Or was it Wynhdham? Weirddamn?

A character as hated than loved by many, I really like Earle. I don't love him the way I love Ben or Coop, but I think he and Kenneth Welsh's acting provided a lot to the show in that final part where, let's face it, there was stupidity everywhere (Lanas, Little Nickys, etc.).

What I love is that we hear about Earle far before that we first meet him... Even in that first look in Coop's face when he learns 'his former partner flew the coop, Coop' we see how Earle is and even more that it means something dreadful for Coop. What happened in Pittsburgh is slowly revealed and we have a picture in our mind about that psychopath even before we see him... The moment that happens, with Leo, the chessboard, the wind, is classic...

Does Welsh's Earle live up to the expectations we have? Well, I think he does... He's genuinely evil, creepy and yeah, the guy is nuts, mad as hell... It is very disturbing when we find out his main reason for being in the town (the search for the BL) as is the way he taunts Coop about Caroline's death, killing a guy named Powell, with the mask, the wedding dress, etc. And of course I really think he and Leo had wonderful chemistry, like a comic duo, yet also a nightmarish relationship...

Finally, I believe it was wonderful to see in that final ep. that no matter how evil Earle was, how perfect his mind, there were greater power of evil and that he was no match for them... As BOB said "He is wrong"...

That is all for now...

Windom Earle was a very disappointing character for me. The way he was set up was brilliant, and I was ready for him to be wonderfully evil, and one of my favorite TP characters. But he turned out to be an almost instant disappointment. He's just so silly and over the top. Kenneth Welsh's performance was just campy (although I do like it in the scene with him and Annie in ep 29, the only scene that helps to redeem the character). His scenes were stupid and corny most of the time (at least I think so) and didn't fit in with Twin Peaks at all. And the disguises.... this guy reminds me of nothing so much as Count Olaf (who was fine in Lemony Snicket's universe, but does not fit in with David Lynch's). He was scarier offscreen.

Gordon!Thank you for this great thread!I was waiting for it so long,and here it is,at last!

Windom Earle is one of my favourite characters in the show!You said pretty much about him,so I don't have too much to add.I love Earle!Maybe most of this love is due to Kenneth's performance in TP.Earle is a genius!Evil genius!His image is creepy,I like the scene when Cooper says to Harry that Windom Earle never makes mistakes,and he murders by rules and has a perverse sense of honour!The subplot of Earle is one of the best in the show.The fact that even a brave and clever man like Cooper is afraid of Earle,says a lot about Windom and the great power he has.I also like his sense of humour,in the scenes with Leo and Major Briggs.

Windom Earle. One of the best villains. Ever.

I don't think anyone could have done a better job playing the man than Kenneth. And Gordon---I too love how Earle is introduced. That was some dark brilliance, there. And right again--he and Leo had some wicked chemistry together. The look on Coop's face at hearing Earle was loose from the loony bin is frightening---as you said, you get goosebumps even before you meet the character. A nice buildup indeed.

I think the Windom Earle/chess arc is one of the best---it added such a raw layer of mystery---I was actually afraid for Coop--especially after how he reacts, as mentioned above. Taunting him with the remembrances of Caroline---leaving that tape---he was IN Coop's room!! Yikes!!!! I was intrigued by how we learn of the partership between Dale and Earle...right up until he went 'boy-yoy-yoing'.

The scenes with Earle in the Black Lodge are gorgeous. As Coop mentions when finding out that the Black Lodge is what Earle is after, "That's a frightening thought." Frightening indeed.

Some favorite scenes...of course the one where he is introduced...with the wind, the chessboard awaiting play. Awesome. There's something about the scene when Coop and Annie are in the boat, then walking by the gazebo...the pure evil/hate in Earle's eyes as he watches on...wow. And also, when Briggs is taking a walk in the woods, and Earle and Leo come out dressed as the horse...and he shoots the dart at Briggs, then watches with calm glee as he falls to the ground, humming a song. It's that sarcastic evil that makes Earle such a great character.

And though the scene where Coop describes Earle after finding the Powell boy in Harry's office is more about Coop, it adds a new layer of fear. How he knew about the stab wound---since he suffered one himself---as Ivalinda mentioned---no mistakes. And when Coop tells Harry about Earle---"Windom Earle's mind is like a diamond...it's cold...and hard...and brilliant. You don't know what he's capable of Harry...you don't know."

It's a frightening image to see Earle stabbing Cooper...dragging Caroline's body to lay in his arms...it still makes me wonder about his possible early connection to BOB---when Leland isn't Leland anymore---"I have this thing for knives...just like what happened to you in Pittsburgh that time, huh, Cooper?!"