10 Things We Learned From Twin Peaks: The Return Part 5

1. ...But The Old Dale Cooper Is Also A Long Way From Home

Becky Burnett
Showtime

The final scene of Part 5 disrupts the pattern formed in the previous four parts in that the credits roll over the image of Dale Cooper plaintively touching the foot of a statue outside his office building.

The figure is decked out in a Sheriff's hat, its armed hand ready to aim. Its meaning may present itself in time. But as Johnny Jewel's Windswept played on the soundtrack (again, the melody was Badalamenti's stock in trade, but purposefully orchestrated by an unfamiliar composer to reinforce Cooper's alienation), its haunting saxophone and minor key evoking feelings of elusive belonging, it was impossible not to project Harry Truman's face onto the bronze.

This followed an episode where Cooper took baby steps towards recovering both his humanity and his identity. Something within him - or illuminated for him - led him to deduce that colleague Anthony Sinclair (played with a subtle, domineering menace by Tom Sizemore) is on the take. "He's lying," Cooper said, channelling the preternaturally gifted agent of the original series pilot.

Still, it feels hopeless; Cooper is alone, embracing the statue as dusk settles. He has been there for hours, unable to reconcile his place in the world nor articulate the dormant memories within him.

It was heartbreaking.

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!