Twin Peaks (season 3)

The third season of ''Twin Peaks'', also known as ''Twin Peaks: The Return'' and ''Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series'', consists of 18 episodes and premiered on Showtime on May 21, 2017. Developed and written by creators David Lynch and Mark Frost, with Lynch directing, the season is a continuation of the 1990–1991 ABC series and its 1992 theatrical prequel '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me''. An ensemble of returning and new cast members appear, led by original star Kyle MacLachlan.

Set 25 years after the events of the original ''Twin Peaks'', the season follows multiple storylines, many of which are linked to FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (MacLachlan) and his 1989 investigation into the murder of Twin Peaks homecoming queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). In addition to the fictional Washington state town of Twin Peaks, the story extends to locations such as New York City, Las Vegas, South Dakota, New Mexico, and Texas. Showtime president David Nevins said that "the core of he storyis Agent Cooper's odyssey back to Twin Peaks".

The season garnered critical acclaim, with praise centering on its unconventional narrative and structure, visual invention, and performances. Many publications, including ''Rolling Stone'', ''The Washington Post'', and ''Esquire'', named it the best television show of 2017. The film journals ''Sight & Sound'' and ''Cahiers du cinéma'' named ''The Return'' the second-best and best "film" of the year respectively, sparking discussion about the artistic difference, if any, between theatrical film and TV series in the era of streaming. In December 2019, Vulture critics named ''The Return'' the best television series of the 2010s, while ''Cahiers du cinéma'' named it the best film of the decade.

Synopsis

25 years after the cliffhanger ending of the original series, FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) remains trapped in the Black Lodge and prepares his return to the world. Meanwhile, Cooper's doppelgänger—host to the evil spirit Bob—lives in Cooper's place and works to prevent his own imminent return to the Black Lodge with the help of various associates. A message from the Log Lady ( Catherine Coulson) leads members of the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department to reopen investigations into the events surrounding the 1989 murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). The mysterious murder of a librarian in Buckhorn, South Dakota attracts the attention of FBI Deputy Director Gordon Cole (David Lynch) and his colleagues.

Production

Background and development

The first season of ''Twin Peaks'' premiered on April 8, 1990, on ABC. It was one of the top-rated series of 1990, although its ratings declined in the second season. In subsequent years, ''Twin Peaks'' has often been listed among the greatest television dramas of all time."25 Best Cult TV Shows from the Past 25 Years." ''Entertainment Weekly''. August 3, 2012, p. 40. Aaron Spelling Productions wanted to continue the series for a third season but ABC canceled it because of declining ratings and high production costs. The studio instead decided to continue the series through a trilogy of feature-length films financed by the French company Ciby 2000. A prequel film, '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'', was released in 1992, but received negative reviews and a poor commercial performance, leading to the cancellation of the other two films in the series. Lynch and Frost tried to develop a spin-off series centered around Audrey Horne, but the pilot episode evolved into the unrelated theatrical film ''Mulholland Drive''. In 2001 Lynch said that ''Twin Peaks'' was as "dead as a doornail."

In 2007 artist Matt Haley began work on a graphic novel continuation, which he hoped would be included in the "Complete Mystery" DVD box set. ''Twin Peaks'' producer Robert Engels agreed to help write it on the condition that Lynch and Frost approved the project; Haley said: " ngelsand I had a number of discussions about what the story would be. I was keen to use whatever notes they had for the proposed third season. I really wanted this to be a literal 'third season' of the show." Paramount Home Entertainment agreed to package it with the box set, also on the condition that Lynch and Frost approved. Though Frost approved the project, Lynch vetoed it, saying that he respected the effort but did not want to continue the story of ''Twin Peaks''.

In 2013 rumors that ''Twin Peaks'' would return were dismissed by Lynch's daughter Jennifer Lynch (author of '' The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer'') as well as by Frost. Cast member Ray Wise recounted what Lynch had said to him about a possible continuation: "Well, Ray, you know, the town is still there. And I suppose it's possible that we could revisit it. Of course, our character isalready dead... but we could maybe work around that."

In January 2014 a casting call for a "''Twin Peaks'' promo", directed by Lynch, was revealed to be the filming of a featurette for the ''Twin Peaks: The Complete Mystery'' Blu-ray set. In September 2014 Lynch answered a question about ''Twin Peaks'' at the Lucca Film Festival by saying it was a "tricky question", and that "there's always a possibility... and you just have to wait and see."

Announcement

On October 6, 2014, Showtime announced that it would air a nine-episode miniseries written by Lynch and Frost and directed by Lynch. Frost emphasized that the new episodes were not a remake or reboot but a continuation of the series. The episodes are set in the present day, and the passage of 25 years is an important element in the plot. As to whether the miniseries would become an ongoing series, Frost said: "If we have a great time doing it and everybody loves it and they decide there's room for more, I could see it going that way."

In March 2015, Lynch expressed doubts about the production due to "complications". Showtime confirmed the season was moving forward, stating: "Nothing is going on that's any more than any preproduction process with David Lynch. Everything is moving forward and everybody is crazy thrilled and excited." In April 2015 Lynch said he would not direct the nine episodes due to budget constraints. He and Showtime came to an agreement, with Lynch confirming on May 15, 2015, that he would direct, and that there would be more episodes than the originally announced nine. At a ''Twin Peaks'' panel in Seattle, cast members Sherilyn Fenn and Sheryl Lee said that the new season would consist of 18 episodes and Angelo Badalamenti would return as composer.

Casting

On January 12, 2015, Kyle MacLachlan was confirmed to return to the series. In October 2015 it was confirmed that Michael Ontkean, who portrayed Sheriff Harry S. Truman and had since retired from acting, would not return for the revival, and that the role of town sheriff would be filled by Robert Forster, later confirmed as playing Frank Truman, brother of Harry. Forster had been cast as Harry in the 1990 pilot but was replaced by Ontkean due to scheduling issues. Also in October David Duchovny teased his return as Agent Denise Bryson. In November 2015 it was reported that Miguel Ferrer would reprise his role as Albert Rosenfield and that Richard Beymer and David Patrick Kelly would return as Benjamin Horne and Jerry Horne, respectively. In December 2015 Alicia Witt confirmed she would reprise her role as Gersten Hayward. Michael J. Anderson was asked to reprise his role as The Man from Another Place but declined.

Russ Tamblyn underwent open-heart surgery in late 2014 and was still recovering in 2015. Lynch and Frost still hoped Tamblyn would join the cast for the new season, which was later confirmed. On September 28, 2015, Catherine E. Coulson, who reprised her role of the Log Lady in the new season, died of cancer. She filmed her final scene four days before her death.

The season's first teaser trailer, released in December 2015, confirmed the involvement of Michael Horse (Tommy "Hawk" Hill). In January 2016 it was reported that Sherilyn Fenn would reprise her role as Audrey Horne in a "major presence." In February 2016 it was reported that Lynch would reprise his role as Gordon Cole. Frequent Lynch collaborator Laura Dern was cast in a "top-secret pivotal role", which eventually proved to be Diane, the previously unseen character to whom Cooper frequently dictated taped messages during the show's original run. In April 2016 a complete cast list was released, featuring 217 actors, with actors returning from the earlier series marked with asterisks. Mary Reber, who plays Alice Tremond in the finale, is the actual owner of the house used for the Palmer residence.

David Bowie was asked to make a cameo appearance as FBI Agent Phillip Jeffries, his character from '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me''. As Bowie's health was declining, his lawyer told Lynch that he was unavailable. Before his death in January 2016, Bowie gave the production permission to reuse old footage featuring him, but he was unhappy with the accent he had used in the film, and requested that he be dubbed over by an authentic Louisiana actor, leading to the casting of Nathan Frizzell as Jeffries's voice. In January and February 2017, respectively, cast members Miguel Ferrer and Warren Frost died, but both appear in the new season. This was Ferrer's last live action television role before his death. Harry Dean Stanton, who reprised his role as Carl Rodd, died in September 2017, less than two weeks after the last episode of the season aired.

Filming

In July 2015 Frost suggested that the season would premiere in 2017 rather than 2016, as originally planned. The series began filming in September 2015 and Showtime president David Nevins said:
In January 2016 Nevins confirmed that the season would premiere in the first half of 2017. The season was shot continuously from a single, long shooting script before being edited into episodes. Filming was completed by April 2016.

Music

The season's score contains new and reused compositions by Angelo Badalamenti, dark ambient music and sound design by Dean Hurley and David Lynch (including some from '' The Air Is on Fire''), and unreleased music from Lynch and Badalamenti's 1990s project '' Thought Gang'', two of which previously appeared in ''Fire Walk with Me''. Hurley's contributions were released on the album '' Anthology Resource Vol. 1: △△'' on August 6, 2017, by Sacred Bones Records. Several tracks from Johnny Jewel's album ''Windswept'' also appear throughout. ''Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima'' by Krzysztof Penderecki appears in key scenes.

Angelo Badalamenti's score was released on September 8, 2017, by Rhino Records as ''