Twin Peaks

Networks: ABC; Showtime.
Episodes: 48 (hour) + 1 movie.
Seasons: Three.

TV show dates: April 8, 1990 – June 10, 1991.
May 21, 2017 — September 3, 2017.
Series status: Has not been cancelled.

Performers include: Mädchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, Sheryl Lee, Kyle MacLachlan, Everett McGill, Kimmy Robertson, Russ Tamblyn, Ray Wise, Grace Zabriskie, Amy Shiels, Robert Forster, Phoebe Augustine, Chrysta Bell, Richard Beymer, Catherine E. Coulson, Jan D’Arcy, Laura Dern, David Duchovny, Sherilyn Fenn, Miguel Ferrer, Warren Frost, Ashley Judd, David Patrick Kelly, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Peggy Lipton, James Marshall, Owain Rhys Davies, Wendy Robie, Charlotte Stewart, Harry Dean Stanton, Al Strobel, Carel Struycken, Eddie Vedder, Naomi Watts, and Alicia Witt.

TV show description:
A surrealist murder mystery series with horror and soap opera aspects, the Twin Peaks TV show originally premiered in 1990 and ran for two seasons, before being cancelled by ABC. Now Showtime has revived the Mark Frost/David Lynch drama as a “limited event series” of 18 episodes, featuring much of the original cast.

Also known as Twin Peaks: The Return, the revival kicks off 25 years after the murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) shocked the seemingly tranquil town of Twin Peaks, Washington. It centers on the return of idiosyncratic FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan).

A practicing Buddhist with a keen interest in mythology and the paranormal, Cooper is enthralled by life in this quaint northwestern lumber community. He’s known for his humor and his offbeat approach to investigating, as well as his love of cherry pie and black coffee.

As a 17 year old homecoming queen, while Laura was dating football captain Bobby Briggs (Dana Ashbrook), she was also having an affair with biker James Hurley (James Marshall). Although the daughter of an attorney, this cocaine addict also prostituted herself. Her cousin, Maddy Ferguson (also played by Lee), looks nearly identical to her.

Back in 1989, logger Pete Martell (Jack Nance) discovered Laura’s body on the banks of a river, stripped of its clothing and wrapped in plastic. After the discovery, the FBI dispatched Cooper to investigate the case, which has much in common with a murder which occurred in the region, a year prior.

The original, quirky, campy series was rife with supernatural elements, including the mysterious Black and White Lodges. In the ABC season two finale, Cooper goes to the Black Lodge, where he meets his evil doppelgänger. The double leaves Cooper behind in the lodge. Because the season ended with a cliffhanger, and the series was cancelled, Cooper’s fate remained a mystery.

The 1992 followup feature film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me is a prequel to the television series. Still, in it, Cooper’s fate is touched upon, but is left open ended. Showtime’s Twin Peaks TV series revival is a continuation of the original series.

Series Finale:
Episode #48 — The Return, Part 18
“What is your name?” After attempting to lead Laura through the woods (she disappears), Cooper finds himself in the Red Room once again where he encounters The Arm and MIKE. He leaves and goes to Glastonbury Grove to meet Diane. They drive to a motel and the two have sex. The next morning Cooper awakens to find Diane is gone but there’s a note from a Richard to his ex, Linda. He goes to a diner and, after helping a waitress, learns the address of an off-duty waitress. He meets a woman named Carrie Page. Convinced that she is actually Laura Palmer, they drive to the Palmer house in Twin Peaks. Strangely, Sarah Palmer doesn’t live there but an older woman by the name of Alice Tremond does. Cooper is confused and asks “What year is it?”. Carrie hears Sarah Palmer calling Laura’s name. Does Carrie realize that she’s actually Laura Palmer? Carrie screams and the lights go out.
First aired: September 3, 2017.

What do you think? Do you like the Twin Peaks TV show? Do you think it should have ended or been renewed for a fourth season?