1. Kyle MacLachlan as Agent Cooper/DoppelCooper/Dougie Jones
A great reprisal of Dale Cooper first and foremost, despite the large time gap he hasn't lost a step as good ol' Coop, and despite limited screentime overall kills it in the role through the last three episodes. As Doppelganger Evil Cooper he's genuinely quite terrifying as the stoic, cold and yet decidedly odd and even kind of hilarious (his reaction to his son's death is darkly hilarious, as is his arm wrestling antics). His best work though, was as Dougie Jones, or to be more exact Cooper as Dougie Jones. It's amazing minimalist work that does so much with a few choice words and facial expressions, making for perhaps the most endearing television character of all-time, and is equal parts hilarious, poignant, heartbreaking, just everything. Just an incredible performance.
2. Naomi Watts as Janey-E Jones
She is as essential to the screentime devoted to Dougie Jones being such a delight as MacLachlan. I love how she makes a role that's technically much more lighthearted and breezy than what you'd expect a Lynch/Watts character to be, yet makes her battle axe wife feel such a lived-in and loveable character. Her interactions with Cooper are always hilarious and sweet, but soon become genuinely moving, and it's weird yet brilliant how she manages to make the romance work so well with her performance. On her own she's just a great comical presence, particularly in dealing with old Dougie's money lenders, and powerful in the emotional moments, and I'm happy that Lynch gave her character the happy ending she deserved.
3. David Lynch as FBI Deputy Director Gordon Cole
Gordon Cole has always been great, but Lynch takes it up a notch here. Whether it's admiring Mount Rushmore on the printed page, trolling Albert and Tammy, dealing with his overly sensitive earpiece etc. Gordon's as funny as ever. When he bridges it with the more serious and dramatic moments however, he's just as great, perhaps even greater, in giving a real gravitas to the odd and fascinating world of the FBI investigations.
4. Miguel Ferrer as FBI Agent Albert Rosenfield
Ferrer and Lynch are simply a great team together, both in the comic and dramatic sense, there's a great scene where Gordon's 'sometimes I really worry about you Albert' really is quite heartbreaking. On his own, of course, Albert is just the snide delight we all adore, and I think he actually got most of the biggest laughs of the series whether it's through his little asides ('when's season 2 coming) and of course his love for Gene Kelly. We'll all miss Albert.
5. Jim Belushi as Bradley Mitchum, Robert Knepper as Rodney Mitchum
Loved these new additions to the series, as they were genuinely menacing as the angry and potentially violent casino owners, but soon unraveled that to reveal really, just two really loving and pretty goofy brothers who have hearts of gold. Belushi and Knepper make for an amazing team, every reaction and line they have together is perfect, and they add so much to every scene they're in whether they're the focus or not. I particularly loved their scenes in the desert with Dougie, dessert with Dougie, or even just when they're sitting around at home shooting the breeze. Loved them, loved them.
6. Harry Dean Stanton as Carl Rodd
Though his role is small, Stanton is simply amazing in the role of Carl Rodd. He gets some of the biggest laughs with his '75 years I've been smoking lines' and his strangely moving invocation to one of his tenants to stop giving blood, but also absolutely kills it in his big emotional scenes, most notably his reaction to the tragic accident, which for my money is among his top 5 acting moments of his career.
7. Grace Zabriskie as Sarah Palmer
The build-up to get to her is actually quite long, so when she finally shows up Zabriskie's role is made even more challenging, showing just where and how Laura Palmer has descended to after her personal tragedies. She's absolutely mesmerizing in showing how the years have worn on her, as well as her grief and a certain anguish have made her into something truly mysterious and truly terrifying. I'm not going to lie, that scene in the bar made me pause the series and take a bit of walk. Amazing work.
8. Laura Dern as Diane Evans
I don't love her work as much as some but I still love it a lot, and it was inspired to feature the long unseen Diane as a character. She starts off as an enjoyably abrasive 'fuck you' presence and her dynamic with the FBI agents is great, then when more is revealed about her character she becomes a really tragic and chilling presence, her revelation scene is particularly great. As the 'real' Diane she's also really good. I do think this is a great performance, just not as great as the 7 above her.
9. Don Murray as Bushnell Mullins
Ol' Battling Bud is just the best, I kind of love how he starts off a bit like John Gielguld in The Elephant Man, a strict but reasonalbe boss, then takes the character down such a unique route. I love every scene he has with Dougie as he shows such patience and understanding for the fellow's strange condition, and makes their relationship strangely heartwarming, and kind of hilarious even. Bonus points for his portrayal of Mullins' boxing past through his physical movements.
10. Catherine E. Coulson as Margaret Lanterman (the "Log Lady")
Haunting work that is an inspired and tragic touch to the series, and one simply cannot commend Coulson enough for her bravery for taking on the role once again. She carries that same sort of kooy otherwordly presence she had in the original series but tempered by the wear and age of her being. Every scene featuring her feels so heartfelt and poignant, and I actually think her final scene, despite the tragic connotations and sadness, manages to be kind of heartwarming in its own way as we see how the Log Lady has seemed to find peace with her past, and what she meant to the community of Twin Peaks.
11. Dana Ashbrook as Deputy Sheriff Bobby Briggs
Oh Bobby Briggs, how you've changed. There's still a hint of that old manic and crazy Bobby in some of his more emotional reactions and physical tics, but overall Briggs Jr. has become a changed man, and Ashbrook's performance carries that emotional maturity and desire to be a better person brilliantly. I love how despite Don S. Davis' passsing Major Briggs still feels like such an essential component of the series, and Ashbrook conveys that by showing just how much influence his dad had upon the road he's taken.
12. Michael Horse as Deputy Tommy 'Hawk' Hill
Great as Coulson is, Horse too is essential to the power of her scenes as Hawk's reactions to her phone calls carry such emotional power in themselves as well. Beyond that Horse is once again a great straight man to the other fellows in the Twin Peaks sheriff's department, I particularly love his reactions to Lucy and her 'bunnies' statement, but in addition also carries the beauty and mystique of Twin Peaks through his every word.
13. Everett McGill as Ed Hurley
I was a bit worried for a while about how long it was taking him to turn up, but no worries, Big Ed comes in the last half of the series, has about four scenes, and all four scenes are among the best the series has to offer. He's great at bringing that decency and powerful sense of genuine dignity to Ed, with of course his longing and heartache for Norma. Then in his amazing set of scenes in Part 15 he's just hilarious as always with Wendy Robie as Nadine, and makes for one of the most uplifting scenes of the series along with Otis Redding as we first feel so heartbroken, than so heartwarmed, by his reunion with Norma. Amazing arc and amazing performance.
14. Robert Forster as Sheriff Frank Truman
Ontkean's return would have been much appreciated, but I actually really loved how they handled his retirement, as Forster is a great new Sheriff of Twin Peaks. He carries that essential element of the straight man around the absurdity as per usual Forster style, and is quietly heartbreaking in any scene where he discusses his brother. Could have been a forgettable or even poorly conceived role, but Lynch and Forster ensure that Frank is a great substitute for Harry, a great character in his own right.
15. Tom Sizemore as Anthony Sinclair
Sizemore is just a brilliant ball of walking sleaze through every second of screentime he has as Dougie's less than savoury colleague. He's kind of the Dick Tremayne of The Return as just everything he does has that hint of pathetic sleaziness to it, and of course his final two scenes where he tries to poison, but ends up being moved and made to regret a life of bad decisions by a truly hardened and hilarious Dougie, so entertaining and gut-bustingly funny.
16. Russ Tamblyn as Dr. Lawrence Jacoby
Well Jacoby clearly hasn't calmed down in old age, speaking of which Russ Tamblyn has aged very well, anyway his whole storyline is just delightfully bizzare and something only Lynch can pull off. His Alex Jones-esque rantings and utterly bonkers salesmanship of his shit-shoveling shovels are some of the comedic highlights of the series, and I also quite loved his scene with Nadine where he shows a real sweetness of the old Doctor who for all his oddities is a genuinely helpful guy.
17. Matthew Lillard as William Hastings
He was a perfect Shaggy and here he's a perfect murder mystery culprit too. Lillard's gives such a haunting portrayal of a man accused of so many things he didn't do, yet has also been complicit in so much that terrifies and weighs on his soul. You really feel sorry for the fella and yet Lillard also manages to be kind of hilarious, in showing just how extreme the man's sorrow reaches, much to the amusement of old Albert.
18. Richard Beymer as Benjamin Horne
Well looks like Ben truly has become a better man, of course there's still elements of the greedy opportunist and philanderer we get to see here, which are all very entertaining, and he's a hilarious straight man in his brief scenes with his onscreen brother, as always. In his key dramatic scene where he is confronted with his grandson's atrocities though, Beymer is amazing in showing the regrets of the man, but also an innate decency that is really quite moving.
19. Harry Goaz as Deputy Sheriff Andy Brennan
Andy is just the same as always, and that's a great thing. I love every little comical moment he has whether it's showing his love for Lucy or arguing with her about a chair, his sheer enthusiasm at seeing Cooper again, and probably best of all his scene in the White Lodge which leads to him of all people becoming a true badass leader.
20. Mädchen Amick as Shelly Briggs
Though her storyline loses a bit of focus towards the end, she's consistently impressive. I've always liked Amick and she's even better than in the original series. She is terrific at showing how Shelly in some ways has grown up, but how in some ways she remains an immature teenager, and her emotional moments are particularly great. In her scenes with Seyfried and Ashbrook she manages to balance all these sides together in such a naturalistic fashion.
21. Eamon Farren as Richard Horne
A one-note scumbag and credits to him for absolutely nailing it. Farren is probably the most directly despicable character in The Return and he milks it for all his worth, and is actually genuinely quite terrifying in the scene where he invades the Horne household. He makes what happens to his character very satisfying, and I do also really like his scene with Balthazar Getty where he shows the slimy cowardice of the man too.
22. Amy Shiels as Candie
Small but memorable turn as one of the showgirls to the Mitchum brothers, she's so delightfully odd and sweet in everything she does, but with that added weight of a presumably difficult past. She's hilarious but also quite heartbreaking in her own way, and I loved every moment of her performance.
23. Robert Broski as Woodsman
Limited for the most part but he's consistently creepy as those band of pretty scary looking figures from the Black Lodge. Then in Part 8 he really gets to shine, as we get Abe Lincoln from Bill & Ted causing nightmares for Twin Peaks viewers worldwide. He's genuinely great in those sequences as the closest we get to a BOB in The Return.
24. Tim Roth and Jennifer Jason Leigh as Chantal and Gary "Hutch" Hutchens
Nice to see a Hateful Eight renunion here, as we get two talented actors playing up the violent redneck trope to its full potential. They never feel like caricatures, rather just ridiculous but very entertaining couple of murderous psychopaths, yet have a certain sweetness to their strange dynamic that reminded me a bit of the Martells in the original series. Plus they're also part of the most hilarious action sequence of the year so far.
25. Kimmy Robertson as Lucy Brennan
Like Andy/Goaz, she's the same old Lucy, who is daunted by the whole idea of cellular phones and has that same obsession over the 'blinking lights' as always. Well, that's great because we all love Lucy, and she's every bit as funny and cute as in the original series, plus the few moments she breaks out of that mould are pretty impactful too.
26. Sheryl Lee as Laura Palmer and Carrie Page
I could go higher actually, as in such brief screentime she once again proves herself as quite the chameleon. As the mysterious Carrie Page she's so effective in showing this woman who's lived a tough life with regrets, slowly succumbing to a mysterious fear and becoming decidedly out of her element. Plus she once again shows how she's a scream queen unlike any other besides Veronica Cartwright.
27. Pierce Gagnon as Sonny Jim Jones
I loved the whole relationship between Dougie and his son, and Gagnon proves himself a particularly adept child actor. I love every moment we got with him and Dougie together, whether it was Dougie putting Sonny Jim to bed, or Dougie eating breakfast. Each and every reaction shot by Sonny Jim is priceless, and his final farewell to his father is devestating, making their reunion all the sweeter.
28. Wendy Robie as Nadine Hurley
Loved her work here, which thankfully puts a resolution to her characterization that seems absolutely perfect and sincere. I really liked how the manic intensity of Nadine has never gone away, and in fact I'd assume her super strength may still be intact, but anyway I loved her two major scenes with Tamblyn and McGill as she shows, in her own way, a much changed woman who has learnt to become much more selfless and compassionate for others, albeit in a strange sort of way.
29. Al Strobel as MIKE
Limited in contrast to his work in the original series, but he's still pretty great I'd say. He brings that same sort of haunting, mesmerizing quality to MIKE and his cryptic sayings, but is also kind of hilarious whenever he has to deal with Dougie, and I particularly loved his delivery/facial reactions to whenever one of the Dopplegangers turned up in the lodge, or his exasperated 'finally' to Cooper finally waking up.
30. George Griffith as Ray Monroe
I haven't read anything about his stellar work here, which is a shame. I love the unrepentant sleaziness and seeming lack of fear he brings to his interactions with evil Cooper, and his completely unearned confidence when confronting him with his gang. Then in his final scene he's a pretty great at showing that growing fear, but also that edge of 'screw you' indignation at evil Cooper.
31. Carel Struycken as The Fireman
As intriguing and enigmatic a presence as always, and a part of some truly beautiful scenes. A shame we'll never get to see the sort of conversations he and Major Briggs had in the White Lodge but oh well.
32. Amanda Seyfried as Rebecca (Becky) Burnett
She's pretty great in her few scenes as the emotional wreck of a character who's sort of an even more immature Shelly Johnson, who nevertheless has that same sweetness and appeal her mother had. I really liked her performance even though I don't think it really went anywhere by the end, which to be honest I don't think was really a flaw, and she also had to deal with the single worst performance in the series.
33. Peggy Lipton as Norma Jennings
Limited for the most part to just those usual disapproving glances and warm smiles which she does well with, but she's great in her scenes with Ed and her other prospective suitor as she shows that the strong-willed and independent Norma we knew hasn't gone away.
34. David Patrick Kelly as Jerry Horne
His scenes are limited to Jerry Horne being a complete idiot, which is fine really since Kelly is hilarious with every one of his short scenes showing the weed-addled state of the crazier Horne brother. They don't really add up to much, but that's just fine cause we all love Jerry.
35. Jake Wardle as Freddie Sykes
I actually really liked how his character came into play by the end. It's more than a bit ridiculous, but Lynch knows what he's doing, and One-Punch Man coming in to save the day was pretty damn satisfying if you ask me (seems like The Fireman like a good ol' punch fest as much as any other), anyway Wardle is also pretty good in the role of a young and enthusiastic man looking to fulfil his destiny.
36. Jane Adams as Constance Talbot
Hilarious work as the morbid forensics investigator with a penchant for dad jokes, and I absolutely adored the moments she and Ferrer had together, I hope Albert's strange journey found its way into her arms.
37. Charlotte Stewart as Betty Briggs
Loved her one scene as she brings that same sort of paternal warmth that Don S. Davis brought to Garland Briggs, and helps infuse that great scene in Part 9 with such genuine emotion with her onscreen son
38. Sherilyn Fenn as Audrey Horne
Found her scenes particularly long-winded and somewhat excruciating to begin with, but it all made sense as we saw how it all added up. This is a very different Audrey to the Audrey we knew, but I think Fenn is actually very good in showing the volatile state of the character, even though it doesn't exactly play to the character's strengths in the original series.
39. John Pirruccello as Deputy Sheriff Chad Broxford
He's just a one-note unrepentant asshole and Pirruccello certainly fulfils that role perfectly, and I also really liked his final scene where he tries to become a hard as nails dirty cop and fails spectacularly.
40. Balthazar Getty as Red
Though it feels like more could have been done with the character, I liked the creepy arrogance and Frank Booth-esque intensity he brought to his character's aggressive trolling of Richard Horne. If they ever make a Season 4, I'd love to see him back.
Really though, I thought pretty much every cast member this season was great. There were great sleazy turns as shady sorts by the likes of Christophe Zajac-Denek and Patrick Fischler, James Marshall's reappearance as James Hurley was much appreciated, David Duchovny's cameo was great, David Koechner and the gang of silly detectives were hilarious, I even really liked Michael Cera in his one scene as Andy and Lucy's son. Nathan Frizzell's voice work as David Bowie's Phillip Jeffries was pretty great, too. Honestly the only performances I didn't like were Candy Clark as Doris Truman, and Caleb Landry Jones as Steven Burnett. Now Clark's performance actually kind of works for the character and for the purposes of the series, and works with Forster's performance. Jones though is kind of awful in the role. He kind of just slurred his way through the whole performance and his last scene in particular I completely lost any interest in because I couldn't understand what he was saying. He's kind of okay in his first scene, and I'd have liked to see Stanton kick his ass at one point, and the performance also does kind of work for the series in terms of the purpose his character serves, but a better performance would have been appreciated.
