How "Twin Peaks" Changed TV

David Lynch changed the game and television will never be the same.

ABC

It's been 27 years since we first saw Laura Palmer's lifeless body wrapped in plastic.

This weekend, the town of Twin Peaks will be revisited. Twin Peaks, David Lynch and Mark Frost's '90s cult television show, only lasted two seasons; but its impact may last a lifetime. Twin Peaks is unlike any show ever seen before. The haunting score, intriguing mystery, gruesome villain, and the appealing drama all add up to create something both wonderful and strange.

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Twin Peaks, being one of the most influential shows in history, inspired a long list of writers, resulting in some of your favorite shows. A more modern example would be CW's Riverdale. The plot of the show is almost identical to Twin Peaks. Popular teen is mysteriously murdered, and the whole town grieves as some of the teens try to solve the mystery and realize their town isn't as innocent as they thought it was. If that plot doesn't scream "Twin Peaks!", then you might be living under a rock.

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It's not just the fact that a show features a murder mystery makes it a Lynchian-type show. It's also the small town, secretive, quirky characters featured in the show. Fellow '90s shows like Northern Exposure and The X-Files both feature these things along with dream sequences and spiritual occurrences that ultimately feel like a homage. Along with these characteristics, there's also a noticeable visual that comes with Lynch's work. Visually striking camera angles, scenery, and a series of colors and flashing lights that mesmerize the viewer.

This is really just the gist of what Twin Peaks has done for modern television. Twin Peaks essentially established the "murder mystery" television show theme which we now see everywhere. Twin Peaks is one of the greatest television shows of all time and changed how we see TV today.

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