“I’ll see you again in 25 years,” said Laura Palmer, who is the main character on “Twin Peaks.”
On June 10, 1991, in the series finale of “Twin Peaks,” this line was said by the doppelgänger of the show’s first murder victim. Whether or not you have watched the show, you have likely heard the question, “Who killed Laura Palmer?”
David Lynch and Mark Frost answered this question in the show’s first season, which is one of the reasons why ratings for the second season fell so low that the series was cancelled. However, its instant cult classic status has kept devoted fans asking, “What will happen in 25 years?”
In October 2014, it was announced that the show would not have a remake or a reboot, but rather a continuation of where they left off. It is set in the present, exactly 25 years later — something both Lynch and Frost have emphasized.
This is apparent in the promotional teasers. While they do not reveal anything about the new series, they show people and places that are familiar to longtime fans.
“Twin Peaks” was far ahead of its time, which is why this limited-series continuation will likely find success. Lynch and Frost are coming back, with Lynch directing all of the episodes this time. Many of the original cast members are returning as well. After sitting down with four students who are familiar with the show, it was determined that it is bound to find its place in the mainstream.
The surrealistic horror, supernatural elements, offbeat characters and crime dramas that struggled to find a mainstream audience back in the early ’90s are rising in popularity, namely with Netflix’s “Stranger Things.”
Anthony Sendzimer (’19) said, “(“Stranger Things”) is not a show that should have appealed to so many people, but it did. It has such a niche audience, but that audience is only going to grow because it’s subjected to everyone.”
Kevin Troxell (’18) added to that, saying: “I think a lot of it has to do with nostalgia as well. I think ‘Twin Peaks’ was ahead of its time in a lot of ways, and I think with more stuff like (‘Stranger Things’) out there, people get used to it.”
Troxell has not watched “Twin Peaks,” but he is familiar with Lynch’s work. He went on to say that it has been about 25 years since the original series ended, which sparked excitement from the other three students. Jen Cintron (’18) said, “I assume they had this continued plan of what they’re going to do so I don’t see how it wouldn’t be the same.”
Allie Cardot (’18), a self-described expert on “Twin Peaks,” does not have any theories regarding the passage of 25 years. She said, “I don’t know what they’re going to do, I’m actually really interested to see where they take it since we know who killed Laura Palmer, and (the actress) is coming back. It could be Maddy, it could be Laura, we don’t know who she will be.”
The show is known for being cryptic, often bringing up more questions than answers. With Lynch directing all 18 episodes, it is safe to say that this will not change. “I think it’s exciting that he’s doing all of the episodes, but I’m also a little nervous because he is so much,” Cardot said. “He only has a few episodes in the original series, and you know which ones they are.”
Cintron pointed out that Lynch’s episodes are the most abstract. “Those are the ones people remember, like the Red Room. I’m a little worried it’s going to be too much,” Cardot said.
However, the students remain optimistic about the new episodes. Cintron said, “Because it’s so many of the same people, I feel like they wouldn’t sign back on if it wasn’t the same show. Especially with having the same producers. I feel like Lynch is so specific on his weird vision, if the show was wrong he’d be like ‘that’s it, I’m not going to do it’.”
Sendzimer said, “It’s been 25 years. Granted, I haven’t been waiting 25 years personally — I’ve been waiting maybe three or four — but, someone has been. There is someone out there that has been waiting 25 years, and even if it doesn’t meet their lowest expectations, the fact that it’s back is enough to get people excited because that wait is over.”
Fans of the show are eagerly counting down the days, while people who have never seen the show are gaining interest as the new series gets closer.
“I’m going to give it a chance. I’ll have to start with the original series, but I know this is something that a lot of my friends are going to be talking about,” Troxell said.
Cardot said that people should watch the show because it is a classic. Sendzimer said, “You don’t realize how much influence the show has had on modern pop culture. You don’t realize just how many references that are thrown in throughout your life go back to ‘Twin Peaks,’ this tour de force. There are very few things that I will call a tour de force. This is one of them.”
As cliche as it is, the wait is finally over. Will Sheryl Lee come back as Laura or Maddy? What happened to Agent Cooper? How is Annie? These questions will hopefully be answered, but with as arcane as the teasers have been, no one can know for sure.
What we do know is that there are many reasons to be excited about this new series. If you have yet to watch the original run, both seasons are available on Netflix. The new series will premiere on Showtime on May 21, so grab a slice of cherry pie and get ready to return to the world of “Twin Peaks.”
