Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks was, at one point, something of a revelation for me in the field of TV series, completely turning my view of TV production upside down and introducing me to David Lynch as a top-notch master of the mystery genre. Even though more than 20 years have passed since then, I think this series has not been surpassed, despite the fact that TV production in the United States is currently experiencing a huge boom and the mystery genre is very popular. The most fascinating thing is to watch the transformation of the individual characters and, thanks to the professionalism of the entire team, be carried away by the atmosphere of mystery and anticipated threats. In the second half of the series, especially toward the end, it heads towards distinctly hallucinogenic territory, which Lynch perfected in his mishmash Inland Empire, and so I'm one of those who appreciate the more sober first half. I must also emphasize the atmospheric music, which perfectly evoked the dreamy mysterious atmosphere of the town. Overall impression: 95%. (2011.08.18)

At the beginning of the 90s, Twin Peaks was a cultural shock and the first harbinger of the rise of the phenomenon of quality TV dramas. Frost and Lynch came up with the idea of combining the widely used format of soap operas with crime drama, turning all the previous principles of serial practice upside down and proving that television production can be done differently, i.e., cleverly and innovatively. The plot was no longer important to them; the murder of the student was bait for the audience to be lured into the maze of strangely fluctuating serial characters and the maze of relationships of the inhabitants of a strange small town. The success did not rely on the story, but on the characters, with whom the authors entertainingly played. The series gradually adopted elements of sitcoms and began to ironically criticize both genres from which it originated. Lynch was lucky when it came to his collaborators. The mysteriously sounding soundtrack by Angelo Badalamenti became a huge hit and a symbol of the series. Kyle MacLachlan, with his sympathetic talents and malleable acting, had no problem identifying with the philosophy of the series and passionately delivered the famous lines to his invisible secretary, Diane. The beautiful mysterious women with unpredictable behavior added an erotic dimension to Twin Peaks. The characters constantly surprised us. Outwardly positive characters carried the seeds of evil within themselves, unexpectedly showed their dark side, and fascinated us with their corruption. The intricate storytelling with many blind alleys, which did not burden itself with explanations and presenting information on a silver platter, attracted intellectuals to the television, who had previously scorned it. The screenwriters played with the viewers, mystified them, and diverted their attention to details that had no practical importance. Twin Peaks was at the forefront of a process that changed the rules of the game in television production and introduced cinematic aesthetics to it. Its success inspired many other television projects, and traces of Twin Peaks can be found practically everywhere today. The first season suited me perfectly and it was precisely this season that led me to discover the eccentric and crazy Lynch. Overall impression: 95%. (2017.07.24)

The second season of Twin Peaks actually started as good as the first, but the 4 stars I'm giving it are actually a compromise. i.e., the result of a process in which I slowly but surely distanced myself from the series in its second half, starting from my initial enthusiasm. Lynch couldn't keep his eccentricity and love for the fantastic in check. Step by step, the surreal elements and trips to another dimension were multiplied. The delicate balance that held the world of Twin Peaks together was disrupted. It was absurd and unsettling from the very beginning - after all, that was the reason why I loved the series. But too much of a good thing is too much, and the last and quite insane episode brought the realization that I as a viewer, and Lynch as the creator, were heading in different directions. Overall impression: 75%. (2017.08.29)