Twin Peaks at IU Cinema, Oct 19th - Nov 2nd, 2025



October 19th

The showings at IU Cinema required a drive of nearly two hours. When we arrived almost seven minutes late, a line was spread over the steps and adjoining sidewalk. It was cold outside, and the employees kindly offered to let my 75-year-old mother wait in the lobby. They additionally helped create a path through the crowded building for my mother to rest on a bench. Since the bench was beside a cardboard cutout of Agent Cooper, I suggested she, "Sit beside Cooper." Someone standing near added, "He'll protect you."
Everything was rushed. The lobby was filled with people, many of whom hadn't yet bought tickets.
One staff member was wearing a black sweatshirt with embroidery copying Laura's handwriting, as seen at the end of episode ten (The Man Behind Glass), which read "This is the secret diary of Laura Palmer" on the chest pocket. At least two others wore shirts depicting the famous image of Gordon, Cooper, Albert, and Phillip Jeffries from Fire Walk With Me, similar to this design. 
Around 4:30, a person stepped onto the stage apologizing for the delay. Tickets were offered as we entered the mezzanine, and the winning number was announced. Within seconds, a voice rang out, disbelief audible. "I won!" The prize was a Twin Peaks-themed lidded cup filled with theater mementos. 
The official stated that period-accurate commercials would be shown with the episodes. 
An owl watched over the showing each week. 

Week one 

A photo my sister took of a sign at the ticket sales desk in the lobby. 


Several were new to the series, and I tried to make note of their reactions. 

  • As the lights dimmed, the audience's energy could be felt. The cast names received applause, some more than others. Kyle MacLachlan was adored, naturally, but Jack Nance's credit received the loudest reaction, followed by Mark Frost, David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti. Michael Ontkean and Sherilyn Fenn were also widely loved.  

  • The first wave of laughter occurred with Lucy's complicated phone instructions for Sheriff Truman.   

  • The audience laughed when Ben spat in the Great Northern fireplace while speaking with Leland. 

  • Everything related to the Norwegians was met with laughter. 

  • Some laughed with Heidi. 

  • Much laughter with Bobby and Mike's barking. One man laughed loudly and uncontrollably.

  • There was some upset from the audience with Jacoby's sexually suggestive dialogue about Laura as he touched his tie, though they loved him talking to the nurses and rushing after Cooper and Truman beforehand. They thought it was comical when Cooper followed with, "He's the town psychiatrist?"

  • A great warmth when Betty and the Major appeared.

  • They laughed at Harriet saying, "See that window over there?" and  Doc saying he'd talk to her later.
  • They laughed at Bobby while he balanced on the car outside the Hayward house. 

  • Some thought Donna and Doc Hayward's talk in the car was heartwarming. You could hear their soft laughter and "awws."

  • Two new watchers were absolutely enchanted by Cooper. 

  • Everyone loved Lucy. 

  • They applauded with the Log Lady's first appearance. She was the only character who was met with applause for their first scene. 

  • Some were upset by Johnny striking his head against his dollhouse.

  • Mayor Milford's attempt to make a speech was also met by laughter.

  • The theater played a few commercials between the pilot and episode one. The first was actually one I uploaded to YouTube from an original TV recording. The first Georgia Coffee commercial followed, and the audience erupted in wild laughter. Two local ads from the '90s aired, and a car commercial featuring Gene Shallot had viewers laughing. An ad for figure skating also played.

  • The enthusiasm died down somewhat with the second episode, as no one applauded during the credits. 

  • People were confused about what they were seeing - or about to see - as the camera panned over Cooper's bare legs.

  • One woman applauded and cheered when Catherine said to Ben, "Don't sweetheart me, you old dog."

  • A massive reaction, with yells and other vocalization from the audience with "There was a fish in the percolator" and Cooper and Truman's faces after they'd sampled the tainted coffee.

  • Some were shocked by Bobby being hit by Garland.

  • Everyone loved Betty.

  • Applause and an enthusiastic, "Yeah!" when the Log Lady said, "One day my Log will have something to say about this. My Log saw something that night." They also laughed at the look she gave Agent Cooper.

  • A large percentage of the audience laughed when James and Donna awkwardly grinned over the table at the Hayward home before dinner. 

  • With both episodes, every classic line from Cooper was met with affectionate laughter. 

  • A silence fell on them when Cooper seemed to be interested in Audrey as she approached his table. 

  • They were uncomfortable by Ben and Catherine's interactions, in particular Ben's attention to Catherine's feet.  



October 26th

A line was not present during the second week. According to the event, the previous week had been late due to an issue with Ticketmaster. 

We were once again within minutes of the showing. Entering the auditorium. The low buzz of many conversations filled the air, along with music from the first and second seasons. I saw one Agent Cooper and an owl cosplay, though later saw online that a second Cooper, Albert and Audrey also attended. 

This week the prize was one bag of Rootless coffee. The coffee was presented by a staff member dressed as the Log Lady. The emcee, dressed as Cooper, said that the cinema sent a request to show the second season, and that it will play during the next semester. 

As the lights dimmed and the main credits played, audience members clapped with the presence of each name. The loudest applause once again went to Jack Nance. 

Judging by the sounds around me, the gasps and laughter, I assumed this was the first time many were watching the series. Looking back on the faces behind me, the crowd was bewitched, mostly smiling. One girl nearby leaned forward, enrapt. The general mood was uplifted and contagious.  

Commercials from the time were shown between episodes, including the second Georgia Coffee commercial. This commercial for Mt. Dew featuring Patrick Swayze received a great deal of laughter, as did a drug PSA telling the story of a young boy under the influence of drugs, and the comments of two young girls as they passed him. 

As the credits began, the hum of several voices resumed, with many eager to share their thoughts with one another. This happened after every episode each week. 

The loudest audience response occurred when Cooper pretended to pinch Harry's nose. 

For archival purposes, I recorded the audience reactions. You can listen here. 

After the showing, I briefly spoke to four young people seeing the series for the first time, asking them who they believed was responsible for Laura's murder. One believed that Laura and Maddy may have switched places. Another believed that the killer would be revealed in the first season and the second season would move to focus on the secrets of the townspeople. One asked for my opinion, but I told them I'd already seen it. They wanted me to say if the killer would be revealed this season, but I told them I couldn't give any spoilers. 


A sticker on a door downstairs.



November 2nd, 

Out of the three screenings, this was the first I attended with time to spare. There was no line, and around 10 people were inside the theater, with 20 minutes until the showing. As time passed and people began to fill the auditorium, I felt the need to document those in costume. As an introvert with social anxiety, the idea of asking others if I could take their photo was frightening, but everyone was very kind. My phone is not the best, apologies for the sometimes blurry images.

Staff members as Cooper and Harry. 

A staff member as Lucy

An audience member as the Log Lady

Audience members as Laura and Cooper

An audience member as Sam Stanley. He was sitting behind me. 

Audience members as Pete and Josie

Audience members as Cooper and Sheriff Truman

Two staff members, one dressed as Cooper and the other as Sheriff Truman, approached the podium. "Truman" stepped on stage and shuffled a plastic popcorn container filled with raffle tickets. The finale prize was a cardboard Agent Cooper standee that had stood in the lobby since week one. When an audience member claimed the matching number, "Cooper" said the standee could stay by the stage and be collected later. "He could watch the audience watch him." They asked everyone dressed as a character to come on stage so that their costumes could be appreciated. There were so many that the final few struggled to fit. 

Unfortunately, my camera captured the costume showcase in low quality. I paused for a moment to study the costumes I'd missed, and feeling self-coconscious (I was seated in the front row), my hesitation resulted in the following photos being the only captured that night.  


"Sam Stanley" volunteered to procure the owl after staff member Cooper suggested someone should hold it. Another staff member took a photo of the group, which I hope will be shared online. 

This week saw the most subdued reactions from the audience. Applause broke out shortly for the opening titles and Kyle MacLachlan's name. Michael Ontkean received a subtle applause, along with a vocal response from someone near the back of the theater. Afterwards, though, only David Lynch and Mark Frost's credits were noted - and only during the first episode of the night (5, 1.005, Cooper's Dreams), the following two episodes were silent. 

The loudest audience response occurred when Andy shot Jacques Renault, saving Harry's life. 

Wishing to avoid it, I turned around to see the faces as Jacques Renault's mouth stole the screen. I saw one viewer, whose jaw was open. Two others watched calmly. 

The commercials I can recall from this viewing include the two remaining Georgia ads which, as always, were met with laughter. The Mt. Dew commercial with Patrick Swayze was such a success last week that they replayed it. A commercial for a psychic hotline, flooring so bright it required sunglasses, local ads for then-visiting soap opera stars, Matt LeBlanc for Heinz ketchup, The Simpsons and Beverly Hills 90210 also played. Stealing glances behind me, the crowd was smiling. 

When Cooper was shot and the credits rolled, I could hear one person exclaim, wishing it would continue, though I could not make out their words. Laughter followed by those who could hear. 

Again, for archival purposes, the audience's reactions can be heard here. 

I spoke to a person outside, asking if they'd seen the series before. They answered that they hadn't, but they believed they'd already been spoiled. They went on to say it's an odd show, as though anything could happen, and tried to convince themselves they hadn't been spoiled. 

Another group had three members who were new viewers. One spoke, saying that they believed the person who attacked Dr. Jacoby had to be the same person who shot Cooper. They wondered about the connection between Hank, Leo and Ben, and the dynamic between and Catherine and Josie. I thanked them for their time and warned them not to search online for Twin Peaks before the second season, saying they would quickly be spoiled. Their friends agreed with my warning, and the person who'd spoken to me swore they would wait until next semester. 

Dougie and Cooper in the lobby. The staff stated that the pair was loaned by an audience member. 

The first night was abuzz with an almost magical energy. The second was an energy more rooted in fun, humor. The third was a more muted night, but still wonderful. Being able to experience the audience was more than I could ask for. 

As someone who has never seen the series in a theater, the event was exhilarating. I loved hearing the reactions of others and noticing details I hadn't before. If anyone reading this can attend a showing in their area, I highly recommend it. 


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