Filmmaker David Lynch has openly criticized the second season of his iconic series Twin Peaks, stating it 'sucked' while praising only the pilot episode. In a 2017 interview, he highlighted issues from network interference and his limited involvement. Lynch ensured full control for the 2017 revival to avoid similar pitfalls.
Background on Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks, co-created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, follows the eerie aftermath of a teenage girl's murder in a quiet small town, blending supernatural elements with dark humor. The series, which aired on ABC in the early 1990s, is renowned for its unsettling atmosphere and influential scares in television history.
Lynch's Critique of Season 2
Lynch has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the show's sophomore season. 'The pilot is the only thing I am particularly, extremely proud of,' he told TVLine in 2017. 'There were great moments along the way. The second season sucked.'
Season 1 maintained a focused, disturbing narrative under Lynch's guidance. However, Season 2 veered into sillier tones, partly because Lynch did not direct every episode and network executives influenced the content.
Approach to the 2017 Revival
The revival series, set 25 years after Season 2, continues the story with Agent Dale Cooper—portrayed by Kyle MacLachlan—still ensnared in the Black Lodge, while his malevolent doppelganger wreaks chaos. To prevent a repeat of past errors, Lynch directed all episodes himself.
'I wanted it to hold together,' Lynch explained. 'I see it as a film. [And you] don't stop partway through [a film] and have someone else [direct]. It's got to have a follow-through from the beginning to the end.' This hands-on method preserved the signature Lynchian weirdness across bizarre subplots.