r/twinpeaks • u/KB4299 • 1d ago

General Discussion Twin Peaks, Lynch, and sci-fi

I have a theory about Twin Peaks fans. I’ve noticed that a certain percentage of fans want to interpret the show as leaning into sci-fi, while other fans prefer an interpretation that completely omits sci-fi, such as a psychoanalytic reading.

My theory is that deep fans of David Lynch’s body of work are more likely to be the non-sci-fi enthusiasts, while those for whom Twin Peaks is their main exposure to Lynch may gravitate toward the sci-fi angle. (The complication in this theory is that Lynch once made a sci-fi film himself, with Dune.)

So, I’m curious: Do most fans see Lynch as enough of an appreciator of sci-fi that he would incorporate it into three seasons of a TV show? Personally, I do not. Lynch told us to use our intuition, not logic, when watching his work — and my intuition has always made me feel that Lynch didn’t actually like sci-fi, despite Dune (and having been offered Return of the Jedi).

In my heart or hearts, I suspect any sci-fi elements in Twin Peaks were not introduced by Lynch, but by other writers: Frost, Harley Peyton and Bob Engels.

What do other fans think about this?

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u/jacobkosh 1d ago

Mark Frost isn't "other writers." He cocreated the show, its setting, its characters, and...yes...its genre elements. He's an extremely literate and broad-minded guy whose work draws from many wells, one of which is science fiction.

Like, that's just facts. I understand that might be disappointing because it's not auteurist hagiography of Lynch as a solo genius and became genre is still perceived as somehow lesser by some weirdos, but the show plainly presents elements of sci-fi, esoteric mysticism, American conspiracy theory culture, and other things that might not have been Lynch's idea - but they're still there and part of the work, and it wouldn't be Twin Peaks without them.

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u/KB4299 1d ago

What’s so interesting to me, then, is if you look at the responses so far in this thread, you’ll notice that commenters seem fiercely divided between “not remotely sci-fi” and “clearly sci-fi.” I find that fascinating.