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.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

David Lynch's Twin Peaks Was Inspired By Two Real-Life Murders
"Twin Peaks" co-creator Mark Frost explained how the series was influenced by two real-life murders, one of which was someone he knew as a teenager.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Twin Peaks actor dies suddenly at 44
Owain Rhys Davies was best known for playing Agent Wilson in the reboot of Twin Peaks, David Lynch and Mark Frost's revival of the hit 1990s series, which aired in 2017.