Episode 2 of Snowpiercer's gripping fourth season unfolds with Audrey's haunting narration, painting a vivid picture of her fateful mission to New Eden—a beacon of hope she was dispatched to, bearing warnings of the looming train rebellion. Nine months prior, Mel and her fellow passengers aboard Snowpiercer lingered in a state of suspended animation, oblivious to the tumultuous tides about to engulf them. And so, our tale recommences.
Three months have elapsed since the trains embarked on their separate paths, and silence from New Eden echoes like a death knell in Mel's ears, her heart heavy with worry for her daughter, Alex, whose whereabouts remain a mystery to her, though in truth, Alex thrives.
But when a glimmer of life pierces the veil of stillness, it's not the familiar call of Big Alice or the promise of Eden that resonates. Instead, a rocket's fiery ascent tears through the air, followed by a deafening explosion, igniting a spark of curiosity and alarm in Till and Ben. They venture forth, brave the attackers, and return to Snowpiercer's confines, only to be confronted by an unwelcome sight—the Peacekeeping force, Admiral Anton Milius at its helm, casting a pall of oppression over the train.
This momentous encounter echoes the cliffhanger of episode 1, with Ben and Till held captive at gunpoint, their progress leading straight to Mel's chambers. Till's desperate attempt to reach out via the phone is met with a bullet's cold finality, shattering the fragile peace they'd so diligently crafted.
Yet, amidst the chaos, Audrey's bravery shines through as she activates the panic button, her fingers defying the comms blackout, granting Mel precious seconds to brace for the impending storm. With doors firmly shuttered, Mel confronts the Admiral with unwavering resolve, but the sight of Ben held hostage and the countdown ticking inexorably forward forces her hand. Surrender becomes the bitter pill she must swallow.
The Admiral seized command of the train, compelling both Mel and Ben to be ejected from the control room into a state of isolation. Amidst this turmoil, a hapless Hospitality worker, under duress of a gun pointed at his head, was compelled to broadcast an announcement that reverberated throughout the carriages, informing First and Second Class passengers of their imminent, albeit "temporary," relocation to Third Class. The discordant message of tranquility starkly clashed with Till's gory shoulder wound, fueling her desire to retaliate against the peacekeepers despite her waning strength and profuse bleeding.
Rushed to Winston and Dr. Pelton's care, they frantically worked to staunch her wounds. Simultaneously, the Admiral steered the train eastward, veering off Wilford's established route and onto a mysterious new path. Its existence was a recent phenomenon, as Mel recalled with certainty that these tracks were non-existent mere months ago. Mel and Ben's collective deduction pointed to Djibouti as the destination, a strategic location housing a formidable International military base, signaling their intention to secure reinforcements.
With mere minutes remaining before their arrival, the group was left with no alternative but to strike while they still could, against the ticking clock. After subduing a guard and seizing his weapon, they sprinted towards the controls, their mission clear: to decelerate the train and gain precious moments of respite.
Meanwhile, Audrey endured interrogation at the Admiral's hands, while Mel and Ben converged on Ruth's makeshift headquarters, deep within the ship's recesses, where she had orchestrated her rebellion against Wilford. United in purpose, they grappled with the brakes, only to be thwarted by the Admiral's contingency plan. He trapped 100 passengers, including Audrey and Till, within a carriage, and one of his men punctured the roof, sealing their fate. The stakes had never been higher, as the group found themselves trapped in a desperate struggle for survival.
The man from Hospitality crackles onto the radio, his voice laced with urgency, confirming that in a mere twenty minutes, the chill would claim them all unless Mel capitulates and halts her endeavors. Fortunately, before signing off, he whispers a glimmer of hope—two guards lurking in the market area, hinting at a possible weakness in the Engine's defenses. Mel and Ben seize this as an opportunity, gambling on a daring escape route through the airshaft.
Mel's master plan unfolds with precision: a sprint to the Engine, where she'll activate the failsafe mechanism. The logic is simple yet profound—as temperatures plummet towards the brink of freezing, the doors will swing open, expelling the frigid air. Mel intends to manipulate the engine's wiring, making this automatic response a reality. But her path lies through the treacherous intake, navigating it from the treacherous outdoors.
As Mel embarks on her mission, Audrey rallies the passengers, her voice a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. Till, meanwhile, rises to the challenge, scaling the roof to mend the gaping hole. With a makeshift patch—a bloodstained, alcohol-soaked bandage from his wounded shoulder—they manage to seal the breach, buying precious moments. Yet, the chill deepens, and amidst the frigid embrace of minus forty degrees, even the warmth of Audrey and Till's banter fails to thaw the air.
As the train slows its relentless march, Mel reaches the control room, fingers trembling as she pulls the lever, unlocking the doors...only to be confronted by Nima, bursting in with a tale of his own. He reveals his secret mission, airlifted by the US Air Force to this bunker alongside eighty scientists and engineers, tasked with rectifying the government's blunders.
Mel is skeptical, memories of the Admiral's hostility and Till's near-fatal shooting still fresh in her mind. Nima concedes his fiery temperament but insists their docking and track switch were imperative. His research, aimed at pinpointing the world's warm havens, echoes Mel's own discoveries from the previous season. Nima envisions Snowpiercer as a vessel to launch their compound across the globe, for while their current warm spots thrive, half the world remains frozen in eternal winter. With the train, they can ignite a planetary renaissance, weaving a web of warmth between these scattered oases. To drive home his point, Nima pulls out satellite images, revealing bustling communities thriving within one such haven—a glimpse of life beyond New Eden's confines.
Ben and Mel engage in a profound conversation later, pondering the far-reaching consequences of the proposed plan. They arrive at a sobering conclusion: if this endeavor triumphs, the need for the Snowpiercer or any survivalist train would be rendered obsolete. The catch, however, is that it would necessitate arduous labor from every passenger, and the absence of military presence or firearms seemed to offer a Faustian bargain. Yet, their trust in the Admiral remained elusive, while their faith in Layton and his companions' survival was unwavering.
With hearts heavy, Mel bids Ben farewell and ventures into the research base, leaving behind a sense of uncertainty. Nine months flash by, and the passengers of the Snowpiercer find themselves at their wit's end. Upon learning of the Admiral's sinister scheme to ambush New Eden, Till embarks on a daring rescue mission, determined to reach the utopia before it's too late, with the Peacekeepers hot on their heels.
Audrey, with her quick wit and unyielding spirit, manages to distract one of the guards at the threshold, but in the ensuing chaos, Till is momentarily restrained. Without hesitation, Audrey steps into the fray, sacrificing her own safety to ensure the mission's continuation. Choking on the air, her strength dwindling yet her spirit intact, the track scaler is dispatched towards New Eden, her journey completing a vital puzzle piece in the narrative that began in episode one.
Yet, Audrey's heroic efforts fall short of the timely warning. Liana's absence weighs heavily on Layton's heart, and he vows to retrieve her, come what may, his determination as fierce as the winter's chill.
