35 Years Ago Today, Twin Peaks Introduced Both Its Most Problematic Character And an Insane Plot That Wouldn’t Go Away

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I still remember when Twin Peaks first came on TV over thirty years ago – it completely changed what television could be! From the very beginning, in 1990, everyone loved the show’s strange and wonderful characters, that unforgettable small town, and the gripping mystery at its heart. But sadly, as the show became popular, some people started interfering with the creative process. It really started to affect things, and the second season sometimes felt lost, with storylines that just didn’t make sense and left a lot of us confused and disappointed.

Episode five of Twin Peaks‘ often-criticized second season doesn’t stand out as particularly bad at first, but it’s where two of the show’s most confusing plotlines really begin. One involves a character whose story seems to have lost direction, while the other presents a racially insensitive storyline that feels especially jarring considering the show’s reputation as a landmark achievement in television.

Twin Peaks Episode 12 Is a Wild Turning Point for the Series

The show Twin Peaks often featured strange and seemingly pointless storylines and characters. One example is Nadine Hurley, Big Ed’s wife who, during the first season, became obsessed with creating a silent system for hanging curtains. In Season 2, after her attempt to patent this invention fails, she becomes depressed and attempts suicide – an event that kicks off a significant storyline beginning in Twin Peaks Episode 12.

Something strange happened to Nadine after her suicide attempt. She woke up from a coma believing she was back in high school – a belief that stuck with her. But that wasn’t all. She also developed incredible strength, which she first demonstrated by ripping a refrigerator door off its hinges. This episode marked the beginning of a storyline where Nadine acted like a teenager while possessing superhuman strength, a combination that would last for sixteen episodes. It led to her being re-enrolled in school and even joining the wrestling team, and it all started here.

Episode 12 of Twin Peaks introduces a puzzling subplot that quickly became one of the show’s most debated moments. A Japanese businessman named Mr. Tojamura arrives, hoping to buy Ben Horne’s profitable Ghostwood Project. While the storyline initially seemed simple, later episodes revealed a surprising twist: Mr. Tojamura wasn’t who he appeared to be. It was actually Catherine Martell (played by Piper Laurie), the owner of Packard Sawmill, cleverly disguised.

Back in 1990, a very popular TV show featured a well-known actress using yellowface – makeup and costuming to appear as someone of Asian descent. The actress, Laurie, not only wore prosthetics and a wig, but also adopted a voice and mannerisms based on harmful stereotypes. To keep the disguise a secret, the show falsely credited her as “Fumio Yamaguchi” and told everyone on set she was a Japanese actor. While this storyline didn’t last long, it’s considered one of the most offensive parts of the series, especially considering it began in the same episode as another problematic plotline.

Twin Peaks is streaming on Paramount+.

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2025-10-27 22:13