Tie-in material can be a risky proposition: get it wrong, and it bears all the hallmarks of a shameless cash-in.
David Lynch has always done things his own way though, and released in the build-up to the upcoming third season, The Secret History Of Twin Peaks (penned by Lynch’s co-writer on the show, Mark Frost) is a refreshingly different entity altogether, serving as part history book, part novel and part Season 3 teaser.
Taking the form of a compilation of case notes, letters, newspaper extracts and other documents put together by an unknown resident of the town, we are taken through the evolution of the town of Twin Peaks, from its humble beginnings and first settlers to the mecca for cherry-pie-and-coffee enthusiasts and spooky shenanigans that it became.
While we don’t want to delve too far into what it entails – Lynch and Frost would never forgive us – we can confirm that it’s very, very good. Put together on high-quality paper and with utmost commitment paid to its viral tie-in feel, it’s a true collector’s item for fans of the show.
The more you read on, the better it gets. With the mention of a Milford here, a Packard there and then a Martell, there’s plenty of back story and much more besides. Sometimes the danger of over-elaborating on things is that the show’s central mystique gets hampered, but that is avoided here. We’d even go as far as to say that you could not be a fan of the show and get plenty of enjoyment out of it, although obviously familiarity is an asset.
We appreciate how vague this review is, but we honestly don’t want to spoil the surprise. Read this while rewatching the first two seasons – just keep an eye out for the owls; they’re not what they seem.
