Twin Peaks: The Original or The Return?

I honestly can't decide right now. They are such different animals. The original Twin Peaks is definitely more comforting and traditionally "entertaining", but The Return is more interesting, dangerous, and pure. It's like Star Wars vs. 2001. I've watched Star Wars a hell of a lot more times than 2001, so it'd be my desert island pick, but I've spent infinitely more time pondering 2001 than Star Wars, and obviously I find it to be the more fascinating and accomplished work of art. I will say that, on an objective level, The Return is better (if only for the fact that we can't ignore season 2's unfortunate back-half, minus the finale). But as far as preference goes? The jury's still out until my GF and I complete our epic rewatch of the entire series. So in lieu of an answer to the question you asked, forgive me for instead naming the three definitive high points of the series: the S2 finale "Beyond Life And Death", the entire film Fire Walk With Me, and Part 8 of The Return. These are my favorite moments in the journey of Twin Peaks, with two huge honorable mentions going to Cooper's triumphant, tear-inducing reawakening in Part 16 and the soul-shattering, existential horror of that final scene in Part 18.

The original series for me. The Return is great overall, but like season 2 of the original was bogged down by a bunch of BS (though it was never close to terrible for me) the Return was bogged down by too many unnecessary characters, plotlines that went nowhere, and a lack of cohesion.

I guess I just prefer more linear storytelling. The original series is more magical to me. The mystery, the intriguing weirdness of it all, the frequent use of GOATalamenti's beautiful and haunting music... and yes, it definitely goes down easier.

I don't want to sound like I anywhere near disliked the Return overall after part 17 knocked my socks off and part 18 lit those socks on fire and then jammed them up my ass, but the original is just better for me. But like chris, I'm gonna rewatch it all back to back and see how everything shakes out... not for a little while though.

The Return, and it's not even up for debate. Not only does The Return not have Ben Horne's Robert E. Lee subplot, but it feels much more cohesive and ambitious than the original run.

The Return. Lynch and Frost have exceeded my expectations so far beyond where they were it's unreal.

Overall, I prefer The Return. The original series is marred by a horribly boring Wyndom Earle storyline and I didn't like the resolution to Laura Palmer's death at all. The genre crisis sometimes works wonderfully and other times it clashes so unattractively. But the original series has higher highs (and more high points) than The Return, the original's quality is just very inconsistent as a whole. Overall, I'm mixed on the first two seasons, but I confidently like the third.

The Return

The Return has higher highs- Episodes 8 and 16 are most likely the best of the series, other than the S2 finale which remains basically perfect and unmatched- but the original run is the kind of Peaks I prefer- quirky, offbeat, warm, full of personality and vigor. The Return is an absolutely masterful culmination of what Lynch's entire career has been building up to, and it deserves massive praise for its ambition, scope, artistry, and pure originality. But it doesn't have enough Dale Cooper, dammit. And that's what makes the difference to me.

Not an easy choice but I have to go with The Return.

Both season 1 and The Return are great overall, but season 2 became almost insufferable after episode 9.

The best episodes of The Return (1, 2, 8 and 17) are neck and neck with the best episodes of the original series (S1 Pilot, S1 ep. 2, S2 ep. 7 and S2 ep. 8).

The Original, easily. The Return lacks a strong narrative throughline. The original was more Blue Velvet, the return was more Eraserhead.