No, really. I had only barely heard of the name before. Today when I went to the library and totally on a whim I picked up a book called “The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer”. Just then there was a thunderstorm outside, so I decided to sit down and read a bit and wait the rain out.
Whoa.
It’s *quite *fascinating. I finished the novel already. I wonder where I have been all this time that I completely missed all this.
I read the entire Wiki page on Twin Peaks. Then I looked up old threads on it.
I guess I already know the big secret, having read all those threads, and Wiki, but that doesn’t seem to make it any less interesting. Also, what is Fire Walk With Me?
I also hear a lot of negatives about the way the second season went. Is it still worth watching with all that?
Please help before I go mad! Any input is welcome.
I’d say just watch the eps of the TV series in order. The characters are huge fun and the setting is beautiful. The plot is an excellent delivery mechanism for the surrealism, and isn’t that what really counts in any David Lynch production?
“Twin Peaks” is one of my favorite things ever - it truly exists in its own world apart from everything else.
In answer to your (frequently asked by newcomers) questions -
The pilot is unavailable on DVD because of some rights stuff. You can buy a quasi-legal version of it on Amazon or rent it from most places that also carry the series. It’s available on VHS, so you can easily find it on VHS at many places that still rent those. The currently-available DVD set of Season 1 starts with episode 1 (not the pilot). You won’t be completely lost if you just start with episode 1, but start with the pilot if at all possible as it introduces everything.
Season 2 is nowhere near as bad as the bitching and moaning will leave you to believe. It’s mostly as great as Season 1, except for a ~6 episode stretch in the middle after they wrap up the Laura Palmer case where nothing really happens and it just focuses on a bunch of (admittedly retarded) subplots. It all comes back together for the second half of season two, which is (IMHO) the best segment of the entire series.
“Fire Walk With Me” was a theatrically-released movie that acts as a prequel to the TV series and fleshes out the backstory. The first half - about a different murder being investigated by different people - is really great, and the second half, which is the actual prequel part that shows the last days of Laura Palmer’s life, really isn’t that great.
I’d say the series until the revelation of who Bob is is a must. After that, YMMV, since the series does get more uneven and meandering. Still, by then, you may be hooked, so you’ll have to decide yourself.
I would skip FWwM altogether–it doesn’t really add that much to the backstory, and is incredibly hit & miss (I’d say more miss).
The pilot is (or was) available on DVD as an import. The DVDs listed at Amazon, while insanely overpriced, are legitimate and should play in a region 1 player. Note that there is a European version of the pilot, created by Lynch as a stand-alone TV movie, that is identical to the American pilot up until the last 10-15 minutes. If all else fails, one should be able to locate that and thus see the bulk of the American version.
It happens that I have a copy of the American pilot on VHS, taped off of Bravo (including IIRC Log Lady introduction) which I would be willing to part with in exchange for the cost of postage or something really neat that an interested party might want to swap.
I introduced my best friend to the series a couple of months ago (just after the anniversary of Laura’s murder, in fact) and we’re down to the last four episodes. She’s excited for the end but also disappointed that there will be no more (she hasn’t committed to FWWM yet).
I disagree that the second half isn’t solid. It does, you’re right, not compare to the first half but there is a lot of strong stuff in it.
Just because FWWM is a prequel though, doesn’t mean you should watch it first. Even if you know the “secrets” it won’t mean anywhere near as much as if you watch it DEAD LAST after you’ve seen everything else, at least up until episode 6(?) of the second season (when the mystery is finally solved).
I liked the second season, though not as much as the first. I agree that there is a lull in the middle of the second season though every episode has its moments. It gets much better toward the end, which in a way is a real shame, because when it does end, you’ll be tearing your hair out screaming “IT"S OVER??? THERE AREN’T ANY MORE??? HOW CAN THERE NOT BE ANY MORE???!!” and while FWWM will ease that pain a bit, there will always be a Twin Peaks-sized hole in your soul. Be prepared.
And if you can’t find the pilot to watch first, forget the whole thing. The pilot (preferably the original, so buy a damn Hong Kong bootleg on ebay if you have to, fuck 'em if they’re not going to release an official copy) IS Twin Peaks. The rest of the story, while fascinating and truly wonderful, means dick without the setups of the pilot. It’s not just characters and place settings, it’s the whole atmosphere. It’s everything, and nothing means anything without the pilot.
Happy watching. You’re in for a treat that will last you a lifetime (plus you’ll be able to get the tons of references to it). TP was and still is my favorite television experience ever.
I’d like to put in a word for Angelo Badalamenti’s soundtrack. It set a haunting tone that added greatly to the atmosphere of Twin Peaks. The soundtrack is available. But I like Floating Into the Night, by Julee Cruse, even better. Badalamenti wrote the music & David Lynch wrote the lyrics. Many of the tunes were featured on the show; Julee Cruise occasionally showed up as a lounge singer.
Once you’ve seen the show, the haunting & ethereal music will take you back to Twin Peaks. Again & again.
I’m currently re-watching Season 2 on DVD from Netflix. Last night I watched an episode from the doldrums of that season, but I’m still enjoying it.
On the one hand, I would say that you could watch just until the revelation of Laura’s murderer and the wrap-up of that story line and have all the closure you really need. On the other hand, if you stop there, you won’t get to see David Duchovny’s appearances. And believe me, you want to see David Duchovny.
It is too bad you started by reading Laura’s secret diary as this will have answered a lot of questions the series raised.
FWWM is actually more or less the movie of this diary and should only be watched after watching the entire show.
BTW: I am one of the only few people on earth who liked the ending of Twin Peaks.
I don’t mind watching it even after the suspense of the ending is gone, if it’s good enough. And I think I will watch it. I think I HAVE to watch it. I think I NEED to watch it.
Ugh - I’m currently hooked on X-Files, having never seen it and knowing very little about that, too. I managed to remain unspoiled all these years and I am actually starting from Season 1, and I’m hooked through the nose.
Trust me : you will get tired of the X-files after a few seasons.
That is one of the most contradictory series ever made with no clear narrative.
Chris Carter didn’t have any idea about the underlying structure so just created a mess out of it.
I have the pilot and both seasons (and FWWM) on DVD. I’m well equipped to make a damned fine cup of coffee. Now if I can find a decent cherry pie (Cost Cutter only has the Marie Callendar’s kind with the crumb topping, not the traditional crust) I can have a Twin Peaks marathon.
Just to say that I was one of those who thought the series was the most significant TV series until the arrival of The Sopranos even with its disappointing “fuck you” ending that left many fans at least as disturbed and distraught as the ending of The Sopranos has.
I fell in love with Sherilyn Fenn and was seduced by the music of Badalamenti. But the mood of the whole place of Twin Peaks and the zany characters, especially the Michael J. Anderson (Carnivale’s Samson) character, had me hooked.
The plots and backstories and “realities” of the series are all incidental to the mood it creates. Watch as much as you can get a hold of and enjoy!
The pilot was great but not 100% essential. Two scenes that stood out were Leland realizing his daughter’s death and the zooming in on Laura’s eye to see the reflection of the motorcycle.
Watch the DVDs, but I suggest using your stereo for the sound instead of the TV speaker. Or even better, put headphones on and crank it up. The use of music in this show is second to none. At least that’s what my log says.