6 shows to watch if you liked Twin Peaks

Still from Twin Peaks (Image via Amazon Prime Video)

One of the most iconic shows from David Lynch’s filmography, Twin Peaks is a surrealist mystery and crime drama. Set in a fictional town of the titular name, the indecipherable series revolves around FBI agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan), who is tasked with investigating the murder of local teen Laura Palmer. As he delves deeper into the town's mysterious atmosphere, he uncovers more than he bargained for.

The series revolutionized the TV industry with its complex plot, use of surrealism, metaphysical elements, and uncanny feeling. It gained fame for its quirky characters and background score and is a staple of pop culture. The show has influenced many series that followed, and here are six series that share some of its themes and atmosphere.

Mare of Easttown, Broadchurch, and other shows like Twin Peaks

1) Russian Doll (Netflix)

An extremely stylish and modern show starring Natasha Lyonne, this comedy-drama series revolves around a game developer, Nadia (Lyonne). When Nadia gets stuck in a loop, reliving the same incidents again and again, she must find a way to stop.

The series explores themes of time travel and psychological trauma. Like Twin Peaks, it has gruesome deaths, emotional moments, and unique eccentricities.

2) Black Mirror (Netflix)

This sci-fi and dystopian anthology series broke new ground upon its premiere. Each episode has its own storyline, but the overarching thread throughout the series addresses the influence of technology in daily life and how it is becoming an inescapable matrix.

Filled with twists and turns, the show has a surreal quality reminiscent of Twin Peaks, from which it seems to draw inspiration. Both shows are inventive within their genres and are must-watches.

3) Mare of Easttown (Amazon Prime Video)

Still from the show (Image via Amazon Prime Video)

Directed by Craig Zobel and created by Brad Ingelsby, Mare of Easttown features Kate Winslet, who delivers an extremely compelling performance. The show revolves around a small town where a police officer (Winslet) with a troubled past must solve a gruesome murder.

Like Twin Peaks, the show has a similar premise of small-town life intertwined with murder. Both shows explore the dynamics of their respective small towns through the lens of crime and offer a peek inside the protagonists’ minds, creating a tense atmosphere.

4) True Detective (Amazon Prime Video)

Starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, the first season of True Detective is an iconic crime thriller series that revolves around a murder in a small town and the influence small-town life has on the case. The show also explores the past and the psyche of the investigators themselves.

Like Twin Peaks, the show shares a similar premise centered on murder and small towns, delving into the psychological desires of the detectives and their pasts. Both shows have a similar eerie feel and feature great title tracks.

5) Broadchurch (Amazon Prime Video)

Created by Chris Chibnall and starring David Tennant and Olivia Colman, this British crime drama series expertly handles the subject matter of the complicated relationships of a small town and a ghastly murder that brings repressed dynamics to the fore.

While detective Alec (Tennant) is indifferent to people, Ellie values her relationships with the townspeople. Like Twin Peaks, the show uses murder as a device to investigate small-town life, maintaining a similar eerie feel.

6) Gravity Falls (Amazon Prime Video)

Created by Alex Hirsch, this animated series revolves around twins Dipper and Mabel, who travel to a small town for a vacation to live with their great-uncle and encounter paranormal mysteries they must solve.

Like Twin Peaks, the show is set in a small town filled with mysteries. Both shows have an uncanny feeling, even though the animated series is more lighthearted. Lynch’s show’s iconic agent, Dale Cooper, makes a cameo in the final episode as a homage to the series.

Viewers are welcome to go through the list and choose a show of their liking.

Edited by Shubham Soni