10 Things We Learned From Twin Peaks: The Return Part 11

In both his role as co-creator and his portrayal as Gordon Cole.

Cole in the original series was a hilarious but one-note punchline, one which worked precisely because it wasn't overdone. When Showtime President David Nevins let slip that Cole's presence in The Return was major, it raised slight suspicions of self-indulgence and broad comedy. Those have been blown away thus far in a blow-away performance by Lynch, whose Gordon Cole has evolved seamlessly into an integral part of the series' emotional core. That aforementioned sequence would not have been so unbearable, had it not threatened the existence of his character.

Even during a terrifying and mystifying sequence, the winning fluidity of tone essential to the series capped it off with a moment of hilarity - possibly the funniest moment in a series that is as priceless as it is spellbinding.

As Ruth Davenport's body is discovered - or planted - a woodsman creeps up on the car hosting Hastings. We cut to Cole and Rosenfield observing the scene. We hear the familiar, sickening crunch of bone as blood splatters all over Detective Dave Macklay's face. "Oh my God! Oh my God!" he screams, really putting the moment over the top. Until now, his stoic detective has only spoken in detached monotone.

Still, it's Cole who steals the scene. As the camera lingers on Hastings' halved head, brain remnants and all, Lynch answers a revolting question so obvious as to not even be rhetorical with a hilariously unnecessary "He's dead."