Ryan Shoots First: Snowpiercer (S1 Ep2) “Prepare to Brace”
Welcome back to Wacky Wilford’s Chocolate Train. Episode 2 begins in the aftermath of last weeks attempted revolt from the tailies. As retribution the authorities plan to take an arm. They first take the little girl involved last week but her mother volunteers to take her place. For the uninitiated this process means the victim has their arm placed outside the train and exposed to the freezing temperatures. When the arm is brought back in it is frozen and then hit with a sledge till separated. We also see at this time the main assailants from last week are out into the stasis drawers for an indefinite suspension.
After the opening credits we see Wilford/Melanie dealing with issues in the track and avalanches being caused by the train. One of her techs is advising her to take action as the train needs to slow down for the engine but she says full speed ahead. There is a funny moment before she starts schmoozing the high rollers her pin is flipped from the W to an M. Back in the train Layton has begun his investigation. His police escort is not making his questioning easy as she questions every question he asks. We next go to see the original suspect having trouble coming out of stasis and her arm is pretty gross. The doctor recommends the whole program be put on hold but the dude who manages the bodies says no he’ll get to the bottom of it. So yea he seems like the guy who’s word you should take on the matter.
Commercial break
Out of the break Layton is in the night car. A dark lounge type environment with a signer and low lighting. The lady signing is named Ms Audrey and she runs the place. Spliced I’m with her signing is the image of the tail and the lady who had her armed taken being tended to. Audrey believes the OG suspect was innocent and Wilford just needed a suspect. Audrey convinces his escort to allow him to see just what it was Niki did. It turns out the nightcar isn’t so much a strip climb but is a type of meditation therapy. During this time we see some flashbacks to Andres pre freeze life with Zarah and when he proposed. It’s funny TNT thinking showing Butts on tv puts them on the level of some of the other networks for gritty TV-MA. Andre and Zarah end up hooking up in the water meditation thing what’s not clear is if this is part of the regular treatments.
Commercial break (buy HBO Max)
After the make up sex Zarah informs Andre Sean had some connections and she thinks he was killed for knowing too much. At the autopsy on the body we do learn the doctor there was originally only supposed to be a doc on the dream liner. Confirming the train wasn’t built to be an ark. Some wording in last week’s episode made that confusing. Anyway Layton connects the dots that the butchers were the only ones with the tools to sever the limbs in the way they were. After troubling everyone with some cannibalism stories from the tale they are forced to get a “warrant” essentially to get into the butchers area. Meanwhile Melanie is struggling with the innocent woman she put away is dying. As all this is happening a giant avalanche hits the train. It tosses everyone around and causes a breach in the cattle car. Convenient, all the cows and people in the car freeze to death almost instantly. Layton and Bess still nearby walk over to see the frozen bodies through the window.
Commercial break
Layton and Bess use this opportunity to get into the freezer. They find a loose vent and discover the dismembered body parts. Layton also uses this chance to smuggle a small wire when Bess isn’t looking. We met the “Breachman” who handles breeches and he haggles with Melanie about how much speed they can reduce the train while he works. We see some sexual favors being exchanged for Krono which is essentially waste from the engine that is used by passengers for drugs. This poor young man is doing unspeakable things to score drugs for his armless mother. Meanwhile Melanie is struggling with which systems to shut down and ration to accommodate the dead cows and the hit to the functions of the train. It’s decided to ration people from the tail. Of course this is pitched to the tail as being selected for “education” one of which is the kid we met last week who wants to be an engineer and is close to Layton. Don’t take the bait kid.
Commercial break
Bess sticks up for Andre when a cop guy is mean to him maybe she’s coming around to him. Andre is returned to his cell where he uses the wire he smuggled earlier pick the lock to his cell and get a message to the tail. Layton takes a beating but the message is received.
Commercial break
Back in the tail the kid is deciding if he wants to leave or not. The kids all head to their certain deaths. Layton is answering to Melanie after his beating. She feeds him the balance and order line from last week. Layton tells her Sean was a Wilford Rat and is wondering why she cares so much and what he told when he was tortured. For some reason he’s allowed to stay on the case as the episode ends.
The show appears to be a somewhat slow burn as once the revolution starts proper I can’t see how you drag it out. I enjoy the idea of the train somewhat struggling. It’s like it is a ticking time bomb and tough decisions are needing to be made at the same time trying to please a bunch of rich folks. The addition of the third class section also gives a type of middle ground for the show to play with. Not tailies and not elites, this area gives everyone a middle ground to interact. Not much was played with in regards to Melanie being Wildord but it definitely influences your thought process watching the episodes and seeing her interact with problems but knowing she is the one making the decisions.
Be sure to keep tuning in as next week looks like the tail is in big trouble.
