BWW My Two Cents: TWIN PEAKS, Why is the Coffee So Damn Good?

It began two Fridays ago when co-creators Mark Frost and David Lynch tweeted at the exact same moment "Dear Twitter Friends: That gum you like is going to come back in style. #damngoodcoffee" As you can imagine this sent the Twitter-verse and the die hard fans into a frenzy. What would this mean? Would TWIN PEAKS' fans dreams finally be answered? And on Monday, they were. Showtime announced plans for nine episodes of the classic 90's cult favorite to air in 2016.

Will we finally get the answers that the finale (and let's face it, the movie) failed to answer? Without spoilers, let me try to explain what this means to me and the rest of the fanatics.

TWIN PEAKS showed their pilot episode in April of 1990 and seven more episodes were ordered. In that short time, it gained an enormous following. It was renewed for a second season until it was cancelled with the final episode airing in June of 1991. The final episode of season two is a heartbreaking cliffhanger and for fans, it has been a 23 year old question left unanswered. (I feel ya, DEADWOOD fans...)

The show itself was set in present day 1990's in a small town in Washington State, yet there was a definite 1950's vibe to it. It had a film noir feel and a spooky, ethereal soundtrack that everybody owned.

The basic plot revolves around the murder of the town Homecoming Queen, Laura Palmer. Being a small town, everyone knew her to the point of the doctor who performs her autopsy is the one who delivered her when she was born. The murder affects everyone which also makes everyone a suspect. The case gains enough attention to acquire the help of FBI man, Agent Dale Cooper played by a young, Kyle MacLachlan. But the real star of the show, is its intricate cast of characters and the beautiful Northwest that is filmed in a dream-like state. David Lynch directs many of the episodes and it is quite clear that this is a unique Lynch-ian world. Two of the stars are Russ Tamblyn and Richard Beymer. Riff and Tony from the movie, WEST SIDE STORY! And those are just two of the amazing actors in this remarkable ensemble cast. Even though Laura Palmer is murdered before the series begins, you very much know her and care about her and feel the loss for this girl. David Lynch, himself, has a recurring part on the show and is hilarious. All the characters are quirky and flawed and you will become invested in each of them as the story unfolds.

I recently spoke to someone way younger, than myself, watching it for the first time and he seemed unimpressed. I guess in today's Cheesecake Factory menu of cinematic-esque television shows to watch, it may be difficult to figure out why this was such an obsession. But in 1990, it was unlike anything anyone had ever seen on television. This was back when it was kind of laughable for movie actors to downgrade to television where as now it's a norm. A continuing story, a murder investigation that ran over multiple seasons with a laundry list of suspects with supernatural elements was something brand new. I recently rewatched it, and yes, it is a little dated if only for the fashion (oh those sweaters) but for me, it holds up. The characters are multi-layered, the writing is rich, it is scary, there are moments that are downright hilarious and yet also a touch of the supernatural The plot is incredibly addicting even when I very much know the answer to that question that was on everyone's mind: Who Killed Laura Palmer?

I don't know if viewing it now 23 years later in a new world will be as momentous as it was for me back in 1990, but I do recommend it. The episode in which the killer is revealed is pure poetry. The last 20 minutes is horrifying and mesmerizing, beautiful and scary and oh so very David Lynch. It is a scene that haunts me to this day. It was a show before its time.

All we know about this new season is that it will be set in present day. In one of the creepier episodes, Agt. Cooper had a dream where they flashed forward 25 years. 2016, will be 25 years since the series ended so we can only imagine what David Lynch and Mark Frost are cooking up. I, for one, can't wait. Give it a chance. Suspend your disbelief and check out the entire series streaming on Netflix or the recently released deluxe Blu-Ray. Also, check out the podcast "Fire Talk With Me" in which a longtime fan rewatches it with someone who has never seen it.

I recommend watching it with a slice of homemade pie and a damn good cup of coffee.

Follow me on Twitter @eponineq and follow @BWWTVWorld for all the latest scoops, updates and recaps.

Photo Credit: ABC

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