[meowzero]

You can enjoy it without having to really focus on the details. Seasons 1-1.5 was good. The last half of season 2 is terrible. You can slog your way through it if you want to get all of the lore (and the movie Fire Walk With Me). Season 3 is my favorite, which takes place 25 years later and seems to have references to other Lynch's films.

[Waterluvian]

Thanks. I’m sold on trying then.

Based on your comment about season 2, is it safe to infer that I can skip it entirely and still enjoy 3?

[Hyzer]

Check out this cheatsheet https://i.imgur.com/884kfHR.jpeg (no spoilers)

Basically, there's an important plot thread that wraps up midway through season 2, and then the quality of the show drops off a cliff immediately. I'd say all the red and yellow episodes are very skippable for casual viewing (technically there's new elements in those episodes that get referenced later, but I would argue that they are very minor, and the boring sitcom/soap opera shenanigans will just prevent you from getting to the better stuff later on). Lynch came back for the finale of season 2 which is one of the best episodes, so watch that, followed by the movie Fire Walk With Me, and then season 3.

Season 3 is pure gold and a much more cohesive vision than the first two (all 18 episodes written and directed by Frost and Lynch), so it's very much worth navigating the prior unevenness.

[evo_9]

For what it's worth, I've never heard the opinion that the 2nd half of season two was bad. I don't view it that way, I mean there are parts of season 2 that are bad/cringeworthy for sure (the living room song with Hurley, Donna and Laura's cousin is brutal), but the 2nd half is intense, surreal and necessary to understand the full story through season 3.

Honestly I'm baffled by that comment, and my circle of artist friends is pretty deep and this is not a common opinion at all.

To each their own, of course; I would watch the show and decide for yourself.

[meowzero]

Season 2 is very important, especially the first half. I feel that one episode of season 2 is probably one of the best episode of the whole series. But yeah, trying to get through the second half is a chore though.

[epilys]

It's "bad" but it sets up some important details you'd need to understand the context of a lot of stuff you see afterwards.