You've waited 26 years, but your patience is finally about to rewarded. Twin Peaks makes its triumphant return on May 21, 2017, on Showtime. So what can we expect from this season? Well, given series creator David Lynch's vagueness, who the hell knows? What we do know is that it will certainly be something "wonderful and strange."
But hey, what's the point in discussing Twin Peaks without fan theories and predictions, right? That sleepy Washington burg is ground zero for the supernatural, the bizarre, and the comically random. It's small town America at both its most wholesome and most depraved. You'll be in need of a map so you don't wander off to a point of no return.
So whether you're a diehard Twin Peaks fan needing a refresher, or a newbie wondering what all the fuss is about in the first place, here are 15 important things you need to know before revisiting a place last seen in the early '90s, from which cast are coming back, the cryptic clues left in teasers, and the unresolved plot threads from the season 2 finale. So pour yourself a "damn fine cup of coffee" and start taking notes--preferably into your handheld recorder to send to Diane to report your findings.
SPOILER ALERT: We're covering major plot points from the first 2 seasons of Twin Peaks. We strongly advise watching them before reading. You've been warned.
15. Which Cast Are Coming Back
Twin Peaks biggest draw will be the show's principal cast and characters, so here's who's returning: Kyle MacLachlan (Agent Dale Cooper), Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer), Ray Wise (Leland Palmer), Sherilyn Fenn (Audrey Horne), Dana Ashbrook (Bobby Briggs), Mädchen Amick (Shelly Johnson), Grace Zabriskie (Sarah Palmer), David Lynch (Gordon Cole), Michael Horse (Deputy Hawk), Harry Goaz (Deputy Andy Brennan), Kimmy Robertson (Lucy Moran), Peggy Lipton (Norma Jennings), Gary Hershberger (Mike Nelson), Everett McGill ("Big" Ed Hurley), Wendy Robie (Nadine Hurley), Richard Beymer (Benjamin Horne), David Patrick Kelly (Jerry Horne), James Marshall (James Hurley), and Russ Tamblyn (Dr. Jacoby).
Other returning include Walter Olkewicz (Jacques Renault), Phoebe Augustine (Ronette Pulaski), David Duchovny (Agent Denise Bryson), Charlotte Stewart (Betty Briggs), Al Strobel (One-Armed Man), Carel Struycken (The Giant), Marvin “Marv” Rosand (Cook at the Double R Diner), Julee Cruise (The Roadhouse singer), Alicia Witt (Gersten Hayward), Bellina Martin Logan (Louie "Birdsong" Budway), and Andrea Hays (Heidi).
The cast also includes Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me alums Harry Dean Stanton (Carl Rodd) and Carlton Lee Russell (Jumping Man).
14. Who's Not Coming Back
While most cast are returning, there are several glaring omissions including the following: Lara Flynn Boyle (Donna Hayward), Michael Ontkean (Sheriff Harry S. Truman), Joan Chen (Josie Packard), Piper Laurie (Catherine Martell), David Bowie (Agent Phillip Jeffries), Chris Mulkey (Hank Jennings), Heather Graham (Annie Blackburne), Michael Anderson (Man From Another Place), Jack Nance (Pete Martell), Don Davis (Major Garland Briggs), Frank Silva (BOB), Eric Da Re (Leo Johnson), and Billy Zane (John Justice Wheeler).
The loss of Boyle is palpable, but the Hayward family will be represented by Alicia Witt, who played her younger sister, and her father Doc Hayward (Warren Frost). Anderson's absence is another bummer, with the actor bowing out over pay disputes. And Ontkean's absence is particularly jarring: Sheriff Truman was a key part of the show's appeal given his chemistry opposite MacLachlan.
Silva, Nance, Davis, and Bowie have all ed away during the 26 years Twin Peaks has been off the air. Given Silva's iconic, terrifying performance, one has to wonder how BOB will be represented in season 3--or if he will be at all.
13. Who's New?
Twin Peaks' third season doesn't just include returning characters, but a ton of new performers as well. The big-name cast additions that you may have heard about are Amanda Seyfried, Michael Cera, Naomi Watts, Laura Dern, Ernie Hudson, Ashley Judd, Tim Roth, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The significance of these notable stars' respective roles is still unknown as of yet, but few are expected to pop in for more than an episode or two.
They're not the only ones getting in on the fun, of course. Robert Forster, Monica Belluci, Chrysta Bell, Trent Reznor, Eddie Vedder, Jim Belushi, Brent Briscoe, Richard Chamberlain, Jeremy Davies, Candy Clark, Meg Foster, Ernie Hudson, Brett Gellman, Balthazar Getty, Robert Knepper, David Koechner, Matthew Lillard, Josh McDermott, Jane Levy, Sarah Paxton, Sky Ferreira, John Savage, and Tom Sizemore. For the full cast list--and it's a long one--check out the revival's IMDB page.
Given Lynch's refusal to release any plot details, we don't know which characters the new cast are playing, save the following: Forster will play the new Sheriff, who may, in fact, be Truman's brother. Lynch mainstay Laura Dern is rumored to play Diane, Cooper's offscreen confident and recipient of copious microcassette tapes, though we'll just have to wait and see to know for sure.
12. The Legacy of Laura Palmer
If you're unfamiliar with Twin Peaks (in which case, start bingeing...NOW), you may have a few questions; principally, who was Laura Palmer? Her character was in many ways all things to all people. Depending on who knew her, she was a star pupil, the homecoming queen, and someone who gave back to her community through her charity work. But she had a dark side too: a cocaine habit, a propensity for abusive relationships, and a career as a prostitute.
Her conflicted and contradictory life is what her made her shocking murder so hard to solve: what drove the character to such dark ends, and who wanted her dead? The "Who killed Laura Palmer" storyline drove the first season, only to be solved midway through season 2, revealing that she was killed by her father Leland, who was possessed by the evil spirit BOB. If Lynch had his way, we may have never known who killed Laura, and the pressure to reveal the murderer made the second half of season 2 a slog. Palmer will remain a focal point in the new season, with actress Sheryl Lee (Laura) and Ray Wise (Leland) reprising their roles, presumably for more revelations in the Black Lodge.
11."It is Happening Again" 25 Years Later
"It is happening again." That's the tagline included in early promo clips and posters for the third season of Twin Peaks. One can just assume that's a simple mission statement: the show is coming back on the air! But hardcore fans know better. That line was originally uttered by the Giant in Twin Peaks season 2, right before BOB/Leland killed Laura Palmer's cousin Maddie Ferguson.
In other words, BOB looks to be back in business, and that means more folks could soon fall victim to his murderous wrath. Another thing worth mentioning to the uninitiated is why Twin Peaks took so long to return to television. The reason is largely predicated on a dream sequence from the season 2 finale. The clip features Cooper, Laura Palmer and The Man From Another Place, where Laura intones “I'll see you again in 25 years.”
Now that it's 25 years later (technically 26, but it's the sentiment that counts), we're finally going to find out what's so special about that timestamp. Well, hopefully; you never really know with David Lynch.
10. The Fate of Agent Dale Cooper
Twin Peaks ended with perhaps the biggest unresolved cliffhanger in TV history: Agent Dale Cooper escaped seemingly unharmed from the Black Lodge, only to reveal that he was actually still trapped there, with his Bob-possessed doppelgänger free to kill again in the outside world.
That disturbing conclusion to the 1991 season/series finale has had fans theorizing on what happened next ever since: is the real Cooper trapped in the lodge for good? And what horrible deeds has his evil twin wrought?
Cooper's fate will indeed be one of the main focuses of season 3, as revealed by Showtime President David Nevins: “What I think is satisfying about the new version is that it’s a deeper exploration of that stuff. What is the red room? How does the red room work? Where is Agent Cooper? Can he make it back?” We think it's fair to say that we're going to get both Coopers, as star Kyle MacLachlan recently revealed he enjoyed playing his character's "dark side" in the new season.
9. Audrey Horne Survived The Bank Explosion
While Cooper's fate was the biggest cliffhanger in Twin Peaks season 2, Audrey Horne's was a close second, with the character appearing to die in a bank explosion. "I've got good news," folks: the sultry fan favorite is alive and well.
Series co-creator Mark Frost revealed the character survived the explosion in his book The Secret History of Twin Peaks, with Horne being shielded from the blast by Peter Martell. She was then taken to the hospital in critical condition, lapsing into a coma. But obviously, since Fenn is returning, it seems safe to assume that she's on the mend.
This begs the question: will Horne and Cooper finally consummate the unrequited romance that had been teased in the original series? Given the particular scenario that Fenn claimed put the kibosh on their romance is no longer applicable, it just might come to .
8. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me Will Be Referenced
Many Twin Peaks fans have been wondering if Lynch's polarizing 1992 film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me would be referenced in season 3. For those who disliked the movie, you're out of luck; and for those who did, time to break out the garmonbozia.
Lynch had this say about the film's impact on the new season at this year's Television Critics Association winter press tour: “The story of Laura Palmer’s last seven days are very important for this.” Given that that was the entire premise for the film, Fire Walk With Me should be considered much-watch material before the season 3 première.
Further giving credence to this is the appearance of the Fat Trout trailer park and park owner Carl Rodd in Showtime's recent teaser trailers. The park was the residence of Teresa Banks, a murdered teenager mentioned in the series, but only shown in the film. It was also the place where Agent Chester Desmond (Chris Isaak) disappeared (no word on whether or not he'll be resurfacing).
7. Angelo Badalamenti is Composing The Score
Sure, Twin Peaks is iconic for its quirky characters and surreal visuals, but the show's soundtrack is an equally crucial element. The haunting, ethereal, electronic driven score is the work of composer Angelo Badalamenti. His return to score the new season is yet another important piece of connective tissue to the original series.
This begs the question: will the series opening title sequence feature the iconic theme "Falling" in its original form, or a reinterpretation? The same questions could be asked about classic pieces like the ominous and beautiful "Laura Palmer's Theme", or the jazz-tinged "The Dance of The Dream Man". Hearing these tracks again will be pure magic, but we're equally excited about what new compositions Badalamenti will bring to the table (and which songs his muse Julee Cruise will be singing in the show).
6. David Lynch Directed Every Episode
While Twin Peaks is synonymous with David Lynch's aesthetic, he only directed a handful of episodes on the original series (six out of 30). While other filmmakers -- including Lesli Linka Glatter, Tim Hunter and Diane Keaton...yes, that Diane Keaton -- did fine work, Lynch's outings were easily the most memorable. His eps include the pilot, "Zen, Or The Skill to Catch a Killer" (which introduced the Black Lodge), "Lonely Souls" (one of the most terrifying episodes ever to air on TV), and the bonkers season 2 finale.
Lynch is assuming full creative control on the new series, however, directing all 18 episodes. This is great news for Lynch fans, especially after the director had threatened to cancel the project due to budget constraints (now resolved). The result, according to Showtime President David Nevins is "the pure heroin version of David Lynch." Prepare to get your fix of the most unified version of Twin Peaks yet.