Twin Peaks Season 3 Episodes 1 & 2 Review

“It is happening again.”

The moment Twin Peaks fans have been waiting for is here. There have been a lot of unanswered questions in the 25 years since the characters were last seen. While we do get some of them answered, we’re also given more mysteries with the addition of new characters outside of the town of Twin Peaks.

The double episode premiere was truly an experience. David Lynch and Mark Frost are back doing what they do best. We’ve had years to ponder what happened to everyone, but, to the dismay of some, we won’t find out everything right away. Who are these new characters? What does the bizarre murder in South Dakota have to do with Cooper and the Black Lodge? What about that glass box in New York?

Part of the thrill of having the show back is not knowing what to expect. Finding out about Cooper and his doppelgänger is fantastic but not too surprising. Viewers should embrace the new mysteries. Despite the endless moments I spent turning over the possibilities of what might happen next, I don’t want all the answers at once. We won’t and shouldn’t expect a happy ending. It’s crucial for the evolution of the show to include new characters and plot lines. There’s no way anyone would stick around Twin Peaks if it continued to be a nexus of strange activities. Besides, would anyone really expect Lynch and Frost to wrap everything up nicely in these first episodes?

We’re coming into the story after two and a half decades, and there’s no telling what else has happened. Other residents of Twin Peaks may have moved or passed away. In Parts 1 and 2, we get a small glimpse at how things will connect. There is so much that will leave you scratching your head. This is why we’re here. Unlike some creators, Lynch and Frost have reasons for what they present. It’s up to us to try to put the pieces together and figure it all out.

There is a great mix of old and new. There are times where the characters replay moments exactly as they did before. Mixed with the passing of time, there’s a freaky symmetry happening. It has the nostalgia aspect, but it’s also a clear reminder how things have changed. It’s not easy to think of Cooper having spent 25 years trapped in the Black Lodge. Was he talking to Laura Palmer? Fire Walk With Me made it seem she finally achieved peace and freedom from the horror in her life.

For those that cannot wait until next week for Episodes 3 & 4, they are available on the Showtime app and OnDemand. There are so many new questions we’re left with.

• What will happen between Coop and Evil Coop?
• How can Coop make Evil Coop return to the Lodge?
• What else has Evil Coop been doing all these years?
• Who is the rich billionaire paying for the glass box operation?
• Who really killed Ruth Davenport?
• What’s next for the evolved Arm/Man From Another Place now that he’s a talking tree?
• What’s up with Sarah Palmer’s TV viewing choices?

All we can do is sit back and enjoy the ride. Twin Peaks has returned and this season will absolutely be both “wonderful and strange.”