Twin Peaks

[Mysterious Benefactor]

15 Best TV Shows From The '90s, Ranked

6. Twin Peaks

Taking a turn into the surreal, David Lynch's "Twin Peaks" redefined television with its cinematic, weird, and unsettling style, paving the way for shows like "The X-Files," "Lost," and "True Detective." Thanks to its ingenious central mystery, audiences tuned in weekly to find out who killed Laura Palmer, creating a cultural obsession that proved viewers would stick with long-form storytelling rather than the safer, story-of-the-week format that largely dominated the airwaves.

At its core, "Twin Peaks" is a mystery set in a quiet logging town in Washington, where FBI agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) investigates the murder of the aforementioned Laura Palmer. From there, the series spirals into something much stranger, blending small-town drama with offbeat humor and surreal horror into a captivating arthouse nightmare.

Compared to others on this list, "Twin Peaks" doesn't cater to general audiences. Lynch's drama is relatively slow and often incredibly weird. Plus, a major drop-off occurs once the central mystery is resolved, prompting us to slot it just outside the Top 5.