Episode 4 of Snowpiercer's thrilling fourth season commences with Layton meticulously briefing his troops, his eyes ablaze with determination. He reveals a daring plan: to infiltrate the sub-train under cover of darkness and strike Snowpiercer with precision, focusing on extraction, not revolution – a stark contrast to his liberationist ideals of seasons past. Ruth's cautionary note echoes through the chamber, warning of the heavily armed guards and the potential for a violent clash.
Layton's strategic mind calculates the leap from one colossal train to another as a perilous gambit. As Big Alice plunges into darkness, the moment of truth arrives. With the Admiral's taunting voice echoing over the comm, Layton steps fearlessly into the trap, accusing the Admiral of kidnapping, only to be met with a dismissive shrug and a fabricated tale of faulty intelligence.
The surprise element evaporates, forcing them to devise a contingency plan. The Admiral's offer to dock the trains reeks of deceit, his sinister intentions concealed behind a veil of camaraderie. His intention to unleash the "Gemini variant" in the welcome wagon reveals a twisted agenda. Nima's distress at the toxicity of the plan exposes the Admiral's cruel disregard for life, but his attempt to mitigate the danger is thwarted.
Unbeknownst to them, Josie and Layton have sniffed out the Admiral's ruse and devise a cunning countermove, navigating the treacherous exterior to infiltrate Snowpiercer from the shadows. Their stealthy entry is met with the Admiral's swift realization and an immediate red alert, turning the train into a veritable fortress.
Yet, in a shocking turn of events, Nima emerges as an unlikely ally, exploiting his past as a test subject for the toxic substances to gain the trust of a soldier. With a subtle manipulation, he convinces the soldier to unwittingly poison himself, revealing a depth of cunning born from adversity. As the black smoke billows, cloaking the soldiers in a toxic haze, the stakes are raised even higher, and the battle for Snowpiercer intensifies.
As we delve deeper, we uncover that the children are sequestered in a segregated carriage adjacent to First Class, a deliberate strategy to quell any potential uprising, their lives a constant bargaining chip. Chaos ensues when Layton's presence ignites a spark of defiance within the masses, and violence threatens to erupt.
Amidst this tumult, Ben is summoned to the forefront by the Admiral, tasked with a remote link to Big Alice's docking system—a request he staunchly refuses. In retaliation, the Admiral slams the accelerator, compelling Big Alice to mirror the maneuver, escalating tensions further.
Layton, meanwhile, is stealthily guided by a mysterious figure through a covert route, evading the watchful eyes of guards. In an ironic twist, his path crosses with Nima, who promptly offers to escort him to Liana. As for Josie, she heroically rescues Till from confinement and, reassured by Audrey's survival, embarks on a perilous journey to reach the youth carriage, only to be captured herself.
Back in New Eden, a tempestuous storm rages, and the citizens gather anxiously in the town hall under Javier's directive. Yet, the ominous echoes of distant explosions shatter the tenuous calm. With the power grid teetering on the brink of collapse, frustration boils over, and Roche emerges as a savior, averting an all-out riot by implementing rationing measures.
Osweiler presents Roche with a macabre discovery—a severed hand, its interior housing a chip, a damning clue linking it to Snowpiercer's inhabitants. Faced with this grim revelation, Javi struggles for a course of action, and they decide to maintain silence, the hand's secret locked away.
Elsewhere, Josie finds herself in the Admiral's grasp, while Big Alice turns its massive form in unison with Snowpiercer. A deal is brokered: the Admiral offers Liana's freedom in exchange for Big Alice. The stakes are high, and the question lingers—will they accept this Faustian bargain?
