"Twin Peaks" (1990) TV series 1990-1991

User Rating:

9.4/10   

Creators:

Mark Frost
David Lynch

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

8 April 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

A town where everyone knows everyone and nothing is what it seems.

Plot:

An idiosyncratic FBI Agent investigates the murder of a young woman in the even more idiosyncratic town of Twin Peaks.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | FBI | Secret | Soul | Female Singer

Awards:

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 7 wins & 32 nominations

Cast

Kyle MacLachlan	...	Special Agent Dale Cooper (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Michael Ontkean	...	Sheriff Harry S. Truman (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Mädchen Amick	...	Shelly Johnson (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Dana Ashbrook	...	Bobby Briggs (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Richard Beymer	...	Benjamin Horne (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Lara Flynn Boyle	...	Donna Hayward (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Sherilyn Fenn	...	Audrey Horne (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Warren Frost	...	Dr. Will Hayward (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Peggy Lipton	...	Norma Jennings (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
James Marshall	...	James Hurley (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Everett McGill	...	Big Ed Hurley / ... (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Jack Nance	...	Pete Martell (30 episodes, 1990-1991)
Joan Chen	...	Jocelyn Packard (29 episodes, 1990-1991)
Kimmy Robertson	...	Lucy Moran / ... (29 episodes, 1990-1991)
Michael Horse	...	Deputy Tommy 'Hawk' Hill (28 episodes, 1990-1991)
Piper Laurie	...	Catherine Martell / ... (27 episodes, 1990-1991)
Harry Goaz	...	Deputy Andy Brennan (26 episodes, 1990-1991)
Eric DaRe	...	Leo Johnson (24 episodes, 1990-1991)
Wendy Robie	...	Nadine Hurley (22 episodes, 1990-1991)
Ray Wise	...	Leland Palmer (18 episodes, 1990-1991)
Sheryl Lee	...	Madeleine 'Maddy' Ferguson / ... (18 episodes, 1990-1991)
Russ Tamblyn	...	Dr. Jacoby / ... (16 episodes, 1990-1991)
Don S. Davis	...	Major Garland Briggs / ... (16 episodes, 1990-1991)
Chris Mulkey	...	Hank Jennings (13 episodes, 1990-1991)
Gary Hershberger	...	Mike Nelson (13 episodes, 1990-1991)
Grace Zabriskie	...	Sarah Palmer (13 episodes, 1990-1991)

Runtime:

47 min (29 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Icelandic | Afrikaans | Norwegian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Spain:13 | Iceland:12 | Hungary:16 | Netherlands:16 | USA:TV-MA | Brazil:14 | Australia:M | Singapore:PG | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Ennis-Brown House - 2655 Glendower Avenue, Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Lynch/Frost Productions

Trivia:

The series was originally to be titled "Northwest Passage". The character of Josie Packard (played by Joan Chen) was originally named Giovanna "Jo" Pasqualini Packard, and was intended to be played by Isabella Rossellini, who was dating David Lynch at the time.

Goofs:

Continuity: Catherine Martell's first name is spelled as "Katherine" in the pilot episode's opening credits, but as "Catherine" in all other episodes.

Quotes:

Dale Cooper: Fellas, coincidence and fate figure largely in our lives.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Strongbad_email.exe: Disc Five (2007) (V)

David Lynch's masterpiece

I have to admit when I first watched the pilot episode of Twin Peaks a couple of years ago, I wasn't sure what to think. I knew about David Lynch, having recently seen Blue Velvet, and I knew he was a director that was on the outlandish side. I borrowed the rest of the series from a friend, and after I watched the first 3 or 4 episodes, I was still scratching my head. I thought the murder premise was well done but I kept asking myself "why are these characters so strange?"

However, as I got more into the series, I found myself obsessively hooked. The series, in it's own ominous way, was extremely funny and there were so many great one liners ("that's a damn good cup of coffee") and the characters kept you second guessing. Though some characters were obviously villains, others had intentions that were often indistinguishable.

As I relentlessly watched the show over a three week period, I found myself laughing out loud and being disturbed at the same time. Ben Horne's meltdown is one of the funniest things I have ever seen in any TV series, I chuckle just thinking about it. Only David Lynch could think of something that was so eccentric and funny at the same time.

So in the end, I must say I found this show endlessly amusing. Almost every person on the show has their own idiosyncrasy, appearances by future stars like Heather Graham and David Duchovny injected humor and depth into the show, and heck, there was a sheriff named Harry S Truman, what else do you need?

I am glad to see the first season is on DVD, I can't wait until the rest is released. I wish this show had been on much longer but it is such a bizarre show that I can understand why mainstream America did not understand it. I wouldn't recommend this show to anyone that likes TV shows which are light-hearted or straightforward. Be warned, the final episode is completely bizarre, and not necessarily funny.

As a whole, the show has a very alien feel to it and may chase many people away, but if you understand David Lynch's warped sense of humor and can see the sheer lunacy of the show, you will find it endlessly entertaining.