10 Things We Learned From Twin Peaks: The Return Part 11

8. A New Opening To The Otherworld

Twin Peaks The Return Part 11 Becky
Showtime

As we cut back to South Dakota - unlike in Part 10, these cuts are not as sudden, which allows for an insidious, lurching and brutally effective atmosphere of tension - Tammie Preston briefs William Hastings on his activities on "the site" to which he has returned.

"Think there's one in there Abert?" Cole asks. "One", it is revealed, is a swirling vortex. Cole approaches a run-down outhouse, gun in hand. Electricity cackles in the air. The camera cuts back to Hastings, terrified, ramping up the unease. We then receive an answer to possibly the first mystery The Return posed: who, in the first "In Production" teaser, appeared at the end of it, and in what context? It is Cole, looking skyward, hypnotised. A vortex pierces the sky, rotating black entities in its axis line. "There were so many people," recollected Hastings in Part 10. These possible multiples of woodsmen beckon Cole upward. A terrifying split second reveal sees three of these woodsmen appear on a stairwell.

Cole's physical form disappears and rematerialises in and out of view - an inverse image to the woodsmen creeping into "our" plane of existence. Albert snatches Cole backwards just as his image seems to fade entirely.

This is the second portal introduced to the supernatural mythology in Peaks lore. It is testament to Lynch's genius that it is equally unsettling as Glastonbury Grove.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!