Twin Peaks Revival Scheduled to Release in May

What TV show is a serial drama, mystery, psychological thriller, and supernatural horror series that is ranked as one of the best television dramas in history and is known for its disturbing and surreal style? Unless you are knowledgeable about the cult television shows of the 1990s, or are a fan yourself, then you probably don’t recognize that the answer is Twin Peaks. However, if you’re not familiar with the series, this upcoming spring will be your chance to watch the new revival, finally answering the 20-year long cliffhanger that has plagued Twin Peaks fans.

The original Twin Peaks was a relatively short serial drama that aired on ABC in 1990 and 1991. Although it only lasted for two seasons, the show was one of the top-rated shows of 1990 and captured a cult following. Created by Matt Frost and David Lynch, the show is known for its unique combination of surreal elements reminiscent of horror films with odd characterization and has been hailed as one of the most influential television series in recent history.

Starring Kyle MacLachlan as eccentric FBI Special Agent Dan Cooper, Michael Ontkean as the unusually named Sheriff Harry S. Truman, Lara Flynn Boyle as the devoted and passionate friend Donna Hayward, and Sherilyn Fenn as the rich girl Audrey Horne, Twin Peaks centers around a murder conspiracy and the resulting hunt for an enigmatic killer. Agent Cooper is sent to the picturesque Pacific Northwest town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of local homecoming queen Laura Palmer and in doing so unveils a world of double lives and supernatural forces.

The series has been noted for its uncomfortable and often eerie tone, juxtaposed against offbeat humor and cynicism. The genre itself is unusual, being a combination of mystery, serial drama, and supernatural horror. Additionally, the characters, often finding themselves in surreal and mysterious circumstances, act in strange and quirky ways in melodramatic situations. These elements combine to create a series with a jarring and discordant but engaging narrative, parodying the American soap opera while still maintaining an intriguing mystery.

In its relatively short history of only 30 episodes, Twin Peaks received wide accolades. The series received 14 Emmy nominations for its first season, winning Outstanding Costume Design and Outstanding Editing, four Emmy nominations for its second season, and at the 48th Golden Globes it won Best TV Drama Series, MacLachlan won Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama Series, and Piper Laurie, who played Catherine Martell, won Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series. However, faced with declining ratings and pressure from ABC to move along what seemed to be a slow plot, the series was canceled after its second season on a cliffhanger finale. Although a prequel was created in 1993, finally now, after twenty years, the series has its second chance on television.

Last week, it was reported that the Twin Peaks revival will debut on the Showtime channel on May 21st with a two-hour premiere. The third and fourth episodes will be immediately available on Showtime’s streaming service following the premiere, and those episodes as well as others will air on Showtime’s television channel in the following weeks. All of the season’s episodes will bring the revival to an 18 hour-long episode total. Original cast such as MacLachlan, Fenn, Lynch, and David Duchovny, among others, would be returning for the revival. Although the revival was written as a “...close-ended, one-time event,” officials associated with the production have not ruled out the possibility of additional seasons.

Twin Peaks, as said before, is an unusual series to say the least. It often straddles the line between multiple genres, and its tone and style is strange and abnormal. If one is unfamiliar with the style of creator David Lynch, the unsettling tone could easily be mistaken for plot peculiarities or straight-up bad acting. I will be the first to admit it, Twin Peaks is not for everyone. Its unusual style will discourage casual viewers, and by the end of the first season the supernatural and surreal elements of the series will make it very hard for a viewer to enjoy unless you can accept and appreciate its narrative. However, if you can accept its oddities, you’ll find an interesting and captivating series that will fascinate your curiosity.