So, Cooper sweeps into Twin Peaks to solve the mystery of who killed Laura Palmer... along the way, he also busts up a drug ring, and becomes involved in arresting an international criminal who shot him (Josie).

I mention these last two facts to demonstrate that Cooper does exercise his FBI authority on criminal matters unrelated to Laura's death.

Now, here's the big question: Why, after Cooper discovers that half the town was banging an underage girl, does he have Harry arrest any of these men? Ben Horne, Jacques Renault, Leo Johnson, not to mention what seemed to be most of the rest of the male populace of Twin Peaks, were all positively identifies as having had sex with a seventeen year old girl. Did Washington have some kind of different statutory rape statues, or was Cooper letting a bunch of guys off?

Did Washington have some kind of different statutory rape statues

16 as age of consent.

QUOTE:

"...half the town was banging an underage girl..."

Wow. I so totally don't get it, yet the incongruity has me laughing my ass off!

Leland, I've got bad news.
The doc says it's either a heart attack or a bad connection.

Truman: Wow, is this jacket wool? It's really nice.

Leland: Harry, if you'll excuse me, I'm kinda in the middle of something right now -personal call.

Leland, I've got bad news.
I must disconnect you before WOPR starts World War III

Just looking at Harry's trademark gormless face makes me realise that he is quite a dull character, or at least the way Ontkean plays him is emotionless. Albert is the only guy he has any beef with and even when he stands up to him it seems a bit forced, as if the audience is meant to be applauding the good guy when really Albet is a much cooler character. I was never convinced that Josie would really love him either. Unless you use the argument that she needs someone to 'ground' her. Does anyone else agree?

Oh God, for a second I thought the wig thread had been resurrected... phew!

About the Harry comment, I think he's a really necessary "straight man" for the show, and exceptionally played by Ontkean. Watching the show again, I realized that for some reason when I thought of the great cast and characters on the show I always left him out. It's probably because he's not quirky, over the top, or victimized, cruel, or particularly distinctive looking like the rest of the characters. He's just a normal guy. It's a thankless job, but Ontkean did it well, and I see him as one of the most likable, consistent, and human characters on the show (though he will never make my top 5, he's the kind of person you'd actually want to know in real life). I certainly don't see him as emotionless, he is exceptional in episodes 23 and 24; his climactic confrontation with Cooper in 24 was extremely moving. He's certainly no James.

I've only watched episodes 20-29 once so perhaps I will review my criticism of Harry. You're right, though,  that with nearly every other character being so quirky there's no way that that police station would be able to run without at least one sane character! Is acting a nice guy really that hard though?

On a side note, after watching episode 19 recently, I found that part with Andy visualising Little Nicky with devil horns as a kind of thought-box above his head to be just horrible. How did anyone let that get in the show!? It just jars with everything else, even in a sub-par episode.

I like him, and think he's a needed ingredient.  It's a really hard part to play, one that will never go noticed or get awards, and Otkean does it very well.  The only scene I cringe at with him is the drunken Bookhouse scene.

I like him, and think he's a needed ingredient.  It's a really hard part to play, one that will never go noticed or get awards, and Otkean does it very well.  The only scene I cringe at with him is the drunken Bookhouse scene.

Yeah, I agree. There has to be a Watson. He does what is required of him and does it well.

Really? That's one of my favorite scenes of his...

btw yes, that Little Nicky scene was terrible and jarring, the absolute worst moment of the entire show.

I love the scene with the Sheriff and Andy in ep. 29, when they are waiting in the woods for Cooper to come out of the BL. Of course, it's drastically different from the scripted version of the scene, which is terrible.

This thread brings to mind something I've always found odd in TP, but understandable or more than understandable....mmm, better that way... It's how the criminals or suspects in TP aren't further investigated... Catherine's and Ben's involvement in the fire, Shelly's insurance fraud, Bobby's and Mike's drug businesses, Josie, etc.

Laura told James that Bobby killed a guy and he 'forgets' to mention that, Coop knows Mike or Bobby were probably the ones who put the cocaine in James' bike but doesn't do much about it, Catherine's "I ran out of tuna fish" scene is just plain ridiculous, it looks like if Harry didn't really care about her obvious involvement in the arson (he knows about the two books, knows that Leo started the fire,...).

It's like because they are so focused in Laura's case they sorta forget about the rest, maybe not completely, but... And when Leland dies Coop's next move is to buy a house, go fishing and dress like a lumberjack... But as I said this is probably better that way, it screws continuity, plots are forgotten, etc. but if by giving screen time to a possible investigation of Catherine and Ben they'd forget about Laura, BOB, etc. that'd been unforgivable...

BTW, doesn't James comment that he has to testify in Evelyn's trial?? I so much wanted to see that!

Not really...

Cooper's 'Law Enforcement' is something that comes up whenever I speak with anyone at length about the show.  There are a whole bunch of things an FBI agent wouldn't/couldn't do in there, but as for the other suspects, it seems pretty basic- if he doesn't have cold hard evidence, he can't make any moves (but no, I'm not forgetting the fact that he makes his first arrest based on a dream, a vision, and Tibet...).

But conversely, another thing that bugs me/the people I've spoken to is that he seems willing to get involved with everything Truman brings up- the drugrunning, Josie, (and I thought Truman did bring up the mill conspiracy with him...?) - all before they seem to have anything to do with his case.  Seems to me a by-the-book agent would just brush all this off.  But we're not talking a by-the-book agent by any means, I suppose.

& on the subject of Truman- I thought he was a totally charismatic character.  Ontkean's performance supported the show thematically- a serene man on the outside who had tumultuous, interesting things going on deep down.  Not to mention he could kick ass and please the ladies.  I just wish they'd chosen to  explore his backstory a bit more, eg. his previous relationship with Hank.

I like him, and think he's a needed ingredient.  It's a really hard part to play, one that will never go noticed or get awards, and Otkean does it very well.  The only scene I cringe at with him is the drunken Bookhouse scene.

 I cringe at the drunken Bookhouse scene too!  And every time he's making out with Josie I want to hurl......he's like an out-of-control octopuss!  GACK!

Well, I find the "drunken Bookhouse" scene to be brilliant... Not only shows IMO Ontkean at his best, but also a very interesting layer in his relationship/friendship with Coop... I love how Andy is shocked and scared, he's never seen that man before that way, how Coop is nice but really tough with Harry and that final embrace. Not only he's devastated because the woman he loved died, but he doesn't understand (he says so himself) WHY and even more doesn't understand why she was that way, keep in mind that everything he suspected about her became facts for him moments before she died when he pointed the gun at her...

Harry= nice guy, decent cop.

Cooper= nice guy, horrible FBI agent,