10 Brutal TV Moments You Won't Believe Were Allowed To Air
4. Twin Peaks - Leland/Bob
The ugly truth of Leland Palmer ranks among TV's most seminal moments. The classic series dove hook, line and sinker into horror territory with the reveal that Laura Palmer's father is possessed by the demonic entity Bob. When Maddy Ferguson, one of the series' most likeable characters, strolls down the stairs, she winds up brutally murdered by a depraved monster.
A spotlight appears and time itself seems to slow down as Bob taunts and chases the scared senseless Maddy around the house. After a doomed escape attempt, Maddy's face is smashed into ruins and she quickly succumbs to her wounds. Lynch's mastery of surreal creepiness lends a deeply unsettling atmosphere to this grim, mean-spirited moment. Instead of being a spooky plot reveal, this scene's a haunting meditation on pure evil and victimisation.
The whole thing's made even heavier by the almost psychic effects it has on the rest of the cast. Bookended by depictions of other characters feeling the impact of Maddy's tragedy, it rounds out on the classic line "It is happening again line". Arguably the peak of the original series, this moment remains terrifying today.