10 Things We Learned From Twin Peaks: The Return Part 4

6. Robert Forster Is Sublime

Evil Cooper Twin Peaks
Showtime

The omission of Michael 'Sheriff Harry Truman' Ontkean from the cast list broke hearts when it was released last year.

Ontkean wasn't the best actor. His grief over Josie Packard's death was as badly written and hammily performed as any moment in the critical malady that was mid to late period season two. But the chemistry he shared with Maclachlan's Dale Cooper was a beautiful thing; Ontkean embodied the heart of the series so well that his earthy performance was a significant factor in the show's indelible legacy.

Forster, much like Watts, has been asked to - and definitively has the chops to pull off - a ludicrously hard challenge. He has stepped into Ontkean's shoes, and his introduction acts as the punchline to the broadest joke Lynch has cracked yet. Lucy Moran's inability to comprehend mobile phone technology literally floors her. It's pure slapstick, but Forster (as Frank Truman) reacts with a withering but forgiving gesture. Almost instantly, he channels Ontkean's gentle, stoic spirit.

His work opposite Michael Cera, who we'll get to, is even better. His desperate attempt to chance some pseudo-philosophical nonsense to get him to shut up is priceless ("May the road rise up to meet your wheels").

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!