Peak fandom: Nostalgia, frustration and the shifting orders of fandom in Twin Peaks: The Return

On October 6, 2014, Showtime announced the return of Twin Peaks in the form of a miniseries by original creators David Lynch and Mark Frost that would be a continuation of the well-remembered 1990's series. After a few false starts (setting up a series of flows and delays that would come to characterise 'Twin Peaks: The Return'’s narrative as well), Twin Peaks: The Return debuted on May 21, 2017 with an eighteen-episode run. While Peaks has maintained its fans over the years (including a growing body of academic literature) it has been both derided and praised by television critics and the broader viewing public in equal measure. It was therefore seen as something of a risky investment by Showtime. Coming at a time when television revivals are becoming a fixture on streaming services, this presentation explores how Twin Peaks: The Return addresses its shifting orders of fandom, engages with and frustrates moments of fan service and simultaneously indulges in moments of nostalgia while broadening its scope and reach. As such it offers an analysis of how fan audiences will factor into the future of streaming services and how success is now understood.