LJ Folger

Lilah Junior "LJ" Folger is a main character on TNT's Snowpiercer. She is portrayed by Annalise Basso.

The daughter of lawyer Lilah and Robert Folger, she lives uptrain with her parents in a First Class carriage. She is the true mastermind behind the serial murders on Snowpiercer committed by her bodyguard and boyfriend Erik Sotto.

LJ was named after her mother. Since the death of LJ's mother, LJ is now sometimes referred to primarily as Lilah Folger.

History

Background

Throughout The Series

Snowpiercer Murders

When Layton is hired as train detective, LJ is skeptical, but does not openly discuss the matter unlike her mother, Lilah; LJ keeps quiet, but is observant.^[1]

Later, following Fight Night, LJ is among the residents of First who is questioned by Layton. She reveals that Erik, her bodyguard, did not return home that night. Layton immediately suspects Erik, and Melanie sends Bess Till to locate him. It quickly becomes clear, however, that LJ is sadistic and is actually the one behind the murders. Layton is quick to realise this, and LJ — fearing being caught — tries to bargain with Layton for blueprints of the train or eventually, weapons. Layton acts as if the deal is done but secretly alerts Melanie to LJ's crimes.

Layton announces to LJ's parents that LJ is the mastermind behind the murders, and Erik was acting out of love covering for her. LJ swings at Layton with a blade but is tackled to the ground before she can do any serious damage. She is later imprisoned in a cell as Melanie makes an announcement about the apprehension of the serial killer.^[2]

Trial

LJ's trial quickly approaches following the announcement that she is partly responsible — if not fully responsible — for the murder of Sean Wise. Preparations for the tribunal begin immediately, and Lilah reinforces the idea that LJ pleads that Erik forced her to partake in the murders; she remarks that this is not true, but is told to say it anyway.

As the trial begins and it is time for LJ to give testimony, she tells the passengers of her love for Erik and the weakness he exploited in an effort to manipulate her. She begins to cry, but asks for Mr. Wilford's forgiveness after revealing that Sean Wise was a Wilford informant and implies knowledge of the true nature of the Drawers.

Despite her pleas, she is found guilty by the tribunal and begins to sob. Fearing that LJ knows more than she is letting on, Melanie commutes LJ's sentence due to her young age, allowing her to be released into the custody of her parents. LJ promises to keep Mr. Wilford's secrets as a thank you for helping her out.^[3]

When the train is threatened with derailment, LJ sits calmly at a table and knocks over a shaking glass.^[4]

Revolution

In the midst of the chaos surrounding her parents' and Layton's rebellion, LJ visits the Nightcar for some time with a prostitute. However, LJ discovers Layton waiting for her instead. Remembering how LJ likes dirty little secrets, Layton offers to tell her the dirtiest secret on the train. LJ smiles in obvious interest and anticipation.^[5]

At Layton's request, Miles takes LJ to the engine and Melanie's quarters where she discovers that there is no Mr. Wilford and that Melanie is running the train. LJ subsequently reports this fact to her parents, causing chaos to break out when it causes First Class to challenge Melanie. As a result, Commander Grey pulls all jackboots up train. She is later excited to hear that there are Tailies up train.^[6]

LJ pushes her parents to assert their authority when Layton agrees to surrender rather than allowing Grey and Ruth Wardell to take over. LJ remains in First Class and so is spared when her parents, Grey and their army are sent to their doom, leaving LJ an orphan.^[7]

Exile

In the aftermath of the First Snowpiercer War, the Folgers' first class carriage is subsequently taken over by Pike for what was intended to be a never-ending party. Having lost everything, LJ is left in hysterics at what she witnesses before being thrown out by Pike. LJ would make her way into Third Class where she punches John Osweiller in the face after thinking he was going to assault her sexually. After calming down, the two began to bond over drinks, putting aside their class differences and plotting to survive in a post-First Class world.^[8]

Wilford's Return

After Big Alice latches onto the train, LJ visits the Tail for the first time with Oz and is excited that Wilford has returned. LJ runs off in excitement chased by Oz.^[9]

LJ later meets with Wilford when he boards Snowpiercer for the meeting with Layton and Melanie. LJ is ecstatic, and runs to give Wilford a hug. She explains that her parents didn't survive the uprising, but remarks that he still has a lot of support aboard Snowpiercer.^[10]

Death

After Wilford's exile and the decision to separate the trains, LJ decides to remain on Snowpiercer while Oz joins Big Alice in going to New Eden. LJ is disgusted with her husband's decision to make a change and leave behind her and the chance for power, declaring rather unconvincingly that she'll make it and that she's a survivor.

A short time after the trains separate, LJ puts her father's glass eye in her mouth and plays with it as an act of comfort. A passing man bumps into her, causing LJ to accidentally swallow the glass eye. LJ then chokes to death on Robert's eye, dying alone with no one to care about her.^[11]

Death

After Wilford's exile and the decision to separate the trains, LJ decides to remain on Snowpiercer while Oz joins Big Alice in going to New Eden. LJ is disgusted with her husband's decision to make a change and leave behind her and the chance for power, declaring rather unconvincingly that she'll make it and that she's a survivor.

A short time after the trains separate, LJ puts her father's glass eye in her mouth and plays with it as an act of comfort. A passing man bumps into her, causing LJ to accidentally swallow the glass eye. LJ then chokes to death on Robert's eye, dying alone with no one to care about her.^[12]

Personality

Initially shy, LJ was a reserved member of First but paid close attention to what occurred around her; particularly pertaining to the status of Layton's murder investigation. Later, her dark, sadistic personality would emerge, wherein Layton realised that LJ herself had castrated Sean Wise for no apparent reason other than pleasure. After she was found out, she acted aggressively and attempted to hurt Layton.

Despite the connection between her and Erik, when LJ heard of his death, she began to fake cries as a way to cover up her guilt, whilst giving a snide smirk behind her grieving parent's back.^[2]

LJ appears to be a psychopath, feeling no remorse or care for her actions and manipulating all around her to her own ends. As revealed by her mother, as a 7-year old child, LJ poked out her father's left eye with a fork in a fit of temper. She subsequently is shown to enjoy playing with the glass eye he got as a replacement in her mouth.^[13]

Despite her demeanor, LJ is not completely emotionless as seen with her reaction to Miss Audrey singing about unrequited love. However, she quickly composed herself before anyone noticed.^[5]

Relationships

Erik Sotto

LJ and Erik were extremely close, and her parents hinted to a romantic relationship existing between the two. Lilah revealed that Erik saved her as a teenager during the boarding of Snowpiercer, and practically raised her following this.

The connection between the two afforded LJ great freedom on Snowpiercer under Erik's protection. Despite this, LJ manipulated Erik into covering for her in the first murder aboard Snowpiercer and in Sean Wise's murder. LJ was quick to discredit Erik to save herself however, and did not seen to feel saddened by the news of Erik's death (Without Their Maker).

She is further willing to lie and explains to the tribunal at her trial that Erik forced her into complying with the murder of Sean Wise despite this being false; LJ had in actuality manipulated Erik into compliance.^[3]

Appearances

Season One

Season Three

Season Two

Memorable Quotes

“	You know, you're a lot cooler smashing the system than you are being Wilford's dick.	”
	— Lilah to Layton

Trivia

She is shown to have an affinity for Andre Layton^[14]
She is the true mastermind behind the Snowpiercer murders while Erik acts as the muscle.
- Layton suspected that she castrated Sean Wise herself for fun.
She is a member of First Class.
Before her parents revolution, she was one of the few people to know the truth about Melanie Cavill, having been told by Miles on Andre Layton's orders.