Dreams, death, and disturbing revelations in Twin Peaks episode 14

Well, that sure was an episode of Twin Peaks! Just when you think you have this series figured out, Lynch and Frost throw something totally surreal and unexpected at you. This week we meet up with Sarah Palmer as she deals with a creep at a bar, and Bobby finally leads Hawk and co. to the mysterious Jack Rabbit’s Palace. As for Cooper, he doesn’t show up in this episode at all. Maybe next week is when he finally snaps out of his mindless Dougie daze.

What were Truman and Cole talking about?

Gordon Cole (David Lynch) calls Frank Truman (Robert Forster) in Twin Peaks. The sheriff tells him about the torn out pages of Laura Palmer’s secret diary that Hawk (Michael Horse) found hidden in a bathroom stall, and that they mention the existence of two Dale Coopers. Cole seems to understand the significance of this, but tells Truman that he can’t explain further. You may remember Hawk and Truman reading the pages in episode 7, where they discover a line about ‘the good Dale’ being trapped in the Black Lodge—a message relayed to Laura Palmer by Annie Blackburn in a dream in Fire Walk With Me. Cole is already aware of the fact that the Cooper he spoke to in South Dakota isn’t the real deal, and seems to have a revelation. Perhaps that the real Dale is out there somewhere. Which, of course, we know he is.

Are Diane and Janey-E really related?

Cole asks Diane (Laura Dern) if Cooper mentioned Major Garland Briggs the last time they saw each other, and she says she doesn’t want to talk about that night. Back in episode 7, when Diane confronted Evil Cooper, she hinted that something unpleasant happened between them, and seemed genuinely distressed. But she relents and confirms that, yes, Cooper did mention Briggs. Albert Rosenfield (Miguel Ferrer) reveals the details of Briggs’ death to Diane, and tells her about the wedding ring they found in his stomach. The one engraved with “To Dougie, love Janey-E.” Diane is shocked, saying that she has a sister who lives in Las Vegas whose nickname is Janey-E, and who has a husband called Dougie Jones. But they’re estranged and haven’t spoken in years, which may explain why she didn’t realise Dougie was the exact double of her old friend Dale Cooper. Or perhaps this is all part of some scam to get close to Dougie. Evil Cooper wants him dead, remember, and we have evidence that Diane may secretly be working for him.

What’s the significance of Cole’s dream?

Cole tells Tammy Preston (Chrysta Bell) and Albert about a dream he had. He was sitting outside a cafe in Paris with Monica Bellucci. Cooper was there, but he couldn’t see his face. Then Monica said “We are like the dreamer who dreams and lives inside the dream.” A quote from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, a Hindu scripture, that Lynch has used before in reference to his film Inland Empire. Then Monica says “But who is the dreamer?” and asks him to look behind him, where he sees his younger self in Philadelphia on February 16, 1989. This is the scene from Fire Walk With Me where Phillip Jeffries (David Bowie) points at Cooper and says “Who do you think that is there?” A detail that seems to stir something in Cole, possibly related to Truman’s revelation about there being two Coopers. Like any dream, this sequence is open to interpretation, but it seems to be confirming to Cole—even though we’ve known from the beginning—that Evil Cooper is a double.

Why was Chad arrested?

In this week’s most satisfying moment, scumbag deputy Chad Broxford (John Pirruccello) is finally caught out and arrested. He attempted to cover up Richard Horne’s hit-and-run in episode 6 in exchange for money, and is likely involved in other corruption in Twin Peaks. Truman says they’ve been aware of his activities for months, and they take his badge and throw him in jail. In a series that resists satisfying resolution at every opportunity, it was nice to see this happen.

What happened at Jack Rabbit’s Palace?

At long last, Hawk, Truman, Andy (Harry Goaz) and Bobby Briggs (Dana Ashbrook) make their way to the mysterious Jack Rabbit’s Palace. They’re following directions left by Major Garland Briggs, which were hidden in a metal tube in a chair in his house. They reach the ‘palace’ (actually large tree stump where Bobby and his dad would hang out when he was a kid), and head 253 yards due east, discovering smoke, crackling electricity, and a naked, eyeless woman.

This is the same woman (credited as Naido) that Cooper encountered in ‘the mauve zone’ in episode 3, shortly before he was ejected from the electrical socket in Nevada. Then, suddenly, a swirling vortex appears in the sky, similar to the one Cole was hypnotised by in episode 11. The cops stare at it, dumbfounded, then Andy disappears.

He appears in the black-and-white room from the very first scene of The Return, face to face with the giant (Carel Struycken), who says he is ‘the Fireman.’ It’s unclear where this place is supposed to be, but many think it’s the White Lodge—the opposite of the evil Black Lodge—which the presence of the benevolent giant backs up.

A strange object appears in Andy’s hand, and he looks up towards a skylight, which shows him a series of images. He sees the woodsman asking “Got a light?” and the creature ‘giving birth’ to Bob. Then a high school girl screaming, having just learned of the death of Laura Palmer. An image of Laura flanked by the angels from Fire Walk With Me. Himself and Lucy. A telephone. An electricity pole.

Then he reappears at Jack Rabbit’s Palace with Naido in his arms, saying they have to get her to safety because men are trying to kill her. And he asks Truman, Hawk, and Bobby not to tell anyone about what just happened, although their memories seem to have been conveniently wiped somehow. It seems the Fireman has gifted bumbling Andy, of all people, with some important knowledge.

Who is the Fireman?

They’re played by the same person, but it’s unknown whether the Fireman and the giant from season 2 are the same spirit. But both have one thing in common: they want to help people. Fire is, of course, a powerful force in Twin Peaks, related to evil Lodge spirits like Bob. So the name ‘the Fireman’ is another clue that the giant is a force for good. We last saw him in episode 8 sending a glowing orb bearing Laura’s face to Earth in response to Bob’s birth. He seems to be some kind of protector, and Major Garland Briggs’ directions led Truman and co. directly to him, which can’t be an accident.

What’s the deal with the green glove?

James Hurley (James Marshall), now revealed to be a security guard at the Great Northern Hotel, sits and talks with friend Freddie Sykes (Jake Wardle). Sykes tells him a bizarre story about when he lived in London, was sucked into a vortex, and met the Fireman. The giant told Sykes to buy and wear a green gardening glove, and that the hand wearing it was somehow granted super strength. Then the Fireman told him to move to Twin Peaks to fulfil his destiny. Why the Fireman was so desperate for a cockney with a super strong punch to be in Twin Peaks remains to be seen, but I’m certain Sykes has a vital role to play in whatever’s coming in the next few episodes. Probably involving punching.

What the hell just happened with Sarah Palmer?

Sarah Palmer (Grace Zabriskie) orders a Bloody Mary in a dive bar and is harassed by a trucker, who makes crude advances at her. She tells him to beat it, but he keeps pressing her, getting increasingly aggressive. Then she suddenly removes her face—similar to how Laura did in episode 1—and reveals a black void with a smiling face. Then she bites a huge chunk out of the trucker’s neck, killing him.

When Laura removed her face, we saw a blinding white light. Possibly representing purity and goodness. But when her mother did it, it was the opposite. Has Sarah been possessed like her husband Leland was? Until now it seemed like she was just psychologically damaged by the events of the original series, but this suggests something much more sinister is going on with her. When the trucker falls to the ground she screams and plays dumb, saying he just fell over.