10 Things We Learned From Twin Peaks: The Return Part 15
6. Marvel Made Marvellous
Freddie Sykes' superhero origin story, while framed nicely enough in Part 14 - possibly or purely because it rescued James Hurley from a perpetual state of adolescent anguish - did trigger concerns of dreaded Deus Ex Machina which requires expert care to pull off, even in this new predestined reimagining of Twin Peaks.
A gory and disturbing Roadhouse scene cut through the Marvel leanings and London tahn joviality with a grisly, literal punch. It was another tonally dissonant head-scrambler. The Roadhouse MC introduced ZZ Top's 'Sharp Dressed Man' - just the song, not a live performance - with the hilariously implied suggestion that he does that every time, before dad-dancing his way off the stage.
We then cut to James inappropriately hitting on Renee and receiving a fist in the face from husband Chuck for his troubles. We saw the first indication of reduced cognitive function; James stuttered through his spiel in the apparent midst of an episode - rather like the prolonged one experienced by Dougie Jones. Freddie rescued him from a further beatdown by punching Chuck and his rushing friend with his trusty glove. The effect was sickening; Chuck's eyes lolled in the back of his head as if he suffered an instant and profound brain injury. The dried spittle attached to his lips was also gross - reducing fears of a black and white superhero origin story with a scene which undermined the very premise of one.