A major feature of The Return has been drawn-out scenes of stilted conversations and Part 12 really pushes the viewer’s tolerance on this front. This episode had enough scenes of people awkwardly conversing in rooms to rival Revenge of the Sith! For an episode titled “Let’s Rock,” which not only implies action but is also a huge freaking deal in Twin Peaks lore, this feels like a prank. (I should note that I believe these titles are informal ones selected by the network; as far as I know, all the episodes are officially just called “Part X.”) So, again, I enjoyed this episode, but I think it’s more just because I’m so on-board with being in this world and learning more about it. In other words, my enjoyment of this episode was more a result of my appreciation for the series overall. The episode in and of itself was, I must admit, a bit of a disappointment. Last week was all developments and action. Part 12 is just the opposite: all conversations, but hardly any new information (or, at least, little information that we can get much out of at this stage). Read and download the full Den of Geek SDCC Special Edition magazine here! Then, of course, we have Audrey. I’m so glad Audrey is “okay.” I half expected her to be in shock and hospitalized from giving birth to the spawn of evil or something, but she’s apparently just stuck in a weird, unsatisfying marriage to a guy named Charlie (Clark Middleton, who I like a lot just from his brief appearance on Louie). It’s bizarre but completely keeping with the way The Return functions that Audrey’s reintroduction is unceremonious and abrupt. Suddenly she’s just there, cursing her head off at a guy in a study. Again, I’m very happy to see Audrey in one piece and Sherilyn Fenn’s exasperated reactions are all well-acted and funny. But what the hell do we make of this scene? Richard, who we all assume is Audrey’s son, is on the lam after having killed a kid, but Audrey apparently knows nothing of this, her attention focused instead on a whole slew of people we’ve never met (Billy? Tina?? Paul??? Chuck?!?). At least some of the dialogue here is awkwardly hilarious, with Charlie referring to his work as his “allotted duty” and Audrey explaining “dreams sometimes harken to the truth.” There’s only six episodes to go, Lynch! How long can you do this to us? How long?!
