Networks of Twin Peaks: the Dale Cooper Effect

TL;DR

This paper analyzes character networks in Twin Peaks, revealing a phase transition phenomenon called the Dale Cooper Effect, which marks a structural shift in the network centered around the protagonist.

Contribution

It introduces the Dale Cooper Effect, a novel network phenomenon demonstrating a phase transition in character networks of TV shows.

Findings

Identification of a phase transition in character networks

Dale Cooper as the median character marking the transition

Distinct topological network structures before and after the transition

Abstract

In this work, we analyse character networks in the cult TV show Twin Peaks. In the small-scale community network of Twin Peaks we discovered a new storytelling network phenomenon we called the Dale Cooper Effect, a phase transition in network structure. It is a sharp demarcation between the two statistically and topologically distinct networks of characters, where the point of demarcation is the protagonist himself (Special Agent Dale Cooper) introduced as a median character.