That god damn trailer's more popular than Uncle's Day in a whorehouse!

Pilot - opens up everything; the most interesting atmosphere; Mike and Bobby are genuinely menacing; Scotty and Joey; the whole Roadhouse scene; Harriet Hayward; and best of all Sarah's loud crying. It's perfect.

Episode 5 - maybe the most essential episode. Slow and moody. Every character goes through an interesting twist, especially Bobby and the Log Lady; amazing writing all round from Frost; Jacques cabin; Jerry's rôtisserie heaven; and best of all the last sequence with Audrey - spying on Ben and Catherine, losing her mind, crying over Leland's situation and then ending up naked in Coop's bed. And the episode has the first mention of owls, I think.

Episode 14 - I like it too. Like everyone else. Not only is it the most disturbing thing I've ever seen, but it's also some of the most strangely touching, like Bobby's moment at the Roadhouse. And some of the funniest, like Mike's opening monologue and Nadine's "I'm so clumsy I can hardly believe" while looking at her hand.

Runners-up: 2, 3, 6, 9, 13, 29. 

"What credit card do you want to put that on?"
"Caash, prease."

Another 2, 14 and 29 here. Although, among those, I would put them in order: 29, 14, 2.

2nd tier: 8, 9, a lot of season 1,

Not a huge fan of the pilot. If FWWM counted as an episode it would replace ep 2 in the top 3.  

14, 16, pilot?!?  Fuck that shit!!!  Pilot, 14, 16!!!

Got to be...

1) The Pilot - A brilliantly done and engrossing introduction to the world of the series. Stands well as a compelling hour and a half drama in it's own right.

2) Episode 2 - The very best execution and combination of the series' drama, humour, and other-worldly elements. Jerry and Ben's antics. Albert's introduction. Cooper's Tibetan rock throw. "Damn fine coffee... and hot!" Audrey's dance in the Double R. The extreme grief displayed by Leland. The dream sequence, probably the best-directed of anything Lynch has ever done.

3) Episode 29 - Lynch practically re-writes much of the series finale, and the result is a great set-up that restores the show to it's former glory and leaves it open for a (never-to-be) continuation. Lynch subtly brings many of the characters and tone back to how we know them best. We are again confronted by Laura's memory in the Black Lodge. The increasingly ridiculous Windom Earle is quickly gotten rid of. Audrey's again an unpredictable wild-card. And of course, Bob is again on the loose - in a brutally ironic twist.    

-- Gerry

the black dog runs at night

There's no way I could pick just three- especially with the first season.

But I would also go with 1.05 in terms of the one I've probably watched the most over the past 18 years.  It's almost impossible for me to separate it from 1.06 though since when I first saw it they were combined as a double episode when ABC reaired it before the debut of the second season. 

For a "regular" non-event episode, I love he first five to ten minutes of the first episode after the pilot- it sets everything just right.  Cooper hanging upside down, telling Trudy how he wants his breakfast, "Damn fine cup of coffee,"  his first meeting with Audrey, and then telling Harry he "really has to unrinate," and Truman finally getting down his doughnut.  Just a fantastic section.

I love 1.06 for the sheer brilliance of having Audrey smoke in the storage closet and it goes undetected by Battis and Jenny. That is a bold directorial choice that pays off. 

1/ 29

2/ 14

3/ 8

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

3. Pilot

2. Episode 3 - Just a ton of great moments and lines; it was centered on Laura moreso than the case. Dana Ashbrook (for however long he's there) is incredible in this one-- which reminds me, who made the brilliant decision to slow-mo "you are a dead man, you're DEAD!" the second time around?

1. Episode 8

Uniquely... PILOT, 2, 14

InTwinPeaks.com

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper