Twin Peaks

How did we get to the point where television is an art form, far out-stripping films for innovation and fascinating storytelling? The answer to that is the David Lynch-Mark Front collaboration Twin Peaks. It was not merely a series of episodes, it was a single storyline, unified and masterfully told. It was a detective show, with Special Agent Dale Cooper trying to solve the murder of Laura Palmer. It was a fantasy show, where dreams become realities. It was a science fiction program where flying saucers and government cover-ups were influencing the world. All of this came together to make for one of the most dazzling examples of what was possible on television. The story is complex, with more layers than the best baklava, but thoroughly engrossing. A massive fandom grew up around the show, and their prayers were answered when more than twenty-five years after the series was canceled, and more than twenty since the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, it returned to a rabid explosion of media and fan attention. Why it tops the list: It changed television, and if you watch just one episode, you'll feel like you need to watch it all.