 
WHAT IS "TWIN PEAKS"?"Twin Peaks" is famous TV series created by David Lynch, who directed many unique films as "Blue Velvet" and "Wild at Heart." The story is located at a silent small town called Twin Peaks, and begins with a dead body of a student called Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) wrapped in plastic floating in the lake. Soon a police officer (Michael Ontkean) and a FBI special agent (Kyle MacLachlan) start investigation of the murder, and they have to meet with dark side of a beautiful small town. To my impression, Mr. Lynch may not be much interested in the murder itself. The murderer of Laura becomes clear easily in the middle of the series, and he spares much more time to describe evil side in the town, using many icons as "the red room," "the man from another space," "black lodge" and "white lodge." or that mysterious keyword... "Fire, walk with me." His interest in "evil" side of a small town is very much similar with that described in "Blue Velvet." However, because the TV series were ended suddenly in the 3th season, the great battle between good and evil in the small town was interrupted forever... The series became a big hit also in Japan. Many related books were published, enthusiastic TP fans appeared, and TV special programs were arranged before the last episode. Even travel tours to the location in United States were organized. Among Japanese TP fans, including myself, to memorize the phrase of the famous chant which ends with "Fire walk with me" in English was essential. But now eight years has passed, and I cannot remember the phrase any longer....though I still keep some books and VHS cassettes of TP. SO, WHEN DID LENNY APPEAR IN THE SERIES? Lenny appeared in episodes 10-14, playing a mysterious young man Harold Smith who possesses a secret diary of Laura Palmer in which important messages are written. Harold Smith cannot go out of a small house because of agoraphobia. He is afraid that it is filled with evil power outside and believes he should stay inside his house to be "pure." He spends his time reading books, raising flowers in the green-house, and hearing the stories of other people who visit his house. Laura, his most recent visitor and obsessed with the dark side of the town and herself - drug and sex, asked him to keep her diary to hide it from the unknown evil power she expresses as "Killer Bob." After her death, Laura's best friend Donna (Lara Flynn Boyle), who wants to find a murderer and sometimes interrupts police investigation, approaches him to get back the diary. Harold falls in love with her, but when he noticed Donna's real purpose, he commits suicide. Harold Smith desperately tries to protect himself from unclean evil world outside, though it is apparently impossible. And he fails. Though some TP fans dislike Harold because of his weakness, I think he plays one of the most important roles in "Twin Peaks," which describes difficulty to keep the balance between good and evil. For me, it was the first time to know the name of Lenny Von Dohlen. I was very much impressed with him to show the weakness, gentleness, pain and desperation of Harold Smith. He was just great.  BACK |