Twin Peaks: The First Season: Special Edition DVD Boxed Set Review

Title: Twin Peaks: The First Season: Special Edition DVD Boxed Set

Region: One

Genre: Cult Television Series

Stars: Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Joan Chen, Laura Flynn Boyle, Sherilyn Fenn, Jack Nance, Sheryl Lee, Miguel Ferrer, Richard Beymer, and Piper Laurie

Writers: Mark Frost, David Lynch, Harley Peyton, and Robert Engels

Directors: Duwayne Dunham, David Lynch, Tina Rathbone, Tim Hunter, Lesli Link Glatter, Caleb Deschanel, and Mark Frost

Executive Producers: David Lynch and Mark Frost

Feature length: 336 minutes

Extras: Select Episode Analysis By The Directors, New In-Depth Interviews With Cast And Crew Members Including Series Co-Creator Mark Frost, Writers, Directors, Film And Television Experts, Optional Log Lady Introductions To Each Episode, Script Notes: Optional Guide To The “Unseen Twin Peaks”, Rare Archival Material From “Wrapped In Plastic” – The Official Twin Peaks Magazine

Languages: English DTS Digital 5.1 Digital Surround, English Dolby Digital 5.1 and English Dolby Surround 2.0

Subtitles: English Closed Captions

Packaging: Gatefold Case Within A Slipcase

Chapter Stops: 10/9/9/8/10/10/10

Sound: DTS Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and Stereo Surround Sound

Year of Television Broadcast: 1990/DVD Release: 2001

Home Video Distributor: Artisan Home Entertainment

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

“Twin Peaks” went off the air a little over ten years ago, but is still alive and well in the hearts of the show’s devoted fans, the cast and crewmembers who worked on the series, and now on DVD, where the series has truly never looked or sounded better. Created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, the series helped to redefine television programming in the 1990s and was a trendsetter in many different areas beyond the scope of the TV series. Some people have likened “Twin Peaks” as being a little bit like Lynch’s feature film, “Blue Velvet”, which dealt with the dark secrets buried within the seemingly idyllic American small town, but as the series progressed it distanced itself in many ways from “Blue Velvet” enough that while comparisons can be drawn, ultimately both Lynch creations are quite different. The series was essentially a quirky soap opera with an ensemble cast including many who had appeared in previous David Lynch projects before and would go on to do so as well. The best way to view “Twin Peaks” though is just to approach it with no expectations, an open mind and make what you will of it. Some elements of the show’s style might not seem new or original to the first time viewer, but this is because many television shows and filmmakers duplicated the look, style, and sometimes even the content in one form or another for over a decade since the show first premiered, but David Lynch and Mark Frost truly did set a milestone for others to follow when “Twin Peaks” debuted on ABC in the spring of 1990.

The show’s beautiful northwest setting and wood covered interiors just jump out at the viewer from the new remastered High-Definition transfers that the DVD-Videos were created from and are presented here in the original (1.33:1) aspect ratio of their network television broadcast. In addition to an outstanding picture quality, each episode includes a choice of English DTS Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, and Dolby Surround 2.0 Sound. The DTS track is the clear winner here bringing a truly impressive theatrical quality sound that is amazingly rich and textured. Listening to Angelo Badalamenti’s opening credits theme and score is a truly sublime experience on this DVD set.

Each episode also features an optional commentary track by various series’ directors, cinematographers, and writers, each lending their own view on their respective episodes in season one and sharing screen specific antidotes and lessons learned from their experiences. David Lynch does not participate in any on camera or off camera commentary at all on these discs though collectively one can get an idea about what it was like to work with him from the actors’ and crewmembers’ points of view. The episodes feature English Closed Captions and only from the main menu, select script excerpts and Easter eggs can be activated while watching the programs. Each episode also includes an optional videotaped introduction by the “Log Lady”, which are cryptic at best.

The set includes 4 discs with two episodes per disc and the season finale and special features on the fourth disc. Labeled under the name “Tibet” as in the country, these extra features are mostly featurettes of various lengths. There is a 14 minute interview with Series Co-creator Mark Frost, a 3 ½ minute featurette with Michael Anderson AKA “The Man From Another Place”, giving some brief lessons on how to speak backwards, a 10 minute interview with the woman who owned the diner featured in the series, and an excellent 22 minute featurette entitled “Introduction To David Lynch” that features brand new videotaped interviews with cast and crewmembers from the series, including Kyle MacLachlan, Miguel Ferrer, Sheryl Lee, Peggy Lypton, and Richard Beymer. There are other video postcards giving viewers a chance to see how other actors from the series look today in a “Six Degrees Of Separation” style that like the full motion animated menus that are included throughout the four discs are more than a little tricky to navigate. They look great, but the interface can make one lose their patience.

There is an excerpt from an interview with Sheryl Lee printed within the insert that comes within the set along with a synopsis of what happened in the pilot and background on who the main characters in the series are. The pilot is not included in this set, but the pilot was never made available as a part of the VHS and laserdisc sets that were released in the mid 1990s so until a domestic release occurs, fans can purchase an Asian import at select retailers on and offline. I have seen and heard of prices ranging from 20 dollars to as much as 40 dollars in Manhattan stores so look around for the best deal. The feature film prequel “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me” will be available on DVD on Tuesday, February 26, 2002 from New Line Home Entertainment. A warning to viewers new to the series, who may not know “Who killed Laura Palmer?” A professor interviewed in the “Introduction To David Lynch” featurette practically gives it away in not so many words so if you do not want it spoiled, whenever you see him appear, fast forward past him.

The set comes in a glossy four-disc gatefold similar to how Fox packages “The X-Files” with a see through slipcase that covers the set and has Laura Palmer’s picture on the cover.

With the exception of the interactive menu design, “Twin Peaks: The First Season: Special Edition DVD Boxed Set” is a real winner that will debut from Artisan Home Entertainment on Tuesday, December 18, 2001, and don’t forget the good news “That gum you like is going to come back in style.”

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