Ep 5. The One-Armed Man

Co-created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, Twin Peaks is a mystery drama television series that premiered on ABC network in April 1990. The show became a cultural phenomenon with its surreal storytelling, intriguing characters, and bizarre events that unfold in a small town called Twin Peaks. The first season of the show consists of eight episodes, with the fifth episode titled The One-Armed Man.

The episode starts with a bang, literally. A gunshot can be heard, and the camera zooms in on a pile of rocks where something is hidden. But before we can figure out what it is, the focus shifts to Agent Cooper (Kyle Maclachlan) and Sheriff Truman (Michael Ontkean) interviewing a one-armed man named Gerard (Al Strobel) regarding his connection to the murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). Gerard claims to have information that could lead to the killer, but he is also a suspect himself. Cooper, being the astute FBI agent he is, senses that Gerard is holding back some vital information and tries to coax it out of him.

Meanwhile, we see Laura's best friend Donna (Lara Flynn Boyle) and James (James Marshall) trying to locate a secret diary that Laura maintained. They believe that the diary could contain some incriminating evidence against her killer. Their search leads them to a seedy motel where they meet a strange woman named Teresa Banks, who was murdered a year ago under eerily similar circumstances as Laura. This discovery is a significant turning point in the series, as it establishes a link between the two murders and hints towards a more elaborate conspiracy at play.

Back at the sheriff's station, Cooper and Truman are joined by a local psychiatrist, Dr. Jacoby (Russ Tamblyn), who has been treating Laura Palmer for her psychological issues. Dr. Jacoby reveals that Laura had confided in him about a mysterious figure called BOB, who she claimed was haunting her dreams and eventually led her to her death. Cooper and Truman connect this with a new piece of evidence that was discovered in Laura's stomach – a small piece of paper with the letter 'R' on it. This leads them to a cabin where they find a diary page with the letter 'R' and a few other cryptic clues that only add to their confusion.

The episode ends with a series of strange events that leave the audience both intrigued and bewildered. A shady figure known as the Giant (Carel Struycken) appears before Cooper and delivers a cryptic message in a dream. Shelley (Madchen Amick), a waitress at the local diner who is also the wife of a violent husband, is seen getting beaten up by her husband again. And finally, a bizarre dance sequence takes place at the Roadhouse bar, where a little person dressed as a cowboy and a giant woman perform in front of a mesmerized audience. These surreal moments epitomize the essence of Twin Peaks – a world where nothing is as it seems, and reality seems to blend with fantasy.

The One-Armed Man is a pivotal episode in the first season of Twin Peaks. It takes the narrative several steps forward by linking the murders of Laura and Teresa and introducing new characters who play a vital role in the series. The episode's surreal and dreamlike quality is typical of Lynch's signature style, and it keeps the audience guessing about what's real and what's imaginary. The performances of the cast are outstanding, particularly Kyle Maclachlan's portrayal of Agent Cooper, which earned him critical acclaim and a Golden Globe award. The episode's cliffhanger ending leaves the audience eagerly anticipating the next episode, hoping to unravel the twisted web of mysteries surrounding the town of Twin Peaks.