Snowpiercer Recap: What They Died For

As a longtime follower of this gripping series, I must say that the latest episode of Snowpiercer felt like a rollercoaster ride of emotions. On one hand, the post-apocalyptic western tone was captivating and the heartfelt reunions were genuinely moving. However, the slow pace after last week’s intense episode left me feeling a bit underwhelmed.

It has become clear that the last season of Snowpiercer traded its sci-fi tone to become a post-apocalyptic western. New Eden is the archetypical frontier town, with people coming together despite hardships to build this little slice of heaven, and The International Peacekeeping Forces are the army of scoundrels arriving by train into town to wreak havoc and destroy everything. Now, the third to last episode teases the show’s endgame, with the entire town of New Eden coming together to defend their home from the invading army, High Noon-style. It’s the calm before the storm, a sweet episode of heartfelt reunions and talks about preparing for the worst, but after last week’s nail-biting episode, this is a bit of a letdown that significantly slows things down.

We start with Javi, who wakes up — alive! — after blowing up the bomb on the train tracks, clearing up the path for Big Alice to finally make it back home. They’ve gone through many hardships, but as Javi’s voice-over narration says, humanity’s biggest strength is that we can overcome obstacles by creating. Now, the most important creation in a decade, New Eden, is under threat. Though there are still doubts over whether there is merit to the Peacekeeping Forces’ mission, mostly due to Melanie and Alex staying behind to help it, Ruth convinces them that the Admiral and his people care only about power and control. They could run, take the train, and go back to circumnavigating the world, but they’d have to look over their shoulders forever. Granted, they don’t know that Nima’s plan will literally destroy the world (again!).

In the meantime, Layton and Josie remain trapped in a train car near the silo, with Layton’s life hanging by a thread due to the power outage. Meanwhile, Josie and Liana enjoy their cold-resistant abilities. Just when things seem dire, Roche unexpectedly arrives, donning a Peacekeeping Forces uniform and riding a snowcat. The question of how he reached the silo is left unanswered, as the series seems not to be overly concerned about it. What’s important is that they all manage to return to New Eden in time for emotional reunion scenes before the impending battle.

Given their inability to defuse the bombs, Ruth proposes shifting Big Alice over to the opposite side of the town. This way, if the army triggers the bombs accidentally and buries the train tracks, they’ll be moved away from the danger zone. Additionally, they secure the track switch to compel the army to enter the town directly. Simultaneously, they block off various city entrances to create a chokepoint, funneling the army down the main street. There, the townsfolk can prepare an ambush and counterattack effectively.

Meanwhile, Alex manages to reach the Snowpiercer’s engine room, only to find that Nima’s soldiers have granted control of the engine to Nima, although Alex has no clue about what happened to Melanie or their confrontation. The mysterious man who caused the world’s freeze acts deceptively, dodging any inquiries regarding Melanie and her location while simultaneously distancing Alex from the Gemini project and its research. He insists that she is only an engineer, nothing more. Fortunately, Alex is more astute than that, deducing that her mother is either deceased or imprisoned.

In contrast to the organized war room meetings and planning in New Eden, Nima’s council room is characterized by chaos and desperation. Flanking him are two commandos, while Doctor Headwood, who has been increasingly taking on larger roles and responsibilities, also stands nearby. Nima addresses his soldiers, urging them to remove their helmets so he can see their faces – for they are heroes. For a brief moment, Nima’s true nature reveals itself, as the once timid scientist who deceived even the Admiral is exposed as a cunning manipulator who has seized control of the last remaining military force on Earth. With limited options available, they must either choose to destroy New Eden and wipe out its entire population or send Alex on a mission to steal their train.

When they learn that Big Alice has been relocated, the available choices narrow down. Despite Nima’s reluctance to involve Alex, she feels compelled to intervene to save the townspeople from harm. She believes she can reach the destination by train peacefully, or so she assumes. However, one may wonder why Alex is aiding these people in this predicament. She understands that her findings about the compound prove it ineffective and knows that removing Big Alice would doom the town either way.

In New Eden, it’s time for farewells and last-minute preparations. Bess and Audrey stroll through town, discussing their plans to share a cozy home on a hill in the future. Meanwhile, Javi discovers a way to interfere with the frequency that triggers the explosions, deciding to work on it. The community of New Eden assembles at their town hall for a heartwarming address. Instead of Layton or Ruth, it’s Roche who delivers an inspiring speech, sharing his harrowing tale of survival for the first time without interruption. He recalls slipping into a hole, injuring his ankle, and thinking he was near death until soldiers found him and brought him to the silo. During Layton and others’ escape, Roche seized the opportunity to break free and ascend the silo, only to encounter five commandos whom he defeated single-handedly. He continued climbing and eventually reached a garage, where an unexpected discovery awaited him – something resembling Bigfoot. As the townsfolk chuckle and encourage Roche, they wonder if there’s more to his story than meets the eye, as even the Bigfoot encounter seems unbelievable.

Regardless, it works in getting the people riled up and distracted before the fight, while the main characters gather around and have their own little toast to pay homage to what they are fighting for. They fight for Zarah, for Ben, for the warriors about to sacrifice themselves for the town, for those they lost in New Eden and its creation, and for those who have joined them along the way and will inherit the town. They fight for New Eden.

However, it appears their arrival was unexpectedly early, with Alex and her troops already in town without anyone seeming to notice. To add to the distress, one of these soldiers is a skilled marksman who’s targeting civilians. Jocie is shocked by Alex’s apparent betrayal, but she insists it’s necessary. Matters worsen when Alex’s troops threaten to harm Melanie if Jocie doesn’t assist them. This sets the stage for a struggle not just for New Eden, but also the world as a whole.

Tailie Thoughts

• In Snowpiercer, was Roche’s tale truthful? Did the troops truly spare him? Was he a secret agent? It’s time for clarity, not ambiguity, Snowpiercer!

Is it possible that we won’t catch sight of Melanie again, as it seems her role was limited to giving the standout episode of the season, followed by an untimely demise off-screen? With just two episodes remaining, this is a distinct possibility.

2024-09-09 06:54

Snowpiercer Recap: What They Died For

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