As a long-time fan of post-apocalyptic dramas, I have seen my fair share of characters come and go. But I must say, the departure of Ben Rockwell (Iddo Goldberg) on Snowpiercer was particularly poignant. The show has always excelled at fleshing out its ensemble, making even minor characters feel vital to the story. And this season, more than ever, it feels like the true leaders are the former Snowpiercer passengers, with Ruth Nakano (Daniele Pasquale Panabellón) standing out as a particularly strong and capable figure.
Although it’s unfortunate that Jennifer Connelly’s character Melanie hasn’t appeared for weeks, one of the standout aspects of Snowpiercer is the richness of its cast. In the initial seasons, the series rapidly developed even minor characters to the extent that they seem like the true governors of this small society. While Layton led the initial uprising of the Tailies, Ruth has emerged as the apparent leader among the former Snowpiercer passengers this season. Melanie was the public face of Snowpiercer in Wilford’s absence during season one, but Ben has consistently been the train’s primary engineer and conductor. This week, these choices to make characters significant and well-rounded prove rewarding as we bid farewell to another major character.
As a seasoned storyteller with years of experience under my belt, I find that this week’s opening narration strikes a chord within me. The tale of Ben recalling the agonizing choices made during the Snowpiercer’s initial departure and the people left behind resonates deeply. Given my own life experiences, I can empathize with the anguish of those difficult decisions.
Prior to moving forward, we need to address an issue from last week: Admiral’s proposition for Liana – Big Alice. This seems like a questionable trade, considering that the train is the only means of survival for all the residents in New Eden, with no assurance that the Admiral will keep his word. However, we’re dealing with Layton’s reasoning, and his determination to put others at risk if it benefits him is unyielding. After receiving a doubtful proof-of-life call featuring an uncertain-sounding baby, Layton consents. He persuades Ruth to link the trains, and remarkably, even though she’s conscious of the fact that the lives of everyone in New Eden depend on this train, she concedes to the terms and hands over the engine. As Ben put it, making hasty decisions and leaving people behind.
Following their surrender, the principal characters are removed from the train and guided towards an underground silo, presumed to be where Melanie resides – however, she’s not present; instead, she’s “out of post” gathering “information,” which seems to be a veiled term. The silo serves as a fascinating setting, a maze-like and confined space that mirrors the claustrophobia experienced during the initial episodes of the series but lacks the opulence of the more luxurious Snowpiercer trains. This place is stark, minimalist, and chillingly cold. Despite being the last remnants of humanity, there are guards stationed everywhere – one might wonder who they’re meant to protect against or why they’re needed here. Layton, Ruth, Bess, Alex, and Ben are kept in the same cell, but Josie is absent. Additionally, they have a limited time of less than three hours to retrieve Liana and return to the train before it departs again.
Upon the Admiral’s return, he once more aims to persuade them that their role is significant within a larger scheme and that their efforts are valuable. Despite being without Melanie or Liana, he introduces an unexpected visitor – none other than Joseph Wilford himself! Even amidst the apocalypse, it seems the government and the wealthy elite maintain their secretive partnership, as evidenced by their familiarity with one another.
The Admiral instructs the others not to reboard Snowpiercer, likely due to their past theft attempts. Instead, they are to stay in the silo as guests instead of prisoners, even though they’re confined, it sets up a dramatic reveal when they restore the world and venture into a warmer one. It sounds appealing, doesn’t it? However, this plan doesn’t sit well with the group, particularly after the Admiral departs (alongside Layton, who often incites rebellion). The moment he leaves, they start devising an escape plan. Alex, on the other hand, trusts the Admiral and his mission, choosing to stay and investigate further as she has already noticed abnormalities in New Eden’s climate.
In a self-reliant move, Ben constructs a door-opening magnet and leads the group in their escape as they have just 30 minutes remaining. Ruth remains behind to save Layton, while Ben and Bess push forward with Big Alice. En route, Ben discovers Melanie’s lab deserted, with only Wilford and Alex present, who are delving into her mother’s research. Opting to aid in the scientific endeavor, Alex decides to stay behind.
In this latest turn of events, Layton is escorted to meet the Admiral once more. True to his word, the Admiral presents Layton to his daughter – cradled by Wilford with a smug smile on his face. Additionally, we discover that Josie is being subjected to experiments by Doctor Headwood; he appears to be drawing her blood and applying it to Wilford. Brace yourself for the arrival of Sean Bean’s ice mutant character!
In their attempt to detach the Snowpiercer from the main train, Ben and Bess bypass the Admiral’s guards and even manage to bring Ruth aboard just in time. However, they discover that the automatic disconnection method fails, necessitating a manual operation from the subtrain. With no one else willing, Ben steps up as he once was an engineer. Unfortunately, Ben learns that the separating mechanism is located externally, and there are no more protective suits remaining. Despite this challenge, Ben carries out his duties as the engineer one last time and disconnects Big Alice. As the second train pulls away, we catch a final glimpse of Ben braving the cold outside Snowpiercer, proving that engineers never truly quit their profession.
Tailie Thoughts
Farewell, Iddo Goldberg. Despite being eclipsed by certain other prominent figures in the series, Goldberg consistently delivered a dependable and intriguing presence on Snowpiercer. It’s a relief to see him exit with a dramatic flair.
Hello again, Sean Bean! It’s always a treat when larger-than-life characters grace our screens, and no one embodies that quite like your character, Wilford. Looking forward to observing the clash of the Admiral’s reserved nature against Wilford’s flamboyance.
Regarding the Admiral, it seems unlikely he harbors trust towards Wilford, given his open disdain for the opulence and indulgence that Wilford embodies. Personally, I’m eagerly anticipating the moment when the Admiral or his troops finally stand up to Wilford in a decisive confrontation.
It would have been a missed chance, indeed, if we hadn’t arranged for Rebecca Ferguson from the Apple TV+ series ‘Silo’ to interact with Jennifer Connelly in a major crossover event between their shows set inside a giant silo.
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2024-08-19 08:54