Rewatching The Most Reviled Twin Peaks Season 2 Episodes with Fresh Eyes

While many fans criticize certain episodes of Twin Peaks Season 2 as being a slump, there’s a strong case to be made that they’re worth watching if you embrace them as one-off bursts of bizarre, campy fun. Here’s a defense of these episodes as delightful oddities that add flavor to the Twin Peaks experience:

1. "Masked Ball" 

The James Hurley subplot gets a lot of flak, but if you think of it as a kitschy homage to classic noir films, it becomes oddly enjoyable. The femme fatale, Evelyn Marsh, is dripping with melodrama, and James’ brooding loner vibe adds to the pulp-novel absurdity. It’s a detour into a different genre that feels like Twin Peaks experimenting with new tones.

2. "The Black Widow" 

This episode leans hard into the show’s offbeat humor, with storylines like Little Nicky’s supposed curse and Nadine’s high school wrestling antics. If you accept the absurdity, it’s hilariously over-the-top. Nadine pinning high school wrestlers is a surreal sight that feels like a fever dream you can’t help but chuckle at.

3. "Checkmate" 

Ben Horne reenacting the Civil War might be completely ridiculous, but it’s also a bold commitment to camp. Watching Richard Beymer go all-in as a delusional general is a hoot if you view it as an actor having the time of his life. Plus, the sheer audacity of the storyline is a reminder that Twin Peaks was never afraid to be weird for weirdness’ sake.

4. "Double Play" 

This episode may not be heavy on the main plot, but it’s a great showcase of the soap-opera satire that Twin Peaks revels in. The Evelyn Marsh storyline hits its dramatic conclusion, and while it’s a bit overblown, it’s also reminiscent of classic TV melodrama turned up to eleven. It’s cheesy, but sometimes cheese is delicious.

5. "Slaves and Masters" 

Directed by Diane Keaton (yes, that Diane Keaton), this episode is packed with surreal visuals and playful quirks. The camera work is intentionally odd, and the tone feels like a self-aware parody of the show’s own eccentricity. If you go in expecting a Lynchian fever dream filtered through a different creative lens, it’s weirdly delightful.

Why These Episodes Are Fun

Pure Camp Appeal: These episodes embrace a level of camp and absurdity that’s rare in TV. From Little Nicky to Ben’s Civil War obsession, the sheer audacity of the plots is entertaining in its own right.

Quirky Character Moments: While the main plot may stall, the side characters get room to shine in bizarre and unexpected ways.

A Break from the Darkness: The tonal shift from the heavy mystery of Laura Palmer’s murder to lighter, stranger subplots can feel like a breather before the show dives back into darker territory later in the season.

Twin Peaks at Its Boldest: These episodes showcase the show’s willingness to take risks, even if they don’t always pay off. Their unapologetic weirdness is part of what makes Twin Peaks a cult classic.

If you approach these episodes with the right mindset—looking for quirky, offbeat escapism rather than plot-driven drama—you might find them oddly charming. They’re a reminder that Twin Peaks was never afraid to follow its strangest impulses, and that’s part of its magic.