It’s hard to overstate just how much of a delicious treasure trove theTwin Peaksbox setTwin Peaks: From Z to Ais when you’re a longtime fan of the series and of one of its co-creators, directorDavid Lynch. The world ofTwin Peaks, from its moody Pacific Northwest setting to its colorful (and that’s putting it mildly) coterie of characters, has been a permanent fixture in the zeitgeist since Season 1 premiered all the way back in April 1990. It’s a long time to be in love with something, sure, but it has maintained itself a piece of art continuously distorting and revealing itself to viewers and making it worthy of repeat visits. As such, theFrom Z to Alimited edition box set (there’s only 25,000 available!) is an ideal investment for anyone who has loved the show to any degree and wants to continue to explore it.
From Z to Acontains multitudes. Included in the box set is:Twin PeaksSeasons 1 and 2 (which originally aired 1990 to 1991) and 2017’sTwin Peaks: The Return; the prequel movieTwin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me; the deleted scenes turned into another film,Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces. As far as bonus materials go, all of the special features — interviews, deleted scenes, featurettes — included in previous releases of the aforementioned movies and TV seasons are onFrom Z to Aplus new features. They are: an interview with supporting co-starsHarry GoazandKimmy Robertson; an extended interview with series leadsKyle McLachlanandSheryl Lee; “Behind the Curtain,” an 18-part series of behind-the-scenes videos taken on the set ofThe Returnwhich put you in the world of the story; full-length performances of every musical number performed at the The Roadhouse bar inThe Return; plus, there are goodies like curated cards featuring shots from memorable moments inside the Red Room.
And friends, it’s like Christmas morning when you crack that box open for the first time.
We’d be here for eternity if I broke down each and every aspect of this box set. However, I’d like to try and wade through the enormity of it all by touching on some of the best parts of it in addition to all three seasons of theTwin PeaksTV series and the feature films. If and when you finish binge-watching the series and movies (and yes, you absolutelymustbinge it), I’d highly recommend turning to the extended interview with McLachlan and Lee as the first part of your debrief. Filmed before the release ofThe Return, the interview sees theTwin Peaksstars taking a winding tour through the broad strokes and minute details of making Lynch’s vision come to life. McLachlan and Lee’s recollections are a joy to dive into since they cover how the respective actors got involved with the project, McLachlan’s longtime friendship with Lynch, Lee’s memories of her time learning how to act while playing a dead body in Season 1, and beyond. A particular favorite of mine from the hour-and-a-half-long conversation involves McLachlan remembering how the filming of the memorableSeason 1 rock-throwing scenecame together, which includes revelations about putting the scene on film.
The other particularly invaluable and delicious feature is the 18-part “Behind the Curtain” featurette series. Each part takes you behind the scenes on the set ofThe Return, with footage beginning in 2015. In a move seeming to echo the structure of the show itself, there is no narrative or shape to the way the footage is cut together; you simply live in it. Because of the proximity to Lynch, the cast, and the crew, you immediately get sucked it and swept up. Stolen moments are now broadcast on your TV screen and in high res, to boot. It’s truly and deeply fascinating to see how Lynch, arguably very much an actor’s director, working closely withThe Returnseries stars including McLachlan, Goaz,Naomi Watts,Matthew Lillard, andEamon Farren. It’s all there: Quickly-whispered lines during run-throughs before the camera rolls, Lynch’s expressions as he watches scenes unfold from his director’s chair, the camaraderie captured from the camera after the success of a well-done scene. Thanks to the 18 parts available, “Behind the Curtain” feels like another movie entirely, using an entirely different spell to cast as it reveals even more new and energetic aspects of the world ofTwin Peaksto you.
When you watch anythingTwin Peaksrelated, it feels as if you’re being invited to cash in some secret winning lottery ticket and enjoy a show nobody else knows about. Lynch’s impressionistic stylings and the performances turned in by a cult favorite cast facilitates the telling of a story as epic and as sprawling and as complex as more readily accessible water cooler TV likeGame of Thrones.From Z to Amakes it plain just how importantTwin Peaks' place in history is and will always be. Even better, the special features included in this limited edition box set only add to the joys of watching the series, never detracting from the mystery box presented to you as you watch.
As I write this, I’m still thinking about one of Lee’s comments during her co-interview with McLachlan truly is. Early on, she remarks, “One of the things [Lynch] is a master at is being able to create an environment or a mood so that what he wants to happen can live in that and spontaneously happen,” and I don’t think I’ve heard a truer or better comment about the magic ofTwin Peaks. TheFrom Z to Abox set is well worth the money and time you give to it; don’t skip out on this one.
Twin Peaks: From Z to Ais currently available for purchaseon Amazon.
