Document Type
Article
Abstract
The Roadhouse scenes in Twin Peaks: The Return resolutely defy the conventions of serial television drama. From showcasing interminable bouts of floor-sweeping, to featuring lengthy music videos by little-known acts, to lavishing attention on the trivial conversations of seemingly random people, these scenes give significant time and space to stuff you just don’t usually see in a tightly plotted series. I suggest that these unconventional scenes are a feature rather than a bug. I argue that the Roadhouse scenes in The Return offer a therapeutic opportunity for viewers to become well-practiced at coping mindfully with feelings of alienation that arise from thwarted expectations—a skill as valuable for everyday life as for appreciating Twin Peaks.
Publication Date
2026
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Halteman, Matthew C. "The Roadhouse and Mindful Alienation: On Fearlessly Losing Hope in Twin Peaks’ House Away from Home." Supernatural Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Art, Media, and Culture, vol. 11, no. 2, 2026, pp. 44-54.