Jennifer Jason Leigh Plays The Earthly Manifestation Of Bob’s Boss
Theory: This is based upon speculation that the character played by Jennifer Jason Leigh is named “Judy” – another snippet that seems to have surfaced from script ‘leaks.’ This has caused a stir, because the name “Judy” has some significance in the world of Twin Peaks – both in the television series, and the prequel movie, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.
In the movie, Agent Cooper has a dream that FBI Agent Phillip Jeffries suddenly reappears to provide information, and that dream then becomes a reality in the office of Gordon Cole. Jeffries arrives in mysterious circumstances, appearing to be disturbed. He also seems to know the content of Cooper’s dream, and immediately refers to it. His first words – in a tremulous, southern accent – are, “I’m not going to talk about Judy. In fact, we’re not going to talk about Judy at all – we’re going to keep her out of this.” He then asks, while pointing at Agent Cooper, “Who do you think this is, there?” He then goes on to describe how he has sat in on a meeting between ‘evil spirits’ from the Black Lodge, where a young boy pointed at Bob and said, “Fell a victim.” Later in the movie, a small monkey appears, saying the name, “Judy,” before the image of Laura Palmer is seen.
In the television show, Major Garland Briggs plays a significant role in Agent Cooper’s investigation into the Black Lodge. Major Briggs – with others – has been investigating it himself as an ‘unofficial’ continuation of Project Bluebook, with a view to understanding the implications to National Security. Major Briggs has experienced many ‘disappearances,’ one of which occurs during the time period covered by the show – and when he returns, he’s traumatized and troubled by what he’s seen. He also returns wearing a uniform from a different time period.
Major Briggs is kidnapped and held captive by Windom Earle (also formerly of Project Bluebook), for the purpose of extracting the information Briggs has learned about the Black Lodge. Earle plies Major Briggs with a ‘truth serum,’ and when Briggs manages to escape and is returned to the Sheriff’s Station, he seems to be speaking in rambling sentences of gibberish. However, when Agent Cooper and Sheriff Truman try to make him focus – by addressing him as “Garland,” – Major Briggs replies (in a tremulous, southern accent), “Garland? Judy Garland?”
At the time of its broadcast, it seemed like an attempt to show how discombobulated Major Briggs was after his experiences. Similarly, at the beginning of season 1, the fact that Laura wrote in her diary that she was “nervous about meeting J tonight,” was taken as a reference to either James Hurley or Jacques Renault. When seen in conjunction with the prequel movie, however, these scenes takes on greater significance, since both Briggs and Jeffries have the name “Judy” on their minds after spending time in the Black Lodge. This particular “Judy” theory suggests that the mysterious, supposedly unseen character is essentially the most powerful of the ‘evil’ spirits.
We know that some form of hierarchy exists for these ‘spirits.’ In the series, the character of Philip Gerard – a one-armed shoe salesman – reveals himself to be the Earthly manifestation, or host, for a ‘spirit’ named Mike. Mike explains that Bob was once his “familiar,” but that their association was ended when Bob’s appetite for murder, mayhem, and the sustenance provided by innocent souls became too voracious. Mike “saw the face of God,” and took his own arm off – thereby removing a tattoo that he kept as a connection to the Black Lodge. In Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, the Man From Another Place refers to himself as The Arm.
In the movie, as Jeffries describes the meeting of ‘evil spirits’ he witnessed, he identifies – among others – Bob, The Man From Another Place, an elderly woman, and a young boy. They’re gathered around a table, on which a bowl sits – filled with a pale, liquid food. The implication is that the food in the bowl is the sustenance provided by souls taken, and that Bob is essentially the hunter – sent out to bring back supplies for the group. The important point to note in the scene is that the elderly woman and the young boy appeared in the series, as Mrs. Tremond and her Grandson, to whom Donna Hayward delivers Meals On Wheels in place of the deceased Laura. They also appear to Laura in the prequel movie, to warn her that her diary is about to be discovered.
These occurrences of these ‘Lodge-based’ characters suggest that Bob is actually at the bottom of the food chain, as it were, having been the “familiar” of Mike – in the same way that fairy tales depict a cat as being the “familiar” of a witch. The Man From Another Place is implied to be the evil excised from Mike, and the Tremonds appear to be senior to all of them – observing their actions and issuing orders (to “fell a victim”). Their warning to Laura about her diary is for the protection of themselves, not her, since she’s written information that could lead to the exposure of the Lodges and the ‘spirits.’ With this hierarchy being established, and with “Judy” being an unseen association with the Black Lodge, perhaps “Judy” is the most powerful of them all. If so – and if the character played by Jennifer Jason Leigh is indeed named “Judy,” – she may be the Earthly manifestation of that powerful spirit, just as Mrs. Tremond was, of a different, mid-level spirit.
Is it likely? It’s a great theory, and certainly possible – if Jennifer Jason Leigh’s character is confirmed to have that name. It would also account for the theories of escalation – including the expanded range of locations, and the idea of someone predicting a nuclear blast. From a narrative perspective, it also makes sense to be focusing attention ‘up the chain of command,’ given that new footage of Bob – being the bottom of the chain’ – cannot be included.
Alternatively, the repeated reference to “Judy” could well just be one of many ‘nods’ to The Wizard Of Oz. We’ve seen the name ‘Garland’; we’ve seen monkeys; and we’ve seen powerful men behind curtains. Will “Judy” be revealed as the Wizard, or was she simply Phillip Jeffries’ own Laura Palmer? This is certainly one of the more interesting theories to watch for.