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

6. Bobby And Shelly Are No Longer Together

Twin Peaks The Return Part 11 Becky
Showtime

It's hardly surprising, really; Lynch and Frost have laughed while they f*cked with our cherished memories of the original series. Those who 'shipped for Dale Copper and Audrey Horne were punished with the very real threat of rape and subsequent demonic offspring. This brutal pillaging of the source material has both informed the plot and reinforced the grisly thematic weight of the series.

As Bobby - sat in the opposite side of the RR booth, our first indication - is ushered in to intervene in Becky's marital drama, we discover that their money is also kept separate from one another. As Shelly embraces Becky, Red, Twin Peak's new drug merchant, approaches the window. This triggers Shelly's inner teenager; she seems to have been illuminated. The passage of time, as we are reminded constantly, is as ruthless as Mark Frost warned us it would be. Bobby and Shelly's young love is dead. Bobby mourns it with uncharacteristic but welcome restraint.

It is a performance both winning and reassuring from Dana Ashbrook, who has previously only been asked to emote melodramatically at the memories of his dead teenage girlfriend and dead father. It's difficult to get a true gauge on Bobby's reaction because there is much to be read into his silent expression: regret; apprehension; even guilt.

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 current Undisputed WWE 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!