A mysterious death in a small town is a plot that could not go wrong in terms of film and shows. In the case of Twin Peaks, the previous claim is both correct and incorrect. Twin Peaks proved to be a cult failure by the second season in 1991, and one of the most anticipated shows on cable television once it returned in 2017 for a one-season comeback. The reason behind these topsy-turvy ratings was undoubtedly David Lynch’s resignation during season two and his return to the third season; without the brilliance and utterly intricate mind of this man, the show flopped. David Lynch’s directorial skills made Twin Peaks the revolutionary, complicated, classic television show it was.

The primary idea of this show was that it would be a parody of soap operas; instead of a parody, however, it became the syllabus for which guided successful fictional crime shows. The main character, a devastatingly intelligent, handsome, lovable agent of the FBI, Special Agent Dale Cooper, is set out to investigate the murder of high school senior Laura Palmer. Along the way, he meets an abundance of rather zany characters. The estranged parents of Laura Palmer. The forlorn sheriff who proves to be a good guide for Agent Cooper. The owner of a diner Agent Cooper frequents, who provides limitless black coffee and cherry pies to the agent. The schoolgirl who dances hazily in her late-80s attire, attempting to seduce Agent Cooper at every corner. A woman who provides deep insight for the investigation, all while carrying a log throughout the entirety of the show. Laura Palmer’s best friend, who is caught in an identity crisis after the death. The characters and their prominent issues that revolve primarily around deceit, lies, corruption, and love triangles are what make the show what it is. 

  This show is, similar to black coffee, an acquired taste. It is one that is not meant to be interpreted in one way solely. It is a thought-provoking, confusing, and oftentimes blatantly disturbing piece of art that can be, at the end of the day, found on cable television.