Twin Peaks: Owls, Fire, and Coffee.

An image of a bird on a branch fades into the slow cutting of metal at a saw mill. Whilst the enchanting music plays over the top, we see the sparks fly from the machinery and the equipment thrusting into place. A sign, 'Welcome to Twin Peaks' accompanied by the Douglas Fir trees and the foggy mountains. As the opening titles keep rolling, a waterfall flowing in slow-motion. 

Am I dreaming? The show hasn't even started properly and I am mesmerised. From the minute Laura Palmer's pale and lifeless body washes up on the shore of the Twin Peaks river until the climactic scenes of the feature film released after the second series of the show, you cannot keep your eyes off what unfolds. Thirty episodes and one film, yet there is still mystery and confusion and frustration and total endearment hanging over the legacy of this amazing phenomenon. 

I find it difficult to place Twin Peaks into a particular genre of category as the beauty of it is that it has seemingly everything. There is a dream-like quality to it throughout which would appeal to fans of surrealist work. There are Sci-Fi elements especially in the second series. There are action sequences which may not be Michael Bay standard but serve a great purpose. There are love elements which are heart-warming most of the time. There is a score to die for composed by Angelo Badalamenti. Possibly most importantly, a creator who many think (me included) is a genius, the magnificent David Lynch. Twin Peaks has everything. 

Then what is missing? 

The answer to that question is up to whoever is asking. Most people believe that after the huge mystery of Twin Peaks being solved midway through the second series, the show plummeted into mediocrity and became almost incoherent compared to the highs of the first series. The blame can be placed firmly onto the shoulders of American Network ABC. The thing is that if you watch Twin Peaks looking for answers you come out asking more questions which is the genius of it. The more you want to know about Owls, the Log Lady, the Giant, Windom Earle, the Man from another place, and all the other enigmas of the show, the more questions you find yourself asking. 

Twin Peaks: Fire walk with me, the feature film which was booed at its screening at the Cannes film festival in 1992. The film was met with almost universal criticism as there were many things that were left unanswered and the peculiar nature of the film baffled and bewildered fans of the show. I think the problem was not the film itself but the expectation of what it should have been. People wanted the show to finish with a resolution, closure to what had been their favourite television show. What they got was unexpected, therefore disappointment was on the cards. 

Whatever you think of Twin Peaks, there is no denying it is magical, captivating and inspiring. It is a show that is still relevant today. It captures the underbelly of our society like no other show has ever done, combining soap opera elements with horrific and mystifying story lines. The genius of it is that it is untouchable, it is a snapshot of an era and is like nothing out there. You want more when its done yet at the same time its perfect how it lingers and leaves its mark like Laura Palmer does all the way through. 

It is something else.