Twin Peaks Season 1

 

It was the obituary and lead article in the March 2025 Edition of Sight and Sound magazine that made me think about David Lynch (see post 22nd February 2025). I had seen most of his films, but not this TV series: Twin Peaks. Some interesting technical stuff in the magazine in the Summer 2025 Edition, and mentions in other months. I found a box set of the first season cheap on eBay and dived in. The screenplay is by David Lynch and Mark Frost.

The Pilot

What struck me at first was the scenery. Set in a fictional town in Washington state near the Canadian border, but actually filmed in towns east of Seattle. Small town America looks great. The over-riding feel of the series is that of a detective investigating a murder of a young woman, Laura Palmer, something that we are now so used to in the many TV series seen over the last decades. And here he is, the FBI detective Dale Cooper played by Kyle McLachlan flown in the solve the crime. He's very smartly dressed, always smiling, the laughing detective. But he is clever, there are numerous times when he spots something others do not see. 

Episode 1

Or is it episode 2? Anyway, the investigation is underway. The local chief of police Sheriff  Harry Truman says he is "beginning to feel like Dr Watson". Lots of interviews with the locals, I was struggling to make out who was who. But that's not unusual these days.

The theme music is so haunting. Angelo Badalmenti received many plaudits for its composition. It is amazing despite being slightly repetitive. 

Episode 2

This was the episode I nearly gave up. Some of the verbal and physical attacks on women would never be shown today. Well, this was filmed in 1990. That's thirty five years ago. There are lots of suspects and Agent Cooper sets up a demonstration to remind us. He also needs some forensics and who should arrive but Albert and his team. Now we are used the forensics to be brainy but mostly nice and laid back. Not Albert. He must be the most loud and horrible guy ever. 

Episode 3

Cooper said at the end of the previous episode that he knows the murderer. But here he says it was only a dream and just has a clue. The best scene was a punch up in the morgue with nasty Albert. 

Episode 4

One of the locals, Sarah palmer has had visions, but of no use. But they are on the trail of a one armed man (used again for The Fugitive). There are now many more scenes that involve couples from the town as we try to work out who is who. Also arriving is Laura's cousin Madeline Ferguson.

Episode 5

It's all very messy, all over the place. We have to remember that this is David Lynch. I'm still not sure who everyone is. More scenes between couples, less on the investigation. The owner of the diner is Norma Jennings played by the wonderful Peggy Lipton. She was famous in her twenties before she married Quincy Jones. After leaving her acting career, she came back in 1990 in her early forties looking better than before. Cooper leads his team to a backwoods cabin, only to find the older Margaret who can tell them about what she saw on the night of Laura's murder. But everything leads to One Eyed Jacks. The episode ends with Madeleine finding a tape in Laura's bedpost. As you do.

Episode 6

 Nothing much to report except Audrey getting a job as a hostess at One Eyed Jacks. And who should be playing black jack but a thinly disguised Agent Cooper. But then the discovery of yet another tape, this time hidden in a coconut.

Episode 7

Up at the mill, Shelley is ambushed and tied up. We then have that crucial device of a clock ticking down to an explosion. Just how many times has this been used since. We find out who the killer was and he gets his just deserts. Cooper has been so much more serious in the last two episodes. But even more so in the final scene of the series when, back in his now deserted hotel, a call to his door finds him being shot. End credits.