Can we divine any clues from The Returned’s symbolic, atmospheric opening credits?
Louisa takes a look…
Spoiler warning: do not read if youre not up-to-date withThe Returnedepisode five.
American Horror Storydoes it.Bansheedoes it.Game of Thronessort of does it.
DoThe Returneds opening credits contain clues?
Can we assume the dam is a Hellmouth-pop in hotspot for supernatural activity?
Others maintained the beasts deaths were payment in a demonic exchange for the return of the human dead.
Others still that they died drinking lake water contaminated with zombie juju…
Suicide, its suggested by the towns resident animal coroner, was the actual explanation.
No, this lot pulled a Mr Costa, and terrified of the unnatural goings-on, chose death.
Well, perhaps not all that ordinary.
Was it really Victor that day on the road, or a vision of him?
How long has he been back from the dead?
Most urgent of all, why and how does Victor differ from the other Returnees?
), or they may be part of the story.
If its the latter, then who are they?
What started Serge on the path to stabbing and eating women?
Was he once a carefree rural canoodler?
Its her grave, presumably, sporting the bouquet of flowers.
Just how are the dead and the power station connected?
Puddle child
Look at that puddle.
Reflected in that puddle are two children playing, but only one to cast the reflection.
Is the other a ghost kid?
A symbolic representation of the shadow of childhood?
A spooky reminder that the Returned are an eldritch bunch?
Or all of the above?
Simon the outsider
The appearance of Simon outside his ex-fiancees new home typifies his outsider status.
Prior asked, If Julie is the Appetiser and there were other victims after her, who killed them?
Serge was in the grave…. Who indeed?
This shadowy figure perhaps?
The only sticking point with the theory is a matter of translation.
We dont know if were looking at one or both twins, and at which ages here.
That seems a step too far into DisneysThe Parent Trapterritory forThe Returned, but the ambiguity is certainly there.
There we have it then, the hints and symbolism inThe Returneds opening credits.
Tell us what weve missed below.
The Returned continues on Sunday the 14thof July at 9pm on Channel 4.
Read our spoiler-filled episode reviews,here.
