Who Killed Laura Palmer In Twin Peaks?

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Twin Peaks” was an innovative TV show that touched on several subjects: power struggles at the sawmill, Tibetan spirituality, adolescent antics, extensive donut assortments, and the persistent hunt for quiet curtains… all revolving around the enigma of who murdered Laura Palmer, the cherished sweetheart and prom queen of the small town. Following almost two seasons filled with red herrings and detours, the audience finally uncovered the truth in Season 2, Episode 7 (“Lonely Souls”). It was then revealed that Laura’s murderer was none other than her loving father, Leland Palmer (Ray Wise), but under the control of a malevolent spirit called Bob.

In the Season 2 premiere, titled “May the Giant Be With You” or “Episode 8,” I was captivated to learn that FBI agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) had already deduced that Laura’s murderer was Bob (Frank Silva), a malevolent interdimensional force that takes pleasure in inflicting pain. In the episode “Lonely Souls,” it was revealed that Leland, a character I closely followed, was possessed by this demon, as his face twisted into the demon’s likeness while transforming into Bob and viciously attacking and killing Laura’s doppelganger, Maddy, portrayed by Sheryl Lee. The series later unveiled that Leland had been under Bob’s control since childhood, and during this possession, he abused his own daughter sexually, under the demon’s influence.

Until the major disclosure, the cast remained unaware of who killed Laura. Later, Wise, who himself had a young daughter, confessed to AV Club, “The idea of a man being the killer of his own daughter was repugnant to me,” further stating, “I didn’t want to be the murderer.

Twin Peaks teased a long list of suspects before the big reveal

As Agent Dale Cooper delved into the mystery surrounding Laura’s murder, the show hinted at numerous possible culprits, drawing from Laura’s distressing diary. Initially, Bobby Briggs, a smart-mouthed athlete and her official boyfriend, was under suspicion due to his explosive temperament and local reputation. His uncooperative behavior during police interrogations didn’t aid his cause either. Additionally, his clandestine affairs with the married Double R Diner waitress Shelly Johnson and drug-related activities didn’t help his case. The enigmatic James Hurley, a sensitive biker heartthrob, was also initially linked to Laura due to their secret relationship, adding another name to the list of potential killers.

Initially, a possible early suspect was Harold Smith (Lenny Von Dohlen), who was an agoraphobic friend of Laura’s that had a fondness for orchids and secretly recording people without their consent. Things began to seem suspicious about him when Donna (Lara Flynn Boyle) and Maddy found Laura’s private diary in his possession, and later, he took his own life amidst fragments of the diary. Dr. Lawrence Jacoby (Russ Tamblyn), a therapist with questionable ethics, also raised concerns due to his boundary-crossing relationship with Laura.

Connected to a local criminal network involving One-Eyed Jack’s, a brothel/casino, Cooper suspected the Renault brothers Jacques and Bernard, trucker Leo Johnson dealing drugs, and hotel owner Ben Horne, all of whom were under his scrutiny.

The death of Laura Palmer was part of the town’s underlying demon problem

The television series “Twin Peaks” initially appears to be a typical murder mystery, but as it unfolds, it delves deeply into supernatural horror themes. Special Agent Cooper’s receptiveness to mysticism and the supernatural makes him an ideal FBI agent for this investigation, as he starts to interact with the ethereal forces present in the Twin Peaks forest (and the enigmatic owls). Through his visions and relationship with his former partner, Windom Earle (played by Kenneth Welsh), Cooper discovers the White Lodge and Black Lodge, two extraordinary, otherworldly realms representing good and evil.

In the mysterious Black Lodge, malicious entities such as Bob, who thrive on human misery (known as “garmonbozia”), and what seem to be sinister doubles dwell. This place is where language often flows backward, spirits communicate in enigmatic riddles, and time seems to function differently than in the world humans know. It appears that Bob and his wicked counterpart, Mike the one-armed man (Al Strobel), originate from the Black Lodge. Although Mike later transforms into a helpful spirit by cutting off his tattooed arm as an act of penitence, the arm itself takes on a life of its own as an evil force in “Twin Peaks: The Return.

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2025-05-26 21:30