Snowpiercer Recap: All Aboard, Again

As a long-time follower of this rollercoaster ride called Snowpiercer, I find myself once again on the edge of my seat, gripping tight to the armrests. The show has an uncanny ability to keep me guessing and leave me breathless, much like riding on a perpetually moving train in a frozen wasteland.


Farewell, New Eden, we barely scratched the surface. Although the change of scenery and some outdoor sequences were refreshing, this show remains centered around people on a train. It’s likely that by the end of this week, we’ll be confined indoors for most of the rest of the final season of Snowpiercer. Fortunately, this episode presents a convincing rationale for leaving New Eden behind. To be sure, this is as convincing as anything involving our beloved hot-headed ex-cop, ex-revolutionary leader, ex-mayor, and ex-pirate rebel can be.

Upon discovering that Doctor Headwood didn’t just hastily depart but meticulously orchestrated the abduction of my daughter Liana – she even took my husband’s shoes, stored inexplicably behind glass – I feel compelled to take action and track down the kidnappers by utilizing Big Alice. Needless to say, hopping on a train isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. Given that it took months to transform the engine into a power source for the entire New Eden community, which is their lifeline, this complicates matters. However, in my current state of urgency and fury (pun intended), I disregard these complexities and lash out at my closest friends and allies. I accuse Oz of being weak and indirectly causing Zarah’s death on the mountain. I confront Josie for her lack of support in my rogue actions and insinuate that she would be more concerned if it were her own daughter taken.

In their council meeting, Ruth criticizes Layton for undermining the system he created by attempting to hijack a train, yet he remains unfazed. She warns him that without the engine, they won’t be able to heat the town, but he persists. When she mentions that the era of train hijacking is over, Layton defies her and takes control of the train. With Javi’s assistance, he disconnects it, fortunately managing to provide New Eden with power for three weeks while Big Alice departs in pursuit of Liana. However, before they can escape, they are stopped by Sykes, Ruth, and Josie, who beat Layton until he agrees to a town-wide vote on his departure. In an unexpected turn of events for the season, Layton refrains from delivering a grand speech, instead choosing to appeal to the people as a father, expressing his desire to fight for his daughter just as he fought for the citizens of Snowpiercer and now New Eden.

It’s no wonder that Layton obtains the engine, seeing as most of the Tailies join him in his endeavor, along with almost every major character. Even Alex lends a hand, conducting bird experiments and realizing that the heat pocket might be more of a bubble on the verge of bursting. The only ones who don’t participate are Mr. Roche, Oz, and Javi, who remain behind. Now, the challenge is to reach Snowpiercer before New Eden perishes within the next three weeks.

In the previous episode, Audrey managed to escape while Ben and Bess were captured. Later, they were compelled to work in Snowpiercer. However, the Admiral later assigned a special mission to Ben due to his expertise. It seemed that one of the Admiral’s crew members had died from electrocution while performing a task he was unqualified for. Since Ben could handle this kind of job, the Admiral asked him to visit the agricultural car, manipulate an electrical panel, and alter the ventilation system there. In exchange, the Admiral promised to decrease the work shifts from their current grueling state down to a more manageable 12 hours a day (eventually negotiated to 10 hours). The plan was to utilize a new fertilizer brought by Dr. Nima, which could potentially double food production since the residents of Snowpiercer have been succumbing to illness and death at an alarming rate.

When I approach the agricultural cart alongside Ben, a strong sense of unease washes over me. The control panels have been torn out, replaced by new ones in unexpected locations, and there’s a pipe where none existed just moments ago, leading to the subtrain. We discover gas masks and what appear to be canisters of some sort of fertilizer, but upon closer inspection, Till suspects they might contain cyanide.

Instead, she awakens later confined within prison walls. It’s revealed that the gas wasn’t meant for fertilization or harm but rather to induce tranquility. As they piece together the events, it seems the workers have expedited their scheme. The tranquilizer isn’t intended to retaliate against Snowpiercer’s inhabitants but is stationed in the rear car, strategically placed for an attack when Big Alice approaches. The Admiral is readying himself for conflict.

Tailie Thoughts

It appears that the television series Snowpiercer aims to provoke viewers into questioning whether it’s possible for a “benevolent dictator” to exist, particularly through the character of Admiral. His ruthless rule and authoritarian nature are decimating the remaining human population, but he justifies this by stating that it is crucial for completing a mission that could potentially save mankind. This single-minded focus on the mission leads him to view all luxuries onboard Snowpiercer as wasteful and unnecessary; he sees no value in lavish paintings or aquariums filled with exotic creatures, since they serve no practical purpose when the world is struggling to survive. In a twisted way, his argument does hold some truth – when the world is starving, it seems illogical to focus on preserving decorative items or animals in tanks.

As a survivor of numerous apocalyptic events and a lifelong resident of post-apocalyptic landscapes, I can confidently say that the recent departure of every major character from Big Alice marks a significant turning point in our journey towards New Eden. This development is as ominous as it gets, and if that wasn’t enough, Alex’s experiments hint at the impending demise of the heat pocket, which Nima seems to confirm.

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2024-08-05 07:54