FBI agent Dale Cooper, for instance, is not your typical hero. Yes, he has all the "hero" characteristic, but he also talks to spirits, has visions and "breaks the rules". What I mean by "breaking the rules" is that when the traditional methods of investigation fail to reveal anything, he starts to investigate his way by using visions, spirit guides, and his instinct. Most importantly, he listens to people. He listens to everyone, even people whose sanity can be questioned. He continuous doing this his way even when his mental stability is questioned by his colleagues. Cooper's unusual investigating techniques do help him find Laura Palmer's killer. Cooper discovers that she was killed by her father, Leland, because he was possessed by and evil spirit named Bob. (After Leland dies, the spirit of Bob leaves Leland's body to find another human to use.) If it wasn't for Cooper questioning everything and his strange way of investigating then Laura's killer might have never been discovered.
Cooper makes a wonderful hero, but we later learn that he is just as vulnerable as everyone else. In the final episode of the series, Cooper meets up with his old enemy, Windom Earle, who is working for Bob. Cooper and Windom Earle are in the red room, which serves as some kind of unearthly "waiting room" or purgatory. Cooper