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Twin Peaks Recap “The Return: Parts 3 and 4”

By Kelly Shanaphy

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After a confusing yet breathtaking reintroduction to the world of Twin Peaks, “The Return: Parts 3 and 4,” begins to tie the storylines together.

While this installment of Twin Peaks is still full of mysteries and unusual scenes, it does take some major steps forward for the season. Before we dive into the recap, a round of applause is necessary for Kyle MacLachlan was fantastic in this episode playing Agent Cooper, Evil Cooper, Fake Cooper, and now new to this world Cooper.

Not many actors can play different variations of the same character so well and it’s a reminder as to why MacLachlan is so beloved by Twin Peaks fans.

Agent Cooper starts off “The Return: Parts 3 and 4” still stuck in a limbo of sorts where he meets a woman with her eyes sewn shut. The scene is beautifully shot and while it’s importance isn’t obvious yet, it will most likely come into play later on in the season.

Before he gets sucked into what looks like an old radio in the wall, Coop does get to see the spirit of Major Briggs who tells him “Blue Rose,” before floating away like the giant Jor-El head in Superman 2. He takes that information and the impending arrival of a new woman’s mother to escape through the radio while we wonder where he went.

Image Credit: Showtime

Not very far! Apparently, Evil Cooper has been hard at work creating his own mystical doppelgänger to offer up to the Black Lodge rather than return himself. Dougie Jones is the spitting image of Coop if he dressed in terrible suits and rocked a terrible hair cut with a beer belly. After sleeping with a prostitute, Dougie begins to throw up while Evil Cooper does the same.

Unfortunately, Dougie ends up vomiting the Black Lodge poison which lands him in the Red Room along with The Man From Another Place who is disgusted to see him. The poor Jones lets the owl ring slip off his finger before he ceases to exist leaving behind only a gold pearl on the chair.

Dougie’s loss is our gain because Agent Cooper comes flying through the light switch to reappear on Earth! Sadly, it’s not the Coop we came to love but rather a small piece of him because this guy can barely function in society. He’s apparently trying to re-learn every word and function which is shown from his inability to speak or even put on his shoes. Dougie’s prostitute, who doesn’t recognize that this is a different person, drops him off at a casino where he proceeds to play on the slot machines.

Image Credit: Showtime

The casino is angered after Coop wins thirty mega jackpots thanks to some help from a floating red room over the winning machines. He finds his home thanks to the chance encounter with one of Dougie’s childhood friends but is greeted with an even bigger problem.

Naomi Watts makes her triumphant debut in “The Return: Parts 3 and 4,” as Dougie’s befuddled wife who has been looking for him for the past three days. She goes from completely furious over her husband’s disappearance, since he missed their son’s birthday (whose name is Sonny Jim…), to ecstatic when she realizes how much money he actually won at the casino.

With his “family,” Coop begins to learn basic functions like eating breakfast, going to the bathroom, or just flashing his signature thumbs-up. However, at dinner, he does spit out his coffee (the horror!) and leaving the viewers wondering if this new version of our favorite FBI Agent doesn’t like it or if all of his memories finally came flooding back.

While things may finally be looking better for our hero, Evil Coop has run into a bit of trouble in “The Return: Parts 3 and 4”. After getting into a car accident after he vomits, his bodily secretion sends a deputy to the hospital and lands him in jail. This draws the attention of Albert and Gordon Cole who have desperately been looking for their old friend.

Image Credit: Showtime

After getting debriefed from Denise (David Duchovney returning to an iconic role) who has become the head of the FBI, Cole is off to South Dakota to save his friend. Upon conversing with Evil Coop in the interrogation room, both Cole and Albert are positive that something isn’t right here, something that they don’t understand. While they agree that “Blue Rose” has something to do with this entire turn of events, the episode ends before we know who or what that is.

Meanwhile, in the town of Twin Peaks, the sheriff’s department is sifting through old files trying to discover what’s missing. Also, the new Sheriff Truman finally makes his debut and the audience learns that the old Harry is very sick. He isn’t the only new face in town because Michael Cera also shows up as Lucy’s and Andy’s son Wally Brando.

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He delivers a condescending speech about his life on the open road that invites everyone watching to simultaneously roll their eyes and laugh at him. However, “The Return: Parts 3 and 4,” delivers the best surprise by having Bobby Briggs appear as a deputy at the station now. It’s wonderful to see a fan-favorite on-screen who was once a troubled kid who has now turned his life around for the better.

Dana Ashbrook also delivers the most emotional scene of the episode when he breaks down in tears at the sight of Laura Palmer’s picture while her signature theme song swells in the background. It’s a reminder to just how her murder was/is truly the heart of the show because of the darkness that flows right below the surface of any idyllic place.

What does that mean for Twin Peaks? Will Laura Palmer be making a more significant appearance this season past the Red Room or flashbacks? “The Return: Parts 3 and 4,” opens up a whole new slew of questions but at least gives the season more focus now that  Coop is back on Earth.

The Man From Another Place reveals that only Coop or Evil Cooper can survive now and one must die for there to be peace. Hopefully, next week carries on the momentum from this two-part episode and continues to offer up answers as they pose new questions.

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