The dead woman TV trope vs. complex female anti-heroes

It's been 25 years since the launch of breakthrough TV drama, Twin Peaks -- the David Lynch-created show centered on the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer. The anniversary has culture critic Sarah Marshalldefending a grim thesis: all too often, it seems, the bodies of dead female characters are used as an entry point to stories they cannot tell for themselves.

Jian speaks to Marshall about why she says Palmer's ghost now lives on in other dead female characters -- like those on Law & Order, The Killing, and, most recently, True Detective -- and why lively, complex women still seem to confound both male and female TV audiences. 

The 'idea of Laura Palmer' 

Although the narrative centers on Palmer, Marshall notes she's not a protagonist or character, but rather an idea, or artifact.

"I think there's something very attractive about the dead woman as clue," says Marshall, adding that viewers are invited to project onto Palmer. 

"Viewers could really see her as they wanted to see her ... they could see the beautiful homecoming queen destroyed by darkness, or they could see a woman who was complicit in her own death, or they could see the town vixen justly punished, or they could see the young, beautiful martyr." 

None of these views can be contradicted by the deceased character herself. 

Hear the full interview by clicking on the listen button above.