Twin Peaks, season 1

I never caught "Twin Peaks" (1990) on TV its first time around, mostly because I was 7 years old and much more interested in watching "The Real Ghostbusters" cartoon. But over the years since "Twin Peaks" had its legendary 2 seasons in the early 90s, I've caught bits and pieces of its far-flung influences. I met a few people who talked about "Twin Peaks" here and there, and I came to see that the show was a love it or hate it phenomenon. The shows fans are not quite like any other fans, and they are quite passionate about "Twin Peaks." Of course, now I understand. Now, I'm one of those fans.

In the simplest terms possible, "Peaks" is about the titular town in Washington state, where Laura Palmer, a high school prom queen, has just been raped and murdered, and a very quirky FBI agent has been called in to solve the crime. Agent Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) soon discovers that Twin Peaks' tranquil exterior belies a dark and complex underbelly of drugs, prostitution, murder, and shady business deals.

Watching "Peaks" now, I'm absolutely flabbergasted that it was aired on the ABC network. Honestly, I've never seen anything like this show, and it most definitely does not feel like a major network drama. A show like "Peaks" would never find an audience or even a chance on a major network today. It feels like an HBO or Showtime original series, minus the swearing, ultraviolence, and nudity. But it has plenty of adult themes, including rape, murder, torture, gambling, and whoring, among others.

The show's structure is different from what you'd see in a primetime drama nowadays. Other than the pilot episode, there's no traditional set-up, action, and resolution. "Peaks" is much more akin to soap operas in that each show leads directly into the next like you've simply paused a movie and have unpaused it. This limited the show's audience in its broadcast run, because if you missed any episodes, you might find yourself extremely confused as to what's going on.

The show's resemblance to a soap opera goes beyond structure and into content. Like a daytime drama, in "Twin Peaks," everyone seems to be double-crossing everyone, there are huge complicated interrelationships to untangle, and everybody seems to be sleeping with at least a couple different people at a time.

Normally, I wouldn't be a fan of this kind of content and structure, but with creator/director David Lynch's strange and surreal touch, everything is so weird and intriguingly sinister that you can't help but watch. I think that is Lynch's greatest attribute: finding the sinister side to everything. Ordinary events and circumstances are suddenly heavy with dread and potential meaning. The audience is not allowed to ignore anything, because everything means something. This makes for a very engaging and fun viewing experience.

Angelo Badalamenti's score for the show relies on variations on a few simple themes. Part romance, part suspense, Badalamenti draws on slow and steady crooner guitar licks and a dark bass beat to flesh out the sound of Twin Peaks.

The obvious and deserving star of "Peaks" season one is Kyle MacLachlan as the keen and quirky Special Agent Cooper. MacLachlan is phenomenal as Cooper, a man who can simultaneously relish in the simple joy of a fine cup of coffee, and ferret out the complex machinations of a deeply corrupt town. MacLachlan's work here is so good, it's practically indescribable. He makes Cooper one of the most memorable characters in television history. And MacLachlan is really just a stand-out in a superb ensemble cast.

To sum it up, in "Twin Peaks," David Lynch has created a unique and singular television experience, and I, for one, am a huge fan. Looking forward to the 22 episodes of the 2nd and final season of the show.

Storyline & plot: 10/10

Cinematography & effects: 7/10

Music & mood: 8/10

Performances: 10/10

The Reverend says: 9/10