Twin Peaks – The Return: Complete Hour by Hour Guide

NOTE TO READERS – These weekly posts are meant to recap what happened (SPOILERS AHEAD) and provide conversation starters for fans to comment and share theories. Do not read if you have not watched this week’s hour(s) yet.

HOUR THIRTEEN

“Everybody’s worst nightmare…”

While the Dougie and Bad Coop plotlines were advanced somewhat (Mr. Todd’s nefarious dealings were revealed through a weeping Tom Sizemore after he couldn’t bring himself to let Dougie drink the coffee he had poisoned…while Bad Coop had an epic arm wrestling match that lead to a man face-punched to death and henchman Ray finally biting the dust)…the rest of Hour Thirteen played on the “It’s happening again…and again…and again…” theme.

Mrs. Palmer drinks and smokes in an endless loop watching an eternally skipping replay of an old boxing match, Lynch holding the shot so long you half-expect Killer Bob to pop out around the corner at any creeping moment…until you realize the only creeping is the unfathomable sadness of an empty, despondent, grief-stricken existence. Meanwhile, poor Audrey, whose pleading with Charlie last week seemed borderline comical, was simply depressing this week, our once tenacious girl seemingly reduced to a repetitive soap opera trope: the hysterical, half-crazy wife. Mention of a “story…about a girl at the lake” offered some hope of mystery and connection to other grander themes…or could be just more nonsense.

At the Double RR, we learn Norma has franchised her diner, while the corporate guy romances her, and we finally see poor Big Ed…still right there…pining.

At the Roadhouse, we’re treated to every fan’s worst nightmare…James Hurley doing a grating rendition of that nauseating tune he composed with Donna and Maddy all those years ago, “Just You,” while a lovestruck Renee (Jessica Szohr, emoting in silent, misty-eyed swooning Lynch style) watches on from the normally chatty drama-filled booth. Lest viewers lose their dinner, Lynch then closes with the saddest image of all…

Big Ed, alone and eating take-out soup from the diner, while trucks pass his iconic but dark and desolate Gas Farm. If there’s a sadder truth than Big Ed and Norma still being apart after all these years, I dare you to name it.

Until next week…

Commentary by David H. Schleicher

What say you, fellow Peakers? What did you think of the infinite sadness hanging over Hour Thirteen?