    The rewatch will include reference to some of the plot points and character movements from each episode, obviously, but we won’t have scene-by-scene breakdowns of every episode. Here, we’re always focused on reactions to the work under discussion more than summary. If you watched it avidly before, you may have enough spurs to your memory.
    I’m going to rewatch along myself, because my memory from the first time just isn’t up to the finer points : )

  6. Alastair Chadwin

    That should be enough

  7. Deborah Lacy

    Oh, how I loved Twin Peaks. Excited about this rewatch!

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