TWIN PEAKS - #14 HE IS BOB, EAGER FOR FUN (1990)

The Score: 10 out of 10

Twin Peaks' success was a two-edged sword. Ratings were through the roof and David Lynch received unprecedented levels of critical acclaim at this stage of his career. But the magnitude of Peaks' success also drew the network's attention. Witnessing the clamor of millions of viewers wanting the answer to who killed Laura Palmer, the network sought to appease them and pressured Lynch and co-creator Mark Frost into revealing the killer's identity. In the network's attempt to keep frustrated viewers from dropping the show, it ironically turned them away in droves at the zenith of Peaks' popularity.

TWIN PEAKS - #9 MEALS ON WHEELS (1990)

The Score: 10 out of 10

Twin Peaks' story could have easily spiraled out of control after its runaway freight train of a first season hit such a powerful stride, but David Lynch and Mark Frost do remarkable work at keeping the show on track. The two-part premiere episode and this follow-up episode help rein in the various story threads while keeping the show on course for the climactic revelation of Laura's killer in just five more episodes. But Lynch ensures we stay on our toes as we organically delve deeper into Twin Peaks' fascinating mysteries.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID LYNCH!!!

Happy Birthday David Lynch!!! This day needs celebrating as we continue our analysis and discussion of your singular body of work. Thank you for your entertaining and engaging art. We wish you the best success this year and we look forward to your upcoming feature film projects!

TWIN PEAKS - #8 MAIRZY DOATS: PART II

David Lynch accomplishes something rare in the second season premiere, which is difficult to describe with words but we will attempt to anyway. The pilot episode of Twin Peaks had a somber cadence in spite of its strong and powerful narrative. To an extent, the episodes not directed by David Lynch tend to feel a little sped up by comparison. Some important moments tend to get glossed over more than they should be without Lynch's sense of rhythm setting the pace. But in this episode, Lynch pulls back ever so gently on the reins, steadying the ride for all of us.

TWIN PEAKS - #8 MAIRZY DOATS: PART I (1990)

The Score: 10 out of 10

By the time the second season of Twin Peaks premiered, the series had achieved a level of popularity rarely heard of on television. Before the second season, the cast and creators were featured prominently on many shows, like Donahue and Saturday Night Live. David Lynch's popularity was at its zenith, a time when most creators would begin playing it safe and avoid taking risks that could alienate the enormous audience. When you have millions of dollars riding on your popularity, the temptation is great to start taking the middle road artistically. Lynch rose above this mediocre trend by delivering the most daring, challenging, and polarizing episodes of network television.