Twenty-five years after the events of the original series, Cooper remains trapped in the Black Lodge, while his doppelgänger continues to assume his identity in the natural realm. With help from entities both inside and outside of the Black Lodge, as well as Diane in her Naido form, Cooper is finally able to leave. Due to outside interference, however, Cooper replaces Douglas "Dougie" Jones, a Las Vegas insurance agent, instead of his doppelgänger. Upon his return to the natural realm, he is left in a near-catatonic state, unable to perform basic tasks without assistance and rarely speaking besides repeating words he hears. Only slight traces of Cooper's personality appear, such as his passion for coffee and cherry pie. Cooper also becomes the target of an assassination plot organized by corrupt businessman Duncan Todd on orders from his doppelgänger.