10 Things We Learned From Twin Peaks: The Return Part 16

9. ":-) ALL" OR; The Preservation Of Mystery

Twin Peaks The Return Cooper
Showtime

After Mr. C despatched of the trap via his own son, he sent another message to Diane: ":-) ALL".

Crack the code, solve the crime: what was meant by 'ALL'? Diane responded by sending him a list of numbers - the full coordinates scrawled on Ruth Davenport's arm? Did "ALL" refer to every member of the Blue Rose Task Force, the emoticon acting as code for kill? Did "ALL" refer to the unlocking of Diane's full memory bank? Evidence supported all three of these theories as the hour rocketed forward with the continued, propulsive momentum of a thus-far incredible third act. It's refreshing, given the level of exposition elsewhere, that The Return has left some mysteries dangling. We still know and probably will never know the identity of Joe McCluskey, the significance of the red balloons that have popped off the radar, the fate of the Drugged Out Mother, the significance behind the FBI's man in Mexico...

Some were concerned that The Return would put an end to the amateur sleuthing that sustained the cult fanbase in the wilderness years. Blue Rose explanation excepted, the only reassurance of the end of Twin Peaks lies in its on and offscreen status as a continuing story.

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!