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Pilot airs to 34 million viewers
The pilot began with the body of local homecoming queen, Laura Palmer, washing up to the shores of Twin Peaks' sawmill, wrapped in plastic.
The pilot introduced most of the major characters for the first season, including FBI Agent Dale Cooper, the local sherrif, and Laura's devastated family and friends.
The pilot sets up the show to be a quirky murder-mystery, and leaves the viewer with the impression that finding Laura's killer will be the essence of the show. -
Episode 1 airs to 23 million viewers
The series continues to develop in the fashion of a murder-mystery. Laura's many lovers and admirers are discovered, and her relationship with her highly unprofessional psychiatrist, Dr. Jacoby, is focused on as a potential lead in her murder. However, the ratings are not as high as the pilot, and continue to decline for the next two episodes. -
Viewers continue to decline for Episode 2
In this episode, Laura's killer continues to elude the authorities, who seem to be chasing in every direction. Agent Cooper uses Zen philosophy to try and narrow down subjects, and begins having bizarre dreams featuring a dwarf and a one-armed man. Cooper believes these dreams are clues to finding Laura's killer, but the local police force is skeptical. -
Episode 3 airs, losing even more viewers
It is understandable that viewers lost interest in episode 2, as the show was originally promoted as a traditional murder-mystery--and suddenly took a supernatural twist. In episode 3, the plot grows increasingly more paranormal, and loses even more viewers. Character development seems to halt, and more random characters are introduced, like the estranged husband of the owner of a diner. By introducing such (seemingly) minor characters, David Lynch is toying with his audience. -
Episode 4 airs, viewers finally increase
David Lynch made his viewers wait three episodes for something substantial to happen in the investigation of Laura Palmer's death. As a result, the viewers dwindled in number after the pilot episode. Finally, in episode 4, progress is made. The authorities find one of the "suspects" from Agent Cooper's dream--a one-armed travelling shoe salesman. This development, and more interesting plot twists, spikes an interest in the show for the next episode. -
The season finale of Twin Peaks airs to over 18 thousand viewers
The season finale doesn't tie up as many loose ends as one would like, but it does have some intense plot development. The major suspect in Laura's murder is finally captured, one character tries to murder his girlfriend and burn down the local sawmill, and Laura's father murders the man he thinks murdered Laura. The season finale ends with a masked man breaking into Agent Cooper's hotel room and shooting him, leaving him bleeding to death on the floor. -
Season two premieres to over 19 thousand viewers
Episode 8 begins where the finale left off, as Agent Cooper is bleeding to death on his hotel room floor. A bizarre dream sequence takes place, involving a giant and a deaf hotel bellman. It is unclear whether this scene is real, or if it is a result of Cooper's blood loss and trauma. Either way, it is a fantastic way to kick off the new season. This episode was written by David Lynch and Mark Frost, and directed by Frost.
Agent Cooper is dying. -
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Viewers dwindle for the next five episodes
After the wild, intense first episode, viewers dropped off. This matched a slow, steady decline in on-screen action after the satisfying end of season one. However, viewers didn't drop too far. I believe that true fans of Twin Peaks' slow, steady suspense have been constant throughout the series. I think the fluctuation is from viewers who get hyped up by a promotion, or get bored when the mystery isn't solved fast enough for them. -
Episode 14 brings an increase in viewers
This is the episode where Laura's killer is finally revealed, hence a large increase in viewers. However, Laura's murder is no longer the focal point of the show. As a fan, it was mostly satisfying to finally put her case to rest because of all the other fascinating things going on with the characters (such as Nadine, a 40-year-old woman who, due to amnesia, believes she is still in high school). -
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Viewers decrease as season two takes bizarre turns
These episodes seem to lag a bit. I believe this is because David Lynch, the co-creator and director of the show, was not involved at all. In fact, Lynch doesn't appear again until the series finale. The episodes are interesting, but they seem to go on uneccesary tangents with minor characters, and leave viewers confused. -
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The second half of season two loses even more viewers
Even as a loyal fan, these episodes were questionable. One main character becomes deluded into thinking he is part of a Civil War battle for over two episodes. Other characters prepare for a beauty pageant, and one main character finds out her father isn't who she thinks he is. It begins to take on the feeling of a bad soap opera. However, the show keeps its dark air of mystery, and suspense heightens towards the last few episodes. -
Viewers increase for the second to last episode
At this point, it is clear that there are too many mysteries for Twin Peaks to tie up neatly in the series finale. Not that that would be what you expected from the unconventional series! I believe some of the old viewers who lost interest came back to finally see what happened, not because they expected (logical) answers, but because they were just curious how it could possibly end. -
"Beyond Life and Death" airs to ten thousand viewers
Agent Cooper is possessedSomeone once told me that the series finale of Twin Peaks was what they pictured hell to be. After watching the episode, it is impossible to disagree. The finale centers on "The Black Lodge", a fourth-dimension place where the evil entities from the series call home. In the finale, Agent Cooper walks through the lodge, tortured by demons. The series ends with him back in his reality, clearly possessed. -
A third season is released, 25 years after it ended
This came as a huge and welcome surprise to all of Twin Peaks' fans, especially those who started watching the series after it had been off the air for some time. To drum up excitement for the new season, the directors released the show on Netflix, which lead to a myriad of new fans within the past few months. At one point in the show, Laura Palmer says, "I'll see you in 25 years." It is incredible that the directors are following through with her creepy message.
