I've only seen the first 15 episodes (including the pilot) and the movie (you can count that as an episode) but my favorites so far are:

1. Zen, Or How to Catch a Killer (episode 2, featuring rocks and bottles, and Cooper's dream. The dream sequence is classic... this episode is so great... it is perfect Twin Peaks)

2. Lonely Souls (episode 14, featuring the white horse, "It is happening again", Maddy's murder, and the revelation of Laura Palmer's murderer. This one's a little uneven, there are some bad scenes, but the last fourth is the most amazing in Twin Peaks.... next to the part of the dream with the Red Room.)

3. Traces to Nowhere (episode 1, the one after the pilot. For me this and episode 2 are the best examples of what Twin Peaks is and why I love it so much.)

Please post your favorites.

Be careful what you stumble upon here having not seen the series all the way through..there is so much to see , I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemies to know the end before having had a full uninterupted viewing of TP in its entirety!!!!!!

My favorite episode / episodes have got to be #15 (not sure if I got the # right)

Of course "It Is Happening Again" followed by the next episode revealing Laura's killer and that amazing moment in the road house with the old waiter!

finally the two know to man #28 and #29 back to back....I haven't been the same since.......

I love in FWWM when Bobby and Laura go to meet the dealer and Bobby kills him.  There is something sweet and disturbing about it all at once.  Plus, I think it is the first and only time that we actually she Laura and she appears to be real happy.  I know she's drugged up but she's laughing and making fun of Bobby when he is freaking out.  love it!

I like the whole FWWM and all TP episodes.But my most favourite are the last episode,the ep.when BOB killed Maddy,the episode when Cooper had the dream in the red room with Laura and LMFAP,the episode when the Giant appeared in Coop's hotel room,Ronette's vision of Laura's murder in the traincar(one of the best ep. for me)

Episode 2 The dream sequence, rocks and bottles, "Rocket science!" etc, etc.

 Episode 1 "Fellas! Don't drink that coffee! There was a fish in the perculator!" (Great moment)

Episode 7 So much great stuff happens in this episode I can't even count the great moments, but it can't match up to 1 or 2

Note: I've only seen the pilot through ep. #15 

Back in the last version of the board, we had such an awesome set of threads -- every week we collectively voted half the episodes off the island, until we arrived at the "best" one of them all. Those threads were great fun, and had a lot of good reading in them... If there's anything I'd like to see brought over someday, it would be those.

Short version: The Pilot; 2, with baguettes, Tibet, and The Dream; 7 and 8, the end of the first season and the beginning of the second, and it's hard to believe two episodes so thoroughly different are consecutive episodes of the same program; 11, a solid episode that begins with Leland's confession to killing Jacques; 14, everyone knows why, and 16, every bit its equal; and finally (heh) 28 and 29.

11... Interesting... I consider that to be the weakest episode in the show (up to the point I've seen which through ep 14). BTW Leland didn't confess to killing Jacques, he pleaded not guilty; ergo he gets bail.

No,Leland confessed he killed Jacques.He was just depressed and because of his bad condition and mental problems they let him go.But he was ordered not to leave Twin Peaks.

Back in the last version of the board, we had such an awesome set of threads -- every week we collectively voted half the episodes off the island, until we arrived at the "best" one of them all. Those threads were great fun, and had a lot of good reading in them... If there's anything I'd like to see brought over someday, it would be those.

 I second this.

Ep2, 7, 8, 14, 16, & 29 are probably my all time favorites.

Thanks guys :-))) It's a nice thing someone remembers my threads and thinks kindly of them. Pretty encouraging :-)

I don't remember the story of which episodes won over which now (not exactly) but let me think... The final four consisted of two from Season 1:  the Pilot and Ep.7, and two from Season 2: Ep.14 and Ep.16

I then set the competition so to choose each Season's best. Pilot won over 7 and 14 over 16. In the Grand Finale Ep.14 not surprisingly won, and in the Little Finale - Ep.16 was voted better than 7.

Both finals unfortunate to me :-(

For me Ep.16 is the favourite one, followed closely by Ep.8 (the Season 2 opener) and Ep.29, the last one. Of course, I admire Ep.14 but only the second half of it (or less for that matter - not before they get to the Roadhouse); the rest of the episode is very average IMO. I once wrote a long post on why I find Ep.16 better as a whole than 14. I still have it somewhere, it was a pretty decent comparing review as far as I remember ;-)

I also have a rather controversial opinion about the Season 1 episodes. IMO every next epioside is better and better - apart from the Pilot, which is unconquered at least till Ep.6. And yes, what I'm saying is also that (the overrated) Ep.2 is one of the worst in Season 1. Worst, what a stupid word. The strength of Season 1 is that nothing is even close to average there, everything is at least VERY GOOD. But Ep.2 is only very good while some others are better (Eps. 4-7 for sure).

And there we are - in Season 1 all episodes are at least very good, in Season 2 not necessarily, not to mention Season 3 (you know what I mean by Season 3, don't you? ;-)).

But the very best episodes ARE in Season 2 :-)

Back in the last version of the board, we had such an awesome set of threads -- every week we collectively voted half the episodes off the island, until we arrived at the "best" one of them all. Those threads were great fun, and had a lot of good reading in them... If there's anything I'd like to see brought over someday, it would be those.

I second, I think they should be brought back.

Wow... your opinion is very different from mine BOB1. I think everything great that is great about Twin Peaks is apparent in Episode 2... I've always considered 4-6 to be very good and solid, but exposition, and slightly disappointing after eps 1 and 2. The pilot's good, but I feel that there are better episodes. I see what you mean about episode 14, it's a little on and off, though there are two really great scenes before the finale... Mike in the Great Northern at the beginning, and Ben's confession to Audrey. I also love Ben's arrest scene "I'm going out for a sandwich".

The whole movie is just GREAT!I like all the series;)

I second, I think they should be brought back.

 I already seconded, thank you very much.

I believe you are Third-ing missy

Ditte: well, I'm in love with a board member

The episodes directed by David Lynch, Tim Hunter and Caleb Deschanel pretty much display the cream of the Twin Peaks crop.

I've always considered 4-6 to be very good and solid, but exposition, and slightly disappointing after eps 1 and 2. The pilot's good, but I feel that there are better episodes.

 Here's my take on the Season 1 episodes:

Pilot * * * * * (for five)

Flawless; like someone said, introducing Cooper a bit later is perfectly balanced with introducing all other characters; the Pilot is perfect in its role - as a series pilot (that's why releasing it in video with a stupid ending was the worst idea in the world - the Pilot is completely worthless as an independent movie - why all those characters?)

Humour mixes with mourning and moments of thrill (Leo's truck!) in a way that makes all those elements even stronger.

BEST MOMENT: Leland on the phone - the police arrives - Sarah nervous - the voicelss conversation between Harry and the lady pointing to Leland - everything is clear without a word...

Ep.1 * * * 1/2

Good but it's but an introduction. Going on with all the threads showed in the Pilot, only this time less in detail - the problem is that nothing really happens in this episode. The good thing is that it's one of the funniest. but Twn Peaks has always meant more than funny to me. Much more.

BEST MOMENT: I'd choose Harry I really have to urinate over the percolated fish because the whole exposition of this scene is perfect: everyone lazily eating and Coop endlessly talking... and suddenly the so mundane problem ;-)

Ep.2 * * * *

The supernatural stuff, it gets much more interesting later on. The dream sequence is so meaningful because it is for the first time and very much unexpected. In itself though it's not such a good scene. Rockthrowing is much better, still it's just another funny moment, pretty meaningless. The thing is that all the supernatural stuff in Season 1 isn't really taken seriously... that makes this episode so of out of place for me.

BEST MOMENT: the meal at Horne's... You wouldn't like to be there, would you? :-( A truly moving scene.

Ep.3 * * * *

Still the problem remains that nothing has yet happened, we don't know anything about THE NIGHT of Laura's death yet, don't even have a clue how complicated the Packard mill plot is. Actually, we are still being introduced to the characters... This episodes has more great scenes than the previous ones but the problem this time lies also in the fact that this is a funeral-related episode and everything else is ppushed back. Pity cause that's where the Bookhouse Boys are introduced... and ALbert has a fight... and we find out for sure about Laura's drug addiction. But it's somehwere too far.

BEST MOMENT: ooh, there's one truly fabulous, who knows if not the best in all the 7 episodes: the last scene. Coop and Hawk's so abstract talk about soul, the music... and Leland :-(

Probably the worst Season 1 scene is there unfortunately - James and Donna at the gazebo. Useless.

Ep.4 * * * * 1/2

Now it starts. Things get more tense, we start losing control over the situation development, the mysteries thicken. Now all threads are in perfect balance, everything is equally important, so each scene is equally interesting. The very well shot ending scene got me to wonder veeeery strongly what the hell is going on there. And there's Ben and Leo... And suddenly the police are getting much much closer to the truth about THAT NIGHT than holding the barking youngsters in arrest ;-)

BEST MOMENT: technically it's the way the Jacques (Bobby in fact) pursuit scene is immediately followed by Ben meeting Leo at the river: the jump from one scene to another is a masterwork. But from a more profound point of view perhaps it's the shooting training scene and the look on Cooper's face after he tells about his old love.

Ep.5 * * * * 1/2

As good if not better. The most poetic episode thanks to a highly styled way of filming - but succesfully! The trip to the forest is in the centre of things of course and we come to the first witness of THAT NIGHT. But how about the most fantastic opening by the singing Icelanders? :-) And why, what strikes me the most about this episode is the triple cliffhanger!

Still, as the BEST MOMENT I'd probably mention Bobby's breakdown in front of Jacoby... because that's where we really get deep into things about Laura.

Ep.6 * * * * 3/4

It's almost perfect - even though seemingly nothing much happens here, it's all a preparation for the next one. The strength of this episode I think, lies in its atmosphere. It's more than ever dense and takes me completely. Even if things that happen are not essential, you can feel it in the air that something really big is coming! Like the Catherine insurance scene... or Audrey's cherry stem... nothing much but how captivating!

BEST MOMENT: another strong candidate for the Best Season 1 Scene Award - Waldo telling the story... already dead... shivers!!!

Ep.7 * * * * *

Now that is a killer. An episode that mostly consists of noting but cliffhangers. Some might say it's too much - but not for me! Most of all, though, is the way it is filmed. Oh my, what an atmosphere again. That's what lets the episode win even after many times you've watched it before. Heavy, dense atmosphere, like in a room where there's too little air and you don't feel secure. Totally fascinating. Add to this the sheer aesthetic beauty of such shots as Nadine's blanket filling the whole screen or Jacoby's eye turning into the roulette.

BEST MOMENT: well, lots to choose from. Hmm. Everything at Jack's is splendid. The Josie/Hank scene has unexpected power. Later, Leo... a good one! Midge Jones! Not originally perhaps, but my personal best would be the bite the bullet baby story.

There you go.

And the most outstanding thing is that after these 8 brilliant pieces of filmmaking there comes an episode which can in no way fit into the five stars system and has to get six...!!!

The episode when Maddy was murdered is my favourite one.Jeez,it's so creepy!I can watch it over and over again,without getting bored,very well done!

And also the black lodge sequence in the last episode!Very nice,the actors,the speech backwards,the music,which sounds...everything is great!

Beyond Life and Death is my favourite. It's just undescribable.

The Path to the Black Lodge is my 2nd fav, simply brilliant. Especially the ending when the mayor says: "This isn't right, there's something wrong here..." and the empty shots of the streets, the hotel and etc. Simply brilliant. And the very first appereance of the black lodge entrance. Not too obvious.. the pool and the tree circle kinda slide into our view. The ending part of this episode is like a prelude to what is soon to take place. The very final shots of the pool and the reflected certains on it, supported by the music theme from the "Dance of Dream Man" track left me staring with an empty expression a few minutes after the episode. I had been soon to experience the final episode, which i remember from being a kid, was something... well as i said in my brief description of my favourite ep. - undescribable.

The episodes directed by David Lynch, Tim Hunter and Caleb Deschanel pretty much display the cream of the Twin Peaks crop.

 if there must be only one, episode 29 is best, by its tone, pace, and resolution 

The one where they go to Lydecker's Vet Clinic, and the llama looks Cooper in the eye and snorts.

  my personal best would be the bite the bullet baby story.

 Creepy as hell. I always wondered why they didn't show that moment in FWWM

The pilot for me .... where the adventure starts.  Waiting for the reactions to Laura's murder is heart stopping. I especially love the principal's speech. 

Plus the anticipation of nightfall in TP that day.  How that changes so much so suddenly.  

oh, my ratings of the Season 1 episodes! I've forgotten all about them.

And I like them! Some time has passed but I can't see what I could to change there.

Perhaps someone for a counter-rating?