Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer

Wonderful and mesmerizing third installment of 'Twin Peaks'. It's bizarre, funny, terrifying, trippy and outstanding. A unique atmosphere that only someone unique like Lynch could pull it off.

This is David Lynch. Obviously, up to this point, we have been treated to a bevy of quirky characters with insane relationships. There are earthly things going on, including the threat from Leo, who suspects who it is that is visiting his wife when he is gone. Those two thought guys aren't so tough when Leo shows up in the woods where they are supposed to pick up cocaine. Leo's wife is continually victimized by him and is in a fight for her life. But we then have the real Lynch. There is the famous dream sequence which ends the episode. It leads every discussion of this amazing series. But that's not all. Cooper begins to narrow the search for Laura's killer by throwing things at a bottle on a stump. There is a nutty trip to a brothel after a scene with a couple of brothers, Ben and Jerry, munching on a couple of giant sub sandwiches. Then there is that unbalanced vamp, Audrey, dancing to some really odd music in the diner. Here we go!

It's easy to tell when you're watching a "Twin Peaks" episode if it's one directed by David Lynch or not. "Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer", is pure Lynch. Agent Cooper's infamous dream sequence is one of the greatest dream or nightmare scenes ever filmed. It's weird, it's creepy, it's beautiful, it's absolutely unnerving. You feel like you are having this dream yourself, and just want to wake up. Furthermore, this is the first instance in the series where things have truly gotten weird, for lack of a better expression. I feel like this dream sequence is a scene that I will have to return to throughout the show; it's full of imagery and clues that I have yet to realise.

Apart from the concluding dream sequence, this episode also features Agent Cooper's hilarious stone-throwing deduction method!

When I am introducing a newbie to Twin Peaks, I always insist that they commit to watching the first three episodes, because as good as the first two are, they never reach the same surreal heights as this episode. I refer not only to the episode's iconic final scene, but also to the sandwich scene and Tibet scene. Plus, the episode ends on a cliffhanger that's sure to get them to watch more. It certainly had me hooked!

Not only does the episode have three of the show's most famous and surreal scenes, but it also introduces a couple of major characters, including Benjamin Horne's brother Jerry and FBI Agent Albert Rosenfeld. Jerry's loose demeanour helps illuminate another side of Benjamin's character, and Albert's impatience and sarcasm towards local law enforcement is a nice source of conflict.

In case the sandwich scene and the Tibetan rock throwing scene didn't make the viewer aware that the episode was directed by David Lynch, the dream sequence at the end should make it crystal clear. It's the first time that mainstream audiences were exposed to David Lynch firing on all cylinders. It was probably many people's first impression of intensely surreal film-making. This has made it (rightfully) the show's most famous and iconic scene. It's the moment that hooked me. Aside from the final episode of season two and the episode in which the killer is revealed, this one is definitely my all-time favourite.

Stop me if you've heard this one before but surely this is the point where TV truly became cinematic (even in 4:3 ratio).

The humour intentional or otherwise is as good as any comedy & I watch early Arrested Development on loop.

The emotional & occasional erotic mystery foundations for still recent payoffs including the first of the often emulated none-bettered Lynch dreamscapes.

But thats the point, for a network Neo Soap to be that ahead of the game - Lynch/Frost's finest hour, Televisions finest hour.