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Recap: <i>Snowpiercer</i> S02, Ep 3. – “A Great Odyssey” Cold and Calculated

Snowpiercer, Season 2, Episode 3 “A Great Odyssey”

Air Date: Monday, February 8, 2021 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on TNT

Reviewer Rating: 4 Stars ★★★★★

“The success of this mission will be measured in data, not my survival.”

– Melanie

***WARNING: Some Spoilers Ahead***

“A Great Odyssey” begins with the enigmatic Mr. Wilford (Sean Bean) giving morning announcements aboard Big Alice. Like many announcements we have been privy too aboard Snowpiercer, more so in season one, Mr. Wilford encourages the passengers through thinly veiled threats against those on Snowpiercer. With every episode, Mr. Wilford’s personality is slowly revealed. He’s as cold as Icy Bob (Andre Tricoteux) and as calculated as the machines running the engines. He wants control of Snowpiercer more than anything and he’ll do whatever it takes to get it back.

Last week’s episode, “Smolder to Life,” presented everyone with hope. Earth may be warming up and that could mean colonization on the surface sooner than expected. With this revelation, Melanie (Jennifer Connelly) must go to the research center in the Rocky Mountains and collect the data from the weather balloons that will be deployed. While it’s a long shot, this poses a threat to Mr. Wilford’s grand plans. He wants to be revered and worshiped as the man who saved the last of humanity with his magnanimous perpetual train but if Earth is coming back to life, that certainly puts a damper on his end game.

Melanie talks to Ben and Javier about the mission

There are some people who really stand out; their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to their jobs, down to right “stationary” deserve to be called out. Ruth Wardell (Allison Wright) truly puts herself forward in “A Great Odyssey.” She’s giddy about the communication lines opening between trains. She’s on top of all her hospitality standards of protocol, yet when she offers to escort Melanie over to Big Alice for a major trade, she’s shut down without so much as a cushioned blow. “Regretfully, not today Ruth. You’ll get your turn.”

I’m sure Mr. Wilford doesn’t want Ruth poking around Big Alice asking after Kevin (Tom Lipinski). His absence at the exchange – food for parts – is noticed immediately. Snowpiercer needs parts to continue to run at optimum levels; Melanie needs items to get the research center running, so Layton (Daveed Diggs) knows that in order to secure these vital parts, he’s got to be savvy about it. Tempting the hungry passengers on Big Alice with fresh eggs, even “apple cider,” makes even my mouth water. “We will supplement your diet once a week in exchange for parts.”

Trading fresh food for much needed parts

Big Alice has “Twenty-seven cars of supplies; twenty-seven; all the bits and bobs, the stuff of life.” Mr. Wilford boasts of what his train has to offer yet he’s painfully aware that both trains would run better together than apart. He’ll never admit to it but he knows Melanie is acutely aware of that fact.

A few key things I noticed:

  • We finally see some of the Headwoods (Damian Young and Sakina Jaffrey) experiments on Icy Bob take place. And as usual, Mr. Wilford isn’t satisfied. “He needs to go colder, longer.” Sheesh! I hope the Headwoods have a lot more of that frostbite goo cooked up. And share some with Josie please.
  • Josie (Katie McGuinness) knows everything. She knows that Zarah (Sheila Vand) is pregnant with Layton’s child. She knows Layton made an alliance with the woman who nearly killed her. And she knows Layton needs her on his side because he needs the Tailies support. “You need my support or you’ll lose them.”  
  • Mama Grandé (Renee Victor) mentions that Josie “…doesn’t want Miles to see her” in her current condition. Where is Miles (Jaylin Fletcher)?
  • The investigation continues for the person or persons what assaulted Lights’ (Miranda Edwards), removing her thumb and pinky fingers. Train Detective Bess Till (Mickey Sumner) and Brakeman Roche (Mike O’Malley) talk to the Breachman to see if they might be involved. Their ‘Muscle Breach’ car is everything you think it is and more. Lots of dumbbells, sweat, and chips on shoulders.
  • Breachman Boscovic (Aleks Paunovic), along with the rest of the Breachman, seem to be Wilford loyalists down to the tattoos on their chests.
  • Theory: I think a certain redhead and former Brakeman may be involved in the assault. LJ Folger (Annalise Basso) and John Osweiller (Sam Otto) have been laying low…real low.
  • I haven’t mentioned him this season, but our favorite custodian Terence (Shaun Toub) is still wheeling and dealing in third class marketplace. I like how he tells Pike (Steven Ogg) to leave if he doesn’t have any “weed” for trading. Pike is a duplicitous snake. He’d sell his grandmother if he thought he could get a good deal.
  • As Melanie prepares to disembark on her mission to the research center, she has poignant moments with several key people in her life: her boyfriend, of sorts, Bennett (Iddo Goldberg), Layton, Ruth, and her estranged daughter Alex (Rowan Blanchard).
  • If you didn’t think that Mr. Wilford could be more manipulative and callous, the scene towards the end of “A Great Odyssey” should drive the point home. His venomous remarks as Alex hesitates to hit the “boosters” to push the trains over the steep mountain made my blood boil. Alex’s demeanor and attitude, especially toward her mother Melanie, reek of Mr. Wilford’s dutiful tutelage. He’s a master at coercion.

So much happens in this episode, it’s definitely something you need to watch to pick out all the nuggets that are sure to come full circle by the end of the season. Layton tells Pike to start trading weed again but there are stipulations about what’s being exchanged. What is Layton up to? And with Melanie now off the train, the clock is ticking louder than ever. Mr. Wilford wants the experiments on Icy Bob to speed up. He’s got only a month before they are supposed to pick up Melanie and I’m sure he’s hoping to take back control of Snowpiercer before then thus delaying or foregoing the retrieval of Melanie and the precious temperature data.

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.

Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.