10 Things We Learned From Twin Peaks: The Return Part 15

2. "...And Everything Will Proceed Cyclically."

15 Mr C
Showtime

The original series of Twin Peaks began with Josie Packard applying makeup in a mirror. It ended with Dale Cooper's doppelgänger smashing his face into one.

The discombobulated Dale Cooper assumed the identity of Dougie Jones after exiting the Black Lodge via electrical socket. In Part 15, he seemed to bookend his temporary existence by frying his brain in one with the aid of a fork.

Brilliantly, he was woken from his slumber having heard the words "Gordon Cole" uttered in a replay of Sunset Boulevard. That was the inspiration behind Cole's name in the first instance; now, in a fabulous moment of meta happenstance, it may well be the inspiration behind Cooper's reemergence. It was as if Cooper underwent a further split. the Cooper within scrambled to the surface of his conscious mind. Dougie, meanwhile, was drawn to the plug socket by the side of the TV set. When the camera first panned towards it, the feeling was akin to when Cooper disarmed Ike The Spike in Part 7: just pure, unadulterated, fist-pumping triumph. Cooper was whole again. Or was he? Our understanding of the in-universe mirroring logic was undermined by a physical feeling of unease.

The scene faded out with a feeling of terror; Cooper had, after all, electrocuted himself. This is an 18 hour film, Lynch protests - but this was as effective a cliffhanger as you will see all year.

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!