Twin Peaks (TV Series) Northwest Passage (1989) User Reviews

Hawk, Would You Please Put on the Kitchen Mittens

[WriterDave · 10/10 · 26 July 2003]

I was ten years old when this show premiered on TV. I had a hot to trot fourth grade teacher who was fresh out of college (I had the biggest crush on her---oh, Ms. Beckett, where are you now?) who would come in the morning after an episode aired and share all the details with the advanced reading group I was in. THIS WAS IT. This was the greatest TV show ever made. I don't know how I talked my parents into letting me watch it (a few episodes involving BOB gave me nightmares), but since then I've rewatched it over and over and over again. Mystery, soap opera antics, mumbo jumbo, log ladies, midgets, damn fine coffee, cherry pie, cliffhangers and the best music ever composed for a TV series made the first season (which was HUGE in the ratings, and only seven episodes long as it was a mid-season replacement) the most memorable of any TV show in history. The second season got darker and weirder (which led to a drop in ratings, time slot shifts, and naturally more drops in the ratings). After the producers were forced by the network to solve the murder of Laura Palmer half way through the season (and what a f*** you to the powers to be that revelation was), wild soap opera antics ensued as a cover up for one of the most labyrinthine mythologies ever conceived (I'll take the agents of the Black and White Lodges over aliens and government conspiracies any day), and Lynch left the die-hard fans who clung on to the very end one doozy of a cliffhanger in the very last episode (WHERE'S ANNIE?).

After turning my friends on to Lynch with "Mulholland Drive" (which was ironically a failed TV pilot turned into a brilliant cinematic f*** you to the same powers that be that tried to ruin Peaks) they can't believe it when I tell them he made a TV show back when we were kids. "That must've been weird," they say. Oh, it was, weirder and more wonderful and brilliant than you could ever imagine.

Without this show there never would've been "The X-Files", "Northern Exposure", "Picket Fences" or the idea that TV could be thrilling, ground-breaking, quirky, and weird. Also recommended: Lynch's mind-boggling film prequel "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me" that confounds beautifully and raises more questions than answers, "Blue Velvet" (the precursor to Peaks), and of course "Mulholland Drive."

Heavenly Days!

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 28 May 2017]

I've always contended that David Lynch actually filmed his nightmares. This is what genius is about. The murder of a young girl in a small logging town could have been vanilla without a spark. But add to it a herd of quirky characters and the appearance of Kyle McLachlan as Dale Cooper, FBI, and a sweet handling of plot lines going in every directions, and we have perhaps TV's finest moment. I've come to love Fargo over these past three seasons, and I know I owe my my love to this offbeat masterpiece. In the Pilot, we are introduced to the murder victim, the principle characters, the town, Cooper, and Sheriff Harry S. Truman. Laura Palmer is the centerpiece, the Solar System around which everything revolves. Her encounters, her friends, her actions on the night of her death will fuel everything down the road. It is also wonderful to see the list of current stars in their younger incarnations. Off we go into the wild blue yonder.

as good as TV gets

[Christian_alternakid · 10/10 · 6 May 2001]

Twin Peaks is unique in every way. It is almost unbelievable that a series so near-perfect and daring like Twin Peaks could be shown in nationwide TV. David Lynch didn't sell-out as he turned to the small screen, instead he took TV to new forms: never before and after have I seen a TV series that made such a lasting impression. I love each and every character, the brillant dialogues, the beautiful cast (Lara Flynn Boyle! Kyle MacLachlan!) and - best of all - a storytelling so absurd, obscure and perfect that you can only wonder how they made it. Its not only my favourite TV series, it has some of the best scenes ever filmed (the second murder, BOB, etc). And BOB scared me to death, ten years ago and also nowadays - I've seen the Twin Peaks Series now 5 times in its entirety and it is as good as the first time.

the finest hour of television-ever!

[talel_bj · 10/10 · 21 April 2006]

i was only six years old when twin peaks premiered in Germany (it was no hit, by the way), but i did remember the huge a hype surrounding it at first. years later i stumbled upon it at a video store and rented the first season. i think the two-hour pilot of twin peaks is a masterpiece.

the characters and the atmosphere, the enigmatic power of laura palmer, my TV was dripping from magic. i think the show (and the resolution of her murder) never lived up to the pilot, but i still think that David lynch really proved his genius with this pilot episode. i could watch over and over again.

later on the show got confusing (well, surprise it's lynch) but you must rent the first season of this.

brilliant!!!

Probably one of the best series ever...

[Tonkat · 10/10 · 1 April 2006]

This series catches you or it doesn't. If it does, it will probably remain with you for the rest of your life. I love all the characters (I even watched other movies they played in, hoping it would contain some of Twin Peaks' magic.), the music, the surroundings, the plots, the coffee and doughnuts, everything! If Twin Peaks really existed I would have emigrated to it years ago already...

I have season one on DVD for a couple of years now, but still haven't found season two being released. I really hope it will be, because my video tapes won't last much longer from excessive watching. ;)

David, isn't it time to open the lodge again and show us what happened 25 years later?

A True Masterpiece

[dsharp-4 · 10/10 · 25 July 2005]

Twin Peaks for me is the pinnacle of television. It is masterfully crafted, superbly acted, and enthralling from the first minute to the very end.

It is a deep, rich story filled with quirky characters and imaginative plot that demands and draws your full attention. It's only failing was finishing too soon, but like many other great TV programs, that only makes the episodes created even more valuable.

Time will show Twin Peaks to be a powerful influence on many subsequent programs, and a masterpiece in it's own right. It's a must see for anyone who appreciates quality television or film.

The Greatest Pilot to Ever Bless TV? It's Certainly Up There

[mnkeyby · 10/10 · 1 December 2017]

In 1989, high school homecoming queen Laura Palmer's body is found wrapped in plastic on a riverbank. The characters within the small American town just south of the Canadian border goes into a shaken state, and an FBI Agent by the name of Dale Cooper helps the local police force of this town investigate. This town is called Twin Peaks. This is the start of the show that changed television forever.

This pilot was written by Mark Frost and David Lynch, with Lynch in the directors chair. Lynch is synonymous in film circles for eccentric direction and surreal storytelling, and one would think that Lynch would restrain himself from his trademark weirdness, but thankfully he doesn't, and television today is all the better for it. I can see traits of Twin Peaks' cinematography in works like Breaking Bad, I can see the eccentric cast of characters in works such as Bates Motel, I can see traits of Twin Peaks' surreal imagery in The Leftovers. Twin Peaks' influence can still be felt to this day.

I'd say the main theme of Twin Peaks is found within its humorous and complex cast of characters, the type of people you find within a Soap Opera, the kind that is found in the idyllic concept of small-town America, but each character has a darker element to them. It's about the inner darkness within people. And Twin Peaks can get disturbingly dark, but is balanced with an off-kilter sense of humour that only a person like David Lynch could pull off.

The standout of the cast of Kyle MacLachlan, who plays the main character, FBI Agent Dale Cooper. Cooper has the deductive skills akin to the likes of Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, but is an eccentric and polite man akin to a Mr. Rogers type. Most of the cast is also very good, particularly Ray Wise in my opinion. However, some of the cast is quite wooden (Michael Ontkean, I'm so sorry to say), and James Marshall is almost downright terrible in some parts.

I could go on, but there's only so many words I can use to describe this masterpiece of a pilot episode. Even if this was the only episode, it could stand proud amongst David Lynch's own filmography. Even if you don't like Lynch's work, you should still find a way to watch this episode if you haven't already. Because its influence is too important to simply pass by.

A masterpiece.

Mystery, Murder, Mayhem, Mysticism...With Pie and Coffee to Go!

[cchase · 9/10 · 26 July 2003]

With the exception of THE X-FILES, (which owes a great debt to this series, as well as several others,) no other series stimulated, captivated, obsessed and infuriated me more than TWIN PEAKS. I got the impression that by the end of its run, somewhere the great Alfred Hitchcock was nodding and smiling in approval. Of all the McGuffins ever perpetrated by filmmakers since Hitch came along, David Lynch and Mark Frost pulled off perhaps one of the greatest that ever became a TV show. And in the process, they reminded us that not all great actors are blond, blue-eyed and buffed to perfection.

Lynch cast his BLUE VELVET protégé, Kyle MacLachlan, as the quirky but diligent Agent Dale Cooper, investigating the brutal murder of town Teen Queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). Yet, just as he showed us in VELVET, nothing is at all what it seems on the surface, and if you dare to look closer, you can find the truth about fantasy and reality, as well as the fragile curtain that separates them both...if your mind can take it!

IMNSHO, once the murderer of Laura Palmer was finally revealed, that's when the whole thing should've ended. This would've made the quintessential "limited-run" series in that case. But here's where Lynch and Frost became magicians...and started pulling dead, mutilated rabbits out of their collective hat. The more questions that were answered about Laura's death, the more other questions, other mysteries were uncovered...and the Great McGuffin was on!

Looking back now, I still get a little miffed when I recall how the whole series finally "ended," (but not really.) But more importantly, was I entertained nevertheless? I'd have to concur with that and vote a definite yes.

Besides, it was a great proving ground for some budding talent behind the camera, most of whom are still with us today, and still working. And what a rich gold mine of talent on the other side. In fine, Lynchian fashion, we got glimpses of some of the best character artists and new young talent not yet found or rediscovered in Hollyweird. We witnessed the return of Michael Ontkean, Piper Laurie, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn and Peggy Lipton, amongst others. Besides MacLachlan, we got intimate with such great players as Michael Horse, Kimmy Robertson, Everett McGill, Warren Frost, Wendy Robie, Ray Wise, Don Davis and even Mr. Lynch himself.

We made the acquaintance of new talents like Dana Ashbrook, Gary Hershberger, James Marshall, Joan Chen and Eric DaRe, some of whom still appear on our radar from time to time, and some who don't.

We got to meet members of the "Lynch Repertory Players," those actors who would appear in pivotal roles in all of his work to come (and some who had been with him from the very beginning), from the late, great Jack Nance and the enigmatic Michael Anderson, to the irreplaceable Grace Zabriskie as Laura's freaky, psychic mom.

And ah, yes, the Peaks Girls. Lara Flynn Boyle, Madchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn, and of course, the indispensable Sheryl Lee.

Not to mention Lynch's good-humored nods to "the Warhol rule," where such unlikely actors as Catherine Coulson (The Log Lady) and Frank Silva (Killer Bob) gained temporary notoriety, and eternal fame as some of the best Trivial Pursuit subjects ever.

And those guest stars. David Patrick Kelley. Heather Graham. Miguel Ferrer. And even in a brief cameo as a transvestite who just happened to be an FBI agent, some very game young actor by the unlikely name of David Duchovny.

With the release of the pilot episode to supplement the boxed set, we finally have it all...the Complete Experience. I could never stay mad at David and Mark for very long, and I have a taste for some cherry pie and coffee the way I like it...DAMN good. And HOT!

And my advice to anyone glued to BIG BROTHER 14, JOE MILLIONAIRE MEETS THE BIMBOETTE or EXTREME MONEYGRUBBING...Get to your nearest video store and buy or rent the entire series. Try some "UNreality-TV" for a change.

Too much for mainstream America's TV?

[bob the moo · 3 July 2002]

When Laura Palmer is murdered in the quiet town of Twin Peaks, the similarities to another murder brings the involvement of the FBI in the form of Agent Dale Cooper. Cooper teams up with Sheriff Truman to help catch the killer. However using Cooper's less than conventional methods they find a mysterious world of goings on in the small town leading as far as drugs, deceit and demons.

David Lynch's television series falls somewhere between the themes of his films without the 18-rated content and a bit of a failure. Since Lynch's films don't get multiplex audiences it's perhaps surprising that this series was so successful (apart from being cancelled of course!). Lynch's look at oddities etc in normal life and his themes of things being wrong just behind the picket fences (see also Blue Velvet) come through well, as does his eye for quirky characters. Each episode had a cliff hanger of sorts although sometimes the plot spun wildly out of control. The actually twists in the identity of the killer and certainly the overall ending was maybe too much for mainstream America to deal with in a TV show but most of this is pure Lynch.

The performances are all good and link with his quirky vision well. Lynch favourite Kyle MacLachlan is good as Cooper while the rest of the cast are made up by TV actors on the whole who manage to hold a small town, TV drama feel to the whole thing that makes it feel that little bit more uncomfortable when the weirdness comes. Small roles from the likes of Miguel Ferrer, Lynch etc add interest.

Overall this is a long Lynch movie. Demons, drugs, weird characters all in a normal picket fence community. Very enjoyable if a little to much to last several series. Depending on how you feel about it the ending is either a superb place to leave it as it shows the power of evil, or a huge let down. I liked it myself.

"Where we're from, the birds sing a pretty song, and there's always music in the air."

[Quinoa1984 · 10/10 · 6 December 2006]

The Twin Peaks pilot- the original version made by David Lynch (in collaboration with Mark Frost)- was quite different from how it ended up being done on the show's real beginning. I decided before watching the series itself to see the pilot though, with the 'bonus footage' as said on the tape box, and I was glad I did. While in comparison with the show's major revelation(s) in season two it pales, it still provides one huge wallop in its surreal revelations. Bottom line, this is the kind of work you'll either get all the way and totally become absorbed in, or will turn off from fervently. Or, perhaps even, just a milder reaction in comparison to Lynch's other work. I found it to be something very clever and cunning on Lynch's part- it's like the wildest, sliest, and of course with the usual term weirdest take off on TV drama series, the kind that have the ultra melodramatic music and actors practically made for TV. I haven't laughed so hard at a Lynch film possibly, well, ever completely, with the only work coming close being the Cowboy and the Frenchman. It gives random eccentricities in human behavior a good name, while the comedic barbs, as black as the dark side of Lynch's mind goes, stick out excellently through what is actually a compelling, haunting drama...or so we might expect.

Laura Palmer is found dead, and there is an investigation into what happened, the night of, the killer, the circumstances and secrets and very ambiguous bits of information that turn up. That's the bones of this TV pilot, and from here Lynch and Frost concoct an entire village of shattered small-town folk, with the off-kilter outsider FBI agent coming in to investigate (Kyle MacLaughlan in one of his very best performances, with the same sincerity of Blue Velvet but with a brilliant streak of playing dead pan and other expressions). The story may not be totally coherent at times, which is part of the point Lynch has. I could- and will- watch this again for the finer plot details that might have gone over my head the first time around, and they are to be found. But it was also the sort of case where I didn't mind, because there was always something to grab onto with the scenes going by and by. Some lines are classically Lynch, like with the device Cooper talks into ("Diane, I'm holding in my hands a small box of chocolate bunnies", and "I'd rather be here than in Philadelphia"), or when we see the man who happens to own the half of the truck and what he has to say to his woman (and what hair the tough guy has!) and the little bizarre touches that seem so easy and obvious but which makes them all the funnier behind the dire subject matter (like the kid who does a weird movement of some kind across the hall for a moment in the hallway at school).

And even through TV, with its pan & scan format, Lynch is still able to fashion a devilishly stylized picture. Sometimes it's very subtle, like when we see a secret being told from one teen to another outside in the dark, but with the two characters put into such an ominous pose. Or when he reveals the killer- or who may be the killer- and the actual uncovering of him. Although they changed around the pieces of this long-version (which should be judged on its own as, like Mulholland Drive, was intended as a stand-alone in case it didn't get picked up), the way this one ends is makes what 'weirdness' that came before go beyond the limit. The actual revelation of Bob is a little unnecessary despite its frightening pay-off, as the whole fun is seeing this insane mystery having to wedge in logic with the absurdities that pop up. Even so, one of Lynch's most deliriously insane dream sequences (if it even is a dream, it's like Little People Big World meets Stroszek), complete with backwards-forwards dialog and a little dance too. More than any other time during the special I felt a little uneasy and wondered 'why' when I could only answer in kind 'eh, why not'.

Lynch is able to achieve with Twin Peaks his uncanny ability to go far with his digs at small town cooks and the quirks and oddities hidden beneath the small-town normalcy by having the good actors (some cast to type, and all the better for it, like James Marshall and Sherilyn Fenn and Jack Nance's bit especially) to pull it off, and by making it both not always self-consciously hilarious in satire/the randomness of absurdism with the occasional wildly surreal touch, and a very believable dramatic effort that skirts past the usual melodrama with a sense of truth to it. It's not an easy thing to do by any means, even if I could understand how it could be off-putting too. But damned it all if I didn't find it amazing to see one minute a very sorrowful scene of parents finding out the death of their own child, and the next comments that break the tension piercingly. It's not perfect, but it's some of the bravest dark comedy since Dr. Strangelove, and in the unedited form here it should be available for all fans and even first-timers to check out.

TV phenomenon of 1990

[preppy-3 · 10/10 · 31 March 2006]

Laura palmer (Sheryl Lee) is found dead--nude and wrapped in plastic. She was born, raised and killed in the town of Twin Peaks. The town sheriff (Michael Ontkean) and FBI Ageny Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) try to find out who killed her...and why. We are then introduced to the interesting...and very bizarre...residents of the town.

Absolutely fascinating. This exploded on TV in 1990 and was a huge hit. It led to the series which (unfortunately) was buried in bad time slots and mismanaged by the network (for instance, director/co-writer David Lynch was never going to tell who killed Laura but the network forced him to come up with a killer leading to a REAL stupid unmasking). Still, it was well ahead of its time and absolutely fascinating. It's like Peyton Place on drugs--or Peyton Place as done by David Lynch.

The opening pilot (which has an alternate ending) was released in Europe as a movie. It's just incredible--beautifully directed with a now classic movie score that perfectly fits the material. It's full of fascinating characters and images and--like most Lynch movies--has plenty of purposely strange moments--but it's never TOO obscure or disgusting (he DID have to keep in TV standards). The characters are full 3-dimensional people--weird perhaps but full characters. Also there are teenagers who (for once) are treated with respect and ACT like teenagers.

The acting is almost great across the board--but Dana Ashbrook, Lara Flynn Boyle, Sherilyn Finn, Ray Wise and James Marshall are especially good. The only bad performances are by Kyle MacLachlan (TOO strange) and Micheal Ontkean (TOO emotionless). Still this is great. Never dull and just beautifully done. A must-see. But if you don't like Lynch you might want to steer clear of this. A 10.

Hmmm...

[fil-nik09 · 10/10 · 25 February 2016]

I was 10 or something when the Twin Peaks aired for the first time. And I don't remember if I did not watch it or I watched some of it or I was scared to watch it. But I did have a soundtrack on the cassette / tape and the main theme: Falling by Julie Cruise is still one of my favorite songs from the 90's.

And, oh, how I was surprised to remember the music and that gloomy atmosphere it portrays...

The pilot episode is almost like a film! 90 minutes! But 90 minutes of very good, entertaining but mysteriously creepy scenes. I just enjoyed it so so much! And just remembering the characters that were fascinating to a 10 year old boy ... Man, that was something!

Anyway, ten from me. I can not wait to continue to watch other episodes.

1x01

[formotog · 7/10 · 3 September 2020]

I'm confused. Really really confused. I know this is Lynch, that's precisely why I'm confused. Having already seen a couple of his films, I know that his material is supposed to be absurd. At least that's the impression I got. The thing with this pilot is that I really can't tell what angle he's going for here. I'm fairly sure he's going for just all out absurdism, but based on a lot of people's reviews I think it may actually be a serious crime drama? For example, there will be scenes where someone is crying and the melodramatic music plays, my impulse is to just laugh. If you ask me, this pilot was pretty damn funny. If that's what Lynch was going for then job done. However, if he was genuinely going for a serious approach, then it fell flat on its face completely, in no small part due to the soundtrack. That's the main thing I can't get around, because it's obviously completely melodramatic and simple, but I can't tell if that's intentional or that's really what TV soundtracks were like in the 80s/90s. All this being said, it was a decent enough pilot I suppose. It was very fast paced with interesting characters and an engaging enough murder mystery at the centre. It was fairly simple but I know this is Lynch so I fully expect things to get weird. In fact, they kinda did already with that weird cliffhanger. I will say I don't think the episode flowed very well. Shame about the aspect ratio as well. Anyway, I'll be watching the rest of this show with the assumption that's all meant to be a bit ridiculous and funny, because I find it quite hard to believe it's meant to be watched seriously

Low 7

Seriously?

[MyFartsSmellLikeFrenchToast · 3/10 · 20 August 2017]

Believe it or not, I've never watched Twin Peaks or had an idea of what it is about. I only knew it was popular. I just watched the first Pilot episode. Honestly, I was so taken aback with the over the top bad acting, cheesy lines, etc., that I had to come to IMDb and see how this thing was rated. I'm blown away to see nothing but incredible comments. I don't get it. And it's not the plot, story line, or anything of the like. The acting is SO SO bad! It just really takes away from anything else. The scene with Laura's mother reacting to her death is beyond bad. Her forced emotions are so poorly delivered! The scene in the police station with Laura's boyfriend reacting to being accused of her death are laughably bad. Wow. So so bad. I'm going to keep watching in the hopes things improve, but as for this pilot, it's not off to a good start due mostly to the horrendous acting.

"Northwest Passage"

[TheDonaldofDoom · 19 February 2018]

After Twin Peaks' film-length pilot, I still have no idea of what I'm in for. But I'm intrigued. And amazed by what was a totally immersive, often creepy, experience. It had me engrossed from the first moment right the way to the end, which is no small feat for an extra-long episode that is so slow-paced. What this episode does nicely is set up the show's main mystery, introduce us to the characters and set a deeply mysterious tone from the get-go.

Many TV series and movies have focused on grief, but in this case it feels especially raw. There are dozens of drawn-out shots of people tearing up at Laura Palmer's death. Her mother, her father, her friends-and the school headmaster. It's the brilliant performances that make this misery engrossing to watch, as well as the haunting soundtrack and fantastic direction that makes the best out of every emotional scene. There is one character I wasn't a fan of, Audrey. She's more two-dimensional and frustratingly unrealistic as a character than fun. Every other major character though, was full of subtleties. No one is perfect and many have things to hide.

And then there's the mystery of Laura Palmer's death. This early into the show, there's no way of knowing who killed her but the details that are revealed are intriguing. Why is her body wrapped in plastic? Why is there a letter under her and the other victim's fingernail? What's the deal about the necklace? There's so many fascinating hints at what's to come.

Even though I still don't fully understand what this show is, I so want to continue watching. That's how good it is.

9.6/10

Twin Peaks rules

[H_dandeboojo · 10/10 · 1 August 2005]

When I first saw Twin Peaks I didn't understand so much, probably because i was so young, but the second time I saw it and I was a bit older i understood the greatness of the TV-series. It's really sad that so many at least in Sweden can't see how good this brilliant masterpiece by the genius David Lynch really is. Some says that the ending of the series is bizarre and stupid, but it's quite obvious that they are too stupid to understand that the show is amazing and that it is really deep. Agent Cooper(Kyle MacLachan) is amazing that's sad that he's latest movies not are as good as this, and I really hope that Kyle and Lynch can do something together again.

None Can Compare

[sledge30 · 10/10 · 12 August 2002]

WOW! First I have to say to ABC, What in the hell you thinking cancelling this program??!!! One of the most groundbreaking series in the history of television and you up and cancel them. Love or hate it, if you say this program doesnt belong along side of some of the greatest shows ever its time to hand in you remote there Sparky. I dont think a show has been copied more(and poorly) than Twin Peaks. From the opening shot of the series you feel like you have been in this town before, because you have . This is Everytown, USA, but the difference is we get to see everything we dont see in real life. We get to see dirty dealings, incest, murder, mental retardation, the hanicapped, etc etc etc .... Maybe this show just didnt fit the Perfect Strangers/Full house/Family Matters mold ABC thrives on. David Lynch and Mark Frost did the impossible with this TV show...made it entertaining. Even at its worst its impossible to tear your eyes off the screen. The characters were so complex even down to the last dancing dwarf.

Pilot

[Prismark10 · 10/10 · 6 April 2017]

By 1990 the US television channels were in trouble. Viewers had enough of the lifestyles of the rich, greedy and famous in shows like Dallas and Dynasty and cheesy cop shows that were not called Miami Vice.

One brave television channel turned to David Lynch and American television was never the same again.

Haunting, surreal, slow and confounding expectations. In the seminal pilot we see the body of Laura Palmer being found in the small north western town of Twin Peaks. Later a young woman is found walking from across the state line. This brings in Agent Cooper of the FBI and he strikes a friendship with Sheriff Truman who up to now has to put up with deputy Andy who always seems to start crying at the sight of violence.

Agent Cooper who is always talking to Diane in his Dictaphone knows there is more going on with the death of Laura Palmer, it relates to a string of crimes that may be connected. Twin Peaks is not a nice quiet town with white picket fences. The young nubile high school girls are not so innocent and everybody else it seems have some kind of secrets and affairs. Then there are the eccentrics like the log lady or the one eyed woman with an interest in drapes.

Lynch displays some simple visual tricks with lighting and his use of camera angles. He also makes clever use of sound, then there is the memorable music from Angelo Badalamenti.

Not all of it is perfect, some of the younger male cast members never did get the hang of the craft of acting.

brilliantly sets up the show's ominous and offbeat tone

[framptonhollis · 10/10 · 16 September 2017]

Twin Peaks. Just the mention of that name makes me giddy. Directed wonderfully by David Lynch and almost flawlessly written with the help of Mark Frost, this pilot perfectly sets up the overall atmosphere that the rest of the series soon builds upon (before it practically explodes in a fit of extreme avant garde surrealism by the season 2 finale and gets even wilder in season 3); it is an atmosphere of intrigue, mystery, passion, sex, violence, eccentricity, comedy, melodrama, and so forth. The pilot juggles various tones with the utmost professionalism, combining the melancholic with the disturbing and the darkly humorous with the engagingly mysterious.

Lynch and Frost also champion the serious, observant viewer. This episode in particular is filled to the brim with brilliant subtleties and details that greatly increase the viewing experience, adding even more layers of humor and mood to this thrilling opening. Quirky characters emerge left and right, gloom barrages a small town, melodramatic moments seem silly at first, but gradually become more and more powerful, odd gags are sprinkled throughout (the teenager inexplicably dancing in the hallway, the deer head that falls onto the desk, the inconveniently flickering fluorescent lights, Benjamin Horne's obnoxious spitting, the mayor's awkward and bumbling behavior, Nadine's drape runner obsession, Cooper's smile as he tries his best to deal with a deeply intense Bobby, and the list goes on and on), and, in the end, your average viewer is likely to be hooked. The show steadily seduces you, sucking your fragile mind into a complicated, comical, and cryptic world straight from the mind of David Lynch (and Mark Frost, although Lynch is responsible for a lot of the show's more memorable moments, although Frost is oftentimes great with character and plot related stuff, which is equally essential to the series, at least up until season 3).

A Beautiful Mystery

[BorednButter · 10/10 · 28 October 2019]

At its core, Twin Peaks is an enticing idea in a unique setting. Devoted to showing what the effects of a death of a lovable girl in a small town are, in all their devastating glory. Not only does this episode set up a setting, characters, tone, and story, but it regards the cycle of mourning with as much heart as could be mustered. The show gives a damn about music, sound, writing, costumes, and plenty of cinematography alternating being either avant-garde or beautifully traditional.

A Great Season

[jay4stein79-1 · 8/10 · 31 March 2006]

Like Freaks and Geeks, Twin Peaks rises above its medium to become something more than a TV show. I love Happy Days and Sanford and Son, but, as great as they are, there's something a little different with Twin Peaks. That said, it's a seriously flawed series that, I think, should have known when to end--after tying up the mystery of Laura Palmer's murder.

After learning that Leland, under the control of BOB, killed his daughter, Twin Peaks was over. It was still a weird, spooky series that left some questions unanswered--but that's why we watch David Lynch's movies and why we watched his TV show. Bringing in Wyndham Earl and the Lodges--two of the more asinine and uninteresting plot threads I've seen--mar the brilliance of the original story. Perhaps I would feel differently had the series's end not been so rushed and incoherent; perhaps I would feel differently had they been able to provide an answer to my question about Wyndham and the Lodges (that question being "Why include this?").

That said, those first however many episodes are brilliant. Kyle MacLachlan, Ray Wise, Lara Flynn Boyle, and Sherrilyn Fenn all amaze and, as I said, the story is tight, spooky, and a perfect combination of the themes of Blue Velvet with the supernatural elements that would play a role in the heinous Lost Highway. It's also terrifying. David Lynch has created two of the most frightening creations to appear on the screen (silver and television)--BOB and the woman behind the dumpster. They still give me the heebie-jeebies in spite of their not doing anything other than simply appearing.

So yes, I might be heretical for saying it, but I kind of wish Twin Peaks had ended sooner. The first story line is so amazing that the second pales in comparison.

A great opening to a cult classic

[Tweekums · 10/10 · 29 April 2012]

When this series first aired over twenty years ago I made a mistake; I didn't watch it! Thankfully I caught a repeat of it several years later and discovered just what I'd missed. This pilot episode opens with what became one of television's great mysteries; who killed Laura Palmer? Her body is found by the lakeside, wrapped in plastic. The only clue is a tiny letter 'J' found under one of her fingernails. When a second, who went missing at the same time, is found staggering over the bridge from the neighbouring state FBI agent Dale Cooper turns up to take over the case. It soon becomes apparent that Laura wasn't quite the girl everybody thought; a sachet containing a white powder and a key to a safety deposit box are found hidden in her diary and that box contains two things; a large bundle of cash and a magazine with a picture circled... the picture of a girl murdered elsewhere some time previously. As well as getting the mystery underway we are introduced to a wide variety of characters; most of whom where affected by Laura's death; some where her friends, others knew her family and some are suspects.

This pilot episode had me gripped from the haunting opening to the end; I'm sure I will enjoy watching the rest of the series too. Writer/Director David Lynch did a brilliant job creating a television show that doesn't have a 'made for television' feel to it; Twin Peaks feels like a real place rather than a filming location and the characters have idiosyncrasies that make them believable too. Kyle MacLachlan puts in a fine performance as leading character, FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper and he is ably supported by a fine cast... even if some of them do look a little old to be in high school! I don't normally think to mention the music but here I must mention Angelo Badalamenti's hauntingly beautiful score that permeates the series; I don't think it would be at all the same without it. While we are obviously only beginning to get into the mystery I can't wait to watch more!

I can't wait to See what happens next!

[joshi_3592 · 9/10 · 17 June 2010]

Must say this is an intriguing show, I have only seen the pilot and I can't wait to see what happens next. It is really good at staying interesting all through the episode, and being a pilot this is quite long too. But that's okay, I almost which they will all be this long. The characters really make this show, there's a lot of eccentric personalities and some even a bit cliché, but it still feels realistic and it is what keeps you so interested. Everyone has their own story, everyone has their own secret, and everyone is linked to another in one way or another. The way I explain it it may sound a bit like a soap opera, far from it. Few TV series has the same quality as this has shown me so far. Until now I have never seen anything by David Lynch (a thing I regret), but now I will definitely check up more of his works.

So I advice anyone to watch this episode, and I bet you will just want more. The mystery that arises int he first two minutes is simple, who killed Laura? It is so simple, but we all immediately know this is more than a common crime investigation show. So if you can manage through the sobbing of the first 10 minutes (you since Lauras dead) I'm sure you'l get hooked immediately. I give the pilot episode a 9/10.

The Worst Ever

[dastmalchi-70424 · 3/10 · 25 July 2020]

Have not been a fan of Lynch ever but what the hell was that ? The worst amateur cast presentation , one of the worst camera location and movement choices, Amateur script,dialogues and story can satisfies probabley under 14 teens. Worst editing . What the f... was Lynch doing as director there ?This is a disaster even for 1990s.

it lives in you...

[doc-zaius · 30 March 2002]

You can count on the fingers of your hands TV shows that really hook you after only one minute, and for the rest of your spectator's life. Twin Peaks is masterfully written, directed, photographed and played. Every single character is unique and haunt you long after the end credits. But something really upsets me with Twin Peaks, and that's the way people only credit david lynch for this masterpiece, too often neglecting the wonderful work Mark Frost did with the scripts. Sure, Twin Peaks is a visual achievement, but the way Mark Frost handled the stories, allowing david Lynch and every other guest directors to express their talents is wonderful, and it's a shame the talented mr Lynch is often the only one to receive credits for it (and I recommend to you, among many others, the Diane Keaton directed episode, which is one of the most beautiful and best "lynchian" episodes of the second season.). So, let Twin Peaks and his inhabitants capture you, let them live in you, and don't forget to thank mr Lynch & Frost for giving us the chance to be attracted in their not-so-strange world