I wonder if they could catch the killer using only forensic evidence? What would happen if Leland didn't confess?

P.S. I'd really like to see Twin Peaks/CSI crossover :))) Imagine interactions between Cooper and Gil Grissom :))))

Well, that would be interesting.

But I think that Lynch made it clear that Coop has to use any kind of help to solve the crime. It doesn´t matter if it´s his intuition, metaphysical or spiritual nature or even magic.

After the dream/vision in Ep 2 Coop already knew that he has to use his intuition.  But he sort of lost his way and he ended up having Leo as a main suspect.  Then in Ep 8 and 9 the Giant brought him back on the path and Coop was sure that he could solve the crime if he trust his instincts. From then on he searched for Gerrard.

 There´s of course the great analysis in project red room on this site, that you might want to read.

Given that what we know, Lauras killer couldn´t be tracked down just by evidence.

That's what always bothered me: Cooper is supposed to be a brilliant agent with great analytical skills. However, it seems that he solves Laura's murder with his "psychic" powers, not because he's a great investigator.

OK, it's a matter of personal taste, but I would prefer more ambiguity in regards to how much "spiritis" told him and how much he deduced himself.

This (in my opinion) is the reason why authors blew Windom Earle's arc. We were supposed to see a battle of two brilliant minds, but there were no indication of Windom's or Cooper's exceptional intelligence.

Hm... did they use DNA analysis back then?

Well, the thing is: in "Arbitrary Law" Leland eventually went nuts and confessed.

But, what would they do if he didn't? How would Cooper prove that Leland was guilty? The argument "Giant told me" wouldn't pass in court.

Interesting idea paring up Cooper and Grissom.

Then they could fulfill eachother with the scientific part and the more supernatural part.

Cooper has great intuition and is a very good people person. I like that he takes a different approach than only science.

But as you say, that is a matter of taste..

I think it's Cooper's "psychic" techniques that make him such an incredible investigator. Of course, he has the actual ability to use his deductive techniques, intuition, and keen eye (as seen by the "looks like a hog to me" scene after Donna's interrogation), but they also wouldn't have got as far if it wasn't for the tibetan rock-throwing.

Desmond is evidently a fantastic agent too, but he lacks a certain edge that Cooper has. I think if Twin Peaks was just a CSI-style series, it wouldn't have even 10% of the charm and appeal that it has, and you only have to put "twin peaks" into google to see that the majority of the reasoning for that is down to Cooper and his unorthodox characteristics.

Well, Leland was a grieving father after all. So, probably, it wasn't that unususal. Many of his closeups were seen by the audience but not Cooper.

As for Maddy, you've made an interesting point. It seems nobody cared about her presence in town except Donna and James (and Palmers). From Cooper's behavior after Maddy's body was found, one can tell that he knew who she was. Didn't it come to agent's mind that killer might attack someone with such strong resemblance to his last victim?