Twin Peaks and Philosophy: That’s Damn Fine Philosophy!

Few shows invite deep contemplation and outside-the-box thinking quite like Twin Peaks. For decades now, the strange events surrounding the death of Laura Palmer have led to mindbending storytelling, baffling mysteries, and a grand battle between good and evil. When Twin Peaks returned to television, those hoping for answers should’ve known better, as the relaunch only added new twists, haunting new possibilities, and brain-melting visuals.

Twin Peaks and Philosophy gamely tries to make heads or tails of the expansive mythology of Twin Peaks, and this is one of the rare Popular Culture and Philosophy books where it seems like every single chapter has something new and unique to say, both about the show and about how philosophers would interpret the people, mysteries, and conundrums that call the town home.

Honestly, the book is at its best when delving into themes and messages, not the labyrinthine plot itself, because Twin Peaks isn’t a mystery to be solved, it’s something to be experienced on an individual level. From the roles of mothers in the show to the roles of doppelgangers, and even delving into what the show says about television in general, the articles in Twin Peaks and Philosophy are nearly as fascinating as the show itself.