Return to ‘Twin Peaks’
REVIVAL OF LYNCH’S CULT HIT SHROUDED IN MYSTERY
I n 1991, in what turned out to be the last episode of the original “Twin Peaks,” Laura Palmer told FBI agent Dale Cooper she would see him again in 25 years.
She was only off by a year. Not a bad prediction for a murdered homecoming queen who was found wrapped in plastic. Director/writer David Lynch and much of the original cast of the beloved cult favorite are back for “Twin Peaks: The Return,” Sunday at 9 p.m. on Showtime.
Notable returnees include Kyle MacLachlan, Madchen Amick, Peggy Lipton, Dana Ashbrook, Ray Wise, Richard Beymer and Kimmy Robertson, among others.
New to the twisted world: Laura Dern, Naomi Watts, Ashley Judd, Jim Belushi — and, hey — Lauren Tewes, most notably your perky cruise director Julie on “The Love Boat.”
Showtime has not released any screeners for review. It has locked down information about the revival to such a degree that the White House must be jealous. One teaser features Lynch — who directed all 18 hours of the new “limited event series” — eating a doughnut for 30 seconds. Seriously.
In an odd wrinkle, the premium cable network says the shows aren’t episodes — they are “parts.” Now that could indicate that the story can be seen from different perspectives and shuffled to shape new narratives.
It would be like Lynch to take the binge model of viewing so popular today and run it through a circular saw.
The reboot has some questions to settle. In the original finale, bad girl with a heart of gold Audrey (Sherilyn Fenn, also coming back) was seemingly blown to bits in an explosion at a bank. Cooper (MacLachlan) was possessed by the deranged spirit of Bob, perhaps the most frightening killer of any series ever. “How’s Annie? How’s Annie? How’s Annie?” Cooper/Bob cackled maniacally as blood ran down his forehead.
But it’s not even clear if the original stars are playing their familiar roles or something else entirely. Lynch’s fondness for doppelgangers — consider in the original, Laura Palmer and her equally doomed look-alike cousin Maddy (both played by Sheryl Lee, also back) — is well documented.
MacLachlan on “Good Morning America” Wednesday said Lynch hasn’t allowed the cast to view any of the footage, so even they don’t know what is going to appear onscreen.
The original was a gripping murder mystery with dashes of horror and frequent bouts of black comedy, including a dwarf, a giant and a friendly woman who carried a log — the Log Lady. It had a look, a style and a sensibility unlike anything that had ever been seen before on commercial television.
Composer Angelo Badalamenti crafted a score that was lush, gorgeous and at times the soundtrack of terror. In the world of “Twin Peaks,” a ceiling fan, a blinking stop light and an LP skipping on a record player were sinister omens that picked at your nerves long after the credits rolled.
The series incidentally broke ground with the depiction of a competent FBI agent who just happened to be transgender (a pre-“X-Files” David Duchovny, also confirmed to be returning). And that was so tame in comparison to everything else in this town. (Relive the twisted magic as Showtime airs a marathon of all 30 episodes beginning tomorrow at 6 a.m. through the premiere launch.)
“Twin Peaks” was smart, long before smart TV was cool.
If “The Return” is true to the spirit on the original, count on one thing:
The owls are not what they seem.