"Twin Peaks" gave television permission to get weird.
Long before "Pushing Daisies," "Lost" or even "The X-Files," this loony, disturbing and deeply layered drama from Mark Frost and filmmaker David Lynch took viewers to places they had never been, asking a compelling question -- "Who killed Laura Palmer?" -- while indulging in bizarre dream sequences and an unabashed love for cherry pie. The show developed a cult following so strong that more than 15 years after exiting the airwaves, many fans still gather for the yearly "Twin Peaks" Festival in North Bend, Wash.
Not surprisingly, anyone who worships at the altar of Agent Cooper was ecstatic earlier this year when, after a long wait, the second and final season of "Peaks" finally came to DVD. But those same people may be understandably miffed to see "Twin Peaks: The Definitive Gold Box Edition" ($99.99) -- a ten-disc collection that includes the American and international versions of the series pilot and both seasons of the show, together in one place for the first time -- arriving today, less than seven months after that second season made its DVD debut. Normally, I'd be protesting louder than anyone about this flagrant case of double-dipping. But here's the thing: This gold box edition is freaking fantastic, maybe even better than one of Cooper's damn fine cups of coffee.
The episodes of the show look the same as on previous DVDs, appearing as they did before with optional introductions by the all-knowing Log Lady. But having everything in one place -- including that exceptional two-hour pilot, one of the most finely crafted series kick-offs in broadcast history -- is a huge selling point. Add in a slate of absolutely stellar extras and this box set becomes pretty much irresistible. The bonus features include "Secrets From Another Place," a superb, nearly two-hour making-of documentary; a conversation about "Peaks" (over pie and coffee, of course) between Lynch, series stars Kyle MacLachlan and Madchen Amick and crew member John Wentworth; a handful of deleted scenes; footage from MacLachlan's 1990 gig as host of "Saturday Night Live"; a giddy look at the aforementioned "Twin Peaks" fest; and a guide to the real-life locations from the show. The only notable disappointment is the lack of commentary tracks, which is regrettable but hardly a deal-breaker given the quality of what's here.
Frankly, that feature-length documentary alone, with its revealing insights into the series, makes the DVD worth owning. Cast and crew members fondly share their recollections about the American public's insatiable need to uncover the identity of Laura Palmer's killer back in 1990. ("Everybody thought I knew the answer," remembers Sheryl Lee, who played Laura and her doppelganger cousin Maddie. "I knew nothing.") But they are also remarkably candid about the show's downturn in quality after Palmer's killer was revealed in the midst of season two. "The whole second season pretty much sucked," says Kimmy Robertson, who played loony receptionist Lucy. "I stopped watching because I didn't know who anyone was."
Despite Robertson's comments -- and kudos for your candor, Kimmy -- plenty of "Peaks" freaks are happy to keep watching after all these years. If you're one of them, you'll love this set more than the show's Nadine adores those ingenious silent drape runners she invented. And if you already spent money on the previous "Twin Peaks" DVDs, prepare to sell them both, at least that pretty lackluster second season release, on eBay, because this gold-box edition is as definitive as its title promises.
Geekiest Bonus Point: The regulars at the "Twin Peaks" Festival are totally out of the closet about their obsession with the show during the DVD's behind-the-scenes peek at the 2006 event. One couple says they chose to spend their honeymoon there, while Melissa Angevine from Tacoma, Wash., admits she is skipping a best friend's wedding to attend. "If this goes on the DVD ... I hope you had a great wedding and I'm sorry," she says, looking only a little bit sorry.
Most Candid David Lynch Comment: The ever-independent filmmaker confesses during the featurette "A Slice of Lynch" that he deeply regrets agreeing to solve the Laura Palmer murder, something he says ABC, the network that aired "Twin Peaks," pressured him and Frost to do. "It's a huge sadness and an absurdity that that ever happened," he declares. (Want to hear more from Lynch? Check out this "Twin Peaks" slideshow, featuring audio commentary with the man who brought Agent Cooper and co. to life.)
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PHOTOS: 'Twin Peaks' -- Paramount/'Talk to Me' -- Focus Features
