Original artwork, not a still
The question of Twin Peaks (1990-91)
Who killed Laura Palmer?
— Twin Peaks ‧ 1990
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The question is both the hook and the joke of the show: a small-town murder mystery that Lynch never really wanted to solve. It gave 1990 television its first real water-cooler guessing game, and it became the shorthand for any slow-burn whodunit. Once the answer arrived, many viewers felt the series lost its way, so the question is also a reminder that some mysteries are better as questions.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Twin PeaksShow the scene
The question is the engine of Twin Peaks, the ABC series by David Lynch and Mark Frost that premiered on 8 April 1990. It begins when logger Pete Martell finds the body of high-school homecoming queen Laura Palmer wrapped in plastic on a river bank, and FBI agent Dale Cooper arrives to investigate. Viewers were soon talking about it at work the morning after each episode, which ABC's research chief called the water cooler syndrome. Network pressure pushed the creators to answer it, and Episode 14, 'Lonely Souls' (season 2, first broadcast 10 November 1990), reveals that Leland Palmer, possessed by Killer BOB, is the murderer.
Sources (2)
- Wikipedia: Twin PeaksPlot, Season 1; Reception and legacyReference checked
- Wikipedia: Episode 14 (Twin Peaks)lead and infoboxReference checked
Context reviewed
