Twin Peaks, Episode 3.16: The Return, Part 16

Twin Peaks: The Return, Part 16
No Knock, No Doorbell

With the end in sight, “The Return” revolves some plot points while branching off into some new directions. Thrown into a coma after shocking himself last time, “Dougie” sees a vision of MIKE and Dale Cooper's personality fully re-emerges. After saying his good-byes to Janey-E and Sonny Jim, Cooper begins to journey back to Twin Peaks. The Doppelganger is seemingly also headed in that direction. He says good-bye to Richard before continuing onward. Diane confesses to Gordon Cole and Albert what the bad Coop did to her before a secret of her's is also revealed. Other mysteries are afoot in Twin Peaks.

“Part 16” gives us the moment we've been anticipating all season. Agent Cooper is back, y'all. The show itself is all too aware of how momentous this occasion is. Even the character himself says “Finally!” After awakening, Cooper immediately leaps into action, in that hyper-active but hyper-focused way that fans are familiar with. As he peels off in a sports car, the yearning strings of “Falling” start up on the soundtrack, and fans feel twenty years of waiting fulfilled. Did the show need to keep us waiting so long? Maybe, maybe not. But it sure made that moment even sweeter.

As Part 18 fast approaches, “The Return” is also seeing that other lingering stories are wrapped up. In some ways, rather brutally. The pair of assassins that have been floating around the main plot for a while meet a grisly and untimely end. Dale bids adieu to Dougie Jones' wife and son, seemingly resolving their role in this on-going saga. Sometimes, I feel myself frustrated that these characters were introduced at all, just to be hastily cleaved away later on. Did these guys need to be involved at all? Did Lynch just really want to work with Tim Roth and Jennifer Jason Leigh? It's a question I've found myself asking all throughout “The Return.” Either way, it's done now.

“Part 16” also clarifies another dark fear that has been floating throughout “The Return.” Yes, Cooper's Doppelganger did rape Diane. Her tearful confession of these events allows for another stunning display of acting from Laura Dern. (In what feels like a direct continuation of her work from “Inland Empire.”) This won't help the case that David Lynch maybe has some hang-ups about women... But it does lead to another deliriously bizarre sequence in the Black Lodge. By now, it is clear that all those weird shorts Lynch did for his website, of playing around with Photoshop, was to prepare for “The Return.” That aesthetic finally finds a fitting home here.

For every question or hanging thread “Part 16” resolves, yet more are created. Richard Horne is also bluntly, brutally done away with. The exact circumstances of how and why remain mysterious. What the hell exactly has been happening with Jerry Horne is also still up in the air. Lastly, it soon becomes apparent that something very unusual is happening with Audrey. It would seem the entire Horne family is cursed. Whether or not the show is actually going anywhere with this business, or it's just more patches in the pattern of mysteries that is “Twin Peaks,” remains to be seen. But it sure ain't boring.

As I've said before, “Twin Peaks: The Return” has largely avoiding placating fans with easy nostalgia. When it has dipped its toes into that profitable pool, it's been well-earned. Such as Coop's proud return here. Or Audrey dancing on the floor of the Road House to her theme song once more. It's gratuitous, sure, but what can I say? I'm an easy mark for nostalgia and “The Return's” off-beat approach to it has made us wait for these glorious pay-offs. [8/10]