Despite being over 30 years old, Twin Peaks has maintained its cultural status as one of the greatest television series of all time. During its original broadcast, it was loved all over the world and won the hearts of fans from the United States, Japan and elsewhere – including the late Queen Elizabeth II. With the release of Twin Peaks: the return in 2017, the show was revived after a 25-year hiatus. This new season (with 18 episodes added to the original 30) offered viewers a more comprehensive look at: Twin Peaks which, while already a monumentally influential cult classic, further cemented its reputation. Today, with outlets like Den of Geek calling The return “more relevant than ever”, it’s worth looking back at the series as a whole to see what were the strongest moments in all three seasons. Without further ado, here are the six best episodes in the Twin Peaks franchise, ranked.
6/6 Do you need light?
This episode (part eight of the third season of Twin Peaks) was a radical departure from everything the show had ever been — and from television in general. It amazed the audience with its wild surrealism, chaotic images and dark allegorical stories. Like much of season three, it’s David Lynch at his feverish best. For this episode, it seems he had carte blanche in that he favored his own artistic vision above all else. What may appear a confusing mess at first glance actually has widespread implications for the Twin Peaks universe, tracing the history of good and evil back to a nuclear testing site in New Mexico. You won’t see the world Twin Peaks the same after experiencing this audiovisual tour de force.
5/6 arbitrary straight
Though this episode comes after Laura Palmer’s killer is revealed, it’s only here that the show’s mysterious arc gets its conclusion. Featuring one of the most emotionally charged scenes in the series, “Arbitrary Law” is an acting show for the entire cast, and for lead actors Kyle MacLachlan (Special Agent Dale Cooper) and Ray Wise (Leland Palmer) in particular. Although the primary mystery arc of Twin Peaks ends here, several new and related mysteries are opened by the events of the episode. A new primary antagonist comes to light and the nature of the story becomes much more supernatural than before.
4/6 The past dictates the future
This beautiful episode represents the payoff of a full season build, culminating in protagonist Dale Cooper’s return to the town of Twin Peaks, Washington. It contains some powerful revelations about the nature of dreams and reality, even taking viewers back to the events leading up to season one. This penultimate episode of Laura Palmer combines a healthy dose of nostalgia with a revised history of Laura Palmer’s life. Twin Peaks: the return is a richly layered fan favorite and the best part of the revival season.
3/6 pilot
This is where it all started. This introduction to the town of Twin Peaks and its beloved cast of characters premiered on April 8, 1990. It changed television forever, propelled the series to hit status and invested the entire world in the mystery of “who killed Laura Palmer?” ?” Part of what makes the pilot so special is its feature-length status, as it gives viewers an in-depth look at the people and places they’ll be spending the next two seasons. Before the release of the prequel movie, Twin Peaks: Firewalk with methis was the closest to a Twin Peaks movie. For decades, it has drawn new fans to a world of Douglas fir, cherry pie and dark mysteries. Check it out to see why The Atlantic Ocean claims that Twin Peaks “invented modern television.”
2/6 lonely souls
In this classic episode of season two, the answer to the question “who killed Laura Palmer?” was finally revealed. In a gruesome series, a main character is brutally murdered by the same killer responsible for Laura Palmer’s death. Not only does it provide a satisfying answer to the mystery of the show; it also stands out for some of the most memorable scenes in Twin Peaks history. In addition to revealing the killer, the episode features a very touching moment between the couple James Hurley and Donna Hayward, as well as the iconic line – “It’s happening again” – delivered by the famous Giant character.
1/6 Beyond life and death
This episode, the finale of Twin Peaks season two, also marked the end of the series for over 25 years. Until the release of Twin Peaks: the return in 2017, the cliffhanger ended with terrified and frustrated viewers hoping to see what happened next with lead Special Agent Dale Cooper. Before this end, we are treated to a shocking romp through Black Lodge’s infamous ‘waiting room’. Here, living and dead characters appear as violent ghosts, challenging Cooper’s courage and threatening to imprison him forever. The waiting room scenes are some of the most terrifying in all three seasons and the movie, and they’ll leave you with a newfound respect for David Lynch’s chops as a horror director. Despite Cliffhanger, it’s a remarkable ending to the first two seasons of Twin Peaks and a strong pick for the best episode in the series.