Faye and Julia: The Women in Spike’s Life
WARNING: This article contains ENDING SPOILERS!!
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I’m glad I met you." – Julia to Faye, Real Folk Blues, Part I
Reactions to Julia and Faye often swing between extremes. To some, Julia’s an evil syndicate whore who wasn’t worthy of Spike’s love. To others, Faye’s a loud-mouthed, trashy, self-absorbed brat who could never be worthy of Spike’s love. Well, in all honesty, Spike really wasn’t such a great prize (as much as I loved the character) and my feelings about Julia and Faye are based on how they responded to each other–and since they liked and respected each other, I’ll go on liking and respecting them, too.
One of my favorite scenes in Cowboy Bebop is the meeting between Faye and Julia. Faye sees another woman in trouble–understandably a sore spot for her–and instantly transforms from petulance to steely-eyed resolve, hops in Julia’s car, and obliterates a bunch of syndicate goons with an efficiency that would’ve made Spike and Jet proud. Faye and Julia instinctively worked like partners, which I think says a lot about them.
They clearly respect each other’s skills. "You saved me," Julia tells Faye, and Faye answers, "You saved me back." Faye’s usual self-protective brashness is absent, and there’s even a friendly moment as they share a companionable smoke. Then, adding to an already interesting situation, it’s soon apparent Julia knows about Faye and that she’s with Spike. Those little looks the women give each other as they exchange names reinforces that one big something they have in common: Spike.
At first glance, it would seem Spike is the only thing these two have in common–but when I gave it more thought, I realized they were a lot alike after all. By making Faye and Julia so physically different, I think the writers were playing a little game with the viewers by encouraging them to focus only on the superficial.
But everybody in Cowboy Bebop hides their true selves, and an important element of the series–and what I like best about it–is how the writers slowly revealed who these people really are. Sure, Julia is shown wearing modest clothes and even a matronly apron, but these are Spike’s memories, filtered through loss and longing. In the real world, Julia can shoot, drives evasively, doesn’t flinch when people shoot at her, and pulls a gun on her former lover. What little we know of her past also tells us she slept with two men who were mob enforcers, and had a penchant for hanging out in bars and smoky pool halls.
Reactions to Julia and Faye often swing between extremes. To some, Julia’s an evil syndicate whore who wasn’t worthy of Spike’s love. To others, Faye’s a loud-mouthed, trashy, self-absorbed brat who could never be worthy of Spike’s love. Well, in all honesty, Spike really wasn’t such a great prize (as much as I loved the character) and my feelings about Julia and Faye are based on how they responded to each other–and since they liked and respected each other, I’ll go on liking and respecting them, too.
One of my favorite scenes in Cowboy Bebop is the meeting between Faye and Julia. Faye sees another woman in trouble–understandably a sore spot for her–and instantly transforms from petulance to steely-eyed resolve, hops in Julia’s car, and obliterates a bunch of syndicate goons with an efficiency that would’ve made Spike and Jet proud. Faye and Julia instinctively worked like partners, which I think says a lot about them.
They clearly respect each other’s skills. "You saved me," Julia tells Faye, and Faye answers, "You saved me back." Faye’s usual self-protective brashness is absent, and there’s even a friendly moment as they share a companionable smoke. Then, adding to an already interesting situation, it’s soon apparent Julia knows about Faye and that she’s with Spike. Those little looks the women give each other as they exchange names reinforces that one big something they have in common: Spike.
At first glance, it would seem Spike is the only thing these two have in common–but when I gave it more thought, I realized they were a lot alike after all. By making Faye and Julia so physically different, I think the writers were playing a little game with the viewers by encouraging them to focus only on the superficial.
But everybody in Cowboy Bebop hides their true selves, and an important element of the series–and what I like best about it–is how the writers slowly revealed who these people really are. Sure, Julia is shown wearing modest clothes and even a matronly apron, but these are Spike’s memories, filtered through loss and longing. In the real world, Julia can shoot, drives evasively, doesn’t flinch when people shoot at her, and pulls a gun on her former lover. What little we know of her past also tells us she slept with two men who were mob enforcers, and had a penchant for hanging out in bars and smoky pool halls.
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Faye can shoot, is good enough in the Red Tail to back up Spike, connives against her partners regularly, and also has a fondness for smoky bars. Faye even shares the distinction of hanging out in the same bar, and sitting on the same barstool, as Julia did in Jupiter Jazz. What’s interesting, though, is that while the depiction of Julia as sweet and matronly is only one aspect of a much darker woman, the depiction of Faye as a skanky, gambling, cheating, "trust no one" wench is only one aspect of a woman who once was a sweet, loving, and idealistic girl with a zest for living. When it comes to Faye and Julia, it’s best to look a little deeper than surface appearances.
I loved both of these characters, for how they were different and how they were alike, as well as how they fit into Spike’s life, past and present. If people get too caught up in trying to tear down Julia to make Faye look good and vice versa, they might miss the importance of both Faye and Julia in Spike’s story–and Cowboy Bebop is Spike’s story, first and foremost.
Spike is so caught up in his past that he can’t see a future for himself, Jet wants to forget his past, Julia has so little past that we don’t even know her last name, and Faye can’t remember her past until the end of the story. When Faye retorts that it’s easy for Spike to say the past doesn’t matter, since he has one, Spike responds with an important truth: "and you have a future."
I loved both of these characters, for how they were different and how they were alike, as well as how they fit into Spike’s life, past and present. If people get too caught up in trying to tear down Julia to make Faye look good and vice versa, they might miss the importance of both Faye and Julia in Spike’s story–and Cowboy Bebop is Spike’s story, first and foremost.
Spike is so caught up in his past that he can’t see a future for himself, Jet wants to forget his past, Julia has so little past that we don’t even know her last name, and Faye can’t remember her past until the end of the story. When Faye retorts that it’s easy for Spike to say the past doesn’t matter, since he has one, Spike responds with an important truth: "and you have a future."
Past, present, and future are major themes in the series, and Faye’s character acts as a bridge between Spike’s past and his present. Although Jet and Spike are much closer than Faye and Spike, only Faye comes face to face with both of the major players from Spike’s past. She also meets Gren, who shared a past with Vicious and Julia as well.
Why did Faye have to meet Vicious, Julia, or Gren at all? Well, obviously, for dramatic purposes. When Vicious corners some poor, nameless fool, we don’t care all that much about the poor fool’s certain fate–but if Vicious gets his hands on Faye, the suspense increases by oodles of bunches. Plus, it gives the characters something to do in the story and, as Spike says, "it was bound to happen sooner or later, right?" Still, you have to wonder why Jet couldn’t have met up with Julia or Vicious. Why did Faye get all the fun with Spike’s mysterious former lover and Spike’s scary, crazy-beautiful ex-best friend?
I think a big part of the answer is that Faye is a girl and girls generally need rescuing at some point in action/adventure shows, but more importantly she’s a girl who’s a lot like Julia. Through Faye’s interactions with Spike, Vicious, and Gren, we learn more about Julia and why Spike loved her, and why Spike acts the way he does toward Faye.
One of the criticisms of Cowboy Bebop is that Julia’s character pales in comparison to Faye. Julia only shows up in the last two episodes; prior to that, she’s seen briefly in flashbacks. Faye is on-screen from almost the beginning, she’s colorful, engaging, and sympathetic, and she plays off Spike very well. It’s hard to argue that Faye doesn’t have a way of goading Spike out of his usual apathetic moods. She tends to piss him off a lot. Because of this, it can be difficult to understand why Spike is still so completely in love with Julia.
Why did Faye have to meet Vicious, Julia, or Gren at all? Well, obviously, for dramatic purposes. When Vicious corners some poor, nameless fool, we don’t care all that much about the poor fool’s certain fate–but if Vicious gets his hands on Faye, the suspense increases by oodles of bunches. Plus, it gives the characters something to do in the story and, as Spike says, "it was bound to happen sooner or later, right?" Still, you have to wonder why Jet couldn’t have met up with Julia or Vicious. Why did Faye get all the fun with Spike’s mysterious former lover and Spike’s scary, crazy-beautiful ex-best friend?
I think a big part of the answer is that Faye is a girl and girls generally need rescuing at some point in action/adventure shows, but more importantly she’s a girl who’s a lot like Julia. Through Faye’s interactions with Spike, Vicious, and Gren, we learn more about Julia and why Spike loved her, and why Spike acts the way he does toward Faye.
One of the criticisms of Cowboy Bebop is that Julia’s character pales in comparison to Faye. Julia only shows up in the last two episodes; prior to that, she’s seen briefly in flashbacks. Faye is on-screen from almost the beginning, she’s colorful, engaging, and sympathetic, and she plays off Spike very well. It’s hard to argue that Faye doesn’t have a way of goading Spike out of his usual apathetic moods. She tends to piss him off a lot. Because of this, it can be difficult to understand why Spike is still so completely in love with Julia.
Some might say Julia was just a "ghost," more symbolic to him than a real love. Some might say they were classic star-crossed lovers. There’s some truth to both, but I think that takes away from Julia’s importance. Julia is described as "quite a woman," and she obviously was, considering she inspired men like Spike, Vicious, and Gren. The audience knows Faye is a remarkable woman, and comparing Faye and Julia by having them share similar situations gives us a better idea of what it was about Julia that made such animpression on Spike, Vicious, and Gren. Obviously, since Faye and Julia are different in many ways, this isn’t going to give clear answers. Just hints.
I don’t think anybody would deny that Spike developed a genuine affection for Faye at a point in his life where he didn’t want or need any ties. And I don’t think anybody would deny that the entire Bebop crew was incredibly dysfunctional, although in a highly entertaining way.
I’m betting most of the audience expected Spike to eventually fall for Faye–and were surprised when he didn’t. Without going into who Spike loved and why–which is a whole ‘nother subject, and really not the point of the series anyway–keep in mind that the Spike first introduced in Asteroid Blues is emotionally damaged. He just doesn’t have a whole lot to give to anybody, and part of the beauty of the story is how Spike, through his friendship with and Jet and Faye, and even Ed and Ein, begins to feel again. But if he can feel, he can be hurt and he can hurt others. It’s no surprise he tries to keep both Jet and Faye at an emotional distance whenever he can–and they’re no slouches in the emotional distancing department themselves–but in the end he touches both their lives in much the same way they touch his.
I don’t think anybody would deny that Spike developed a genuine affection for Faye at a point in his life where he didn’t want or need any ties. And I don’t think anybody would deny that the entire Bebop crew was incredibly dysfunctional, although in a highly entertaining way.
I’m betting most of the audience expected Spike to eventually fall for Faye–and were surprised when he didn’t. Without going into who Spike loved and why–which is a whole ‘nother subject, and really not the point of the series anyway–keep in mind that the Spike first introduced in Asteroid Blues is emotionally damaged. He just doesn’t have a whole lot to give to anybody, and part of the beauty of the story is how Spike, through his friendship with and Jet and Faye, and even Ed and Ein, begins to feel again. But if he can feel, he can be hurt and he can hurt others. It’s no surprise he tries to keep both Jet and Faye at an emotional distance whenever he can–and they’re no slouches in the emotional distancing department themselves–but in the end he touches both their lives in much the same way they touch his.
Spike to Faye: “You’re sure causing me a lot of trouble.”
Young Faye: “Am I alone? Or is there a wonderful person next to me? Well, knowing me, I’m sure I’m causing someone trouble.”
Jet: “The real worth of treasures like this can’t be determined from the outside.”
Spike: “Treasure hunting isn’t easy.”
So why did Spike love Julia? It seems not even Julia was certain of the answer, but it doesn’t really matter. Hate her or love her, the fact is that without Julia, Spike wouldn’t be the Spike we cared about and rooted for. Also, Spike wasn’t looking for relationships because he didn’t have a future and knew it. The point is made repeatedly in the series that there’s no escaping the syndicate. Even if he’d been attracted to Faye, I don’t believe he would’ve allowed himself to act on it for these reasons. I also feel this explains why he’s such a jerk to Faye at the end ofBallad of Fallen Angels, which is the first episode where Faye and Julia do what I call “the trading places” thing.
It’s not accidental that Julia and Faye are both shown watching over and caring for an injured Spike. They’re both humming a similar tune. Spike sees them in very much the same way–and yet his reaction is totally different. He fell in love with Julia after she cared for him, but pissed-off Faye and distanced her. In all fairness to Spike, when he awoke to the sound of humming he was probably hoping he was waking up from a bad dream and everything would be alright, so I understand his response.
There are other instances where Faye functions as a "stand in" for Julia. In Ganymede Elegy, she catches the sharp edge of Spike’s temper when she comments that his old flame wouldn’t still be waiting for him. Spike snaps back that not all women are like Faye–but Spike doesn’t know anything about Faye at that point. He sees what he wants to see because it’s easier that way. Even Jet has to point out to him, in My Funny Valentine, that Faye’s front is mostly an act.
Young Faye: “Am I alone? Or is there a wonderful person next to me? Well, knowing me, I’m sure I’m causing someone trouble.”
Jet: “The real worth of treasures like this can’t be determined from the outside.”
Spike: “Treasure hunting isn’t easy.”
So why did Spike love Julia? It seems not even Julia was certain of the answer, but it doesn’t really matter. Hate her or love her, the fact is that without Julia, Spike wouldn’t be the Spike we cared about and rooted for. Also, Spike wasn’t looking for relationships because he didn’t have a future and knew it. The point is made repeatedly in the series that there’s no escaping the syndicate. Even if he’d been attracted to Faye, I don’t believe he would’ve allowed himself to act on it for these reasons. I also feel this explains why he’s such a jerk to Faye at the end ofBallad of Fallen Angels, which is the first episode where Faye and Julia do what I call “the trading places” thing.
It’s not accidental that Julia and Faye are both shown watching over and caring for an injured Spike. They’re both humming a similar tune. Spike sees them in very much the same way–and yet his reaction is totally different. He fell in love with Julia after she cared for him, but pissed-off Faye and distanced her. In all fairness to Spike, when he awoke to the sound of humming he was probably hoping he was waking up from a bad dream and everything would be alright, so I understand his response.
There are other instances where Faye functions as a "stand in" for Julia. In Ganymede Elegy, she catches the sharp edge of Spike’s temper when she comments that his old flame wouldn’t still be waiting for him. Spike snaps back that not all women are like Faye–but Spike doesn’t know anything about Faye at that point. He sees what he wants to see because it’s easier that way. Even Jet has to point out to him, in My Funny Valentine, that Faye’s front is mostly an act.
Again, in Jupiter Jazz, Julia and Faye trade places. As mentioned earlier, Faye hangs out in the same bar that Julia did several years earlier, and even sat on the same barstool while listening to Gren play. When Jet asks the bartender if he’s sure he saw Faye, the bartender says it’s been six months since he saw a woman, and two years since he saw one that good-looking–the other "one" being Julia. The implication is that both women are equally memorable.
Gren and Julia befriended each other much in the way Gren and Faye befriend each other for a short while. Gren tells Faye his secret and adds he’s only ever told two people–the other one being Julia. Again, there’s an implication that both women, when the moment calls for it, are the kind you can trust with your secrets. Finally, Faye tries to stop Gren from getting himself killed, just as she tries (and fails) with Spike at the end of the story. Also inJupiter Jazz, Spike has more flashbacks of Julia–the flashbacks are almost entirely from his past, except for one of Faye. For that reason, it seems a bit out of place, unless you keep in mind Faye’s function as that bridge between Spike’s past and present.
The last Julia/Faye swapping comes toward the end of Real Folk Blues I, when Spike is sitting in the control room of the Bebop. Spike explains to Jet why he fell in love with Julia, that she was a part of himself he’d lost, a woman who truly seemed alive, and then he says, "she’s back." For a moment, I thought the "she’s back" was referring to Julia, because Julia is back–but he’s referring to Faye, who’s finally returned to the Bebop. Coincidence? I don’t know, but I thought it was interesting.
One reason I’m thinking it might not be strictly a coincidence is that in Real Folk Blues I/II, Faye and Julia are again shown in similar situations, often with Spike, only now in "real time." Past and present converge in the final two episodes, so it’s not surprising that the two women in Spike’s life also do some converging.
Gren and Julia befriended each other much in the way Gren and Faye befriend each other for a short while. Gren tells Faye his secret and adds he’s only ever told two people–the other one being Julia. Again, there’s an implication that both women, when the moment calls for it, are the kind you can trust with your secrets. Finally, Faye tries to stop Gren from getting himself killed, just as she tries (and fails) with Spike at the end of the story. Also inJupiter Jazz, Spike has more flashbacks of Julia–the flashbacks are almost entirely from his past, except for one of Faye. For that reason, it seems a bit out of place, unless you keep in mind Faye’s function as that bridge between Spike’s past and present.
The last Julia/Faye swapping comes toward the end of Real Folk Blues I, when Spike is sitting in the control room of the Bebop. Spike explains to Jet why he fell in love with Julia, that she was a part of himself he’d lost, a woman who truly seemed alive, and then he says, "she’s back." For a moment, I thought the "she’s back" was referring to Julia, because Julia is back–but he’s referring to Faye, who’s finally returned to the Bebop. Coincidence? I don’t know, but I thought it was interesting.
One reason I’m thinking it might not be strictly a coincidence is that in Real Folk Blues I/II, Faye and Julia are again shown in similar situations, often with Spike, only now in "real time." Past and present converge in the final two episodes, so it’s not surprising that the two women in Spike’s life also do some converging.
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Julia to Spike: “I’ll be with you until the very end.”
Faye to Spike: “Are you telling me you’re just going to throw your life away?”
Faye to Spike: “Are you telling me you’re just going to throw your life away?”
Together, Faye and Spike battle syndicate ships to protect the Bebop. After the syndicate fighters are destroyed and Spike takes off to find Julia, Jet tells Faye she was a lucky woman…and Faye dryly points out she was so lucky she almost got herself killed. Spike meets up with Julia, and she pulls a gun on him. Julia was supposed to have killed Spike three years ago, but couldn’t. Later, Julia and Spike battle syndicate gunmen after a failed attempt to protect Annie…and Julia is killed. After Julia’s death, and as Spike is leaving the Bebop after saying good-bye to Jet, Faye pulls a gun on Spike. Faye probably reasons that if she shoots Spike and injures him to the point where he can’t leave the ship, she can keep him safe–but ultimately knows better. I believe Jet understood Spike’s final decision, but I don’t think Faye really did. This is where Faye differs greatly from Spike and Julia, and even Jet, in that she doesn’t understand how the syndicate works because it’s never been a part of her past.
I’ve seen comments that the reason Spike goes after Vicious in the end is because Julia is dead and therefore he doesn’t have any reason to go on living. This is certainly a factor, but it’s not the only one. As Spike tells Jet, there’s nothing he can do for a dead woman–the unspoken implication is that there is something he can do for Jet and Faye, who are still alive and have been targeted by both Vicious and the Red Dragon Syndicate as a way to get to Spike.
I’ve seen comments that the reason Spike goes after Vicious in the end is because Julia is dead and therefore he doesn’t have any reason to go on living. This is certainly a factor, but it’s not the only one. As Spike tells Jet, there’s nothing he can do for a dead woman–the unspoken implication is that there is something he can do for Jet and Faye, who are still alive and have been targeted by both Vicious and the Red Dragon Syndicate as a way to get to Spike.
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From the moment Jet is shot in the Loser Bar, Spike knows what he has to do. It explains that bleak look on his face when he meets Julia for the first time in three years–and he wears the same look when Faye tries to talk him out of going after Vicious. Again, Julia understands that Spike really doesn’t have a choice, whereas Faye simply can’t. It’s likely Faye doesn’t even realize she and Jet are as much a factor in Spike’s decision as Julia’s death.
If it hadn’t been for his bond with Faye and Jet, perhaps Spike would’ve bailed on his responsibilities, the way he did three years before, and he would’ve run off with Julia. But just as loving Julia changed him for the better, his relationships with Jet and Faye, and even Ed and Ein, changed him for the better. They not only provided him a chance to make amends for past wrongs, but also a way to rediscover that "beautiful" part of himself he feared he’d lost. Jet and Faye’s lives were profoundly changed by Spike’s final actions as well, and I like to think that after Spike’s death they finally found the place where they truly belonged — together or apart.
[Jul 08 2005: Edited to add something I should've pointed out when I first wrote this, which is that while Faye plays a "stand in" for Julia while she's with Spike, it also works the other way. When Faye is with Julia, she's a "stand in" for Spike. This is most obvious in the fight scenes in the last two episodes, where Faye is the back-up/support for Spike; when she's with Julia she's the shooter/action-person as Julia drives. Look at the scene where Julia is driving away and Faye is in the back seat shooting at their pursuers. Substitute Spike (and Vicious) for Faye and I think we get a peek at what the relationship might've been like three years ago between Julia, Spike, and Vicious as part of "the life and times of three young gangsters." More importantly, it implies the role Julia filled back then wasn't that of a syndicate whore but rather a contributing member of the team.]
[by Michele].
If it hadn’t been for his bond with Faye and Jet, perhaps Spike would’ve bailed on his responsibilities, the way he did three years before, and he would’ve run off with Julia. But just as loving Julia changed him for the better, his relationships with Jet and Faye, and even Ed and Ein, changed him for the better. They not only provided him a chance to make amends for past wrongs, but also a way to rediscover that "beautiful" part of himself he feared he’d lost. Jet and Faye’s lives were profoundly changed by Spike’s final actions as well, and I like to think that after Spike’s death they finally found the place where they truly belonged — together or apart.
[Jul 08 2005: Edited to add something I should've pointed out when I first wrote this, which is that while Faye plays a "stand in" for Julia while she's with Spike, it also works the other way. When Faye is with Julia, she's a "stand in" for Spike. This is most obvious in the fight scenes in the last two episodes, where Faye is the back-up/support for Spike; when she's with Julia she's the shooter/action-person as Julia drives. Look at the scene where Julia is driving away and Faye is in the back seat shooting at their pursuers. Substitute Spike (and Vicious) for Faye and I think we get a peek at what the relationship might've been like three years ago between Julia, Spike, and Vicious as part of "the life and times of three young gangsters." More importantly, it implies the role Julia filled back then wasn't that of a syndicate whore but rather a contributing member of the team.]
[by Michele].
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