Julia is such a controversial topic in the Cowboy Bebop fandom. She's loved by some, hated by others, while some remain virtually indifferent to her. I find her to be such an intriguing character, and it doesn't take much to see why. Behind that enigmatic veneer is an ordinary woman with real human faults. Like every other character in Bebop it seems she's made her share of mistakes. What do we know about her?
Well, we can surmise she was a syndicate member and Vicious' lover at some point. Spike entered the picture and basically life happened, they fell in love. Spike made plans to leave the syndicate and take her with him, Vicious found out and interceded. He gave Julia an ultimatum: kill Spike, or you both die. She chose to run. Spike faked his own death and left on his own. Fast forward three years later to the start of the series. Pretty cut and dry, huh? Let's take a closer look at those events.
First, let's take into account what happened between Spike, Julia, and Vicious is a rather everyday occurrence. You're with a man and you fall for his friend. Its sad but it happens, and you can't help who you love. In flashbacks, we see Spike step into Julia's apartment. Their conversation goes like this:
- SPIKE:
- When this is over, I'm leaving the syndicate.
- JULIA:
- You'll be killed.
- SPIKE:
- I'll let them say I'm dead. I'll be waiting at the graveyard. Of course, I will be alive.
- JULIA:
- I... can't come with you.
- SPIKE:
- Come with me. We'll leave here... We'll escape from this world.
- JULIA:
- And then what are we going to do?
- SPIKE:
- We'll just live a life of freedom somewhere. Just like watching a dream...
Julia is obviously doubtful and possibly terrified of Spike's proposal to leave and she has every reason to be. She knows the syndicate and she knows Vicious. She's in love, yes. However, given the situation who can really fault her for being fearful? For being doubtful? Those are such human feelings, and remember everyone has doubts no matter who you are. She is eventually confronted by Vicious who I feel only affirms her fears.
- VICIOUS:
- Are you going to betray me? Are you going to leave this world...?
- JULIA:
- Vicious.
- VICIOUS:
- Even if it's a dream, that's an impossibility.
- JULIA:
- Are you going to kill him?
- VICIOUS:
- Yeah... with your hands. You stay alive... or you both die. You can choose.
Vicious gives her that impossible ultimatum. I truly believe she loved Spike despite the doubts she has. After all, she could have very well chosen to kill Spike and kept herself alive, possibly even gotten back in Vicious' good graces. However, she doesn't. When you really think about it, she's being pushed in different directions by both these men. And in a way, Spike gave her an ultimatum as well. To Julia, perhaps both were equally terrifying. Ultimately she chooses neither side, and runs away from the problem. Thereby running away from what was possibly the best thing in her life, namely Spike. Anyone ever think she might have been just as scared of being in love, of such a deep commitment, just as much as she was of Vicious/the mafia? I think she comes to regret her decision in the long run. When we meet Gren in Jupiter Jazz he reveals some things about Julia through his dialogue with Spike.
- GREN:
- I see. You are Spike. Julia was always talking about you... That your two eyes were of different colors... That's what she said... That you get a strange feeling when you look into his eyes...
- SPIKE:
- What was she doing?
- GREN:
- In the corner seat of the bar... She always sat there while I wasn't paying attention... She always requested the same song... and smiled. Sadly... smiled.
Gren paints a picture of a woman who is so obviously full of regret. We're led to believe Spike is all Julia'd ever talk about. It begs the question, why doesn't she try to contact him in those three years? Well, I think she was either not in a position to seek him out or perhaps still too scared to do it. And I don't only mean scared that the syndicate would find out her whereabouts, but scared of what she ran away from. When you think about it she was running away from the past just as much as anyone. When Vicious stages the coup in the final two sessions there's just no more place to run and she's pretty much forced to face Spike and her past. In doing so she's forced to face her mistakes and her weaknesses, but also finally able to overcome them. Upon first meeting up with Spike she entreats him to run away with her, presenting the choice to keep running from the past/problem.
- JULIA:
- Let's just run away somewhere. Truly escape from this world and go where no one else is... Just the two of us...
I think the old Spike would have, but he's grown in the three years they've been apart and has learned that running away will solve nothing. Later, Julia eventually realizes that he's not going to run away and she makes the choice to stand by him.
- JULIA:
- You don't need weapons like that just to run away...
- Spike is silent.
- JULIA:
- You're going to go... I'll go with you. Until the very end, I'll be with you.
So there you have it. She's finally able to say to Spike with true conviction, "Until the very end, I'll be with you." Something she couldn't find the strength or the courage to do three years ago. She keeps that promise even though tragically she doesn't live much longer. I relate to her weakness because in my heart of hearts I know I have those same weaknesses. I applaud Julia for finding the strength to overcome that weakness before her death.
