Twin Peaks: Complete Season 1 [DVD] [1990]

It is timeless because there was nothing like it on the TV before, and since then there have only been pale imitations, or programmes such as "24" that followed the trail blazed by "Twin Peaks" and took it in a different direction. The timelessness also comes from the strange, small-town setting, so divorced from contemporary culture that it seems like a dream world, a landscape of the imagination that is not limited by any sense of period or time.

"Twin Peaks" has aged very well, but there is also a nostalgic feel to watching it, that will be familiar to all those who were fans of the series when it was first on TV. Right from the start, the first bars of Angelo Badalamenti's sweeping theme tune accompany beautiful scenes of nature, waterfalls, birds and logging machines in vivid, warm colours, and you know you're back there in "Twin Peaks" world. Do you remember looking forward to Tuesday nights on BBC 2 with almost a sense of yearning, wanting to hear that synth-drenched theme tune, aching to find out what Agent Cooper would be up to next? If so, this DVD is for you.

But it's not just for those who enjoyed "Twin Peaks" the first time around. Because of its timelessness, people new to the series will also enjoy it, and maybe come to treasure the DVD as much as those who are already fans. This is partly because of its timeless feel, but also partly because it's just a damn fine, well-made story. The story starts by depicting the aftermath of the shocking murder of a popular high school girl, the town's "Homecoming Queen", Laura Palmer. In the first episode, Laura's body is discovered and we are gradually introduced to the eccentric characters of Twin Peaks as they respond to this cataclysmic event for the town.

During the first series we meet characters such as Pete Martell, an ex-lumberjack who washes fishes in his percolator, Ben Horne, the eccentric but slightly sinister owner of the Great Northern hotel, his sweet but delinquent daughter Audrey, and the violent white trash trucker and small-time criminal Leo Johnson. As the lives of these characters progress over the span of the first series, everything is under the shadow of the murder of Laura Palmer. The series works on one level as a soap-style drama, with stock soap characters such as nice Norma Jennings trying to make a living for herself with the Double R Diner, while her husband Hank is in prison. We also have the interesting drama of Laura's teenage friends falling in love as they try to come to terms with her death.

The main strength of season one is the way the mystery of Laura's murder drives the story. The darkness of Laura's murder overshadows the whole story, bringing a sense of menace to the shots of wind rushing through the trees at night, and making us wonder about the real motivation of the characters. We also find out more and more about Laura Palmer's secret double life as the series goes on, with the story hinting at the theme of the corruption of innocence, and the common David Lynch theme of darkness and brutality hiding behind a wholesome facade.

"Twin Peaks" also works as a police thriller, with Kyle MacLachlan's excellent Special Agent Dale Cooper of the FBI called in to investigate Laura's death. Cooper is an excellent character that you find yourself warming to straight away. He's a modern day Sherlock Holmes with a sense of mysticism and wonder thrown in, a mixture of wide-eyed innocence and hard-nosed experience. Cooper has most of the series' best lines. The interaction between him and the small-town sheriff Truman, in many ways the opposite of Cooper, has all the hallmarks of a great cop partnership, with the way that their initial uneasiness around each other turns into a mutual respect as the series goes on.

The only complaint anyone could have of this DVD is that it's only half the story. It ends at episode seven with a collection of maddening cliffhanger, and by the end of the series we still don't know who killed Laura Palmer (although most people probably know anyway). A further problem about "Twin Peaks", which put many people off it in the first place, is the surreal, dreamlike quality of many scenes, and the way the makers don't seem to bother to fully explain some elements of the story. For me, this strange abstractness that underpins some elements of the story is part of the mysterious allure of "Twin Peaks". It is part of the strength of the series, and what distinguishes it from other dramas. We don't have everything explained to us all the time, so all we can do is sit back, watch the Douglas Firs swaying in the breeze and enjoy the ride.

The DVD's extras are all excellent, and they complement the episodes beautifully. There are a documentary about Lynch, strange little five minute interviews with members of the cast, an interview with Mark Frost (the co-creator of "Twin Peaks"), and commentaries on all the episodes.

I would highly recommend this DVD to those who remember liking "Twin Peaks" all those years ago (you won't be disappointed- it's still good), those who like David Lynch but might have never seen "Twin Peaks", and those who just like well-made, atmospheric drama. Sit back with a damn fine cup of coffee, a couple of doughnuts and a slice of cherry pie, and enjoy! The only drawback for some may be the price, but I think it is good value. It is the only DVD in my collection that I keep coming back to again and again.

Twin Peaks has finally arrived on English DVD, and what a better time. Fresh after the release of Lynch's superb "Mulholland Drive" comes the TV series (which he co-created) that truly brought him into the public eye. The series deals with the murder of Laura Palmer, the homecoming queen in a small American town, and the effect it has on the entire community. Brought in to investigate is Special Agent Cooper, who is just as quirky as the quirky town folk. The series is utterly sublime and very hard to pin down, it is a mixture of drama, horror, thriller, late night soap opera, and your typical (surreal) Lynch film rolled into one series.

The box set includes the first season, which comprises of seven episodes of about 45 minutes spread over 3 discs. On disc one however, we are treated to the feature length original pilot (not the famed "European cut" which attempts to wrap up the entire story in a number of minutes) which is a bonus as it was not included on the American box set.

I cannot recommend the series enough, it is absolutely addictive and completely sublime in every way. For newcomers to the series you will get through it ridiculously quickly and be desperate for the second season, whereas older fans will love to revisit Twin Peaks on everyone's favourite format looking better than ever.

The Picture and Sound:

The picture quality is superb, full frame and completely clear. It has been digitally re-mastered and this shows. The only slight downfall is the pilot, which does not seem to be quite up to scratch with the other episodes, but overall there are no other complaints concerning picture. The sound is also great. It is a pity that we are not offered the DTS soundtrack available on the Region 1 release but it is no real loss.

The Extras:

I for one would have been perfectly content with the release of just the episodes, so for me it is an extra treat to have the extras available. For each episode (except the pilot) and audio commentary is available to listen to, they are all quite interesting and thankfully don't try and explain the more surreal moments of the show, but talk mainly of its production. Also accessible through the chapter menus are some script notes which are actually very interesting, featuring summaries of un filmed scenes, and deleted scenes. Check out the extras menu for each episode for an Easter egg as well!

If you put disc four into your player you will be treated with an entire disc (not very full!) of extras. To start with, there is a re-enacted (!?!) telephone interview with the co-creator of the show which runs about 15 minutes and details several questions about the casting and filming of the first season. Following this we have a nice short anecdotal "How to speak in the red room" with the actor who plays The Man From Another Place. This is a fun little piece and does exactly what it says on the tin. Following this there is a 20 minute series of interviews with many of the cast member which gives excellent insight into the show from many of the actors involved, but do not watch this until you have seen most of season 2 (unless you want a big plot spoiler to be given away). The next extra is an interview with the owner of the real diner that is the "RR" in the show, I found this of limiting interest, but it is worth a look. Finally we get a menu of "postcards from the cast" which is little bits of information and footage from each member of the cast. This is a nice little extra which I found really fun.

Overall:

A great show on a nice disc, the set is also presented really nicely. I highly recommend this to any Twin Peaks or David Lynch fan (of any degree), and I encourage newcomers to both to give it a try - this wasn't a cultural phenomenon for nothing!