In Review: Snowpiercer (S3 -EP2) The Last To Go

Synopsis: In The Last To Go. Layton goes on the hunt, as Wilford works to boost morale; the resistance discovers a threat that could undermine everything they’ve worked for.

The Story

Having relocated to the back of Wilfred’s train in last week’s episode. Ruth learns of a plan that Wilfred has that could undermine all the good work that she has done. In short, Wilfred is planning to use an electromagnetic pulse to bring Layton’s train to a stop. Having successfully tested his device Wilfred feels confident that he’ll win his victory and reconnect with the other train. However, he soon gets distracted when an opportunity for celebration and a show of unity presents itself. Which also serves as an opportunity for Ruth and her resistance to undermine Wilfred’s plans.

Meanwhile on Layton’s train. The crew continues their hunt for a piece of habitable land and are given new hope having picked up a survivor. Layton does what he can to get the survivor who s called Asha settled and we learn that she was a scientist that was working to find ways to survive the cold. We also learn that she was the only survivor of a group of scientists. Added to this. Layton is convinced that his hallucination of the Dragon Tree means that habitable land is out there. While the rest of his crew is somewhat more pragmatic about things.

The Acting

Archie Panjabi puts in a solid performance as Asha, who isn’t completely trusting of her situation. I think she did a great job of conveying the trauma of having been surviving by herself for so long. The scene where she examines the plant in her cabin is nicely done.

Sean Bean is also brilliant as we see Wilfred seize the opportunity of LJ Folger and John Osweiller’s wedding as a means of distracting the masses from the brutal realities of their situation by showing them that loyalty is rewarded. The scene he has with Annalise Basso’s Folger is brilliant and shows just how snide and underhanded both characters are. In counterpoint to that is Alison Wright’s performance as Ruth. I loved the moment where Ruth tells Wilfred that winning isn’t leading. That leading takes unconditional love and self-sacrifice because true leaders are in the service of the people that they lead. Not out for themselves. 

In short. We get lots of solid acting in this episode.

Overall

A fantastic episode, which continues to do what this series has been doing so well since it began by examining both the light and dark sides of humanity. I really enjoyed Layton’s faith in that his hallucination meant something and the fact that he is ignoring logic and pursuing it. I also enjoyed Ruth’s stand against Layton and the fact that she is now so openly defiant, which is an awesome bit of character growth for her. Especially when you see how loyal she was to Wilfred at the start of the series. It’s a solid episode, which leaves things on a great cliffhanger as both trains go into battle.