Twin Peaks - Complete Second Season

The complete second season of Twin Peaks is out on DVD. Right on time if you want to spend some time in this cute little town during the holidays. 'Who's the murderer of Laura Palmer?' is the question you're asking. But I'm asking: How's the dvd boxset from Paramount? Let's read what the usual suspects of dvd websites are writing about this highly anticipated set. Unfortunately, none of them review Lara Flynn Boyle's part as Donna Hayward in particular. But IGN.com provides a nice vidcap of the actress:


Digitallyobsessed.com thinks about the image transfer: "The original full-frame picture is quite attractive, and a big improvement over those now aging videotapes. Color is rich (especially those deep reds that crop up throughout the series), and shadows are deep and dark. Detail is quite good and grain is not a problem. Mosquito noise is occasionally visible but not overly prominent. The Log Lady introductions appear to be taken from a videotape source and accordingly are much inferior, lacking in clarity and crispness."

"Paramount has done a magnificent job with the all-new 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound", writes Tyler Shainline of DVDTown.com. "As a fan who has hosted more than a couple of Twin Peaks marathons and has closely examined a generous portion of the dialogue on the old tape set, I can say that the sound clarity on these discs is magnificent."


"Lots of fun to be had here", at least for Gerry Donaghy of DVDinmypants.com regarding the special features, "even if there was no participation from the shows creators. There is an Interactive Interview Grid, which will allow viewers to watch short (2-5 minutes long) interviews with about a dozen of the actors from the show, including David Euphony (DEA agent Dennis/Denise Bryson), Sherilyn Fenn, James Marshall (James Hurley) and Kimmy Robertson (Lucy Moran). Of course, as fun as these are, you'll find yourself wishing that a few more actors would have made themselves available. The interviews are insightful, even if most of the actors spend a good chunk of time fawning over David Lynch. The grid allows you to watch the interviews one at a time, or all at once. But I wouldn't call this feature special. In fact, it's almost expected."

The guys of the always reliable DVDTalk.com list the additional extras as follows:

Disc 1: Jennifer Lynch discussing writing Laura Palmer's diary (3:45)
Disc 2: Director Todd Holland talks about entering the series at season 2 and specific script challenges (4:10)
Disc 3: Caleb Deschanel discusses directing the Horne Bros. flashback scene in episode 15, including the revelation that the dancing baby sitter is David Fincher's sister, Emily. (Caleb's wife also plays Mrs. Hayward, and their daughter is Zooey, for those keeping track.) (4:20)
Disc 4: Duwayne Dunham relates his experience of being on the series from early on, editing the pilot and directing the first episode, and then coming back for season 2. (4:00)
Disc 5: Stephen Gyllenhaal, director of episode 27, discussing why he enjoyed the show. (And, yes, father of Maggie and Jake.) (3:40)
Disc 6: Tim Hunter, who had one of the longer associations with the show. (2:40)


And finally Judge Brett Cullum of DVDVerdict.com "can't deny the power" of Twin Peaks. "Even when it was uneven, the show is far more interesting than 99% of what is on television before or since. It remains one of the most cinematic series ever created with its own darkly funny tone that has never been duplicated. Cinema buffs deride it as Lynch's most commercial work, because it's accessible and not as dense as his later movie projects. But one look at the season finale with its bizarre, scary sequences inside the Black Lodge, and all doubts are cast aside. This is one of the most daring television experiments ever conducted.

Twin Peaks remains a show I will always hold up on a pedestal because it refused to play by anyone else's rules. Maybe that's why, after all these years and countless viewings, I still can't get enough of the series. Twin Peaks: The Second Season is a reason to celebrate simply because it is finally here. Now bring on the megaset, hopefully in a spiffy log shaped package and get Mr. Lynch and Mr. Frost to emerge from behind their red velvet curtains. Cue the dancing midget and the acid jazz." Well, there's nothing more to say...