Finally, as Twin Peaks’ third season enters its seventh hour, it finally feels like the show we wanted it to be. It is now recognisable as the series of old, with original characters doing things of relevance, more of the mystery unravelling and a wonderful performance by Laura Dern.

I’m going to guess that if you’re reading this review then you’ve already seen Episode 6, which means you know who Laura Dern’s character is? If not, look away now. Yes, she is the Diane that Cooper used to dictate his reports to. A previously unseen presence, she’s now embodied as Laura Dern, and she’s not happy. Why exactly is she so belligerent towards Albert and Cole? Why is she so bitter and angry? A bravura sequence between the Blue Velvet co-stars is arguably this hour’s finest moment, complete with Silence of the Lambs-style gothic prison cell.

Elsewhere, Truman speaks to Truman about the ripped pages of Laura’s diary that Hawk was led to by the Log Lady, Andy makes a wrong call, and the Horne brothers come back to the fore. Even the Dougie Coop material is engaging, mainly because it’s led by Naomi Watts as wife Janey-E Jones and features wonderful encounters with cops and an assailant.

Verdict: I’ve acknowledged before that it’s not right to judge this show in the same way you might a regular series – it was made as a single 18-hour narrative and then carved into hour-long chunks. But after Episode 6’s dramatic moments and a welcome sense of familiarity with this instalment, and feels like the story is moving forwards and back on course to being ‘must-see TV’ again. 8/10

Nick Joy