Well, what can we say about him, he's a guy who wears a red suit and a mask and who......jumps. That's it... End of thread. Too weird to consider...

Really? I don't think so, he's connected to many other things from the series and film and a long time ago a really interesting theory about him was posted here and like I said about Carl going places and its meaning I think it's time to resurrect it... Let's see if I remember all the details, the Gazette veterans may help me here...

The Jumping Man is some kind of representation of the BOB-possessed (or dopp-possessed, the dopp controlled by BOB like Lynch said, this really doesn't matter here) Cooper from ep.29. Let's see the characteristics of the character and his M.O. and see if this theory has a basis, which I believe it has.

The Jumping Man has many similarities with the Grandson, as we see him in FWWM. Both jump, both wear masks and both have some kind of weird stick. The mask, I believe, is the face of a possessed person... "The man behind the mask" is BOB, who was who was looking for the diary and the mask is Leland... In the Jumping Man's case the mask is Coop. The Grandson's mask has no mouth or eyebrows which indicate unaware possession, that's why he's sometimes (and yes, correctly IMO) associated to Leland... The Jumping Man has mouth and eyes, Coop is trapped and *knows* the dopp/BOB controls his body... Aware possession... Besides, the JM stops his jumps when BOB claps his hands, he controls his movements and appears inmediately after Jeffries says pointing to Coop "Who do you think this is there?". The red suit may indicate 'fire', that kind of fire the Log Lady talked about, BOB's fire...

The weird stick? I don't know... A representation of a trapped soul, the wood holds many spirits? No idea... I think I haven't forgotten anything about the JM's theory, which has always seemed to me very logical considering what we see of this character, the info we have about him, etc. It has a strong basis, as does the Grandson = Leland theory, which is a little off-topic here, but could be interesting to at least have in consideration...

Besides all this stuff I must say that the JM creeps me, the way we first see him, with that music, the scream, etc. It's a very interesting character visually, very iconic....

Bravo,Gordon!

Congratulations on your great theory!At last someone made it clear for me!I was wondering what was this strange jumping man,I really didn't have any idea of why he was part of that scene at the meeting.I doubt if there will be someone who can add something to what you have said about the JM ;)

Beware of BOB

When I call out no one can hear me,when I whisper he thinks the message is for him only..my little voice inside my throat,I always think there must be something that I've done or something I can do...But no one no one comes to help,he says,a little girl like you...

It's not my theory, actually I don't believe it's anyone's... It sort of....developed itself...

Maybe someone would correct me and claim it as his/hers, but...

www.myspace.com/babybitchrules

www.babybitchmusic.co.uk

www.myspace.com/smallscreendramaqueen 

Thanks...

You can be sure that these threads will go on until we've talked about all the characters. So yeah, Rusty Tomaski's pal and Louise the Annoying Great Northern Employee will have their own too....

Good Lord...

I adore these threads, Gordon. You bring such a kaleidescope of new colors to all of the characters. It's such a treat to go back and and relive that time, with those characters that we love so much.

I also love your theory on the jumping man. I couldn't agree with it more.  I would have loved to see Kyle play the doppelganger possesed Coop...dancing and playing golf...man. But your theory about Coop knowing his body was being possessed, Leland not knowing...wow. Chills, Gordon, chills. And Jeffries', "Who do you think that is there?" That part always creeps me out...but in an oh so pleasant way.

I remember this theory too. I really liked it then, and I still like it now.

I think not too long ago I referenced this theory, making not of how he stops moving after BOB signals, it was in some thread, I forget which. Anyway, it seems very clear that regardless of if the Jumping Man represents this person, or that person... he is BOB's toy, and the "fool" to the lodge people.

At one point I had some crazy theory about how the jumping man was Agent Desmond. No idea why

but anyway, you have summed up everything I have to say already Gordon.

definitely he is somehow under BOB's control

does he represent the possessd Cooper - who knows? The idea has lots of merits but is probably better left as a hypothesis. He could have some relation to Jeffries himself, too, after all Phil had some Lodge trouble as well, and he was there at the meeting but where was he? (we don't know).

The Cooper theory is the best I've heard probably, also because it's unverifiable ;-) (or whatever word should be used here)

And iconic, you say - oh yes! Very much. What a talent of Lynch this is, creating such icons. I'd say it is his greatest talent as a filmmaker, and what could be a greater gift for an artist who works with such purely visual medium as the cinema? :-)

Bobi 1 Kenobi

B. Beware
O. Of
B. BOB 

When it takes less than 5 minutes to draw a TP character with Paint it means that yes....it's iconic.