Character Analysis
Anderson isn't pulling any punches when it comes to Jopling's character (Jopling, of course, also not pulling any punches). When we first meet Jopling he punches Zero in the face and turns to face the camera, flexing his brass-knuckled hands, and we hear the immediate introduction of organ music as a spotlight visual effect singles out Jopling's face. It's scary. He's scary. We're pretty scared.
As we should be, because Jopling is just as bad as he seems: finger chopping, head lopping, cat tossing—the list goes on. Speaking of cats, we see a black kitty walking by as Jopling heads down the alley toward Serge's sister's place. Sounds like some serious bad luck… for the cat.
Oh, we forgot to put Serge-asphyxiating on our list. Jopling even goes so far as to say "I never trusted [Serge]" because he was "too honest."
Too honest? Does that even make sense? Whatever kind of twisted "trust" Jopling's talking about, we don't want any of it. His (presumed) death at the hands of Zero is the kind of death that audiences cheer about; he had it coming.