Fans of David Lynch’s cult murder mystery Twin Peaks have very strong opinions about the show’s trajectory, characters, and setting. While they all agree that the moody, melodramatic whodunnit is a masterful slice of television, Twin Peaks diehards love to argue about plot twists and supernatural elements that contribute to the show’s nonsensical nature.
Is Agent Dale Cooper really the best detective in the series? Does Norma’s Double R Diner really serve up the tastiest pie in Washington? Is the second season as bad as some claim? What about the third? Fortunately, Reddit was designed to create ample space for people to ruminate on tough questions like these and develop their own, sometimes unpopular, opinions.
What’s With Coop And Audrey?
In the first season of Twin Peaks, Agent Cooper carries on a flirtation with 18-year-old high schooler Audrey Horne. When Audrey tries to make an official move on Agent Cooper, he tells her a romance isn’t possible between them and they remain friends.
There still remains a contingency of fans who believe (even with their age difference) Coop and Audrey should have been romantically involved in Twin Peaks. One unpopular opinion, though, is that Coop and Audrey’s dynamic works best as a teenage girl who has an unrequited crush on the handsome, older detective.
Deputy Hawk Is A Better Investigator Than Agent Cooper
Everyone remembers Special Agent Dale Cooper and his often slapstick efforts to solve the murder of Laura Palmer. But what about the hard-working Deputy Tommy “Hawk” Hill, a Sheriff’s Department officer and full-blooded Nez Perce who seems one step ahead of his colleagues?
Some fans think Deputy Hawk is a much better investigator than anyone else in the show — including Agent Cooper. Hawk knows more about what’s going on in the woods around Twin Peaks, and he’s the first to explain the White Lodge and the Black Lodge to Coop.
The Second Season Isn’t Nearly As Bad As People Say…
The general consensus among fans is that Twin Peaks gets much worse after the murder of Laura Palmer is solved toward the beginning of the second season. Thanks in large part to its cancellation, the show’s plot becomes even more chaotic and ludicrous than it was before.
On Reddit, some devotees have confessed they actually like the second season quite a bit. Even with its insane developments, the second part of season 2 opens audiences up to the bizarre day-to-day lives of Twin Peakers in intimate ways.
…In Fact, It May Be Better Than Season 1
A few take this unpopular opinion even further and proclaim the second season of Twin Peaks is better than the first. These folks find the show’s shocking, abrupt finale intoxicating and magical instead of rushed and confusing.
Part of the controversy regarding the second season centers around the show’s cancellation by ABC. Mainstream interest dwindled after Laura’s killer is revealed, and arguments between co-creators Mark Frost and David Lynch bled over into the show’s demented evolution — which was picked back up 25 years later for the Showtime revival.
Mark Frost Deserves More Credit
While some fans give all of the credit for the enduring legacy of Twin Peaks to David Lynch, others believe Mark Frost deserves more recognition for his role in developing some of the characters, plots, and locations. Frost is responsible for much of the mythology and background story involving the Black Lodge.
Frost also returned to co-write Twin Peaks: The Return with Lynch in 2014. He is just as responsible for continuing the story as Lynch.
Agent Cooper Should Have Been Ready For Windom Earle’s Attacks
The inclusion of Cooper’s former partner Windom Earle in season 2 is divisive. Evil incarnate, Earle is responsible for killing his own estranged wife Caroline, with whom Cooper was having an affair.
When Earle shows up in Twin Peaks, Cooper should have been prepared for his arrival. And he shouldn’t have been surprised about Earle’s connection to BOB — which allowed Earle to target Cooper’s new lover Annie Blackburn in order to lure him into the Black Lodge.
Andy And Lucy’s Romance Loses Its Appeal In The Return
The romance between Deputy Andy Brennan and secretary Lucy Moran provides a slice of small-town, wholesome love in a series otherwise overrun with death and debauchery. Both characters return for The Return, and not everyone loves how their courtship is portrayed in the third season.
Some Redditors even find it grating and annoying. Instead of cute, Andy and Lucy’s dynamic feels childish, peculiar, and charmless.
Michael Ontkean Is Underwhelming As Sheriff Harry Truman
A contingency of Twin Peaks watchers has come forward to express their disdain for Michael Ontkean, who plays Sheriff Harry Truman in the first two seasons. They find his acting subpar, his sense of humor off the mark, and his emotional range very limited.
These Truman haters don’t get what the big deal is about the character. They definitely aren’t among the fans who were sad Ontkean didn’t return for the revival.
Are The Pie And Coffee At The Double R That Good?
Norma’s diner The Double R seems to be the hub for gossip, gathering, and grub in Twin Peaks. Agent Dale Cooper is definitely wooed by Norma’s cherry pie and hot coffee when he arrives in town.
Not everyone who watches Twin Peaks buys how good the food and drink is at Norma’s, though. What if it’s just typical diner fare — greasy, stale, and oversalted?
Laura Palmer Did Love Bobby Briggs
Laura Palmer engages in a very toxic relationship with fellow high schooler Bobby Briggs before she’s murdered. While most Twin Peaks buffs believe Laura used Bobby for access to drugs, others uplift the unpopular perspective that she really did love him.
Even though Laura was seeing James and Bobby was seeing Shelly, what if there was still genuine feeling there between the teens? This hot take makes their affair all the more tragic.
