10 Things You Need To Know About Twin Peaks: The Return
7. The Secret History Of Twin Peaks Might Not Provide Many Clues
The Secret History Of Twin Peaks, an epistolatory tie-in novel penned by series co-creator Mark Frost, divided the fandom upon its October 2016 release.
It was an attempt to contextualise the supernatural mythology of the series within the framework of American history, the success of which was mixed. The elemental Black Lodge was elaborated on with an initial intrigue, but the contrived transference of the Owl Cave Ring, from Meriwether Lewis to Jack Parsons, was received by some as an excuse to simply explore modern conspiracy theory.
The series itself was revisited with a curious inconsistency. Vast portions were either retooled or retconned entirely, with equal evidence suggesting either unreliable narrator or carelessness toward canon. More reassuringly, Frost totally nailed (and arguably improved upon) the voices of Ed Hurley and Deputy Hawk in wonderful passages, and the best supernatural aspects were exquisite. His description of a gigantic, walking owl was so good and so tantalising that for the first time, many fans were assuaged in their doubts over the unavoidable exclusion of Frank 'BOB' Silva. Then again, CGI featured prominently in the latest teaser...
The debate might well be moot; when asked by GQ earlier this year, Lynch waved off suggestions that the events of the book will factor into the series. He also virtually disregarded the very point of it. "[TSHOTP] is his history of Twin Peaks," he insisted.
Lynch hadn't even read it - which, perhaps mercifully, renders the possibility of grey aliens and Richard Nixon remote.