When it comes to the shows we watch on TV each week, how much nostalgia is too much?
JACOB POLITTE STAFF WRITER
Perhaps now, more than ever before, the entertainment industry is relying heavily on nostalgia to turn a profit, particularly when it comes to television. In the last few years alone on the small screen, we’ve seen numerous shows from years-gone-by that I personally have enjoyed, which have been revived in some capacity: The “X-Files”; “Twin Peaks”; “Murphy Brown” and “Roseanne,” just to name a few. For some of these shows, the critical reception has been positive. In particular, I thought David Lynch’s revival of “Twin Peaks” (subtitled “The Return”) that aired over the summer of 2017 was some of the best and most thought-provoking television that has aired this century. “The Return” was a commentary on many things. One of those things was the topic of nostalgia. Talking about “Twin Peaks” is hard, as there is a lot to unpack. Specifically, the passage of time is a big part of the plot of “The Return.” The show came back after over 25 years off the air, and the characters and story had aged in real time. Many of the characters from the show original run returned, far older but seemingly still stuck in place from where things left off when the show ended. Toward the end of “The Return,” a long deceased character that the show revolved around, Laura Palmer, is resurrected via time-traveling shennaigns. Laura Palmer’s death was horrific and her life was tragic, but she was at peace when it ended. Her resurrection, while an emotional moment, completely undoes the fabric of the show. It changes everything, but not necessarily for the better. The show’s final scene reinforces this perspective. Palmer lives, but as a result, she must relive her trauma. The saga of Twin Peaks doesn’t have a happy ending and the saga of Laura Palmer doesn’t either. Lynch’s work in 2017 completely defied audience expectations, and his ending for “Twin Peaks,” among other things, makes sure to convey that no matter how hard you try, you can never truly go home again. “The Return” is a commentary on nostalgia, and the dangers of reliving the past. And while “The Return” is fantastic television, it also made a solid case for never returning. Despite this, the string of reboots and revivals continues. In some cases, it’s not for the best. “The X-Files” was arguably one of the greatest shows on television, but came back to mixed reviews and ended unremarkably, forever damaging the show’s legacy. The revival of “Roseanne” was highly anticipated, but interest soon waned and the show crashed and burned when its lead actress got herself into hot water with her online antics; even still, a spinoff was commissioned featuring the rest of the cast. There is plenty of good, exciting and new content on television. But far too often, networks are returning to the past instead of having faith in the future. Sometimes, it’s better not to live in the past. You can only tell the same story so many times.
