Ah, Twin Peaks. Definitely one of my favorite television shows of all time. Yet if I'm ever asked to describe to someone who has never seen it, it gets a little difficult. On one hand, I could just say that it's about the murder of a girl, Laura Palmer. But that would be selling it a bit short.
But yes, as an introduction to the show, it is about about the search for the murderer of Laura Palmer, who is found dead at the side of a lake and wrapped in plastic. But the crime is just the hook, our window into the mysterious town of Twin Peaks. We quickly learn that everyone is lying to each other, and nobody in this town seems to be exactly what they pretend to be. And really there isn't a better example for this than Laura Palmer herself. She is dead when the episode begins, but we learn more about her in the Pilot than arguably any other character. What starts out as the apparent murder of a sweet an innocent girl slowly turns into something more sinister as the layers of Laura's life begin to be peeled back. The Pilot gives you a taste, and leaves you begging for more information.
Another thing that it does very well is introducing the vast amount of interesting characters that inhabit the town. And believe me, there are a lot. Some characters are shown very briefly, or in passing, but we get a good hold on their quirky personalities and their relationships with other characters. But no other character shines brighter than FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan).
Cooper's introduction is brilliant, and his serious getting-down-to-business attitude combined with a child-like wonder towards the town make for one of the most interesting and fun to watch characters in television history. Cooper can be quite ruthless and intimidating, as shown when interrogating Bobby, one of the suspects. But he also brings out the more humorous side of the show, with his excitement towards the trees and wildlife in Twin Peaks. Not to mention his constant speaking into a tape recorder to a woman named “Diane”.
One thing that might be off-putting to some people is the pacing. If it isn't evident from the slow-moving, drifting title sequence, this isn't a quick paced action show. But it isn't a detriment. Creator and director David Lynch takes his time with everything, lingering on shots of a ceiling fan, pine trees blowing in the wind, or a traffic light changing colors. All of these things (including the soundtrack by Angelo Badalamenti) set the mood of the town and of the show. This approach to television was a huge influence, creating a more cinematic viewing experience than people were used to.
I'm not going to get into much plot specifics here, partly because so much is introduced here and I don't want to write forever, and partly because I want to intrigue you into checking this show out. There really has never been anything like this on TV, then or now. Even in just the pilot the show goes from being dramatic, heartbreaking, strangely hilarious, and chillingly creepy. For future episodes I plan on dissecting specific plot points and characters, and will be less enjoyable to read unless you've viewed the episode. But until then, enjoy this preview of whats to come and check out Twin Peaks. I'm pretty sure it's on Netflix Instant Watch. You have no excuse.
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