Not Your Average “Whodunnit”

I’ve got to say, for me, watching the series Twin Peaks is one of the most artistic, sensory, surreal experiences ever. Most importantly, it is unlike anything I have viewed before, and my mind will always be blown by Mark Frost’s and David Lynch’s unforgettable television and film masterpieces. Don’t believe me? This scene may change that.

Twin Peaks debuted as a television series in 1990. A feature film was released two years later (Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me), and to my excitement, a 25 year revival of the show aired in 2017 (Twin Peaks: The Return). In a nutshell, the story revolves around the murder of the town’s adored prom queen, Laura Palmer, who was found washed up on a beach, dead, and wrapped in plastic. The question that everyone wants to know is “Who killed Laura Palmer?”, and the answer is far from expected.

What makes the story of Twin Peaks so darn good and memorable?

• It defies norms and conventions of traditional murder mysteries by incorporating bizarre, dreamy, supernatural aspects. Despite the show being centered around a very dark, tragic event, the show stands out by providing awkward, wacky, humorous moments too, which can harken back to the bafoonish comedy style of the 1950s. A prime example would be Andy, one of the deputies, getting entangled with tape while hanging up a “Have you seen this man?” poster, or almost knocking himself out while accidentally stepping on a loose board during an investigation. Andy is one of my favourite characters of the show because of his clumsiness and his sensitive side – he often lacked elegance and poise, and tended to cry at every murder scene he went to, going against the typical, stoic deputies found in many TV crime shows. A successful story can certainly be described as one that you can relate to, and Twin Peaks provides a vast array of quirky, richly detailed characters with unconventional personalities that I think many people are able to find aspects of themselves within.

• Good stories are universal, and even though Twin Peaks is so unusual and atypical in a lot of ways, the overarching theme of good vs. evil is is at the heart of this story – a common battle that most of us have been faced with at some point in our lives. This a strong and pervasive theme in many classic stories, like Little Red Riding Hood vs. the wolf for example, or Cinderella vs. the evil stepsister. All enthralling stories need to have conflict and a focused theme (in this instance, good vs. evil), and Twin Peaks successfully accomplishes this in a unique way, by showcasing evil as a force named BOB. Although he looks human, he is a spirit who feeds off of pain and sorrow and inhibits individuals, possessing individuals to commit horrific acts, like the murder of Laura Palmer. Great stories are also ones that are so influential that they stick with you, and BOB’s terrifying nature haunts me to this day. In the show, he is often seen appearing in mirrors and dimly-lit living rooms. I’ve never been able to look at either of those the same since. (Even including the GIF below made the hairs on my neck stand up!)

• As noted in Ashley Fell’s TEDx Talk, “Why storytelling is so powerful in the digital era”, a good story engages our attention, much like a good campfire does for example, because it has colour, picture, and movement. David Lynch’s one-of-a-kind artistic direction, along with Angelo Badalamenti’s expressive musical compositions, made the saga of Twin Peaks even more unforgettable and powerful by transforming the mood to bring us right into the eccentric, chaotic, scary, yet beautiful town of Twin Peaks. A quality story is visual, and by adding such evocative imagery and sound, it made the series even more sensational and helped to strike an emotional cord with the audience. I could listen and watch the intro to the show all day – it brings me right into the story every time I hear it! But, even if the stunningly eery visuals and hauntingly alluring music were stripped away, the story of Twin Peaks will remain an amazing one because of it’s boundary pushing. If you enjoy murder mysteries, I will definitely always recommend this revolutionary, experimental, unreal take of a heartbreaking small-town death.